ATTN P5K owners: horrible BIOS problem

[Pollock]

I currently only have 1x1GB in there, and the BIOS are extremely sluggish. It keeps complaining about the CMOS being reset (I've reset it plenty of times), and it's prompted me to restore the BIOS from CD several times. It checks the NVRAM, and says there isn't enough space in the runtime area. After this, I can't do anything.

I don't have a clue how else to describe this. If I could flash to the newest BIOS, I would!

 

[BassBomb]

Wow thats really messed up, do you have another machine which you can download BIOS to a flash drive and flash the BIOS?

Make sure your RAM is set to the right voltage. I had alot of problems when mine was not set to the proper voltage.

 

[Cutthroat]

That sounds like a real mess, the only thing I can think of is to try a new battery. But I'm guessing it's time for an RMA.

 

[Pollock]

I tried replacing the CMOS battery, but no dice. I've swapped my ram around to a good degree, without any real success. Pretty much a screwed up board? This was supposed to be a new board...

 

[Cutthroat]

Sometimes motherboards are DOA, this sounds like one of those cases.

 

[Pollock]

I'm leery of Foxconn, but would this be a suitable replacement? It has the features I need (namely 2x 16x PCIe slots). After reading the ASUS support forums, I'm really put off by the P5K.

 

[jdkick]

Is the board inside a case? Are you positive you haven't accidentally shorted something? If it's inside a case, maybe pull it out and assemble the basics outside of the case just to be sure.

As Cuttthroad said tho, sometimes, parts are DOA.

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: jdkick
Is the board inside a case? Are you positive you haven't accidentally shorted something? If it's inside a case, maybe pull it out and assemble the basics outside of the case just to be sure.

As Cuttthroad said tho, sometimes, parts are DOA.

I thought shorting just stopped the board from booting? Anyway, I tried to reseat the board and make sure it wasn't shorting anywhere. Same thing, although I could still be missing something?

 

[Pollock]

Quick question: If I only had the first of the 4-pin CPU connectors plugged in, that wouldn't really be a problem, would it?

 

[jdkick]

You should be be fine with only one 4-pin 12V CPU connector plugged in - the other 4-pin connector is usually blocked with a removable insert. If you're power supply has the additional 4-pin 12V CPU connector tho, i'd plugged it in.

If you're going to RMA the board take a shot at assembling the basics outside of the case on a non-conductive surface just to rule out the case as a factor. I have seen cases cause odd problems, including what you've described. I've also seen a PC reboot with just the slightest static discharge against the chassis.

 

[Pollock]

I have it on the antistatic bag, with a different PSU, GPU, and a 1GB stick of DDR2-667, still no dice. It boots and stays running, but there's no video, and without a case speaker, I can't hear any error codes.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: Pollock
I have it on the antistatic bag, with a different PSU, GPU, and a 1GB stick of DDR2-667, still no dice. It boots and stays running, but there's no video, and without a case speaker, I can't hear any error codes.

Remove CMOS Battery and clear CMOS.

It sounds to me like you might have the front panel headers on the wrong polarity,


Without the case speaker you will get no error codes take everything off the MOBO, and you should get a post beep, and no vid card/memory errors.

then add components....

 

[Pollock]

I'm not sure what you're getting at. Either way, I mailed it off for RMA today, so we'll see in a week or so..

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: Pollock
I'm leery of Foxconn, but would this be a suitable replacement? It has the features I need (namely 2x 16x PCIe slots). After reading the ASUS support forums, I'm really put off by the P5K.

Foxconn are the largest manufacturer in the world and pretty much make all of the OEM's boards, chances are you have used a Foxconn based comp in your lifetime- in other words theres no need to worry, they have solid mobos and have only recently started a push to release high end enthusiast motherboards. I would however, suggest you have a look at the P45 boards, they are the same price range as the P35's, run cooler, in most cases high quality components with a better bios and out of the box support for 45nm (not to mention PCI-E 2.0 and 8x8 Crossfire).

Hope you have better luck with the replacement P5K, let us know how it turns out.

 

[Jessica69]

Originally posted by: Pollock
I have it on the antistatic bag, with a different PSU, GPU, and a 1GB stick of DDR2-667, still no dice. It boots and stays running, but there's no video, and without a case speaker, I can't hear any error codes.

You do understand that antistatic bags are themselves conductive, right? Not a heck of a lot, but quite possible enough to replicate a short like in a case that was giving a short problem.

To create the anti-static effect, the black or silver bags are slightly conductive, forming a Faraday cage around the item to be protected and preventing any localized charges from being deposited onto the protected devices as the bags are handled.

Quote taken from Wiki: Wiki article.



Best bet is to use the mb naked inside the cardboard mb box, or on a wooden table, or sheet of cardboard or something truly non-conductive to test.