Can't Get Motherboard to Post

[ChildeRoland]

Hi guys, long time reader, first time poster. Please be gentle.

I'm building a new PC with the following components:

Athlon 64 3500+ (130nm)
1 Gig Corsair Value Select (2 Dimms) DDR PC-3200
XFX GeForce 6800GT
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum
Seagate 160 Gig 7200RPM
Sony DVD Burner, NEC DVD Drive
24 pin PC Power & Cooling 470 Watt Silencer w/ PCI-Express Y-power cable.

DVD drives and floppy are on one molex line.

I've got the PCI-Express 6800GT on another chain with one un-used molex.

First attempt was with an Asus A8N-SLI. Everything plugged in correctly, but no post beep. Just lights, fans, all drives would open, no video.

Swapped out motherboard for MSI K8N Neo4, same problem.

Remove Dimms, steady beeping. Remove Video-card, one solid beep, then nothing.

Tried using one DIMM in primary slot, same problem.

Swapped out DIMM for other Dimm, same problem. (making me think it's not memory)

Tried building on towel to see if it was a case grounding or mounting issue, same problem.

Reset the CMOS on both motherboards, same problem.

Tried rewiring multiple times.

So is it most likely:

the CPU, video-card, or PSU?

Could it be I need a PSU with a native 6-pin PCI-Express connector?

An ID10T error on my part?

I'm not sure what to try next.

I appreciate any insight.

 

[MobiusPizza]

Firstly, try connecting only the necessary minimal for computer to start. Don't plug in any drives, not even HDD. Use 1 DIMM. The CPU and Graphic Card might be at fault here. Can't really say. The PSU might also be the cause. Well the graphic card has already supplied power from a modex right? In that case it shouldn't be the 6-pin PCI-Express connector 's fault.

 

[MobiusPizza]

Are you sure your monitor works? Did you try VGA instead of DVI?

 

[stevty2889]

I would try it with the bare minimums, disconnect hard drive, cd-rom and any other add in cards, trying with just 1 stick of mem, the cpu/heatsink and fan, and video card. It doens't sound like a cpu or motherboard issue, since you do get beep codes when you take out the memory all together. If that doesn't work, try it with the motherboard outside of the case, on a non-conductive surface, again using bare minimums.

 

[ChildeRoland]

Did you try VGA instead of DVI?

Monitor works, as I'm using it for my other pc.

Did you try VGA instead of DVI?

Card only has dual DVI, so I'm using DVI1 with an adapter to VGA monitor.

 

[ChildeRoland]

I would try it with the bare minimums, disconnect hard drive, cd-rom and any other add in cards, trying with just 1 stick of mem, the cpu/heatsink and fan, and video card. It doens't sound like a cpu or motherboard issue, since you do get beep codes when you take out the memory all together. If that doesn't work, try it with the motherboard outside of the case, on a non-conductive surface, again using bare minimums.

I've tried running it outside the case with no luck. Tried running it with just 1 DIMM, CPU, and Vid card installed, same problem - no post.

Haven't tried booting it up without the CPU, yet. What will that tell me if it does the same thing with no CPU?

 

[MobiusPizza]

I am guessing it is the GPU's problem. GPU BIOS boots earlier than the motherboard POST.
Again I can't be sure.

Can you test your GPU or CPU separately on other systems?

I never tried booting without CPU. I think it would beeps. With/without display I ain't sure.

 

[ChildeRoland]

My problem is my other system is an Intel AGP with RDRam, so there's not much (none, actually) cross-testing I can do.

I'm thinking my next course of action is to try to get NewEgg to exchange the CPU and GPU at the same time. Unless there's some other way to determine which component it is causing it not to Post.

I thought the whole POINT of post beeps was to detect and indicate faulty hardware?

If I swap the GPU and CPU out and it still happens, it's either the power-supply, or I'm a wiring idiot and am doing something obviously wrong with connections.

 

[rasczak]

try making sure your cmos jumpers are set to the first position. check your manual for that.

 

[boomerang]

See if you can get it to beep with only the CPU installed. Should give you error beeps.

If it won't, you've tried two boards, it's got to be the CPU.

It's possible it's the PS, but I would think unlikely. You could try that in your other rig, but it will be a PITA for sure.

Edit: Don't know if that board has an onboard speaker. Make sure you have one attached if not. Sorry if you know this already.

 

[ChildeRoland]

No problem, I appreciate the help. Yeah, speaker is connected. (Oddly the highly pimped "voice" feature of the a8n-sli never said a word, though it did beep if parts were removed)

I think it's the CPU. I missed this before, but I noticed the MSI K8N Neo4 has a nice bracket with USB ports and 4 LEDs that indicate power-up issues via the JDB1 port....looks like it hangs on the LED code that says "CPU initialization".

I had always thought you'd see SOME video throughout the first boot. But I guess if the CPU won't initialize, it hasn't gotten to the graphics card yet to power it up, correct?

I'm assuming my best bet is to send in my Athlon 64 to Newegg for an exchange?

 

[boomerang]

Yeah, but you'd better hurry. There is some kind of disclaimer you have to check off when ordering a CPU through Newegg. I don't remember the wording.

I think there is a time limit. Seems to me that Retail exchanges work out better the OEM exchanges too. Better check into it now.

 

[MobiusPizza]

hm defective CPU is quite a rare case.
I can't be sure because never had tried removed CPU from motherboard and seeing if it would show something. My guess is it won't. It's troublesome now since we can't test whether it's the GPU or CPU's problem.
If you said your motherboard has voice function on errors, then it's more likely CPU's problem.
Cause my motherboard would say "Please check video card" if my videocard fail. Again it might depends on motherboards -_-

 

[imported_Wen]

There are two connectors from the power supply. Make sure you plug both into the mobo.

 

[BrokenVisage]

That MSI Neo4 should come with a diagnostic D-bracket with four LEDs to help troubleshoot boot problems, try using it and tell us what the manual thinks the problem is by what LEDs light up.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: Wen
There are two connectors from the power supply. Make sure you plug both into the mobo.

good point wen

 

[ChildeRoland]

There are two connectors from the power supply. Make sure you plug both into the mobo.

Yes, both the 24 pin and the 12v 4-pin were plugged in.

 

[ChildeRoland]

That MSI Neo4 should come with a diagnostic D-bracket with four LEDs to help troubleshoot boot problems, try using it and tell us what the manual thinks the problem is by what LEDs light up.

Funny you should mention that, because about the same time you typed this, I found that part in the motherboard box and installed it.

According to the LED lights, it hangs during the "processor initialization" phase.

ONCE I got it to hang on the "floppy drive controller initialization" LED code, but generally it's the former.

I RMA'd the processor to Newegg today. Hopefully it's the CPU, I'm getting tired of having all these cool components around and not getting to see Far Cry without stutter.

I guess if it's not the CPU, it's the GPU, PSU, or Memory?

 

[ChildeRoland]

Still waiting on the RMA'd CPU, of course.

What are the chance this condition could be caused by a failed GPU? And if the GPU was bad, wouldn't the Bios beep? Isn't that the POINT of the bios, to indicate failed hardware?

Or could it be my power-supply? (PC Power and Cooling 470 Silencer)

I hate the helplessness of waiting for the processor to return, with all this cool gear sitting here on my desk.

 

[gnumantsc]

Childe it would most likely be either the CPU or VidCard. If the vidcard works on another system without a problem then it would be your CPU.


I had that with my athlon 2700+ the computer would not post the fans and everything would turn on but no post beep.

So that is most likely the cause. If your monitor would stay on standby mode then it could also be the vidcard.

 

[ChildeRoland]

Just to be clear, you had a faulty CPU, and your PC video wouldn't come on, but all power (drive doors, fans) was on?

 

[ChildeRoland]

I may soon cry like a little girl.

I got the CPU back, and it wasn't a CPU problem.

With the GPU in, the post LED indicates it's hung on "processor initialization". With the GPU out, the LED goes through full post, hangs on floppy controller initialization, then when I hit enter it indicates it's trying to boot the OS. So that's good....

So it's either the graphics card, Power Supply, or the molex connector and Y adapter feeding the card.

Wiring is all correct, two molex to y-adapter to 6-pin on the card isn't very complex.

I'm sending in the card for RMA.

If it's not the graphics card I may wind up in the fetal position.

 

[bocamojo]

I would say the chances are good that it is the video card. I have seen similar problems with builds in the past. Sometimes taking out and reseating the video card fixes the problem, sometimes it takes replacing the video card to get around the issue. Also, before you do that, if the video card requires a molex connector from the PSU, try a different connector, to make sure it's getting power.

 

[ChildeRoland]

Thanks. Tried seating, re-seating the card multiple times, never once got signal....

I've ordered a cheap-o PCI graphics card from Newegg so I can test/configure the system while I wait for the replacement GPU.

Green power light on the XFX 6800GT was on, so I assume it was getting the power it needed. Even, then, it should have at least had enough power to display something....

Such a slow and irritating process of elimination this has been. I've literally been building this PC for months....