K8V-chime (repost)

Saist

Member
Aug 22, 2002
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Since I'm unsure how the admins feel about bumping threads when there is no new information to be added, figured I'd repost a problem I put in technical support.

Have a problem with my K8V board here. Every now and then the BIOS beep goes off as though the system is announcing the BIOS Clear when you turn the system on... while the system is running.

Nothing happens on screen, but after the chime there is a noticable drop in noise originating from the PC, as though the fans have all been turned down or off.

This is the 3rd board I've had back from RMA, and I'm highly tempted just to junk the ASUS and get the ECS 755-A2... mainly because I'm beggining to get the feeling that the company I purchased the board from doesn't really have a clue..

even though it means junking an otherwise working K8V board.

Anyone here have some suggestions on how to troubleshoot this chime?


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It's the same exact chime as when you first turn the PC on... when the BIOS announces it's clear.. I have the K8V manual in front of me and I don't see any explanations of the BIOS chimes

I submitted a request long time ago (when I first got this board) to Asus. They still have not responded at all to the question of what the chime means. Hence, me asking here.


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Actually, I run MEPIS sometimes when checking for problems, and the MEPIS boot disc includes the MemTest utility.

MemTest was actually once of the first tools I ran.

Anyways, I did start listening to the rest of the PC's performance. The fan speed does drop when the beep occurs...

However... I am not running any kind of overclock. Everything is set to default aside from the Promise SATA being turned off.

As to the power supply... I replaced the power supply with a brand new 600 WATT board.

I might as well go into the full issue because this might help.

I originally ordered off of PriceWatch the Abit KV8-MAX3 with a 3200 A64 from a company called Monarch Computers. Turned out the MAX3 was out of stock. They would, however, replace the board with the K8V from Asus. I took a look at some reviews and decided... okay.

The first K8V worked fine to begin with... until a I flashed the BIOS. 8 hours after I flashed the BIOS the system crashed while a friend was playing a game. He turned it back on. 8 hours after that the system crashed again on me. I turned it back on. 6 hours after that the system crashed and would not turn back on.

First RMA: Sent board back with RAM and CPU.

Got new board back from Monarch. Ram and processor were already seated. Plugged everything back into the board. Same thing as before. The system would simply not turn on.

Second RMA: Sent board back. This time with RAM, CPU, Heatsink, Video Card, and Sound Card.

Monarch got the components and put them together... it turned on for them. They sent system back. While waiting for the new system I decided to just go ahead and replace the Power supply and case. So I ordered a new case and 600 watt power supply (granted... it's a X-case... so it might be a problem)

Got the board back from Monarch. The RAM, CPU, and Heatsink were in place. Plugged everything up. System turned on and ran fine. According to the RMA notes, it was the same return board that went up for RMA #2.

Since then the only thing I've changed inside has been the boot order and disabling the Promise SATA controller.

I've run no overclocks on the processor or the ram, and AMD's Cool'n'Quiet is disabled in the system.

I will also note that the same friend who had the system crash on him noted that on this board he's flipped on the main monitor to be greeted with Asus's "Overclocking Failed" message. Which is really puzzeling to me.

I'm just entirely confused as what to do here... especially as Asus never responded to the requests for tech support.


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original thread here: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=1294627&enterthread=y
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Ok, if the problem persists across three different motherboards, you know what that should tell you...? ;) It ain't the motherboard. What brand and model is your power supply, and how stable is your utility power to your house? Are you by any chance using a good Uninterruptible Power Supply with automatic voltage regulation? If so, check its logs for power events.
 

Saist

Member
Aug 22, 2002
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Got the board back from Monarch. The RAM, CPU, and Heatsink were in place. Plugged everything up. System turned on and ran fine. According to the RMA notes, it was the same return board that went up for RMA #2

Hello, It's the same board. There have only been two boards.

The first board didn't do this. The first board just up and completely died.

The second boards is the one with the chime.

Okay, is that clear now?

Or do I need to haul out a pictionary?
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
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Originally posted by: Saist
Got the board back from Monarch. The RAM, CPU, and Heatsink were in place. Plugged everything up. System turned on and ran fine. According to the RMA notes, it was the same return board that went up for RMA #2

Hello, It's the same board. There have only been two boards.

The first board didn't do this. The first board just up and completely died.

The second boards is the one with the chime.

Okay, is that clear now?

Or do I need to haul out a pictionary?
Same board or different board, which is it?

Don't expect much help with a sassy attitude like that. Now heed mechBgon's noble advice, he knows his stuff.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Ok, let's never mind how many boards then :)

Because the chime/beep/alert coincides with voltage-drop symptoms, I have to wonder if it's either a nasty voltage sag on your utility power or maybe a voltage drop on your power supply itself. You do have your ATX12V cable plugged in, I presume... these boards usually won't run at all if it isn't. Hence my questions that I asked before, regarding your power supply's quality level, your utility power's stability, and the presence/absence of an AVR-equipped UPS.

Regarding the chime/beep/alert, does it come from the system speaker within the computer case, or does it come from your regular speakers? Perhaps it's coming from a monitoring software such as Asus Probe, APC PowerChute, or Motherboard Monitor; do you have such a program installed, and does it sound off audible alerts when voltage drops occur, perhaps?
 

Saist

Member
Aug 22, 2002
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Lets see.

The Asus Probe is on. It sees nothing.

The chime is the BIOS chime, as specified earlier. When removed from the computer, no chime.

Both leads to the motherboard are plugged in.

The powersupply is an X-case 600 watt.

The primary monitor does glitch occasionaly with the beep, but the secondary monitor does not.

No beeps from from the speakers on the sound card.
 

Saist

Member
Aug 22, 2002
82
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oh well, wound up replacing the power supply with an older 400watt. The beep is gone.