Bad ram or fried mobo?

[MiiChan]

I just bought some new ram last week. Two of the 512MB crosair select. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-026&depa=1

I opened up my computer, took out my old ram, seated the new ram in. Closed my computer, turned it back on, then heard a pop accompanied by a smell of smoke. >.< I turned off my computer immediatly, looked inside, looked normal. Reseated the ram to be sure everything was in place. Then I started it back up, now I get these long beeps, with nothing showing up. Nothing. I know this is a problem for bad ram, so I changed out to my old ram, and I have the same problem. I have tried unhooking everything and putting it back in place, but no go still. I tried different RAM slots in different order, and no matter what I do, I get the same error. I found one post of a similar problem on here, but there was no follow up from the original poster if the problem was solved.

So, what should I do? Should I RMA the RAM I got, plus purchase a new motherboard? It seems to be the only option I can think of right now. I have a P4 2.6Ghz processor, so if I can't think of any alternatives, any recomendations on what to get for a new mobo for under $100? I know most here seem anti-intel, but it's what I bought less then two years ago, and really don't want to spend $300+ or a new cpu and mobo.

 

[stevty2889]

You should be able to find what the beep codes are in the manual for your motherboard. Definatly sounds like something got fried. Did you try with a single stick of the old ram, or try to power on with no ram at all? Did you try to re-seat the video card? What PSU do you have? It's possible the PSU blew and took the motherboard with it..

 

[Grunt03]

i think you cooked your MB. have you read your MB booklet to ensure what RAM can be used an dhow they must be used. Such as some MB's you have to off set the RAM on the MB. Like for the RAM you bought, you would have to put them in slots 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. You cannot just put them into any two slots.
You could hhave burnt out the RAM slots, try useing only one of the boards. If not I would suggest you try to conduct an RMA of the RAM as well as the MB.

 

[airfoil]

Can you attempt to trace any 'powder burn' marks or 'sniff' your way to what got fried? Chances are its the mobo thats kicked the bucket, unless you can find burn marks on the RAM itself. Look next at the RAM slots. Heck, you may as well make sure its not the PSU - usually your nose is the best way to figure out where the problem lies.

 

[MiiChan]

Originally posted by: airfoil
Can you attempt to trace any 'powder burn' marks or 'sniff' your way to what got fried? Chances are its the mobo thats kicked the bucket, unless you can find burn marks on the RAM itself. Look next at the RAM slots. Heck, you may as well make sure its not the PSU - usually your nose is the best way to figure out where the problem lies.

I can't find any burn marks myself. The RAM looks normal. I tried smelling my way through, but I can't find the stench no longer.

And as for others suggestion, I did try to reseat my videocard, as well as remove any uncessary compenents. I even tried booting w/o ram, and nothing. The long beep, stop, long beep in my book says it's a ram probelm, so it's a possibility that my RAM slots are killed. My RAM has to be put in certian slots depending on the ram, and I did so. I tried my old ram, and had a friend lend me a stick of his old pc2100 ram, and still no good. I doubt it is a problem with the PSU, it sounds normal to me at least. Everything in the computer runs, I just get that POST error with nothing to show on my monitor.

I guess I will RMA the RAM, but is it possible to RMA the mobo as well? I've had the mobo for over a year, so I doubt that is possible, even though I've bought it from newegg as well. I should look into what their policy this kind of situation.

This is what I have in my system.
Antec Solution SLK3700-BQE Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129140
ASUS P4S800 Socket 478 SIS 648FX ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131462
P4 2.6Ghz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...sp?Submit=Suggested&Description=19-116
Micron 256MB DDR PC2100 RAM (old RAM)

So, any more thoughts? I wont be able to respond to anything till after 9:00AM EST since I'm using the computers at my college for net access at the moment. Please let me know what you all think. Thanks.

 

[MobiusPizza]

Aw should have chased out the smell earlier. Next time any component fries you make sure you smell the origin out asap. Definitely MB or PSU... don't think it can be fixed either

 

[CycloWizard]

Electronics are magic boxes constructed to contain magic smoke. Once you let out the magic smoke, you're SOL. Sorry about your luck.