Got some problems with my new system

[Binary12]

Hello!
When I was looking out parts for first computer build the advice I got here was great! I have now bought it. I am really happy with my computer and it works great, except for a few minor (I hope) problems.

Whenever I start the computer there is no beep code. My computer starts up fine and there is no problems with it I can relate to this, but it still worries me. The motherboard manual describes the different beep codes and their meaning. One short beep means "System boots successfully" but what does it mean if there is no beep code at all? Should I be worried? :S

The major problem I have with my computer at the moment is the audio. It works, plays well and all but whenever there is a low tune you can hear a sort of frequency or beep in the background, and if I move the mouse around the noise changes. When I played Crysis (or any game that play sound but no music) I can hear the noise clearly and its really irritating. Headphones is completely useless as the noise is even more clear then. I have no idea what may be the reason for this problem. I have tried downloading audio drivers but to no change. At first I thought it was the chassi front audio cable (F_AUDIO) that was wrong. It has two connectors AC'97 and HDAUDIO. I have tried both connectors but the problem is still there. I can't imagine it got anything to do with this but the IEEE 1394 cable is not connected, it is as far as I know for firewire and that I don't use which is why I choosed not to connect it.

Another slightly irritating thing is the front LED's. At first they worked just fine (as far as I remember) but now the only LEDs working is HDD-activity. I suppose it doesn't really matter but its odd and a bit annoying.



This is the chassi, motherboard and processor I have:
Chassi: Antec P182
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400


I'll be happy for any advice or help you can give me!

Regards
B

 

[Blain]

The old, "New System Blues" :disgust:

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: Blain
The old, "New System Blues" :disgust:

Wow. Just...wow. Thanks for participating, Blain.

...but what does it mean if there is no beep code at all? Should I be worried?

No. At the least, it means you either connected the speaker in reverse, the speaker doesn't work, or you don't have a speaker. I've never heard of anyone not getting any beeps, but if the machine boots, YaY.

The beep issue leads us to the LED issue...now I'm starting to think you've got some loose wires on your headers. Grab the manual, crack the case, verify the pins, reseat the cables.

The noise with the mouse is actually a common issue. Unfortunately, the solution isn't. For example, it could be something with your USB mouse (if you use one...), so try a PS/2 mouse to possibly narrow it down. There is a "mic boost" setting under Microphone->Advanced in the Windows Volume Control you could try disabling. Or, just try muting the microphone input.

Of course, if everything from the front panel is hooked up correctly, you verified on a different machine that the speaker works, and the "buzz" sound doesn't occur with a PCI soundcard, then I suggest an RMA for the mobo...

 

[sonnygdude]

I believe the P182 doesn't have a speaker, that is, I haven't been able to find it on mine. A sure obstacle to producing beeps.

 

[Binary12]

Thanks alot guys for your advices!

Originally posted by: Slugbait
The noise with the mouse is actually a common issue. Unfortunately, the solution isn't. For example, it could be something with your USB mouse (if you use one...), so try a PS/2 mouse to possibly narrow it down. There is a "mic boost" setting under Microphone->Advanced in the Windows Volume Control you could try disabling. Or, just try muting the microphone input.

I have now tried unplugging my USB-mouse and in with a PS/2 mouse but no change. Took me some time to find the "mic boost" option, a bit different in Vista. Anyway it wasn't just a checkbox to enable/disable as in XP. I could choose from 1dB increase to 30dB and it was at 1 or 0 by default. Muting the mic doesn't help either
I did however make a discovery! It turns out the buzz doesn't react as much to the mouse movements as to the processor/computer working. Whenever I started a program the buzz changed until it finished loading and the buzz went back to "normal". For example, I started Firefox and the buzz changed but when it was fully started the buzz went back to the same constant frequency. Does this make any sense?

The beep issue leads us to the LED issue...now I'm starting to think you've got some loose wires on your headers. Grab the manual, crack the case, verify the pins, reseat the cables

Why would the buzz issue got anything to do with the LED issue? Is there any audiocables (other than F_AUDIO) that needs to be plugged in? :S I was thinking the IEEE 1394 might got something to do with this. In the chassi manual it is called "FireWire, i.Link" whats i.Link? Doesn't seem likely though. I will take a second look on the wiring probably tomorrow when I got the time and hopefully manage to solve something..

Of course, if everything from the front panel is hooked up correctly, you verified on a different machine that the speaker works, and the "buzz" sound doesn't occur with a PCI soundcard, then I suggest an RMA for the mobo...

That bad huh? Its unfortunate I don't have a spare soundcard to try with. Still, if I can't get it to work properly as it is, with the soundcard built into the mobo then maybe I should return it anyway?

Originally posted by: sonnygdude[/b]
I believe the P182 doesn't have a speaker, that is, I haven't been able to find it on mine. A sure obstacle to producing beeps.

Well that explains the silence! Thank you. One down, two to go!


Regards
B

 

[Slugbait]

Why would the buzz issue got anything to do with the LED issue?

Always read from top to bottom in threads...not bottom to top. Properly read, you'll see there is no relationship, not even implied. But I digress, the pins that you connect your speaker to are in the same group that you plug in the front panel LEDs...on one of my mobos, I had tied the cables that were attached to these headers, and when one slid out, so did others, which is why I suggested opening the box for verification.

Its unfortunate I don't have a spare soundcard to try with

Borrow one. Buy one FAR. Whatever. Your task is to narrow down the problem, and if you don't and just do an RMA, it's possible your box with a replacement board will work just as well as your box with the current board.

 

[Binary12]

Originally posted by: Slugbait
Always read from top to bottom in threads...not bottom to top. Properly read, you'll see there is no relationship, not even implied.

Sorry, will do!


Okay, I will open the chassi and check it out. I'll reconnect the front panel and also try to get hold of a soundcard.

I scoped around in some other forums where people had similiar problems. Some of the answers they got referred to the PSU being broken or damage. Anyway, first things first, ill check the cabels and a different soundcard!

Thanks for your help!

/B

 

[Binary12]

Due to work and up coming vacation I wont be able to try and work things out with my system right now but I'll do that when I get back on the 3 of August. I just want to say I'm really happy for the help you have given me so far! I will update my thread once I have given my system a proper check and hopefully tell you that the problem is solved, if not.. well there's got to be some way to fix it right??!


Regards,
B

 

[Binary12]

Okay, back from vacation I still haven't had much time testing things properly with my system but I took 10 minutes to really try to rule out the sounddrivers as the problem...

..and it seems, ironicly, that the sounddrivers was the problem. When I updated them the mysterious buzz seems to have disappeared. I can't say for asbolutely sure that its all gone but the games and sounds I have tried so far doesn't cause a buzz. What remains for me now is to plug back the F_AUDIO cable to HDAUDIO instead of the AC97' as the system don't automaticly recognizes my headphones when I plug them in into the front. If that works, well, problem solved.
The LED's are still not working properly but if the sound is, I don't suppose it matters?

Thank you again for your help!