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Need some help with my first build.

D

dark_nemesis

Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Messages
10 (0.00/day)
System Specs
System Name My First Gaming Build
Processor AMD A10-7870K AMD APU w/ Radeon R7 Graphics
Motherboard MSI A78M-E35 V2
Cooling Stock, but soon to upgrade to COOLERMASTER RR-HT2-28PK-R1 HYPER T2 Compact CPU Cooler
Memory On the hunt.... there was a.... mistake made...
Video Card(s) Nvidia EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Superclocked 2GB DisplayPort SLI Video Card
Storage 1x -120GB PNY SSD(Useing this hard drive for OS) 1x - HGST Ultrastar 2TB 7200RPM 64MB Cache
Case Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus Mid Tower
Power Supply Antec EarthWatts 80 Plus Platinum 650w
Mouse Generic
Keyboard Generic
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64x
Hi all,

This is my first post here, in fact I joined specifically to receive help. So let's dive right in shall we?

I've recently build my first PC, thanks to my girlfriend buying me my case, MOBO, and PSU for Christmas. Since then I've all but a CD Drive, and a non-stock cooler for my CPU. Here is my build:

CPU: AMD A10-7870K AMD APU w/ Radeon R7 Graphics
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 (not yet installed as it hasn't arrived)
MOBO: MSI A78M-E35 V2
PSU: Antec EarthWatts 80 Plus Platinum 650w
Memory: Black Diamond Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
HD1: 120GB PNY SSD(Useing this hard drive for OS)
HD2: HGST Ultrastar 7K3000 HUA723020ALA640 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Enterprise HDD (Using this harddrive for programs/application/etc.)

As stated, I've not installed my GPU card as of yet because it hasn't arrived yet.(ordered it on eBay) I believe that I've got everything installed correctly, however when I go to turn my rig on, I receive three beeps, and nothing is displayed on my monitor. I should probably mention that I've done some research, and I've read that the three beeps for my motherboard mean that my base64 memory has failed. Even though I find it hard to believe that both of my NEW RAM cards are bad, I have removed both cards, switched them, and even tried each one one at a time; every time I still get the three beeps. Can you guys offer any help? I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks in advanced,

dark_nemesis
 
Last edited:
Black Diamond memory????? Link to where you purchased it please.
 
ECC...
 
That's ECC RAM. Don't know if that will work in that motherboard.
 
Make sure the RAM is completely seated into the socket to where both clips are fully closed. Also there might be junk/corrupted settings in the BIOS.. With only one stick in the slot closest the CPU, find the CLR_CMOS jumper and temporarily short it while powering it on. Then power it off, remove the jumper, and see if it boots.
 
... Wow... I feel completely retarded... I wasn't aware that there is different types of RAM (minus of course the whole DDR2/DDR3 types). What type of RAM do I need then and also where is a good place to buy it at a decent price? I've just about capped my spending limit on this build, which is why I ask for a decent price. Also, thanks a ton guys. Seriously. I've been sitting here kicking myself in the ass thinking I've messed up something horribly, and am going to need to spend another $100-$300 to get this thing running. It's nice to know that it is simply the wrong RAM type rather then a major error of egregious proportions.

-dark_nemesis
 
depends on location, give us at least your country and we'll try to help you
 
I live in the United States. Sorry I guess I didn't even give notion to the fact that people may be apart of this site who live outside the USA. If you need more specific information, just PM me (does this site have PMs?) and I can give it to you.
 
you can search here
are you sure you need 2x8GB?
cause I think 2x4GB will be plenty for this build.
 
Thanks again.

st2000 said:
you can search here
are you sure you need 2x8GB?
cause I think 2x4GB will be plenty for this build.
Click to expand...
I honestly don't know if I need 16GB of RAM. This being my first build, I was going with the idea that you can never have too much memory. I was going to use this build for gaming, and I also use a couple of memory-heavy Adobe programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator for my school work(going for multi-media design). I've been using my laptop thus far, and I've noticed some major lags when using these programs, which is another reason why I was wanting to beef up my memory.

Would this RAM work for my build?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-SKILL-Rip...764772?hash=item462bb18464:g:fi0AAMXQxKxSDR1m

Also if you guys don't mind, I'd love your opinion. Is this build adequate for gaming? I generally play FPS such as Call of Duty, etc., RPGs such as Elder Scrolls, Just Cause, etc., and racing games such as Need for Speed.
 
it should work
 
Okay, thanks all! You all have been a tremendous help!
 
thebluebumblebee said:
It should, but did you look on the compatibility list?
Click to expand...

I did, and the vendor shows up, but not the exact model. For these are listed on the compatibility list:

G.Skill [RipjawsX] F3-10666CL9D-8GBXL DDR3 1333 N/A 1.5V DS 4GB
G.Skill [Ripjaws] F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL DDR3 1333 N/A 1.5V DS 4GB
G.Skill [Ripjaws] F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH DDR3 1333 N/A 1.5V DS 4GB
G.Skill [SNIPER] F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR2 DDR3 1600 N/A 1.5V DS 4GB
G.Skill [RipjawsZ] F3-12800CL9Q-16GBZL DDR3 1600 N/A 1.5V DS 4GB
G.Skill [RipjawsX] F3-12800CL9Q-16GBXL DDR3 1600 N/A 1.5V DS 4GB
(where it says N/A its talking about chipset)

The RAM in the link I posted has this listed:

Brand
G.SKILL
Series
Ripjaws X Series
Model
F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL
Also what is the difference between DS and SS when dealing with RAM? I've been meaning to ask, but keep forgetting? Is it talking about dual-channel and single-channel?
 
dark_nemesis said:
what is the difference between DS and SS when dealing with RAM?
Click to expand...
Single side/double sided. I don't think it's all that important anymore.
dark_nemesis said:
I did, and the vendor shows up, but not the exact model
Click to expand...
Ugh. :shadedshu: This motherboard only has 2 RAM slots, but they're testing quad channel RAM that's what the "Q" means F3-12800CL9Q-16GBXL I also wonder if G.SKILL has changed their naming convention. DDR3-1600 is also known as PC3L 12800

I don't see any problem with just getting what is considered "standard". DDR3, 1600, CAS 9. Like just about anything (I don't know about "V-Color") here: LINK
 
thebluebumblebee said:
Single side/double sided. I don't think it's all that important anymore.

Ugh. :shadedshu: This motherboard only has 2 RAM slots, but they're testing quad channel RAM that's what the "Q" means F3-12800CL9Q-16GBXL I also wonder if G.SKILL has changed their naming convention. DDR3-1600 is also known as PC3L 12800

I don't see any problem with just getting what is considered "standard". DDR3, 1600, CAS 9. Like just about anything (I don't know about "V-Color") here: LINK
Click to expand...

So then that RAM wouldn't work for my motherboard?
 
dark_nemesis said:
So then that RAM wouldn't work for my motherboard?
Click to expand...
Didn't say that. :laugh: That Ram, F3-12800CL10D-16GBXL is a bit slower than the F3-1600C9D-16GXM from that list I linked.

Explanation: I kinda slapped you back to the compatibility list because I want you to learn in this process, not just get something recommended by someone on the Internet. But I am not the type that says, "It has to be on the compatibility list or it won't work." MSI has tested many different RAM kits from different manufacturers, but they can't test them all. As you can see, they've tested G.SKILL's Ripaws, RigjawsX, RipjawsZ and Sniper series RAM.
MSI says:
Main Memory

• 2 x DDR3 memory slots supporting up to 32GB
• Supports DDR3 1333/ 1600/ 1866/ 2133*(*OC) MHz
• Dual channel memory architecture
• Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory
• Supports AMD Memory Profile (AMP)
• Supports Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)

So, IMHO, (most likely) any DDR3, 1333/ 1600/ 1866/ 2133, dual channel, non-ECC, un-buffered RAM will work. There's nothing special about those specifications. You just happened to pick up ECC registered RAM.

One last thing. Read the reviews and see if people are having problems with it on a setup like yours.
 
dark_nemesis said:
So then that RAM wouldn't work for my motherboard?
Click to expand...

He was just marveling at the fact that they tested quad-channel optimized RAM in a board with only two slots. Quad channel needs four modules in order to realize its full potential - just like you get a performance advantage installing a matched pair of 4GB modules in dual-channel mode (in the like-colored sockets) versus a single 8GB module. It doesn't have to be installed in quads.
 
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