Bad motherboards? x 2

[techwanabe]

I'm trying to build a computer for a friend using a new Antec case with 350 smart power supply and the following parts (he needs an internet surfing computer):

-ASUS P3V4X VIA133A chipset motherboard (slot 1)
-Pentium III 550E on a MSI Slotket adapter
-128 mb Micron PC133 memory
-Voodoo 3 3000 video card
-Ensoniq PCI sound card
-Aztec PCI modem
-32X CD ROM drive
-Western Digital 30 gb hard drive

I put all the parts together and tried booting to the BIOS as a start. There was no picture on the monitor and no beep from PC speaker, the fan on the CPU spins. This motherboard worked reliably for me for several years until I removed it to upgrade my old PC and put it in a box where it has sat for over a year. Also I have tried removing all the PCI components such as sound card and modem etc and starting - no beep or picture either. Then I've removed the video card, memory and even the CPU - still no beep and no joy. Is she dead Jim?

Then I tried taking an Intel P6BX-Me (Pentium II) motherboard with a slot 1 Pentium II 400 mhz CPU on and PC100 memory and did the same thing as above. This was given to me with another case with the statement that the power supply was bad. However, I put this combo in that new Antec case and didn't get a beep or a picture on the monitor.

Watcha think folks - two bad motherboards? Who'da thunk it!

 

[techwanabe]

*bump*

Any takers? I've tried reinstalling each of these two motherboards in the case and hooking up to the power supply and switches/speaker etc. No beep at all when powering up. both with and without the processors mounted.

Is this a sure sign that these two motherboards are bad/cooked/whatever?

 

[Zepper]

Boilerplate-01:
. Common causes of failure to boot (no video, no beeps) assuming PSU isn't totally dead:
1- RAM, CPU and/or AGP video card not seated properly, a bent pin or corrosion.
2- Drive data cable on upside down or only on half the pins or shifted a pin or two (usually Floppy or Zip drives).
3- CMOS needs to be cleared (AC power must usually be disconnected or . attempts to clear CMOS may fail) Unless your mobo does not use a power-off CMOS clear - check your mobo manual for specific info.
4- On some new mobos there is a CPU protection feature (esp. on Asus/Asrock Athlon/Socket A mobos) that will not allow the system to start if there is no fan (or a fan without a working speed sensor wire) connected to the fan power connector on the mobo (specifically marked "CPU Fan"). If you tried to start your machine without a fan properly connected, you have to attach a proper and working fan and clear the CMOS before it will boot.
.bh.

 

[techwanabe]

Zepper,

Both of these mother boards are 4 or more years old. So the new features you mentioned are probably not present, but I'll check anyway. I'll look over your list and see if anything helps.

Thanks

 

[MadOni0n]

i have all the problems that techwanabe is having, exactly.

Hmm... then i read this by zepper:

""If you tried to start your machine without a fan properly connected, you have to attach a proper and working fan and clear the CMOS before it will boot."

I had a stock intel hsf installed on my mobo, and i recently bought a zalman cnps7000b-cu hsf. I turned off my computer and i tried taking the stock intel hsf, at that time i did not properly know how to uninstall it... so i pulled on it a bit here and there, i saw it loosen but at the i did not know you had to insert a screwdriver into all four corners to get the clip off. So anyway i decide to just stop removing it, and get correct instructions on how to take it off.. i turn on the computer and i get all the exact problems techwanabe got. Though i proceed with removing the heatsink, i put my cpu in place, grease, put in the zalman and start. Same problem.

So like you said zepper, i tried to start the computer with the fan improperly inserted.. now i cant start correctly till i clear my cmos. We'll ill go over to my comp and clear it right now, but what does clearing the "cmos" actually do? i dont want to mess anything up.

 

[Zepper]

When the BIOS (on some recent) mobos detects a missing CPU fan (no tach signal - or too low to read) or an overheat, it will save a value in the CMOS and not restart until the value is cleared. This is supposed to help protect the multi-hundred $$$ CPUs. Clearing the CMOS, besides clearing that value, will also reset your BIOS settings to the factory default so you will have to go in and retweak all your BIOS settings.
.bh.

 

[MadOni0n]

hmm it sounded like it would be the solution to my problem, but i have an old mobo - 845g max http://www.msi.com.tw/program/...mbd_detail.php?UID=314 - does it have such a feature? I wanna give resetting the cmos a try, but i dont want to reset all my settings for nothing.

 

[techwanabe]

Well,

I checked my Manual for my ASUS P3V4X motherboard and nary a mention of the CMOS at all. Looks like it's time for a google search!

 

[MadOni0n]

ok i just cleared my cmos, and i started my computer up... nope, didn't work. techwanabe, check your cpu, are any pins missing? i'm having the same exact problem as you, but one of the pins on my cpu is also missing.. and i think that may be the cause. Currently, i just want to be sure... dont want to spend money on a new cpu just yet if its the mobo or something else.

 

[techwanabe]

Actually,

When I first reinstalled that ASUS motherboard, it had the CPU still installed from when I removed it and took it out of service. It was working fine when I removed it and stored it. I have since taken the CPU off. But my CPU is a Pentium 550E mounted on an MSI slotket adapter so it can fit on the slot 1 motherboard, the ASUS P3V4X. It worked wonderfully overclocked to 733 mhz for the 2 years I used it.

I'll try putting the mobo back into the case and seeing if I can short the CMOS jumper and see if that does anything. Otherwise, static discharge may have fried the motherboard - I have taken it out a few times to examine it while in storage - maybe it got fried without me knowing it.

 

[MadOni0n]

static discharge on my mobo.. havn't thought about that yet, hmm.

 

[techwanabe]

Update:

Ok, I tried shorting out the contacts next to the CMOS battery - a set on either side since I didn't know which ones were the reset contacts. Both sets shut the power down on the computer. Powering back up didn't give any beeps or picture from the video card. Guess this board is history

 

[techwanabe]

Update:

I spoke with a PC tech at a local computer shop and he thinks the CPU may be bad and possibly the mobo is good. He said you don't get anything on the screen and no beep if there is no CPU or there is a bad CPU. I have built well over 30 computers, but I haven't encountered a bad CPU to see how that affects things. I'm sort of surprised no one on this forum has experienced this and offered comment.

Anyway, I don't have a spare CPU available to drop into that mobo to see if my old ASUS really is good! The CPU in that old P3V4X was a Pentium III 550 overclocked for about 2 years to 733 mhz. It worked the whole time I used it, but perhaps it was near the end when I yanked it out, and it just went bad finally?! Hard to say.

 

[Spikesoldier]

um, use the p2 400 you were talking about?

 

[soni]

Try a different PSU.

I have just had the same problem with a MB.
It would turn on the Fans, and the LED of the MB would light up, but no sound or anything else. (Was a EP-8RDA+)

Turns out my Antec 430 TruePower PSU didnt work.
Replaced the PSU and all worked fine.

Im guessing the 3.3V/5V just gave out

 

[techwanabe]

um, use the p2 400 you were talking about?

Yeah, I tried that right away since it was a slot 1 motherboard and the p2 400 was slot one. Same thing. However that CPU may have been toast too. The old computer was given to me with the statment that it had a bad P/S, but infact it may have been that the P/S, mobo and CPU were all fried together. I do know the memory and the hard drive worked, so I thought the CPU and mobo would be good. I tried the mobo and CPU in the brand new Antec case with 350 W P/S. Same symtoms - no POST or picture and no beep. It could be that the Antec P/S was bad from the factory although that is unusual.

I gave the new Antec case-P/S and mobo to the owner and he is having a shop check it out since he can throw another CPU to see if it is the CPU or what. I'll find out Mon or Tues what the verdict is. This will be educational thats for sure.

 

[techwanabe]

UPDATE:

Since I didn't want to use my only working computer as a test bed, the items discussed above were taken to a Shop. Here is the verdict:

The brand new Antec power supply (Smart Power 350 Watt) was apparently bad... the fans spun up but there was no response on either of the 2 mother boards I had to try. My Asus P3V4X and Pentium III 550@733 mhz were both good according to the test at the shop. That's good news!

So SONI, it looks like I had the same situation as yours. Bad P/S! I wouldn't have guessed it at first since fans spun up etc... In my background, most power supplies I had either worked all the way, or were totally dead! Not this time.

Live and learn!

So the Antec case is being returned to New Egg and they fellow is picking up another locally for a little less money - it will have a 400 Watt power supply.