Conroe: Yet another POST problem (Update 8-28 15:00)

[Chaotic42]

I just got my Conroe processor in today. I have it on an Intel DP965LT motherboard. For whatever reason, I can't get it to POST.

-When there is no memory in the DIMM slots, it does beep with an error message, so it seems to recognize that.
-I've tried reseating the CPU.
-There are no jumpers anywhere that should be causing any problems.
-I've tried another PSU that I know works
-I've tried another PCIe video card that I know works
-I've tried a PCI card that I know works
-I get a green 'power connected' light on the motherboard
-The HSF is attached with sufficient pressure.
-I've tried multiple DIMMs
-I've tried turning the system on with no processor. I get no fan spinup if that happens.
-All of my drives and other things power on normally when I turn the system on.

I've looked through the other POST posts P) and none of them seem to fit my problem exactly. Would the motherboard beep if the processor was bad? I get no normal BIOS beep and obviously get no video.

Any thoughts?

Update 8/28:

I finally got my new motherboard in. Still no luck.

OCZ says my memory is 1.9V. Should that still POST? If the CPU were bad, would the motherboard beep at the lack of memory?

Another 8/28 update:

So it's the memory. I broke down and went to Office Depot and bought 512MB of PC4200 DDR2 memory that was really 1.8V. Starts right up. Now, to compose myself before I write Newegg asking them to change the voltage on their site....

 

[Ricemarine]

Is your ram ddr2-800?...

Cause if it is, there seems to be an incompatibility issue with them and 965 boards... Though, dunno how common it is.

 

[Chaotic42]

Nah, I'm using DDR667. OCZ Gold Edition PC2-5400

 

[Chaotic42]

Anyone?

 

[Markbnj]

Are you 100% certain there are no shorts? If you haven't already, remove the mobo from any enclosure and set the whole rig out on a table on cardboard or some other nonconductive surface.

It's not HSF, since that would cause heating, but it would still POST.

Check for BIOS updates. There was a report in some other thread about a Giga board requiring a BIOS update due to some last minute changes by Intel. If an update is required you might need to have then send you an eeprom chip with it, unless you have another compatible processor you can drop in.

 

[Chaotic42]

I have the board sitting on its box now, I forgot to put that in the original post. I just checked the Intel BIOS page and it appears to support Conroe out of the box. I'm tempted to run to a computer shop and pick up a $50 Celeron just to check, but I don't really want to do that. Oh, the processor is getting power. I pulled the HSF off and the CPU is getting hot.

I know it's a bad thing to try, but it can't work any less than it is now...

 

[Chaotic42]

Hmmm.... I just started it with no battery in the board and it gave a long-short-long-short beep code. It sounded like that song that all of the Whos were singing in the Grinch movie.

Anyone ever heard that code before?

 

[Markbnj]

Be careful about running that thing with no HSF, although since it isn't posting I assume the CPU isn't doing anything more than its own internal self-tests. Since you aren't getting a CPU failure code from the motherboard, I'm thinking it is something other than the processor. That code you got when you pulled the battery out probably means there is no battery .

At this point I would probably carefully recheck the jumper settings, make sure all cables are seated, the battery is seated, ram seated correctly. If you have multiple DIMMs then try with one. In fact try the most stripped down system you can get. All you need to POST is CPU, battery, one dimm, and power. You can leave off the video card just to see if you get a different error code at a different point in the process. It sounds like you've done all the right diagnostics, so if none of these ideas bear any fruit, I would be thinking about exchanging the mobo.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
Be careful about running that thing with no HSF, although since it isn't posting I assume the CPU isn't doing anything more than its own internal self-tests. Since you aren't getting a CPU failure code from the motherboard, I'm thinking it is something other than the processor. That code you got when you pulled the battery out probably means there is no battery .

At this point I would probably carefully recheck the jumper settings, make sure all cables are seated, the battery is seated, ram seated correctly. If you have multiple DIMMs then try with one. In fact try the most stripped down system you can get. All you need to POST is CPU, battery, one dimm, and power. You can leave off the video card just to see if you get a different error code at a different point in the process. It sounds like you've done all the right diagnostics, so if none of these ideas bear any fruit, I would be thinking about exchanging the mobo.

Yeah, I've tried all of that stuff. I suppose that motherboard replacement is the next logical step. Are there any connectors that I can check with a multimeter that might help determine if it is a motherboard problem? I wish I had another CPU to test in this thing.

 

[Chaotic42]

Okay, I just pulled the old multimeter out and my PCI video card *is* getting power. Something's got to be wrong with the BIOS. Call it a hunch.

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Markbnj
Be careful about running that thing with no HSF, although since it isn't posting I assume the CPU isn't doing anything more than its own internal self-tests. Since you aren't getting a CPU failure code from the motherboard, I'm thinking it is something other than the processor. That code you got when you pulled the battery out probably means there is no battery .

At this point I would probably carefully recheck the jumper settings, make sure all cables are seated, the battery is seated, ram seated correctly. If you have multiple DIMMs then try with one. In fact try the most stripped down system you can get. All you need to POST is CPU, battery, one dimm, and power. You can leave off the video card just to see if you get a different error code at a different point in the process. It sounds like you've done all the right diagnostics, so if none of these ideas bear any fruit, I would be thinking about exchanging the mobo.

Yeah, I've tried all of that stuff. I suppose that motherboard replacement is the next logical step. Are there any connectors that I can check with a multimeter that might help determine if it is a motherboard problem? I wish I had another CPU to test in this thing.

At that point you're beyond my diagnostic abilities. I'm sure it isn't a power issue. Something is just not working. At this point it really sounds like BIOS or a motherboard issue. Have you inspected the CPU pins to ensure none were broken off? You might also carefully inspect the motherboard, top and bottom, to make sure there aren't any obvious deep scratches or cracks that might indicate trace damage.

 

[Regs]

Yeah, I would check power cables. Fan only cables could also be tricky from some cases. May also want to switch ide channels around on the mobo between optical and hard drives.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Regs
Yeah, I would check power cables. Fan only cables could also be tricky from some cases. May also want to switch ide channels around on the mobo between optical and hard drives.

I don't have anything connected to the board except for a single DIMM, the processor, the HSF, and a PCI video card.

I tried a third PSU to no avail.

 

[Chaotic42]

Well, I filed an RMA with Newegg. Either the CPU or the motherboard is gone, and I think it's the motherboard.

If I have to RMA the CPU, it will take forever...

 

[Chaotic42]

I'm going to bump this one more time, just incase I'm missing something. Otherwise it's going back to Newegg tomorrow morning.

 

[ewvaname]

I have the same problem with one small exception, my conroe 6700 hasn't yet arrived so I swapped in a Prescott 3.6GHz. However, I am using DDR2-800 RAM.

BTW, Section 1.4, p. 16 in the Intel DP965LT Technical Product Spec lists DDR2 800 as compatible. So I doubt that's the issue.

My Seasonic S12-600 is putting out excellent power according to my Fluke MM (and yes, the P4 core power connector is seated ). When I get home tonight, I'll pull the board from its case and break it down on the kitchen table to eliminate the concerns about a possilbe short due to board flex or contact with the case.

If all this goes as I think it will, with no resolution, I'll swap out my X1900XTX with a friend's 7900 followed by a PC Power and Cooling PSU swap and RAM swap.

Lastly, I'll grab a Post Card from work and run a bios code check. This should all be done in the next couple of weeks.

Good luck to the original poster!

I hate returning things...sigh.

I'll keep the community posted on my progress.


Intel beep codes: http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/cs-010249.htm
Intel troubleshooting tips: (under Computer Does Not Boot - Has Lights/Fans ? Nothing Displayed on the Monitor) http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/dp965lt/lt_howto.htm

 

[Chaotic42]

ewvaname: Is your memory 1.8V?

I just got an email from a helpful Anandtecher asking me that same question. I said that it was, but then I checked OCZs site. It says that it's 1.9V, but then says that it supports memory voltages of 2.2V +/- 5%.

I emailed them to find out what the heck is going on.

 

[ForgetCassettes]

I bought that same board from Newegg and It worked long enough for me to get windows installed before it died on me and I got the same symptoms you have. I returned it and got the Gigabyte DS3.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: ForgetCassettes
I bought that same board from Newegg and It worked long enough for me to get windows installed before it died on me and I got the same symptoms you have. I returned it and got the Gigabyte DS3.

Man, if you can't trust Intel to make a good motherboard, who can you trust?

 

[Chaotic42]

Hmm... OCZ still hasn't emailed me back.

If my memory doesn't work in this motherboard, I'm going to be mad. $40 to return the motherboard, $20 to return the memory.... If Newegg had the voltages wrong, they need to be financially responsible for all of it.

 

[Chaotic42]

Bump for update