MSI MPG Z390 + i5 9600k wont post

[Bidgbob]

Hey,

 

Have been watching LTT for a long time but this is my first forum post. Hopefully wont be the last (In a good way)

 

I've recently decided to upgrade my old AMD Fx 8120 chipset and pretty much everything in my board apart from the graphics card (plan to get a 3070 when its realistically possible)

 

I recently upgraded to:

 

MSI MPG Z390 Gaming edge AC

(Old) AMD R7 470

i5 9600k

Corsair Vengance DDR4 LPX 8GB x 2 3600Mhz

NZXT Kraken M22

WD Blue 500GB Nvme

 

By all account the install the upgrade went well until it came time to post

 

I've found the EZ Debug lights on the right side, regardless of me removing and trying different RAM slots the lights flicker between CPU and DRAM debug (See video)

 

Now the MSI manual isn't really that clear it just tells you what the lights relate to but doesn't give you any info on what that actually means

 

I've also tried removing the CMOS battery and putting it back in.

 

Can anyone help?

[Fasauceome]

The ram might not be supported. Do you have a friend's PC that you could borrow some ram from?

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

18 minutes ago, Bidgbob said:

I've also tried removing the CMOS battery and putting it back in.

Leave the battery out for several minutes with the system unplugged. Then put it back in and try again.

[Braini]

Do you get the same behaviour if you remove the GPU and/or RAM (while all other devices like mouse, keyboard, monitors are disconnected)? If you have a little speaker that you can connect to the mainboard it would be also interesting to know what beep sequence you get.

[Bidgbob]

Funnily enough, I built a rendering computer for the company I work for and theirs is 3200MHz RAM, it's sat right beside me as I'm working from home at the moment.

 

I've tried the CMOS but I'll give it another go and leave it out for longer. Just wanting to try the remove everything route first and I'll remove the CMOS after.

 

Strangely when I do that it's just the DRAM light on constant. There isn't any mention from the CPU light.

I've tried the RAM sticks in all configurations. Maybe 3600Mhz isn't compatible out of the box?

[Braini]

I think you can check here if your RAM is supported: https://de.msi.com/Motherboard/support/MPG-Z390-GAMING-EDGE-AC#support-mem-3

However, If it is not listed there that does not mean that your RAM is really not supported. If your Mainboard supports flashing the BIOS via USB stick I would also try that.

[Bidgbob]

Good point I never really thought of that. I assumed most motherboards supported most types of ram these days.

 

As far as I can see my Ram isnt on the list CMK16GX4M2D3600C18

 

But the ram in the computer next to me is! So I think its worth a try (CMK16GX4M2B3200C16)

 

In terms of BIOS flashing because I've shifted platforms and from a processor that is like 8 years old at this point I'm out of luck CPU wise with BIOS flashing.

 

UNLESS you know of a way to flash the BIOS on these MSI boards without a CPU. Never really got into BIOS flashing.

 

Also thanks for taking the time to help me on this guys, this is appreciated very much

[Bidgbob]

1 hour ago, Braini said:

I think you can check here if your RAM is supported: https://de.msi.com/Motherboard/support/MPG-Z390-GAMING-EDGE-AC#support-mem-3

However, If it is not listed there that does not mean that your RAM is really not supported. If your Mainboard supports flashing the BIOS via USB stick I would also try that.

 

2 hours ago, Fasauceome said:

The ram might not be supported. Do you have a friend's PC that you could borrow some ram from?

 

Thanks both for your help I tested the other RAM and it doesn't work with both sticks

 

However, if I leave only one stick in on the 4th slot then the pc posts to bios completely fine. (Besides the initial reset it needs to do to train the memory)

 

If I attempt to put anything in the second slot at the same time though the board wont take it and resorts back to the Debug code.

 

Do you think this is a faulty board? 

[Fasauceome]

5 minutes ago, Bidgbob said:

However, if I leave only one stick in on the 4th slot then the pc posts to bios completely fine. (Besides the initial reset it needs to do to train the memory)

You might want to try a BIOS update

[Bidgbob]

1 minute ago, Fasauceome said:

You might want to try a BIOS update

 

Will any of this have any impact on warranty etc?

 

I literally received the parts today, I don't want to do something wrong a mess everything up, then not be able to return the board

 

Also any pointers on how to go about this?

[Braini]

Updating the BIOS does not void any warranty. The mainboard vendor would probably even advise you to do it if you would contact their support I guess. I would assume that there is an option in the BIOS for updating it and if you are connected to the internet via ethernet cable it might autodetect and download the newest version. If not just follow the instructions of MSI in this youtube video: 

 

[cr8tor]

27 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

You might want to try a BIOS update

Very much agreed and no it wont void the warrant.

[Bidgbob]

Just been on the phone to eBuyer to double check and they said that if I update the BIOS and the motherboard bricks then I wont have a warranty to go back on

 

Surely that isn't right?

[Fasauceome]

Just now, Bidgbob said:

Just been on the phone to eBuyer to double check and they said that if I update the warranty and the motherboard bricks then I wont have a warranty to go back on

 

Surely that isn't right?

Don't tell them you updated the BIOS, they can't know. That's also bogus, updating the BIOS is part of the intended function of the board and is covered by manufacturer warranty

[Bidgbob]

Well crap, now they do know because I requested an RMA over the phone. So the details will be on there that I suggested updating the bios?

 

Is it worth the risk at this point? Apparently turn around times are 3 - 5 working days

[cr8tor]

22 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

Don't tell them you updated the BIOS, they can't know. That's also bogus, updating the BIOS is part of the intended function of the board and is covered by manufacturer warranty

Agreed 100%

 

Dont tell them you did it, its a normal function to update the bios. Doing so (correctly) is a common practice and its shameful for them to use this as an out to a warranty claim.

And you asked about it, you didnt say "i did this".

So tell them that due to their advice not to, you did not do it. End of story on that.

I dont like to lie to support reps, but when companies attempt to avoid warranty claims with things like this, well, i lie away.

 

I would update the bios and test, and if nogo, send it back to them.

Hell, if its new enough, simply return it and order a new one?

 

 

Also, whats the part number for your ram so we can verify its qualified on the sytem?

[Bidgbob]

I'm hearing you all, I did arguably a more stupid move and in true LTT fashion miraculously it worked.

 

I needed to take a photo of the pins for the RMA and noticed that one of the bottom pins was bent. I carefully used a scalpel blade (I guess I'm alright with them after a few years working with them most days) I pushed the pin back into 'rough' formation and it works. All into the BIOS and enabled XMP up to 3600Mhz.

 

Fingers crossed it's a permanent fix  and there aren't any nasty surprises later down the line. I'm hoping that the fact that it's in now and I wont be removing the CPU until it's time to upgrade again, will mean this is more on the permanent side.

 

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all of you. Very much appreciated. It's none of your jobs to do this but you helped me anyway and helped me turn what could've been a crap day into a great one

 

All the best!

 

 

 

[cr8tor]

1 hour ago, Bidgbob said:

I carefully used a scalpel blade

Next time use a toothpick if you can.

Less chance of damaging the pin.

 

But hey, fixed is fixed.

I have straitened pins on mobos and cpu's before with good luck. 

I have a machine in use right now that i had to straighten 5 pins on after the cpu was dropped on the socket.

It worked for 5+ years now. Good little machine.