Bad motherboard? Bad memory?

[garystewart]

Bad board, bad memory?
Rig: P4 1.8 MSI Ultra ARU 512MB Kingston PC2100 Valu RAM MSI Ti4400 WD 1000JB HD WinXP Pro Enermax 330 Watt PSU

Had problems with sound stuttering and some text artifacts in NOLF, which came with an MSI Ti4400 originally installed. After some discussion on forums, most opinions pointed to a hardware problem. I then realized I had been getting 2 beeps at the post, one before and one after the MSI Screen at bootup. I also noticed 3 red MSI diagnostic LEDs at the back, indicating a memory problem. Removed all cards, memory and tested... no beeps, no post, removed battery to clear CMOS... nothing... gone. Shipped the machine back and it was returned with same mobo and a replacement PNY Ti 4400 card. I also had them upgrade me to 1GB of RAM and an Audigy/1394 to replace the onboard sound.

Not a happy guy! I still get two beeps, and the 3 Red LEDs. Sometimes but rarely these will go green, sometimes not... intermittent... and the stuttering is a bit less, as well as the artifacts... but I still have the problems... they are shipping a replacement motherboard Monday... but I am still not sure what is going on... someone told me that some MSI boards give two beeps, but that would not be a standard AMI bios... doh...

 

[Iron Woode]

Try some different ram. See if that fixes the problem. Make sure the ram is seated properly and counts up properly. Settings for ram in bios should be conservative to eliminate that as a culprit.

 

[garystewart]

Well, I can't even see the memory tick at the post, either too fast to see, since the screens disappear in an instant or I don't know where to look, or some problem. Is there a way to freeze the post screens or slow them down or save them? Windows recognizes all 1024MB. I ran a 6 hour test last night to see if any memory errors were generated. (I don't have any more memory to test, and I honestly don't want to send the machine back again, since their tech support insisted it was not memory.) The lights were 3 red on d-bracket throughout the test, the memory did not register a single data error during the test. Didn't skip a beat. But the clipping and stuttering are still there with new audigy sound and a new Ti4400. I booted up this morning and still 3 red. Booted again around noon and currently the lights are all green. I should be getting a new board by Thursday. Hopefully all this is a bad socket or bad soldering and a new board will remedy... frankly I'm stumped.

 

[J3anyus]

Is there a way to freeze the post screens

That "pause" button on your keyboard has one use, and one use only. Use it.

 

[Iron Woode]

which 3 leds are comming on?

 

[garystewart]

Thanks J3... so that's what that's for... doh! I checked the screen at the post... the memory test indicated 1048526KB OK(or close to that...)

Iron Woode... the upperright LED is Green, the rest red... I tried reseating etc... no go... but the thing goes green on occasion... like right now!... could go green when the machine heats up... however it ran all night doing that mem test and it stayed red!

 

[zephyrprime]

I would try two things:

1. Underclock your memory on both your vid card and mother board. (for the MB, turn the mem settings to the most conservative. For the video card, go the the appropriate tab under video properties.) Now run Goldmem to test your memory and try prime95 to test your processor. Try some other processor testing programs too. (don't know of any others so I can't help you.)

2. Possibly not enough power? Try disconnecting extra hard drives, cd-roms, sound cards etc. Now try prime 95 like before.

Where are these led's located that you refer to? I have a MSI ti4400 and I don't see any led's on the back of it.

What MB are you running with?

 

[garystewart]

Zephyrprime, thanks for the suggestions. I am running an MSI 845 Ultra ARU. MSI has the D(iagnostic)-Bracket on the back, and this one has been indicating a memory problem from the start... bad slot, Dimm, who knows... not more specific... however, the memory SEEMS OKAY, I still get red, but pushed it and their were no data errors over a 6 to 7 hour test. I previously did some diagnostics and it seemed the motherboard died... no beeps, post etc... sent the machine back... they were supposed to check the board, the processor, the memory etc... seems that all they did was replace the video card... a waste, since they either missed the red lights on the back or it was green when they tested... the point is... they really didn't burn it in and test it to see if it was really fixed. I was peeved, but stuck... So they decided to send me a new replacement board... on the way... I am using an enermax 330 Watt, which I thought adequate for a P4... I have an Antec 400watt unit around somewhere... would have used a larger unit for an Athlon... the machine is in a warm place all the time... I decided to go Pentium for that reason alone. I am not too keen on the performance but I thought it was the best route...

 

[Iron Woode]

I hope everything turns out ok!

I think replacing the board is a good idea.