PC Build Gone Wrong?

[sleepyhead]

Hi All,

Not great for a first post here but here we go...

I used to build AMD PCs 6 years ago and recently I decided to build an Intel C2D system, so I know the basics of PC building (and to some extent overclocking).

The new system consists of:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
Abit FP-IN9 SLi (Fatal1ty) Mobo
Corsair XMS2 PC6400 dual channel (2Gb/800Mhz)
XFX 8600 GT (Fatal1ty)
Zalman 600Watt PSU
SATA DVD Burner
IDE DVD Burner
Maxtor 120 GB IDE HDD
(some other non-essential peripherals that will be installed once it runs!!)

The problem:
I installed everything and hit the on button, no beep from the PC Speaker. I un-installed everything with exception to GFX, CPU and RAM. Still no Beep. Removed GFX. No Beep. Removed Ram. Constant tone. Install Ram, constant tone. Install GFX, constant tone. (The RAM was in DIMM 1 and 3 but once I installed it to DIMM 2 and 4 I got the constant tone.)

I can't find what the BIOS constant error tone means; I'm used to two tone errors or a sort of morse code long and short beeps.

Any help/advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!

PS I would search on here for similar issues only a) I am having to use the PC at work to get online and b) this is monitored and history logged hence c) I have been warned twice before over internet abuse at work...

[JimNastics]

"FP-IN9 SLi long beep" threw up quite a few results in Google:

FP-IN9 - Google Search

Unfortunately, I hate to say, it seems the long beep is pretty much fatal for this board just from the posts I read.

[JimNastics]

I'll also quickly suggest you have a look at other boards, such as the Asus P5K's, although I'm sure you don't want to hear that right now!

[Agent]

I'll also quickly suggest you have a look at other boards, such as the Asus P5K's, although I'm sure you don't want to hear that right now!

Yeah, because ASUS BIOSes are brilliant

[sleepyhead]

Further googling (thanks for the initial tip JimNastics ) has shown continuous beep = DRAM not inserted correctly...but both modules are in correctly? Slot in, click and the ejection tabs slot back next to the memory modules??

Is it possible to have duff memory straight from the vendor (scan)?

[peterb]

Possible but unlikely. Do you get the constant tone when teh RAM is in alternative positions?

[JimNastics]

Yeah, because ASUS BIOSes are brilliant

I know, that's why I recommended them.

[sleepyhead]

Possible but unlikely. Do you get the constant tone when teh RAM is in alternative positions?

I have swapped the memory modules about and the results are....one successful boot into BIOS with one memory module. Constant beep/nothing from the other memorymodule in all 4 DIMM slots.

If I sat still and thought about it logically, then I should have been able to do this myself. reality wise, I was upset and crapping my pants about how I have just wasted a bunch of cash on a defukt piece of kit out of the box.

Thanks to all those who helped. Greatly appreciated the time to read my technical issue.

[peterb]

Did you buy the memory as a pair? If so get an RMA from Scan and send it back. Might be worth running Memtest on the 'good' stick but no real reason to - certainly one stick is duff. Glad you solved it.

[b0ned0me]

Re: PC Build Gone Wrong? == situation normal. Glad it was something fairly straightforward.

On the other hand, my game PC now refuses to respond to the on button. It just sits there, being old and crap and in need of upgrading

[Agent]

I know, that's why I recommended them.

ASUS have some of the worst BIOS's ive come across. Its not even like they have a decent update schedule. There have been times when months have passed without an important update.
Can't recommend them.

[sleepyhead]

Did you buy the memory as a pair? If so get an RMA from Scan and send it back. Might be worth running Memtest on the 'good' stick but no real reason to - certainly one stick is duff. Glad you solved it.

Yep, got the memory as a pair.

I have NEVER (luckily) been in the position of purchasing duff goods; can I just confirm that in order to start the RMA process I just fill in the "Returns Query" on the Scan website or is there a proper RMA form I need to fill in that I have missed?

Thank you.

[peterb]

Fill in the returns query on the Scan website (or ring them up - 01204 474747 - don't use the expensive 0870 number) and talk to them. You have about a week to get the stuff back to them and oce confirmed duff, you should get a replacement pretty quickly. Their RMA procedure is very slick.

[mountainmachine]

Running memtest or similar will be usefull just to see for yourself if there are any errors in the sticks, obviously if it wont start at all then you couldnt go down this route.

I got round this on an old pc by swapping sticks in C1 and 3 as stick in C1 had errors,
.

[Lucio]

Before you RMA, check the RAM voltage!! I see a lot of posts over time about systems not booting with a set of PC6400 (or better) RAM installed and a lot of the time it can be solved by increasing the default 1.8v to the manufacturer's recomended specification (check the packaging, can be up to 2.1v!)

[sleepyhead]

Before you RMA, check the RAM voltage!! I see a lot of posts over time about systems not booting with a set of PC6400 (or better) RAM installed and a lot of the time it can be solved by increasing the default 1.8v to the manufacturer's recomended specification (check the packaging, can be up to 2.1v!)

Me being rather out of the technology loop (ie n00b); why would 1 stick of RAM work and the other not when they are supplied as a matched pair? It wouldn't make sense to me if the supposed matched pair required 1.8v for 1 stick to work and 2.1v for the other to stick to work. Maybe I'm just being idiotic...but then again, if the voltage was too low and I can't even POST...how would I ever get round that problem?

PS Hmm re-reading my post, I sound like I'm having a dig at you; that is not the case. I ask questions to further expand my knowledge base.