Abit AN8 Ultra based machine intermittently won't POST/boot

[8bit]

Hi folks,

Recently I built a machine for a friend, specs as follows:

Athlon64 3500+ (Venice)
Abit AN8 Ultra
2x 512Mb Crucial Ballistix PC3200 (I think, it was the ones listed as compatible with the mobo)
Radeon X300 PCI-E graphics card
Maxtor 80Gb + 200Gb HDDs

Initially (as some of you may recall) we had problems with the RAM as we were using Elixir stuff. The RAM tested fine in my PC so it was changed for the Crucial stuff listed above which seemed to solve the constant blue-screening.

However, it always had a slight problem in that sometimes when powered on, rather than go through the usual POST, it freezes with the HDD LED stuck on. The video card obviously isn't getting initialised either since the monitor still says "no signal" and goes back into standby mode. The error code on the readout on the board itself isn't listed in the manual. I can't remember exactly what code it is and I haven't got the machine here just now to find out but I'll post it here when I do.

We tried changing the PSU, were using a cheapo one that came in the case but have since swapped it for an Akasa PaxPower which I used to use in my own machine with no problems at all. Still the same problem.

Sometimes it's worse than others, yesterday it took him about 25 attempts to get the machine to start. Pressing the reset button never seems to work, only holding in the power button until it cuts power then powering on again will work, but usually not until after a few attempts. Occasionally it will start up with no problems.

There's nothing really non-standard about the machine and I'm completely stumped. Anyone got some ideas?

TIA
8bit

[BUFF]

The POST code on the LED would help.
Check the RAM timings & Vdimm set, you are better doing it manually than using Auto or by SPD.

[behappier]

Could be with the Maxtor Drive with the mobo chipset. Got one and it is not working too well...

[[GSV]Trig]

I find mine doesnt boot if I have my USB hub plugged in...

[8bit]

The POST code on the LED would help.
Check the RAM timings & Vdimm set, you are better doing it manually than using Auto or by SPD.

I *think* it's 0.4. (as in, it's got the dots at the bottom of each digit). As I said tho, it's not listed in the manual, at least not the printed one that came with the board.

Also worth pointing out is that I installed the latest BIOS 2 weeks ago, or whatever one was the latest at that time. It didn't help matters.

There's no USB hub plugged into the machine AFAIK. I'll try another hard drive but the only spare I have is a 120Gb IDE Maxtor. Will it make much difference if it's an IDE as opposed to SATA?

Cheers so far
8bit

[BUFF]

0.4 usually is a memory initialisation problem but it can be either the system RAM or the gfx card memory.
Try a single DIMM, swapping slots, making sure that they are fully inserted etc.

[8bit]

0.4 usually is a memory initialisation problem but it can be either the system RAM or the gfx card memory.
Try a single DIMM, swapping slots, making sure that they are fully inserted etc.

Hi again,

Haven't had a chance to test the memory etc. yet, should manage to get a look at it this evening. Had another question tho - if the system RAM checks out OK, is there any way of testing the graphics card memory?

[BUFF]

Unfortunately, this is where having spare hardware comes in handy to swap around.
If you haven't already, post in the Abit 939 nVidia chipset board forums with your problem.