no post DRAM light stays on for 1 second, quick CPU light flash, no POST, B150 motherboard

[TheRealRqst]

I have recently built a PC with components I brought from Amazon, Ebay and Facebook Marketplace, and have come into an error relating to the DRAM and CPU lights. Specs are:

 

Motherboard: MSI B150I GAMING PRO Mini ITX

CPU: i7 6700

GPU: EVGA GTX 970 SC

RAM: 16GB DDR4 Corsair Vengence @ 2666mhz

 

Probably not relevant specs, but:

 

CPU Cooler: Intel stock cooler

PSU: Aerocool Integrator 500W, 80+ Bronze 

Case: Thermaltake Core V1

Storage: 120gb PNY CS900 SSD & 2.5" WD 1TB HDD

 

When I turned the PC on for the first time, the DRAM light stays on for about 1 second, and then the CPU light quickly flashes and goes back to the DRAM light.

I have tried various things to diagnose this, taken out all front panel connectors and starting PC by making contact w/ a screwdriver (same light sequence), using different DDR4 RAM (same light sequence), unplugging the GPU power (same light sequence), unplugging the CPU power (just CPU light), taking out the RAM when starting (same light sequence), using different power cables (same light sequence) and resetting the BIOS w/ CMOS battery (unplugged for 30 mins w/ RAM unplugged and pressed the power button quite a lot to drain power. Fans start spinning, then stop about 1 second after, then straight back to same light flashing).

 

The fans on the GPU tend to go faster then slower ever so often when lights are flashing.

 

I haven't yet tried a new GPU, but I don't think it's a GPU issue because surely the lights wouldn't be flashing?, or using the integrated graphics (for the same reason as GPU), trying PC out of the case and trying a different GPU (even though it's again for the same reason, but I do have other GPU's).

 

I've been looking up on here, Linustechtips forum page, though the motherboards manual, Tom's Guide and other websites and think the issue lies with either the motherboard or the CPU, from what I have diagnosed and what other people have said.

 

I am thinking about buying a new motherboard to test if it's the CPU, but I'm also thinking about buying a different new CPU and returning it if that works with the motherboard, but am unsure which way to go which is where I would like help. Would also greatly appreciate any help that can be given without throwing more money at the issue, but if I have to, then I guess I have to.

 

This is the first Intel build I've done before, so am less aware of some issues that might happen and some common fixes that can be applied to potentially solve the issue.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks so much for reading.

[lamphouse99]

Make sure Your gpu and your ram is seated properly also make sure cables such as your 24 pin and your 2x4 cpu power connector are seated properly

[TheRealRqst]

Just now, lamphouse99 said:

Make sure Your gpu and your ram is seated properly also make sure cables such as your 24 pin and your 2x4 cpu power connector are seated properly

Yep done that all.

[lamphouse99]

2 minutes ago, TheRealRqst said:

Yep done that all.

Make sure your chipset and your cpu are compatible online, that could be the issue

[TheRealRqst]

7 minutes ago, lamphouse99 said:

Make sure your chipset and your cpu are compatible online, that could be the issue

Done that as well, i7 6700 is compatible with my b150 motherboard, can see below from Intel website.

 

[lamphouse99]

3 minutes ago, TheRealRqst said:

Done that as well, i7 6700 is compatible with my b150 motherboard, can see below from Intel website.

 

Actually if the board is older than the cpu than it may need a bios update to support your cpu, requiring you to have a last gen cpu on hand

[SavageNeo]

That psu is really really bad. please get another one before it blows up!

tru with only 1 ram stikc on all the ram slots.

try without gpu

[TheRealRqst]

3 minutes ago, lamphouse99 said:

Actually if the board is older than the cpu than it may need a bios update to support your cpu, requiring you to have a last gen cpu on hand

I can see where you're coming from, but the motherboard comes with 6th gen support out of the box.

[TheRealRqst]

1 minute ago, SavageNeo said:

That psu is really really bad. please get another one before it blows up!

tru with only 1 ram stikc on all the ram slots.

try without gpu

It doesn't seem like it's bad though? It's 80+ bronze and has good reviews on Amazon?

Tried with one ram stick and will try with no GPU when I get the chance.

[lamphouse99]

1 minute ago, TheRealRqst said:

I can see where you're coming from, but the motherboard comes with 6th gen support out of the box.

That psu is kinda crap but that should at least boot the system, make sure your ram is in the right place (read motherboard manual for placement) something may be faulty, most likely that psu. Also my knowledge on intel processors is kinda limited as I’ve mostly only worked with amd the past few years

 

[lamphouse99]

7 minutes ago, TheRealRqst said:

It doesn't seem like it's bad though? It's 80+ bronze and has good reviews on Amazon?

Tried with one ram stick and will try with no GPU when I get the chance.

Try without the gpu I think most intel processors have onboard graphics.

[.Apex.]

36 minutes ago, TheRealRqst said:

When I turned the PC on for the first time, the DRAM light stays on for about 1 second, and then the CPU light quickly flashes and goes back to the DRAM light.

B150 boards only support 2133mhz RAM as per limitation from Intel, your RAM stick should technically default to 2133mhz but if the JEDEC spec for 2133 isn't listed then it might have an issue running at that speed

[TheRealRqst]

4 minutes ago, lamphouse99 said:

That psu is kinda crap but that should at least boot the system, make sure your ram is in the right place (read motherboard manual for placement) something may be faulty, most likely that psu. Also my knowledge on intel processors is kinda limited as I’ve mostly only worked with amd the past few years

 

Will try with another PSU, but that can't be the issue as it would surely get past post even with a not so good PSU right?

14 minutes ago, SavageNeo said:

That psu is really really bad. please get another one before it blows up!

tru with only 1 ram stikc on all the ram slots.

try without gpu

 

3 minutes ago, lamphouse99 said:

Try without the gpu I think most intel processors have onboard graphics.

Just tried to use integrated graphics with no GPU, still same error codes

[TheRealRqst]

3 minutes ago, Syn. said:

B150 boards only support 2133mhz RAM as per limitation from Intel, your RAM stick should technically default to 2133mhz but if the JEDEC spec for 2133 isn't listed then it might have an issue running at that speed

Where would I look for JEDEC spec? On the motherboard's website or the RAM? 

[.Apex.]

2 minutes ago, TheRealRqst said:

Where would I look for JEDEC spec? On the motherboard's website or the RAM? 

It would be for the RAM, which model is it?

[.Apex.]

5 minutes ago, Syn. said:

It would be for the RAM, which model is it?

Still though a simple BIOS update if available might fix your issues as memory compatibility would be improved as the BIOS matures, maybe you could borrow a 2133mhz kit from someone?

[TheRealRqst]

3 minutes ago, Syn. said:

It would be for the RAM, which model is it?

Well I've tried 16gb Corsair Vengence @ 2666, and 16gb Corsair Dominator Platinum @ 3200, but I would've thought at least the Dominator Platinum would have JEDEC as that's not cheap RAM.

[TheRealRqst]

1 minute ago, Syn. said:

Still though a simple BIOS update if available might fix your issues as memory compatibility would be improved as the BIOS matures

Will have to ask the seller if he updated the BOIS then, as don't fancy throwing money at the issue unless I absolutely have to.

[TheRealRqst]

Problem solved for anyone that is looking into an issue like this in the future. Motherboard was broken, which is what I suspected. Brought a brand new one from Amazon, connected all the same components on that motherboard and worked first time.

 

A telltale sign I had was the fans spinning to max speed briefly whenever the computer would turn on with the old motherboard, which seemed like the computer trying to restart ever so often, and it kept doing this.

 

Hope this helps anyone reading this post, but it could also be a CPU issue.

 

Thanks everyone for your help.