Built new PC, doesn't work, help!

[joshw10]

I just built a PC consisting of the following:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice
Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 Motherboard
512MB Corsair ValueSelect DDR 400
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro

drives (NEC DVD burner, Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 SATA 150) are left disconnected, originally had 1GB RAM but took one stick out to simplify things

I had everything hooked up when I turned it on for the first time. It listed the drives, said (If I remember correctly) "cmos checksum error" and then either froze up, or my USB keyboard was useless.

Right now, it freezes at this screen everytime: http://img63.echo.cx/my.php?image=freeze7dh.jpg

I've tried reseating the CPU, and also removing the motherboard battery for a few minutes, but no luck. This is where I'm stuck right now. Any ideas?

 

[nick1985]

put in new IDE cables.

try your OTHER stick of RAM.


if these 2 fail, clear your CMOS (pull out the battery for a few minutes)

 

[joshw10]

A couple other bits of info....a few times I've had to pull the power for several minutes to get it to post.

 

[theMan]

clear the cmos. either use the jumper, or take out the battery for a few minutes.

 

[Nick5324]

Any beeps? If so, look up what they mean in the MB manual.

 

[joshw10]

Originally posted by: Nick5324
Any beeps? If so, look up what they mean in the MB manual.

Just the one short beep on start up.

 

[nick1985]

what kind of power supply do you have?

 

[joshw10]

Originally posted by: nick1985
what kind of power supply do you have?

The one that comes with this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129148[

Antec SL3505

 

[polski]

i think 1 beep usually means video card/monitor but since your video card seems to be alright i think..hate to say it...might be one of the chips soldered onto the mobo itself..I would try another video card if not...find someone wit the same socket mobo as urs and see if it works....good luck man!

 

[Nick5324]

Just to make sure.... it doesn't even try to boot? (doesn't get that far) Hook up the HDD, set Boot order to optical drive first, start up with WinXP CD in the drive.

Edit: Did you trade out sticks of RAM?

Thinking...thinking...

 

[Alaska]

First) The 3000+ Venice core (E3 stepping) is not listed on the Supported CPU list for this motherboard. It May be an oversight on the part of Giga-byte. You should go to Giga-bytes Website http://www.giga-byte.com/ and ask through technical suppotr if this processor is supported and which version of BIOS is needed.

Second) It appears that your board has BIOS rev F5. You may need to Flash the Bios to rev F6. After contacting Giga-byte tech support.

 

[joshw10]

Thanks for the tip, Alaska.


First, I need to get a PS/2 keyboard so I can be completely sure that it's freezing up and I can't get into the BIOS. I'm pretty sure I can't, because when I hooked up all the drives before, when it starts listing the drives it'll stop partially and one of the lines of text will be "smeared" like only half of it is visible.

I'm guessing if this CPU isnt compatible w/out a BIOS update, I'd need to get a temporary CPU that is compatible to flash the BIOS.

 

[Alaska]

I would RMA the 3000+ Venice core and get the 3200+ Venice core.... The 3200+ Venice core is in the list of supported CPUs.

 

[joshw10]

Originally posted by: Alaska
I would RMA the 3000+ Venice core and get the 3200+ Venice core.... The 3200+ Venice core is in the list of supported CPUs.

Are you sure that just doesn't mean 3200+ and below?

I called Gigabyte tech support, they said the F9 version is compatible with the 3000+ Venice, but that I still should be able to get into the BIOS to do an update while I still have the F5 version. I'll try and get my hands on a PS/2 keyboard to make sure it is in fact frozen.

 

[Alaska]

Check the list, I believe each supported processor is listed .

http://www.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Su...CPUSupportList_GA-K8NS%20Ultra-939.htm

The A64 3000+ Venice core should be listed as
Athlon 64 3000+(E3 Ver.)(90nm,L2 Cache 512KB)

Which is conspicuously missing from the list, possibly just an oversight.

That is why I suggested contacting Giga-byte Tech Support before doing anything.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I don't see why it wouldn't work with the 3000+ venice if the 3200+ is supported...

Have you tried starting the mb OUTSIDE the case? Maybe you've misplaced a riser or screw behind the mb and it's shorting.

All you have to do is set it on a flat surface on the anti-static bag that came with the MB, insert the necessary components (graphics card, cpu, memory), hook up a PSU, and short the pins that attach to the power switch on the case.

 

[mettleh3d]

Did you...plug in your power supply?!!1

 

[Alaska]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

I don't see why it wouldn't work with the 3000+ venice if the 3200+ is supported...

I agree, but the CPU support list shows it won't work with a Sempron 3000+, whish is the sme stepping as the A64 3000+ Venice. The entry for the 3000+ Venice is completely missing from the support list, which is why I recommended contacting Giga-byte tech support.

The system is working somewhat with his processor. It would never had made it as far as the pic he posted if it was not functioning at all.

 

[joshw10]

I checked to make sure there were no extra motherboard risers, there weren't any.

I've gotten a little further in figuring out the problem. Hitting DEL really fast at startup, i can sometimes get it to say "Preparing to enter setup..." but it will always freeze before getting into setup. Also got it to say "Detecting IDE Drives", but everytime it freezes within 3-5 seconds of the display coming on.

I think tomorrow I'm just going to take it to a local PC shop and see if I can get them to try a different CPU in it and see if it'll work. If not, try a different motherboard.

 

[mechBgon]

Not to go out of my way to ask dumb questions, but did you hook up the ATX12V four-pin cable and also the GPU cable? Although the CPU-support angle does look like a real possibility too.

 

[joshw10]

Hmm..this is interesting...it seems the longer I leave the PC turned off, the longer it will go without freezing when I turn it on. After a few hours turned off I was able to get into the BIOS for a few seconds before it froze on me.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Is the chipset acitvely cooled? If so is the fan working properly?

An overheating chipset might explain what you're seeing.

 

[joshw10]

I really doubt that would occur in 3 seconds

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: joshw10
I really doubt that would occur in 3 seconds

Well I'm stumped.

Maybe a faulty mb?

Edit: Or maybe Alaska's right about your mb not supporting the 3000+.

 

[joshw10]

Update!

After letting the PC sit off for another 3-4 hours, I turn it on and surprise, it doesn't freeze! I checked out the BIOS, and tried to update it with both the flash utility built into the BIOS and with a floppy...but I keep getting "bios id error" or "bios id check error" after it reads the file. So, progress made, but a long way to go.