Multiple problems with P4S533...HELP!!

[Tullphan]

A friend has a P4S533 w/1.8a cpu, 2 x 256mb ram, GeForce2 Ultra video, WD 80gb hard drive enclosed in a Fong Kai case w/Antec 400w p.s.
He's been having problems like a beep code that means no video, but if he holds down the power switch, it stops...a message at startup about the cpu being wrong & he has to go into the bios & change it back...a error message saying the cpu fan is no operating (when in fact it is)...things like this not happening consistently, but occasionally...enough to be annoying.
Is the motherboard going bad? Does it have some glitches that a bios upgrade can fix? As far as I know, the bios (which version, I don't know) hasn't been upgraded.
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[o1die]

I would flash to the latest bios version 1009 on the asus website. I would also check your 5v and 12v rail on the power supply. The 5v should be 4.9-5.05, and the 12v 11.7-12.05. I tried a cheap power supply with a low 12v rail, and the board kept saying "cpu not installed", even though I had the speech reporter disabled. I would also change the cpu vcore before increasing the cpu clock speed. I have problems getting the board to change cpu voltage settings. Often they're not accepted. Asus probe 21701 is the only version that works with this board. The temps usually read about 3-4 degrees cooler than the bios hardware monitor. For more stability, you might try the "jumper" mode. You can use the cpu vcore boost (increases the cpu voltage to about 1.6), the ddram voltage jumper (I leave mine at 2.7 volts) and turn dip switches 2 and 3 on for 133 fsb for the cpu and 166 for the memory. After a recent format, I didn't even use any sis drivers. My system is just as fast, and more stable without them.

 

[Tullphan]

Antecs are good quality power supplies, yes?
Any idea about the beep code that means no video (the beep goes away if power switch is held in briefly)? Do I need the AGP WHQL drivers as well?
What about the message regarding the cpu fan failure? Would that be fixed in the bios update? I remember looking on Asus' site & it saying something about fan speed.

 

[Tullphan]

Anyone?

 

[Toymaker]

Make sure that the memory settings are correct for the ram that you're using. Start at the most conservative settings then adjust up from there. Set it to SPD and see if that works. I'm using an older antec 400W ps with my motherboard and it contunues to work fine. But, it is still possible to get a defective unit. The bios is looking for a fan to be connected to the fan header on the motherboard. If you're using the stock HSF this shouldn't be a problem as it doesn't draw nearly enough current to cause a problem. If you still don't want to connect a fan to the header you can purchase a small chipset fan, put it onto your northbridge heatsink, and connect it to the header. Also, the CPU fan may not be connected to the proper header. Make sure that it is. HTH

 

[Tullphan]

**UPDATE**

Now, each time the PC is turned on, at the first screen a message comes up stating that there is cpu failure...press f1 to continue.
The cpu fan is running.
F1 is pressed & it runs like a dream.
Any ideas?

 

[o1die]

The hardware monitor has a feature to correlate the cpu fan and power supply fan speed to temperature. It's the first setting. Try disabling it. Your cpu fan may be turning too slow. With asus probe, I disable the cpu fan monitor as it occasionally falls below 2200 rpm, triggering a warning message. Also check to be sure the cpu fan is plugged into the correct header.