For almost a month now I've been searching all over the web for a solution to this. My DX58SO failed to post, and continuously rebooted when I moved it into a new computer case. A LOT of things changed when I did this move, so it took a long time to track down the real reason the board wouldn't start back up. Things that were changed during the move:
- new case (obviously)
- CPU was removed and cleaned for new heat sink installation
- new memory was installed (4 x 8 GB) <-- *won't work*
- new graphics card
- additional network card
- add-in Adaptec RAID card
So, when the board failed to start up, the first thing I thought was maybe the CPU wasn't seated correctly, maybe the heat sink, etc., etc., etc...).
Removed everything from the board, so only the original graphics card and CPU + cooler were installed. Nothing. No beeps. No graphics. Just dead silence.
So, I installed just 1 stick of the new memory (8 GB) into the board. Still nothing.
I removed the CMOS battery, and while waiting for a few minutes for everything to discharge, I dug up the mobo manual to see if I could find anything of use in there. Guess what? The BIOS Configuration Jumper was missing!
The jumper must have fell off while moving the board over to the new case. In all these years of building computers I've never had to mess with that, so it never occurred to me that it could fall off!!! I looked around and found it lying in the old case. But, now that throws a whole new wrinkle into the mix. Maybe, the BIOS was being updated this whole time, and now it's trashed.
I re-installed the jumper into the normal position, and started up the machine again, and,...
Now, this set the mobo into a state of continuous power cycling. The board would power on for what seemed like about 1 sec, then power right back off again, and it would repeat this unending cycle, over, and over, and over again.
So, if you've been following along, I have just the CPU + cooler, the original gfx card, and 1 stick of 8GB memory in the board.
Since, the BIOS jumper had fallen out, I then thought, maybe the BIOS needs to be reflashed. So, I downloaded two BIOS versions (5599, and 4598). I placed them both on CD's and USB's. Guess what?
Nada. Nothing.
In recovery mode, there was still no graphics on the monitor (yes the monitor recognized the graphics card, but there was no output from the mobo). There was also no activity from either the CD reader, or the USB drive when either was used. So, the BIOS was not getting updated.
So:
- can't recover/reflash the BIOS (recovery media not recognized)
- can't reset the BIOS (removing the battery didn't help)
- can't boot into the BIOS (continuously power cycles with the jumper in normal mode)
- all memory removed gives no beeps, and there's no on-board digital readout, or graphics on the monitor, so I can't tell what's going on
...back to internet then.
After scouring the interwebz once again, and then again, and then... anyways, I came upon this one forum post that mentioned something about the type/brand of memory that they were using. Now, until then I had just assumed that the memory I was using was fine. Since, since this had started I have already moved that memory into another board, and it has been working well with no issues. Well I went back, and got the original memory that was previously in this mobo. Took just 1 stick. Placed it in the board and,....
Nada. Nothing. No joy. :-(
Ok. Different memory, so I will retry all the troubleshooting steps again: try jumper in normal mode, try reset BIOS, try recover/reflash BIOS.
All with the same exact results. *poop*
Now all this time. When troubleshooting with just one memory stick, I always placed the stick in what I believed was DIMM slot 0. I mean visually - and, so I assumed logically - that the black memory slot wast DIMM slot 0.
...it's not.
The black memory slot is Channel A, DIMM 1. Not DIMM 0.
...and now that I am reviewing all my other mobo manuals, it appears that it's a standard that the DIMM 1 slot, for any channell is always black.
So,...
I first moved that 1 stick of memory to the Channel C slot. Everything worked fine there. No more power cycling.
I then moved it back to Channel A slot 1 (black). Power cycling issue occured again.
Then I moved it into Channel A, DIMM 0. Everything worked fine again.
Also, all my BIOS settings were as I had left them originally.
To recap:
=======
No post. No beeps. No graphics. Fans run, but nothing else seems to be happening == BIOS jumper is missing.
- check to see if it has fallen off, of maybe it's loose, and not making good contact with the pins.
Motherboard powers up, then immediately powers off, then continues this cycle repeatedly == memory error
- check to see if your memory is compatible, and if only using one stick of memory, make sure it's NOT in the black memory slot.
Hope this helps someone else out there. This is an expensive board, and an expensive processor.
addl keywords: lga 1366, core i7, Core i7-960, Core i7-970, Core i7-990X