Asus P5K Deluxe Disaster - really need some help...

[imported_crf]

OK, please bear with me here - I will get there in the end...

Just built a brand-new rig based around an Asus P5K Deluxe, Intel C2D E6700, 4Gb Patriot RAM, Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme, Thermaltake Toughpower 1000W PSU, BFG 8800GTS 320Mb OC2, 3Ware 9650SE RAID controller (plus assorted drives) an X-Fi Fatal1ty soundcard, Logitech G15 keyboard and Razer Copperhead mouse.

Boot it up first time no problem. I went into the BIOS and using the built-in tool flashed the latest BIOS - 0311 - for the board. Set up the BIOS, saved and exited. System shuts down to reboot, fans spin up for about a second - then nothing - PC is dead. Try various obvious things to get it going - no joy. OK, I figure maybe I mis-set something in the BIOS and so the system can't boot - no problem, I'll reset the BIOS with the battery/jumper (as per the manual) - that's when I find out some genius at Asus put them both directly under the GFX card...nice one. OK, GFX card out, reset the BIOS, put the card back in, hit the power - and system starts fine. Go back into the BIOS, double-check my settings, save and exit - and the problem strikes again.

To cut a long story short if I make ANY change to the BIOS (even something simple like adjusting the time/date) and save and exit, my computer dies. If I leave the BIOS alone, computer (seems) to be ok but useless as I can't configure the hardware... I've tried flashing down to 0202 and even back to the original 0123 BIOS (clearing CMOS each time) but no joy.

Luckily I got my old computer so I can post for help here, but I'm completely lost - been at this all day now. ANY help would be VERY much appreciated...Nothing at Asus about this...

 

[tungtung]

Shouldn't the board pick up all the information automatically?
The last 3 systems I've assembled over the past 3 years doesn't need me to tweak anything in the BIOS at all to get everything works.
If it doesn't pick up all the configuration automatically, I kinda doubt that the board actually is working properly

So to me it sounded like your board has bite the dust.
Just RMA it or ask the store for a replacement.

Edit:
Just saw that your have that 3Ware card there ... so yea you'll definitely need to go to BIOS to change boot setting etc.

Second edit:
Well you can also try to just boot the system with one stick of RAM and video card only. And see if that gets you anywhere. Then from there try to add more RAM and the other cards one by one, if that first step works.

 

[phile]

Originally posted by: crf
OK, please bear with me here - I will get there in the end...

Just built a brand-new rig based around an Asus P5K Deluxe, Intel C2D E6700, 4Gb Patriot RAM, Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme, Thermaltake Toughpower 1000W PSU, BFG 8800GTS 320Mb OC2, 3Ware 9650SE RAID controller (plus assorted drives) an X-Fi Fatal1ty soundcard, Logitech G15 keyboard and Razer Copperhead mouse.

Boot it up first time no problem. I went into the BIOS and using the built-in tool flashed the latest BIOS - 0311 - for the board. Set up the BIOS, saved and exited. System shuts down to reboot, fans spin up for about a second - then nothing - PC is dead. Try various obvious things to get it going - no joy. OK, I figure maybe I mis-set something in the BIOS and so the system can't boot - no problem, I'll reset the BIOS with the battery/jumper (as per the manual) - that's when I find out some genius at Asus put them both directly under the GFX card...nice one. OK, GFX card out, reset the BIOS, put the card back in, hit the power - and system starts fine. Go back into the BIOS, double-check my settings, save and exit - and the problem strikes again.

To cut a long story short if I make ANY change to the BIOS (even something simple like adjusting the time/date) and save and exit, my computer dies. If I leave the BIOS alone, computer (seems) to be ok but useless as I can't configure the hardware... I've tried flashing down to 0202 and even back to the original 0123 BIOS (clearing CMOS each time) but no joy.

Luckily I got my old computer so I can post for help here, but I'm completely lost - been at this all day now. ANY help would be VERY much appreciated...Nothing at Asus about this...

The easiest thing to conclude, here, is that the board is faulty. Ultimately, though, it's too early to jump to any conclusion. This could easily be a memory or PSU issue, or simply a compatibility issue that manifests itself with whatever settings you're using when configuring the BIOS.

The best first step is to strip out all the hardware that is not absolutely required, in order to boot the machine. This means removing everything but the following:

- mobo (duh)
- CPU (duh)
- PSU (once again, duh... heh)
- HD (one drive, set to run in Standard IDE mode - no AHCI, and no RAID)
- GFX card
- One stick of mem in Slot #1

Step #2, if everything is working with factory BIOS setting:

- set the memory to run at its rated speed (800MHz if PC2-6400, you get the idea)
- set the memory voltage to the rated value (DDR2 memory tend to NEED 2.0v or more - check the exact specs for your mem)
- set the memory timings according to the spec, or leave SPD timings enabled

I am not familiar with the P5K BIOS, but it's likely similar other recent ASUS boards in that you'll need to enable the overclocking features of the board in order to access some of the above settings. Usually, this is done by setting Jumperfree to A.I. overclock, or something to that effect.

Leave the FSB at stock.

Step #3, assuming you have gotten this far without any trouble, is to run a memtest86 on each of your memory sticks. One full pass of each of the ten tests should complete without any errors.

www.memtest.org

Burn the ISO image to a CD. Configure your BIOS allow booting from CD/DVD. Boot with the CD. The diagnostic will begin automatically.

Step #4, assuming all your mem has passed, is to reinsert your 4 DIMMS and rerun memtest.

Step #5 is to configure your BIOS as you want it. If this step does not cause any problems as before, the problem has either been fixed, or being caused one of the components you have yet to reintroduce into the system.

Also, make sure to disable any mobo component that you will not need, like onboard audio, third-party SATA controllers, etc.

One more thing: list the exact makes models of all your gear.

Reply to this thread with any results.

-phil

 

[gchanjam]

I was getting some weird problems with my P5K Deluxe until I flashed to 0304 and now it has been smooth sailing for a good 2 weeks. I tried 0311 and it was too buggy for me although nothing as serious as your problems.

 

[eva2000]

i just updated my P5K Deluxe from 0304 beta to 0311 official from asus http download (there is a 0311 beta flying around on ftp asus site) with no problems. I always suggest update via bios ez flash 2 or afudos. Don't use asus windows update.

System specs:

- Q6600 B3 ES
- Corsair Nautilus 500 3/8" ID
- Asus P5K Deluxe 0304 beta upgraded to 0311 official
- 128MB Gainward FX5200 PCI (testing purposes)
- 2x1GB Super Talent T1000UB1G5 Micron D9GKX Singles
- 74GB WD Raptor 8MB on SATA 1 port
- Pioneer DVR-08 Burner
- Sony FDD
- 1KW PCP&C SLI psu
- WinXP Pro SP2


Guys 0311 also has some AHCI improvements/changes so if you use SATA raid or raid with AHCI.. using non-raide SATA IDE config to see if it helps