Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

[jaycj]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

Yes I loaded optimized default settings per your instructions. OS installed fine (Win7 Home Premium 64-bit). So now onto the power issue:

• Restart from Windows or the motherboard directly works fine.
• Shutdown from Windows doesn't turn off the motherboard: LED is off, CPU fan is on, BIOS light blinking between main and backup. If I try to restart from this state, it will not post with a "db" error ("flash update is failed"). Long clearing of cmos, going into bios, and loading optimized defaults makes it stable again until shutdown again.
• Sleep puts the system in a similar state to Shutdown (fan on, LED off, bios lights blinking), but it does appear to recover from sleep strangely enough back into Windows.

I tried a discrete graphics card again. In Slot 1 (closest to CPU), it does post now; I didn't realize at the time what was happening in bullet #2 above that Shutdown was putting it into a bad state. Slot 2 (middle), it posts to an "A6" state which is waiting for user input but the screen doesn't turn on. Slot 3 (farthest from CPU) does post and will load Windows. The power properties as described above remain the same with the graphics card in either slot 1 or 3.

I am 99% sure my power supply works as I used it to test my old ASUS Striker II board before I bought this board. Should I try a different power supply (have a Corsair 620 I think in my old computer)? Or any other things to try?

Thanks for your help so far!

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

Test with your Corsair psu to see if this helps.
Unplug the front panel on/off switch from the motherboard header and carefully turn your system on or off by momentarily connecting the two motherboard pins.

[2therock]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

Should I try a different power supply (have a Corsair 620 I think in my old computer)? Or any other things to try?

Thanks for your help so far!

Sounds like from all your posts a RMA is in your future.........
Try calling Gigabyte tech support. Surprisingly the hold time was shorter than I anticipated a week ago. I did call in the AM though. I think they are on EST. 626-854-9338.

[jaycj]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

profJim - I had already disconnected everything from the case (no headers, fans, etc). Again, it powers on immediately after turning on the power supply - not pressing the power button on the motherboard directly nor shorting the header pin. No bent pins as far as I can tell.

2therock - thanks for the phone number, I may try them in the morning. I have already traded notes via their online support system; similar suggestions as what everyone has suggested here (cardboard box, not in case; swapping components).

I'll try the other PSU if the other system isn't too labor intensive to take apart. If nothing but an RMA comes of this, I've at least learned a bit more about Gigabyte boards / bios. So thanks to everyone here!

[jaycj]

Solved: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error

FYI for anyone interested - I isolated the problem to my power supply, specifically the 8-pin connector on the Corsair AX850 (in any configuration). Very odd, since the AX850 4-pin connector works on my older board which is part of the 8-pin cable. I tried the older Corsair HX620 PSU I had in my old system and it works fine on the Gigabyte board. The AX850 was not new (about 1 year old), so I am not going to troubleshooting it further.

Thanks everyone for your help getting to that point!

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

Glad to hear that you isolated the problem with your AX850 psu.
Even the best power supplies can suddenly fail.
Thanks for the update.

Many forum members don't provide a detailed hardware list.
It's best when we know about every hardware component in the system including the brands and model numbers.

[jaycj]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

ok, unfortunately, update #2. I tried the board again a few days later and appeared to be DOA (doesn't post, but does turn on). I took it back to the physical store I bought it at (MicroCenter) and exchanged it for the same board since I was still within my return window. The new board worked fine with the Corsair HX620W the first several times I booted it, so I left it alone for another 3 days while I was waiting for my new PSU (Seasonic X-1050).

Once I hooked it up to the new Seasonic PSU, it wouldn't post at all: MB power light on, CPU/PSU fans on, bios lights flashing back and forth, nothing on MB LED with any codes. I tried a long cmos reset, with no luck. I retried the HX620W with the same lack of posting.

It seems this board doesn't like high powered PSU's and I question now whether my Corsair AX850 actually has a problem since it works flawlessly with my old board even now (ASUS Striker II Formula, QX9650 CPU).

Any suggestions? I am about ready to switch boards completely vs. another exchange. I've never had a build this frustrating.

[wazza300]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

does seem strange,ive known issues with older x58 boards and ocz psu's,incompatibility and not booting ect,other than try a completeley different branded psu or switch motherboard brands idk what else you can do

have you set up the board outside of the case just to rule out it shorting? lay the board on wooden or cardboard surface and test those power supplies

[wazza300]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

does seem strange,ive known issues with older x58 boards and ocz psu's,incompatibility and not booting ect,other than try a completeley different branded psu or switch motherboard brands idk what else you can do

have you set up the board outside of the case just to rule out it shorting? lay the board on wooden or cardboard surface and test those power supplies

[barkeater]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

ok, unfortunately, update #2. I tried the board again a few days later and appeared to be DOA (doesn't post, but does turn on). I took it back to the physical store I bought it at (MicroCenter) and exchanged it for the same board since I was still within my return window. The new board worked fine with the Corsair HX620W the first several times I booted it, so I left it alone for another 3 days while I was waiting for my new PSU (Seasonic X-1050).

Once I hooked it up to the new Seasonic PSU, it wouldn't post at all: MB power light on, CPU/PSU fans on, bios lights flashing back and forth, nothing on MB LED with any codes. I tried a long cmos reset, with no luck. I retried the HX620W with the same lack of posting.

It seems this board doesn't like high powered PSU's and I question now whether my Corsair AX850 actually has a problem since it works flawlessly with my old board even now (ASUS Striker II Formula, QX9650 CPU).

Any suggestions? I am about ready to switch boards completely vs. another exchange. I've never had a build this frustrating.

Because your having similar issue with new board I would tend to think the problem is not the board, but one of your other pieces of hardware. First thing is you need to get the computer to post.

OK, pull the board from the case and go through the hard cmos reset as I detailed in post #13. Board on cardboard and minimum components with one stick of ram in the furthest spot from cpu and the power source in off position and plugged into wall. I guess you can use whichever power source of the three you want but I'd suggest the new Seasonic. Once you have flipped the cmos battery and shorted the pins as indicated in your user manual, then hold the power on button on the board for 30 seconds. Flip the battery back and now turn on the power source. If the board didn't start (which I shouldn't have but I know this was one of your original problems) then hit the power button on the board to start. Be prepared to hit the delete key when the computer starts so you can enter bios. Don't just hold down but keep tapping repeatedly till you enter bios. If you have made it this far then immediately load optimized defaults and save and restart.

If all of that works, post back results. If not, try one of the other power sources (I'd try the 850 then the 620 last).

If all of the above works and you want to then try and turn off, try and do a power off through windows. If that causes the system to freeze or crash, then do another cmos reset and load optimized defaults, save and exit, and post back.

[jaycj]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

@barkeater and wazza300 - thanks. I was more risk averse when I picked up the second board - I started outside the case with the minimal config (cpu, 1 stick of RAM and keyboard) on top of the box the motherboard was packaged in. I tried a combination of each PSU, each stick of RAM in different slots and bios in either main or backup. I also tried the onboard video alone and an older video card. No dice, I could never get it to post. Power to the board seemed to work properly with the Seasonic and Corsair HX620. When hitting the power switch the fans would come on, but the bios lights just kept flipping between backup and main and the LED post indicator never lit up.

I decided to switch brands when I took the second board back (ASUS Sabertooth Z77) and everything works on this board even though it cost a bit extra. I did make sure my RAM was on the QVL on the ASUS website before I picked that specific board.

So I guess I will never know which exact component the board didn't like, but I'll list out again what I tried as a minimal config and hopefully it helps someone else:
CPU - i5-3450 (3.1GHz)
RAM - Corsair 1333 DDR3 (CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 - 2x4GB), note this is not on the GB QVL, but all I could find locally
Keyboard - Razer Black Widow Ultimate
PSU - Seasonic X-1050, Corsair AX850
GPU - Intel Onboard or BFG 8800 GTS 512

Thanks for everyone's patience and suggestions.

[barkeater]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

We'll, you can't say you didn't try. good luck with the Asus board.

[mfarlow]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

I had a very similar issue as yours.

First board I purchased would not post at all. Power button was lit, but when I pressed it PC wouldn't boot. A strange character appeared on the debug display, and it sounded like it was trying to boot, fans spun up, and there was a clicking noise, but it never posted. I tried all the standard debugging steps, removing from case, placing on cardboard, 1 stick ram, no video card, etc, but nothing worked. I returned that for a new board, and it all worked just fine, well for a while.

I had the 2nd MB for 3 months before I started to see boot issues. After powering on, the PC would try to boot, but never make it to the post screen. Fans powered up, I get a weird character on the debug display, then it powers down, and then it tries to start back up all by itself. It repeats this process over an over until I pull the power cord.

I've swapped out every component with the exception of the CPU. Tried 3 different PSUs, 2 different video cards (and no video card), 2 sets of RAM, RAM in different slots. Nothing seemed to make a difference.

Sure it could be my i5-3570k, but I seriously doubt it. I mean the board was working for 3 months before it failed. I've read of others having similar experiences with this board.

As much as I love the feature set on the MB, and having been a loyal Gigabyte fan for years, I think they have a problem with this board. I think it's time for me to jump ship to a more reliable product.

[kwhxkt]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

I have the same board and if run at default speed on the computer should boot as normal.
I find that if I change the spead to next clook speed then boot it will turn on then back off every time.
I am not sure but I think it is checking the system to make sure that no problem is found with the bios or clock.

[mfarlow]

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H - Weird Power On Issue + DB Post Error...RMA?

I suspect that it's a corrupted bios. Can't verify that though since I can't get it to post. With my boot issues, I've never touched the bios settings. I left everything at the default settings.