Asus P4T-e not working...

[akshatp]

I posted this in Tech Support as well, but hopefully this will get it some more attention...

Okay, here is the scenario..

Couple weeks ago, I bought an ASUS P4T-E 478 socket motherboard and an Intel 1.8gHz P4 chip, along with 1GB of RDRAM 800mHz. Using existing PCI S3 Virge video card.

When I got the stuff, I put the machine together, tried to power it up; the fans and hard drives came on, but no VIDEO signal, no POST, no beeps.

So I followed the regular testing pattern, took out everything but the VIDEO, RAM and CPU, and then tried it. Same thing, still no beeps or video or POST. I tried setting the jumpers manually, clearing the CMOS, etc but nothing worked.

I figured the mobo was bad, so I sent it back, got a replacement.

Tried it with the new mobo, same thing. Even when I have JUST the cpu in there, no beeps or anything.

Any ideas what else I can try? What do you guys think the problem is? Is there somehting special about the p4t-e that I have to set or something? Could it be the Power Supply, it is supposedly a 400W Intel approved PSU.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[damocles]

My first major concern is your videocard. I850 boards dont support the voltages of many older cards, can you get a newer card (try an MX or more recent) to test with. Be wary that many old cards could damage your rig- dont use that card is my strong advice (edit- just noticed it was a PCI card, can you try it with an AGP card?)

Beyond that the P4t-E is pretty simple to setup

Make sure you have all the PSu conectors in place (including the special P4 connector)

Check that the Ram is seated and in the right slots and that you have blanks in any empty slots (although I guess you have 4x 256meg rimms?)

However this is confusing as both Ram and video errors give out a beeping pattern

 

[Mingon]

Its a dead or poorly seated cpu, try removing / re-seating the cpu and try again.

 

[akshatp]

The RAM is occupying all four slots, and is correctly reseatd.

The CPU is also corccectly seated, and I tried taking it out and putting it in again. I guess there is the possibility of it being defective though.

 

[Henrique]

Hi, akshatp

how did you solve your problem ? Was it a defective CPU ? I'm having the same problem and also send the mobo back and got a replacement but got the same situation. Can you help ? Tank you

Regards

 

[Brizanicus]

I helped a friend build a P-4 and Rambus combo with an Intel motherboard with simular results. It ended up being that all four RIMMs were not identical. All four were Samsung, two blue in color and two silver in color. They had the same basic specs, but on the Intel web site one of the sets were listed as supported and the other where not. After replacing the RIMMs with four identical one's it worked fine. I hope you figure it out.

 

[Henrique]

Hi,

Tanks for your help. I also have 2 Samsung rimms SILVER color. The specs seems ok to use with the P4t board. Do you mind checking it for me ?
The link is:
http://www.samsungelectronics.com/semiconductors/DRAM/Rambus_DRAM_RIMM/Normal_RIMM/Non-ECC/MR16R0828BN1/mr16r0824(6,8,c,g)bn1.htm

The part number is : MR16R0828BN1-CK8DF

Regards

 

[02F4iAusTex]

akshatp,
Did you solve the problem? I'm have the same problem, but with a Gainward Geforce 3 Ti200. I guess it probably isn't an AGP issue, if you have the same problem with PCI. Like you I took everything off the mobo but the chip (1.6), RAM (2x128 Samsung and the 2 CRIMMs), and video card to eliminate the variables. The mobo is getting power, since the LED is on. I tried both JumperFree and non JumperFree mode. All 3 of the power connecters from the powersupply are connected. Just to make sure something didn't get fried I tested the monitor and video card after I had this problem; they were both working. I even tried my old Geforce 256 in the P4T, but had the same problem. The power supply is a new 350W unit, so there shouldn't be any problems there (and it works on my old BX board). The RIMMS and CRIMMS are alternated just like it is advised in the user guide.

Any help appreciated.

 

[02F4iAusTex]

Well I solved it on mine! I just reseated everything (RAM, CPU, AGP card, power cables) and it POSTed.

 

[martd]

I have the same problem!! do you think maybe Asus have produced a bad batch of Boards??

 

[akshatp]

The motherboard is probably fine.

Your RAM placement is wrong. Email me for more technical information. akshatp@kendiesel.com

 

[suitsuiw]

My p4t-e with sound on board works fine, though. However, I couldn't hear any sound. I've checked the driver, the BIOS, the cable plug, still no sound. Any suggestion?

 

[gama]

I just put together a similar system last week.

2 things:

If you have a Northwood, the board must have the new 1005e bios. A lot boards with the older 1003 bios are still being sold. Northwood won't boot on those. You must flash to the newer bios. You'll have to first set the jumpers on the board from their default position and also clear the cmos -- you can find detailed instructions in some of the asus board forums.

If you are using 2 sticks of ram, they must be placed one each in the A1 and B1 slots, with the crimms in the A2 and B2 slots. Likewise, if you have 2 unmatched pairs, one matching set must be in A1 and B1 and the other set in A2 and B2. Putting the matching sets in A1 + A2 and B1 + B2 won't work.

After a year of fighting an Abit KT7A-Raid board, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. Unbelievable speed and stability. Good luck to you.

 

[anything]

Newbie here, needing some help/advice.
I just ordered the P4T-E and a P4A 2.0Hz to go along with it. After having read this post I'm concerned about the possibility of the problem mentioned, Northwoods not running on the older BIOS versions. Question is, how can you update the BIOS if you can't get the system to run at all?

Also, the last post mentions ASUS board forums...can anyone let me know where these might be?

Thanks for any help! This is my first attempt at "building" my own PC and I was hoping to make it as smooth a ride as possible...

 

[GrumpyMan]

The only way to boot with a Northwood and an older bios on the P4T-E is to use the dipswitches set to the proper fsb (no o/c) for your chip in jumper mode. It will then allow you to flash your bios to 1005e.
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