Abit AB9 Pro C3 POST Error

[earnold25]

Hey all,

I'm getting a C3 error at POST. Don't get video to see if i can even get to the bios, etc.

Intel Core 2 Duo 6300
2x 1gb DDR2 800 (running dual channel, tested with just one memory module, same issue)
EvGA 8600 GT Viedo Card
Anetc 850 Truepower Quatro PS


Also, video card has no power when I plug molex into connector next to video card on MB.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[BUFF]

http://www.abit.com.tw/faq/code.html

C3 Expand compressed BIOS code to DRAM Power on -> Stop at C300->C0->C3 looping
1. SPD value lost
2. graphic card error
3. DIMM slot damage
4. Over clocking issue

1. Please update flash BIOS first
2. Please change graphic card
3. Change slot first or send to RMA at last
4. Clear CMOS and load BIOS default

[earnold25]

well its not looping c0 to c3. it gets to c3 after passing c1 first.

I have no way to flash bios, as i have no video. I'd like to chage graphics cards, but don't have any other pci-e's. i'll see if i can find an old pci video card. hopefully that'll let me get a bit further.

i've cleared the cmos. could a low battery cause this?

any idea why video card won't power when molex connector on mb is connected? it appears to power fine without it?

[earnold25]

Ok, after much fooling, only 1 of my 2 Ram chips work. And that one only works in slot 3. Any other combination results in a C1 error.

With one piece of RAM in, i was able to get to the BIOS and load the latest . A20 I believe. Same memory errors though.

The memory is really the last of my concerns now. I got XP installed after the "fun" process of getting the SATA drivers to load during the XP install.

The memory is supposed to run at 2.2V, so I thought that may be why one isn't working, but I changed that value in the BIOS, but still get the C1 error.

[BUFF]

The memory is really the last of my concerns now. I got XP installed after the "fun" process of getting the SATA drivers to load during the XP install.

unless running RAID or AHCI (waste of time imo) you don't need to F6 install drivers as the ICH8/ICH8R has basic native SATA support.
Your memory problems could be the cause of your OS install problems though.

[earnold25]

i'm sorry i wasn't clearer. I got XP installed, and the memory is my last issue I'm dealing with.

Only 1 piece works in one of the slots. Same issue at different voltages I try. C1 error.

Also, something minor, but possibly relavent, the memory speed shows up as 798 instead of 800 when running through the BIOS screens.

Any ideas?

[BUFF]

& I was just pointing out that you didn't actually need to load a SATA driver at all during the install except if you wanted to run AHCI or RAID.

Did you run memtest on your DIMMs?
By the sounds of things you probably have at least 1 faulty DIMM.
You may also have a faulty board though if only 1 DIMM slot is working.

[0iD]

I had a similar prob when I set up my quad GT, one of my ram sticks was duff. A lot of swapping around to find which one & RMA'd it successfully to Scan.