Help! My $2500 Northwood system won't POST!

[dahoff]

I've waited for this day since about last April or May when the Northwood CPU would come out. I finally received it today (it was the last part to come in) and spent all afternoon and evening carefully putting it all together. Before I go any further, here are my specs in detail:


* Case: Modified Lian-Li PC-61 case with 430W Enermax power supply, blue cold cathode light (not installed yet)
* CPU: Intel P4 Northwood @ 2.0A GHz (retail, using stock heatsink/fan and Arctic Silver II thermal compound)
* RAM: 1024MB (2 x 512MB) of Samsung PC800 ECC RDRAM
* Motherboard: Asus P4T-E
* Video: ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 8500DV
* Sound: Creative Labs SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum eX
* Hard Drive: Western Digital WD1200BB (120.0GB)
* DVD-ROM: Pioneer DVD-106S 16x
* CD-RW: Plextor 24/10/40a (not installed yet) and HP 8100i 4/2/24 (not installed yet)
* Monitor: I'm using a Dell 17" M780 right now (VGA interface)

The other peripherals are unimportant right now, and there is no OS because I haven't loaded it yet. I'm going to load Windows 2000.

Here's the problem: I hooked everything up and powered the system on. The fans came on, the hard drive started spinning, LEDs worked. Then...NOTHING. NO BEEP. NO VIDEO. I tried re-arranging the RAM into the other possible configuration. I even tried having NO RAM installed, but got the same problem. I have no idea what to do. I can't find anything in the manual for the video card or motherboard that might solve this. Here's something in case you didn't know: The AIW Radeon 8500DV only has a DVI output (digital output for LCDs, etc.) but it comes with a VGA adapter so that regular monitors can use it. I plugged the monitor into the adapter, then into the DVI port.

Can anyone here help me please? I'm frustrated, as my dream system (as you can see, all the components are for the most part top-of-the line to the extreme) won't even POST! What's wrong?

 

[BFG10K]

Do you see anything at the post screen?

Try taking out everything except for the CPU, RAM and video card and see if that boots.

I've waited for this day since about last April or May when the Northwood CPU would come out.

Huh? Northwoods have been out only a month or so.

 

[dahoff]

BTW, the $2500 pricetag does not include the speakers (maybe Z-560), UPS (Back-UPS Pro 1400), webcam (Logitech QuickCam Pro 3000), or LCD (ViewSonic VG191b?). I want this machine to last through at least 4-5 years of college. I'm not too much of a gamer, so I went with the Radeon instead of the GeForce. Plus, I wanted good DVD playback, a built-in TV tuner. The reason I bought the Audigy Platinum eX (external) is because I am a musician (I want to set up a studio in my dorm room ) so I wanted all the connectivity, plus I like watching DVDs in surround sound. I don't have the money (or the need) for a professional sound card.

Is there a jumper or something on the video card that tells it to output in analog instead of digital? or does the adaptor automatically tell? I'm not sure exactly what the problem might be. Either it's the video card, motherboard, or a bad or wrong connection somewhere.

 

[Strawberrymom]

try clearing the bios

 

[dahoff]

<< Do you see anything at the post screen? >>



No, the screen is completely black.



<< Try taking out everything except for the CPU, RAM and video card and see if that boots. >>



I thought the conflict might be with the sound card, so I removed it like you said. Same thing.

I've waited for this day since about last April or May when the Northwood CPU would come out.



<< Huh? Northwoods have been out only a month or so. >>



I meant that Intel announced the Northwood line some time in early 2001. The postponed the release date to Q3'01, then Q4'01, then finally, it's out. That's when I made my move and bought all my parts.

 

[dahoff]

<< try clearing the bios >>



How would I do that if I can't see the screen. Is there a jumper on the motherboard or something?

 

[Beatnik]

Yeah, there's probably a "clear CMOS" dip jumper.
Check your mobo manual, it will have brief instructions on how to do that.

That seems like a trick/smart suggestion.
My other guess would be VIDEO CARD. If you have a well known
cheapy you could throw in for a moment, might be worth a try.

Also, as the other guy said, start WITHOUT SOUNDCARD, and
WITHOUT NETWORK CARD. Go progressively adding stuff, it's much
easier to checkpoint as you go instead of trying to make everything
fly at once.

 

[BFG10K]

No, the screen is completely black.

What colour is the monitor's light?

I thought the conflict might be with the sound card, so I removed it like you said. Same thing.

Take out everything except for one stick of RAM, the CPU and the video card and unplug all of your IDE/floppy controllers. Then try that.

 

[dahoff]

Beatnik and Strawberrymom, thanks for the suggestion to clear my BIOS. I'll consider that as a last resort. But some other posts gave me some ideas.

BFG10k: the monitor's light is green. It's just the screen is blank. Note: It doesn't say no signal...just blank screen.

Also, I thought I had taken out everything (I took out the sound card, and the network card isn't installed yet), but I didn't think of unplugging the floppy and IDE controllers. I'll try that. Also, since I have 2 sticks of rdram I have to have both installed. Tough luck there. But I'll definitely try disconnecting the controllers.

 

[BFG10K]

BFG10k: the monitor's light is green.

Then it's getting a signal that it recognises. Do what I said but also crank up the brightness and contrast levels on the monitor just in case it's set too low and you can't see it.

Also, don't forget that you need terminators installed for each RIMM slot that isn't filled with RAM.

 

[Adul]

I would check to make sure the clear cmos jumper is not set to clear. Somtimes MB come that way. And if it isnt clear it anyways. No harm is done, it just clears out the settings someone may have used. It is not needed has a last resort so to speak.

 

[Wolfsraider]

you said:* RAM: 1024MB (2 x 512MB) of Samsung PC800 ECC RDRAM
and:Also, since I have 2 sticks of rdram I have to have both installed

my question is are you using c-rimms in the empty slots?

also motherboards require the ram to be configured (in a rimm then c rimm rimm c rimm configuration
i believe for that motherboard)

and if memory serves some(though not sure on asus p4t-e)require a bios flash for the northwood

clearing the cmos is just to get clean slate to start from as this can clear any unintentional configurations

the video card using dvi is not the problem but the seating of any and all cards is very important so make sure that all items (pci agp ram )are seatted properly as this is the biggest mistake in building a new computer

and 1 last word on your system SWEET!!!!!

 

[Dre]

I would take all the components off the motherboard and put them back in. Something may have been lose. Also, do you have all the motherboard headers in the right spot?

 

[genius19]

Try Rebuilding the system from scratch. If any of the headers are in the wrong spot, you are prob. shorting your motherboard. Also I think clearing the CMOS is the best idea yet--look for a jumper beside your battery on that board, or just remove the CMOS battery for a few minutes. If that doesnt work, inspect the area around the chip. If your fan is a clasp-type make sure you did not cut the strip of tape on the mainboard while installing the chip.

Do you have an old p4 to try?? I wouldnt rule out needing a bios upgrade if you got the MB before the chip was released.

 

[Megatomic]

<< Take out everything except for one stick of RAM... >>



I don't think you can do that with RDRAM. I had to install it in pairs when I was running a P4 last year.

 

[KenAF]

dahoff,

The P4T-E with bios v1004 does not support the Northwood. You have to upgrade to bios v1005 to gain Northwood support. Most boards now ship with v1005, but it is possible that you got one with the v1004 bios.

In order to do upgrade the bios, while still using your 2.0A processor, you need to set the DIP switches (to 20 x 100) using the DIP switches on the motherboard. That should allow you to boot; once you boot, flash the bios to 1005 (or whatever is latest); you can then reset the mainboard switches back to jumperless mode, if you so desire.

In order to find the appropriate DIP switches to use, you need to download the P4T manual...or you can save yourself some time and just configure the DIP switches as they are shown in this image (for 2.0A only).. Note the white indicates the switch position; don't touch switch #5.

 

[Amused]

This is what happens if you have the first BIOS (1003) on the P4T-E and try using a Northwood Processor. It doesn't recognize the NW, and can't properly set the clock settings

Simply Read the Manual to find out how to set the jumper on the mobo to "Jumper Mode" and set your dip switchs to the clock settings of your processor. It will then boot. Then you update the BIOS and set the put the settings and jumper back the way they were.

Here's the dipswitch settings for your proc:

up / up / down / up / down / up / down / up / up / up

Or:

on / on / off / on / off / on /off / on / on / on

Remember to set the Jumper Mode jumper to "Jumper Mode" first.

 

[Amused]

Dammit Ken.

 

[Amused]

BTW, the P4T-E manual has instructions on dipswitch settings.

 

[Ausm]

I would definately clear the bios.....


Ausm

 

[Amused]

<< I would definately clear the bios.....


Ausm >>



It wont do anything. You HAVE to manually configure the dip switches, update the BIOS, then put the switches back.

 

[Ausm]

<<

<< I would definately clear the bios..... Ausm >>

It wont do anything. You HAVE to manually configure the dip switches, update the BIOS, then put the switches back. >>



How the hell can you update the bios when there is no video output?!?!


Ausm

 

[KenAF]

You will get video output once you configure the DIP switches on the motherboard as described above.

 

[Amused]

<<

<<

<< I would definately clear the bios..... Ausm >>

It wont do anything. You HAVE to manually configure the dip switches, update the BIOS, then put the switches back. >>



How the hell can you update the bios when there is no video output?!?!


Ausm >>



The system will post perfectly once he manually configures the dipswitches.

I explained it in my previous post on this thread. The old P4T-E BIOS does not recognize the NW proc, and therefore cannot properly set the clock/stepping settings. You have to set these manually with the dipswitches, boot, update the BIOS, shut down, and put the dipswitches and jumper back to "Jumper Free Mode."

Read the freakin thread before posting next time, OK?

 

[thirdlegstump]

If you're a musician, you could've got a real soundcard like the M-audio audiophile for the same price if not less. The audigy may have 24/96 but it still does internal processing at 48k..this causes latency when doing any real time synth stuff with midi and also causes additional overhead because of resampling. Not a good thing when doing audio on a computer. If you can, I'd replace that card with the Audiophile or go with an Omnistudio if possible.