Abit IP35

[Digerati]

Just picked this board up (I hadn't heard of the double boot issues) and I'm having that exact problem along with the issue of not getting a picture

I've hunted through several sites and using the methods I've discovered I can get a picture maybe one in ten cold boots. The problem I'm then having is that I cannot enter the bios, pressing the del key does nothing.

Any suggestions? I really don't want to RMA it as I've read that it is possible to get it up and running and its great once it is.

Can I get any help?

[BUFF]

full system specs.?
First thing to check is that your RAM voltage is set according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

[Digerati]

2x1024 OCZ DDR2 800 Platinum XTC. 4-4-4-15
Intel E6750 CPU
7800GT
Coolermaster M620 PSU

Is there a way to set the voltage without going into the BIOS?

[BUFF]

No.
try using 1 DIMM & see if that makes life easier - if it does go into the BIOS & set RAM voltage to 2.1 V if it's the original Platinum & try 2.0V if Rev. 2 (OCZ sat 1.9V-2.1V).

Are you using an USB kb by any chance?

[Digerati]

Using one DIMM at the moment. Have tried it in all slots.

I am using both a USB and PS/2 keyboard.

Ill keep trying to get it in the BIOS and ill set that voltage. There must be something I'm doing wrong for it to not work.

[Digerati]

I was up quite late last night trying to get into the bios but it seems the inital 'abit' boot freezes straight away.

Am I trying to flog a dead horse here?

[BUFF]

try using the PS/2 kb mainly as the default setting is for USB support by OS & not BIOS.
Have you got any other RAM? I have a suspicion that you may have the original 6400 Platinum which defintely had SPD issues.

[Digerati]

Well I didn't touch it at all yesterday. Came to it today and it worked, I was able to get into the BIOS straight away, change the voltage to the setting you recommended and it seems to be working fine at the moment. Currently installing the OS.

Very odd.

I'll do a BIOS update when its up and running. Thanks for your help BUFF.

[flibblesan]

I have these issues also. Come home from work, and it takes about 15-20 minutes to get the PC to boot by constantly re-trying. Once it boots, it's stable and restarts fine. I've swapped my ram about, used 1 stick and 2 sticks, and even tried two sticks of OCZ and nothing makes a difference. I'm using the latest BIOS also.

I bought this board from YoYo from the store personally, but as I live in Nottingham I really don't want to have to travel to London to return it, and wait weeks for a new board. I've got rid of my old P5N-E SLI board already.

However, I don't see if RMA'ing it would solve anything. It seems a lot of people have these issues with the P35 chipset. It's an excellent board apart from the cold boot issues, and I want to keep it.

[BUFF]

shouldn't take that, something is obviously wrong.
have you set your RAM voltage correctly?

[flibblesan]

shouldn't take that, something is obviously wrong.
have you set your RAM voltage correctly?

I'll check that tonight when I get home. It's been like this off-and-on since I got it.

How long do yoyo take to RMA usually?

[BUFF]

haven't a clue but if you have spare components (gfx card, PSU etc) try swapping as it doesn't sound as if it's the mobo.

[flibblesan]

I've tried different ram. I'll try one of the 7600GT's I have lying about and see if this improves things.

[flibblesan]

Ok, small update. I have increased the RAM voltage to 1.95 and it boots on the second attempt without any problem. Reboots are fine.

[BUFF]

it boots on the second attempt without any problem.

do you mean that you physically have to reboot it twice or that it starts booting, stops, restarts & continues into Windows?
If the latter this is due to P35 chipset behaviour but if you upgrade to a later BIOS it should disappear unless you remove all power (incl. standby) from the mobo in which case it will do it again on the 1st boot following reconnection.

[flibblesan]

I have to press the reset button to get it to boot, as I get no display. But once I do this, it works fine. I'm running the latest BIOS. My board is the IP35 Dark Raider.