New build, no boot...

[UpTheToon]

I have just built a new pc for my parents but it wont boot.

I get one longer then three short beeps which seems to indicate (looking online) its a problem with the VGA card.

This makes sense as the monitor shows nothing. Just wanted to see if anyone has any ideas of what I can try before RMA'ing the VGA with scan.

I have tried reseating the card and changed to ram to different slots as this appears to be a problem for some people with this m'board (but they get no beeps).

The spec is...

P5N-E SLI
BFG 8800 gts 320mb
E6600
2GB Csair Twinx DDR2 XMS2GB PC5400
500W SEASONIC S12-500
320G SAMSUNG SATA2 HDD HD321KJ

Cheers.

[staffsMike]

well before you send anything back, i'd try and test the parts of a different pc if you have one you can use..

try and contact asus for conformation and what the beeps mean.

Have you tried a single stick of ram?

[UpTheToon]

Aye, I'll have another go at different configs with the ram tomorrow.

Unfortunately I do not have another pci-e card or compatible motherboard so I cannot swap either out.

cheers, I'll give asus support an email too.

[Metier9]

I thought 3 beeps on an asus mobo was the RAM?

[silentvoice]

Try using one of the RAM modules in DIMM 2 or 3 (as opposed to 0 or 1). See what happens.

[UpTheToon]

hmmm, yes, after a bit more research I think I was looking at a different Bios.

Ill have a good 'ol ram swap tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.

[Blitzen]

I dunno how these 8800's work but is there a power connector for it?
If so, did you plug it in?

[staffsMike]

I dunno how these 8800's work but is there a power connector for it?
If so, did you plug it in?

not a bad point that lol..but normally it will give at least a sign of life without the power connector...but thats on older cards...the amount of power these new cards need you might be right...worth making sure.

[UpTheToon]

haha, yes, the power connector was in.

[CrazyMonkey]

If you added your Location, perhaps if there were people near by. Some could help, i know that there are many people close to me.

Try with one stick or ram, try both sticks on there own.

[UpTheToon]

OK, now i am pretty stumped.

I have tried each individual ram module in all of the four slots. Still the same one longer, three shorter beeps, no video output.

I have tried some other things... reseting the CMOS, diconnecting the DVD writer, even the hard drive and VGA card just to see, always the same.

I do not have any compatible hardware to swap in to test.

Surely the chances of two faulty ram modules is very low?

Thanks for any assistance.

[UpTheToon]

Maybe is is the graphics card...

On the ASUS website...

BIOS
4 Mb Flash ROM, AWARD BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3
ASUS EZ Flash 2,ASUS CrashFree BIOS 2

So it is an AWARD BIOS and at

http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/awardbeep.htm

"1long, 3short No video card or bad video RAM"

I cant do much to test without another PCI-E card or PCI-E capable motherboard anyway though.

[UpTheToon]

ok, after visiting a friendly local pc repair shop which was armed with a PCI diagnostic tool it turns out... the motherboard is knackered.

Packed up to be returned... hope this fixes it!

[UpTheToon]

Ah nuts...

Ebuyer are sending the motherboard back, it worked fine for them.

They went on to say...

"Please note that not every memory chipset will be compatible with the motherboard."

Well thats just great... I have read that people have had problems booting up first time with 800mhz memory but not with the stuff I got for this build.

I have got my hands on some older memory so I will try with that. Ill see if there is an updated BIOS too.

Does anyone have any comments/suggestions?!

Cheers.

[UpTheToon]

Hi again...

sorry to keep spamming this thread but...

The other RAM I had was DDR not DDR2 so I couldn't try it.

With a lack of suitable replacemet ram to test I once again headed off for my friendly local PC repair man.

He tried another stick of DDR2 5400 but with no difference.

He swore blind the motherboard is broken, but with ebuyer saying they have tested it and with other people seemingly having problems with some ram and this board, I am not so sure.

I am building my own machine soon so I could buy my 6400 ram now and try it, I dont really want to pay another p&p charge though...

What would you do next? Help please!

[Clunk]

If the motherboard is indeed working fine, there are 2 things that spring to mind.

1 or 2 of your ram sticks are knackered, you need to get them tested, or try some different ram again.

Your PSU has an incompatibility issue with that motherboard. This is perfectly possible, I have had to replace a perfectly working Enermax Galaxy because an Asus Commando refused to play nice with it, yet a Silverstone Zeus psu worked first time.

Some other things to try..

Build up the motherboard on a piece of cardboard, with the very basics connected. Just 1 stick of ram. Clear the cmos.

If you are confident doing it, wire up the power cables (8 pin and 24 pin), and make sure the board lights up, then short the power switch jumper with something conductive (screwdriver for example), when you short the jumpers, it should try and start, the cpu fan should spin up. If that isnt happening then you need to test the psu....try that lot first.