[SOLVED] Z390 Aorus Ultra, brand new system, no boot, DRAM LED on, please help.

[nullmeyer.mike]

So my new build won't boot at all. It turns on, but I get no beeps and nothing output to the screen. It lights the CPU LED for a split second and tries that 2 times, each time the computer appears to restart it's boot process.

After this, the system appears to boot normally based on the codes it is showing, going through the codes listed as Regular Boot codes in the manual. While it does this, only the DRAM LED is lit. It hangs at code 40 for a while (like 5 minutes or so).

After the hang, it flashes the VGA LED for a second and then the goes through a few codes very quickly, then the system restarts and it does it all over again.

I'm going to take off the CPU and start checking that out, since that's where it seems to have issues before moving on to DRAM.

EDIT:

System Specs:
z390 Aorus Ultra
i7 9700k
Corsair Vengence RGB Pro 3200 - 2x 8GB
EVGA GTX 1070ti
2x Samsung 970evo m.2 drives

Any advice would be appreciated, I haven't built a system in about 6 years, thanks!!

 

[panathas]

What CPU cooler are you using? Is it installed correctly? Does it have a backplate? Is it working properly (fan spinning, etc)? What PSU are you using?

1)Check the motherboard socket for bend pins.
2)Try to clear the CMOS.
3)Remove the GTX 1070 and try to boot with the integrated Intel GPU.
4)Try to boot with only one RAM stick and test it in all available RAM slots. If it doesn't work do the same with the second RAM stick.

 

[nullmeyer.mike]

I'm using a Corsair H150i PRO, and it seems to be working correctly, LEDs and fans are functioning, I've already reseated the CPU and cooler. It has the backplate and it should be installed correctly.

I believe that the issue is the RAM at this point, the only system LED indicating error is the DRAM LED, which stays on completely until the system restarts itself and tries to boot again. The light comes back on during each subsequent boot, after the CPU light comes on for just a second or two.

I've done everything else on your list already, and they none have changed the results. Let me know if you have any other ideas, thanks!!

 

[panathas]

You didn't answer one of my questions. What PSU are you using? Have you plugged all the necessary power cables to the motherboard? Your specific board does have 2 ATX power connectors. Are both of them occupied?

Yes it seems that something is going on with the RAM but the motherboard or CPU (memory controller) may still be responsible for this issue. Also it's rare to see nowadays RAM incompatibility as modern motherboards (especially high end models like yours) have built in mechanisms that are able to recognise almost every RAM module out there. However, just in case, you have to test your system with another and different RAM module. If it still doesn't work then something else is responsible.

Finally as a test try to boot your system without any RAM at all and monitor the boot behaviour. If it's exactly the same it may not be the RAM after all. If something new is happening and the motherboard detects the RAM absence then the RAM may indeed be responsible in which case you may have to RMA it. Good luck.

 

[nullmeyer.mike]

Oh yea, sorry about that, the PSU is an EVGA 850 G3. Everything is plugged in, including 8+4 to the CPU and Mobo power.

I had some Corsair Vengence LPX laying around so I tried it with 2 sticks and with 1, same results.

Next I tried it with no sticks in, and I got a slightly different result. It starts on code 30, then quickly cycles through a bunch of C codes (C4, C5 and some others I can't catch), during all of this the DRAM LED is lit. After it cycles the C codes, the DRAM LED goes off and the CPU LED comes on they just flash for a split second. Then the DRAM light is back solid and it starts on code 30 for a few seconds, flashes all the codes, blinks, repeat.

Now I'm really confused, haha.

Thank you for taking the time to help me out!!

 

[panathas]

Does it still keep restarting even though no RAM is present? Are you still seeing a boot loop?

 

[nullmeyer.mike]

Yea, it cycles about every 30 seconds or so without RAM inserted. It also cycles with RAM inserted, but the cycle lasts more like 1.5 - 2 minutes and ends with the LED moving on to VGA, that stays lit a bit longer now, like 10 seconds maybe, then the CPU light flashes, the system dies and restarts the whole cycle again.

With RAM it appears to go through normal startup codes, it always stops on 61 which is NVRAM initialization, it shows that code for a few seconds then all LEDs in the system turn off briefly and it go through it again.

EDIT: I'm 100% it's not the RAM now, I've tested 6 sticks, and cycled 2 of them through all 4 slots individually.

 

[panathas]

It's definitely not the RAM. Your system shouldn't end in a boot loop without any RAM installed in the motherboard. Something else is going on.

Try to remove the motherboard from the case just in case something is creating a sort. Rebuild your system outside the case and try to boot from there. You don't need all your components. Just the motherboard, the CPU, the CPU cooler, the PSU and one RAM stick. You don't need the SSDs or the graphics card. Plug a keyboard and the monitor and try to boot. Just make sure that you place your motherboard on a non conductive surface. A wooden desk should do the trick or the motherboard box with the protective anti-static bag that came with it. You should be very careful not to short the motherboard in this configuration. In the end if the motherboard is still behaving the same way then you should consider RMAing it. But before returning it back try to test another PSU in your build just in case the PSU is causing all those issues.

I don't think you should concentrate so much on the motherboard leds and codes since the motherboard is not working properly and it's not able to complete the boot process. Good luck.

 

[nullmeyer.mike]

I tried all of this, with no change to the results. I used an old Corsair AX1200 which is currently powering another PC, no change. I took it all out and ran it laying on my wood table, no change.

Luckily both my CPU and mobo came off Amazon, so I've got new one's showing up on Tuesday, marked these for return and I'll be sending them back.

On a side note, 1 of the 2 reviews on Amazon for the Aorus Master (one step above mine), was DOA with an identical issue to mine, so I'm hopeful a new board is what I need.

Thanks so much for your attention to my issue panathas!! I'll be sure to come back and update the thread once my new parts come in, to help out anyone else having an issue like this with one of the Aorus z390 boards.