Asus A7V8X-X XP 2000+ Won't Start

[Valloq]

So here's the situation. Got the motherboard mentioned above (Asus A7v8x-x) with the chip in it (AMD XP 2000+), and a stick of DDR 3200 512MB 400 MHz in. The motherboard is brand new got it at a computer show, the cpu is retail from newegg, and the memory from fry's.

When I go to start up the computer with only these components plugged in, the fan whirrs for like a second, then just dies down by itself. Very strange. This is the current situation. However, at one point I had a GeForce 2 GTS card in along with the monitor connected, the computer would start up, fans would whirr, but no beeping and no display on the monitor at all. Computer seemed to just sit there. Monitor and Video card both work perfectly fine. We've tried swapping out the memory with another stick and that didn't fix it, even took the mobo back to the place we got it at and they exchanged us a brand new one, same problem with the fan just whirring up for a second then stopping dead.

Please help, any advice would be much appreciated. Could it be that this motherboard isn't compatible with the processor? And I can't even get into bios to check anything out, once again no video output and no beeps.

 

[mechBgon]

The usual reason for an AMD motherboard to power itself off like that is that it's getting an emergency-overheat signal from the CPU. Invariably, this means that the CPU is not making proper thermal transfer to the heatsink, and what can cause that...? Here you go:

• The user forgot to take the plastic protective slip off of the patch of thermal compound on the bottom of the heatsink. I've done this myself once, and that board cut power pretty darn fast! :Q
• The user installed the heatsink backwards. The heatsink is asymmetrical... the bottom has a step cut into one end, which must be matched with the raised, solid-plastic end of the motherboard's CPU socket. If it's reversed, the heatsink can't make square contact with the CPU core. This is THE #1 issue. See Figures 7, 13 and 14 of this guide for visuals on what to watch for. No part of the heatsink should actually touch anything but the CPU core and the four cornerpads.
• If the heatsink is a model that comes disassembled, the user may have reversed the clip when assembling the heatsink and clip. This is best-known for happening with the Thermaltake Volcano 7+, which does come disassembled. The pressure point of the clip must go directly over the CPU core.
• New one: the user may be trying to put a thermal sensor under the heatsink, which keeps the heatsink from making square core contact once the clip compresses the cornerpads and brings the heatsink down to meet the core.

Since I've got you reading this... does your CPU's core have a pronounced rectangular shape to it like the one in this photo at Hexus.com? This would be one of the new Thornton-core models, if it's as rectangular as that one in the photo. Your A7V8X-X would need BIOS revision 1004 or later to run such a core. The board's initial BIOS revision should be shown on a sticker on top of your BIOS chip.

 

[Confuse]

I have a similar problem where the system cuts power in a split second. But I have a P4. I did not peel off the thermal compound layer from the heatsink because it didn't mention anything of it in the manual and a friend of mine who installed his P4 didn't either, his system runs fine.

-Damian

 

[mechBgon]

Hi Confuse, have you ensured that your four-pin auxiliary power plug is connected to the motherboard? This is the cable with two black & two yellow wires, and it provides needed 12V and ground lines.

Also, many of today's nice 3D cards need an auxiliary power plug to operate properly, or to operate period.

Good luck, hope it works out for you

 

[Confuse]

Yeah, both power cables from the PS are plugged in.