NO post FF 790i Ultra

[sidera]

I'm really tired of this issue. I've reviewed the many 790 forums and tried everything I can - I still have a 790i that will not post and when powered up immediatly goes to FF. No bios... nothing... I put a support ticket in on June 5, 2008, ticket number 162034. I haven't heard anything. Can anyone at XFX help???
setup -
XFX 790i Ultra
EVGA 9800 GTX
2x2GB OCZ PC3 1066 (only using 1 for now)
Ultra X3 1000W PSU
Intel Q9450

[Miker]

Sounds memory related.

[sidera]

I tried a friends 1GB stick memory as well - still doesn't work.

[mrsdoyle]

Hi What is the CPU voltage, from what i can gather the stock voltage for it is 0.85v-1.3625v (v) if yours has defaulted to a voltage lower than the top end of that, maybe you need to raise it a little. Good luck:smile:

________________

Main System

Coolermaster RC-1000 Cosmos case|Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Go | 2x 1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3 PC3-12800 l XFX nForce 790i Ultra Motherboard |2 XFX GeForce 8800GTX SLI | Coolermaster RealPower 1000W| Raptor 140GB main| seagate 300GB Storage|

[XFX Tech]

If it runs through codes before FF that it is probably your video card or the PCIE slot. Try another card or swapping around the card to other slots. If it is instant FF than that is a CPU power issue. Make sure you have the 8 pin EPS power connection plugged in. If it is than try another power supply. If you still get instant FF than make a ticket at http://www.xfxforce.com/en-us/Help/Support.aspx and PM me the ticket number and I can get an RMA issued for the board.

[Sh0ckerNXT]

If it runs through codes before FF that it is probably your video card or the PCIE slot. Try another card or swapping around the card to other slots. If it is instant FF than that is a CPU power issue. Make sure you have the 8 pin EPS power connection plugged in. If it is than try another power supply. If you still get instant FF than make a ticket at http://www.xfxforce.com/en-us/Help/Support.aspx and PM me the ticket number and I can get an RMA issued for the board.

Does it matter performance wise which ports you run the video cards in or even a single card in any port?

[XFX Tech]

You must have a card in the top slot. If you put it in any other slot you will get a display but it will tell you to move the card to the top slot. When in SLI you must use top and bottom. If you are just using two cards without SLI you can use top and any. The top and bottom PCIE are both Gen2 so they are faster than the center slot.

[sidera]

The board instanly boots to FF and stops and stays there. Looks like the website lost my original ticket and I am finally conversing with a tech to RMA the board. They belive it is a BIOS corruption using the nForce BIOS utility.

BTW I discovered on the new website that if you use a hyphen when putting in a ticket the ticket will not be created.

[Drumstix61]

Dagnabit!
Now I have this issue!?

Running fine for over 2 weeks.

Only red flags I can think of are;

1. I got an error today trying to flash the bios.
a.(using latest 6.10 system tools),but didn't burn the .bin file or drop it into Nero for the AWDFLASH to work.I just browsed for it and opened,then started installing but error.
No prob,comp worked fine.

2.Tried to boot Nvidia system monitor,and got error message that it couldn't do it's thing without the latest 175.16 drivers?

So I downloaded driver cleaner and read the "read me" file,and re-booted in order to get to safe mode,delete old driver and install new.

BAM!:frown:

Power Button doesn't work,nor Re-start.Had to use the power supply switch to turn off.
Unplugged,cleared CMOS,(both battery and jumper and held power button for 10 seconds,plus numerous Re-power ups.(only PSU switch functions).

And straight to instant FF,no other post codes...

Ordering another power supply today,as per XFX 's Tech advisement.

@sidera;
Have you found a solution?
I believe as you and XFX do,that it is a BIOS corruption.That's the only thing new I just tried in 2 weeks of being up and running.Corrupted BIOS chip perhaps?

@XFX Tech;
Have You guys found the solution?...
Should I start a ticket or wait for the new PSU?

Son of a Gun,I was looking forward to a day of flying "OpenFalcon 4.5"...

@ all;
thanx and cheers!

[XFX Tech]

Did the instant FF happen on the restart directly after trying to update your BIOS or was it a few restarts after. If it was right after restarting than it could likely be a corrupted BIOS. If it was down the line than it very likely could be your power supply because FF is a CPU power issue as well. Do you have another power supply? Even a small one?

[Drumstix61]

Hi XFX Tech,
and thanx for the reply :icon_tiphat:

Yes,

Just as soon as I clicked "Re-start".
Instantly.
No "Power Off sequence" or "Windows is shutting down/saving settings" notice.

No post,no codes.Just a Blank screen.
Just stayed at "FF".
Never shut down.

Like the board is stuck or froze @ FF and can't shutdown proper.

No access to another PSU but new one will arrive in 3 days.

, and I'll put the events in better order.

First,
downloaded PO5 .bin file,then opened System Tools.
Browsed for it,loaded it and it said something like "root files ok,starting.."
Got almost thru and got error.

Second,
Decided to try PO4 at 75 megs,but saw it has system tools 6.10,and I already had 6.10,so didn't install ST 6.10...I only grabbed the .bin file and again in Nvidia system tools,browsed/loaded/error.

Third,
As all of us geeks worry about temps and system,so,I opened...or tried to open,
Nvidia System Monitor...
and was greeted by the error,"cannnot function till you upgrade your drivers"....weird.

The LED readout has not changed or cleared during many power ons or, unplugging/removing extras.

Straight to "FF".

If you don't mind,I'd like to just PM ya from now on and save forum space.
Appreciate the help,and PSU will be here soon to test with.

[stoggie]

I've been getting that on cold boots for some reason. As soon as I hit the reset button it usually clears it. I also get it trying use the 9800GX2 in the bottom PCIx slot as the primary. A flick of the reset switch also fixes that. Memory is in 0/2. 2GB Patriot which of course isn't on the list so I guess I can't complain:-(
Runs stable as could be once started with P05 after I moved the memory to 0/2 using the default bios settings and voltage at 1.8.

I'm not sure if this problem is related but I just wanted to throw that one out there. I'd put my money behind a corrupted bios though. I'm going to put on P06 tonight.

[lbeavisc]

good luck with p06. currently the iso image is empty, so no bin file to update to.

[mrsdoyle]

Hi switched on this morning and...Nothing. Yes the infamous FF at post error. Anyway I am typing this now on the once dead computer, here’s how I got it to spring back to life, hope this helps some of you. Unplugged all power cables, removed cmos battery for 15 mins also reset jumper on for 15 mins, remove graphics card from 1st slot and put it in last slot, only use 1 stick of ram (I had mine in 3rd slot from left) Wait...ok now put battery back in put jumper back, reconnect cables and power up hopefully it works and you will be looking at a screen telling you that you have the graphics card in the wrong slot, shut down and return card to proper slot and hopefully you are back to normal. It worked for me so don’t give up because returning the board will probably be a pain. I have no idea what caused this, I had not been doing anything to the computer and it was working fine the night before and I have no idea why this fix should work either it doesn’t make any sense but it won’t hurt to give it a try. Good luck.


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Main System

Coolermaster RC-1000 Cosmos case|Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Go @3.6ghz | 2x 1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3 PC3-12800 l XFX nForce 790i Ultra Motherboard |2 XFX GeForce 8800GTX SLI | Coolermaster RealPower 1000W| Raptor 140GB main| seagate 300GB Storage|

[stoggie]

A fresh P06 with CMOS Battery out and a Reset Jumper on still did nothing for my pain. It's so random it drives me nuts. I've tried setting the voltage settings on all the options in the bios to what they are when the system boots properly with no luck.

Still stable as could be when it does get going. So far setting everything to auto and putting memory voltage to 1.8 makes it the most reliable for starts. So I get 1 of 2 errors:
FF or 7F, no video card blue light on either
Blue light on secondary Vid card from BIOS with Error P5 on board (Move to top slot error on screen) WTF is P5 ? It isn't listed in the manual

The memory is 2, 2GB Patriot DDR3 1600 7-7-7-20 as set by auto in the bios. Sticks are in the Light Grey slots 0,2 (Count from Left to Right?)
Q6600 Proc with voltage set at auto
FSB settings are at Auto
1200W thermatake PS which should be plenty for 2 9800 GX2

It's completely random on start I get.

thank you for any help on this.. I just want to not feel alone!

[XFX Tech]

Double check to see if your memory is setting the Command Per Clock to 1T for the memory. If so set it to 2T. CAS7 1T is very aggressive for 1.8V.

The diag LEDs list hex codes so P5 shouldn't even be possible. Does it look like some of the display is damaged and perhaps not displaying and it is an 85 maybe?

[stoggie]

Yeah.. no luck with that. Still just as random as ever. But did keep getting the fail-safe startup message when I when I changed it to 2.

As far as the Light, when it Inits up. Not sure, but what kind of error would 85 be? Says USB final init according to the manual. I didn't even have anything plugged in. Just power and video.

[cobra6]

I also discovered that with a 45nm CPU at default 1333Mhz FSB you get an FF code and it doesnt post bios.

The solution to this problem is to set the FSB to 1334Mhz, et voila, it boots :)

Cobra 6

[Sh0ckerNXT]

So if it is a corrupted bios what then?