!Need A Lot of Help Needed! Please Read, Im Getting Desperate

[KaranG4]

I have been trying to get my computer to work for a while now, I bought a new motherboard originally and I had gotten one of the processors to work on it, but i hadnt installed the heatsink right so I took it off (there was no damage because of this, it didnt get above 60degrees Celcius, it was a swiftech) and I couldnt get either of the two processors I own to work on it again. The motherboard was asus a7v8x, and the two original processors being 1.4ghz athlon cpus. The problem I was getting was that in the POST, I would always hear "System Failed CPU Test", which haunt me to do this day. After that, I posted a message on this forum and someone replyed with the problem being memory, so I went out and bought kingston 256mb ddr ram, and got nowhere. After this I thought that maybe it was the motherboard that was the problem, so I rma'd it to newegg and they sent a brand new shiny one, and it was of no help. Desperate at this point, I figured Id blame both the cpus, since it was my first time installing it, i went a lil crazy with the thermal greece (AS3), and I figured that maybe I had wrecked the cpus since that is what the problem pointed to. I did try to save the cpus by cleaning off all traces of as3 and soak it with alcohol. No luck there, so I went ahead and bought a new processor, a amd athlon xp 2000+ from newegg.com. I got the package today and I carefully installed the computer, as carefully as possible, and yet.... (*sigh*), I heard those infamous words "System Failed CPU Test"... I tried hopelessly to install it with the given heatsink as well... no luck....

I really really would appreciate any help, the ONLY thing that could affect my computer that point that I havent replaced is the power supply/case, which I might get a new one of in a month.

my specs incase u dont want to read it again...
Asus a7v8x <<replaced from old mobo and rma'ed (unlikely its the problem??)
256mb pc2100 ddr Kingston <<bought recently
256mb pc2100 ddr Crucial <<reliable, have been using it for at least a year
Amd athlon 1.4Ghz X 2 <<both worked as far as I knew
Amd athlon xp 2000+ <<retail package, should definately have worked
Swiftech MCX462-U Heatsink with a thermaltake coolmod fan << cant see how it would be the problem
Artic silver 3 <<Applied carefully on the 2000+ and a little carelessly on 1.4ghz's

Video cards: Tried all of these, but I hardly think this is the problem... but i guess u never know
radeon 8500le
geforce 2 mx pci
geforce 256 agp

I am really desperate, PLEASE help me before I break down and cry, This really shouldnt be that hard.

Thank You for any replys in advance

ps, if this should be in the motherboard forum or some other one let me know

 

[loafbred]

The most likely causes that come to mind are:

1. An out-of-place standoff under the motherboard grounding the board.

2. Something at the back end of the case grounding the board.

3. An improperly positioned jumper.

4. Something screwed up in the ATX connector from the power supply.

5. Something plugged in wrong.

6. Bad power supply.

Since it worked before you removed the cooler the first time, I'm thinking maybe it was actually the cpu the first time, but something else now.

 

[Jeff7181]

You didn't mention what your PSU is rated at did you? Maybe I missed it. Maybe your PSU can't handle all the acessories you're throwing at it?

 

[KaranG4]

Well, I have an Enlight 300 watt powersupply, It worked on my previous motherboard, with the same cpu and all...
btw, loafbred I'll check into all those suggestions tomorrow... I need sleep.

 

[deerslayer]

Have you tried removing everything from the case and booting? Make sure you set the motherboard and such on a non-conductive surface so you don't short anything.

Try to find another power supply to try with the motherboard.

I've never heard of a problem like this, just giving some basic suggestions

 

[Duvie]

Take a cardboard box and take the mobo with cpu and agp card out of case and lay on box....Then add one stick of ram and hookup power supply...Then install case wires but only concentrate on the power switch, reset and speaker only...check their placement then double check...then try them both ways...

Do not hookup any case fans or ide devices...you don't need them to post....

Also, make sure you have 3 pin header from cpu heatsink fan hooked up to the correct connector on the mobo as you would get a failure error like that if it wasn't hooked up and detected by the mobo. Please double check this as their are multiple hookup for fans on most mobo...often one for chipset fans, case fans, and even power supply fans...

 

[KaranG4]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to try and run it outside of the case as suggested after school today and also when did install the computer everytime, all I hooked up at max was the motherboard, cpu, ram, and video card, and tried with only the motherboard and cpu so that wasnt really an issue. Thanks again, I'll let you know how things go this evening.

 

[KaranG4]

The results of the boot were unsucessful, same problem. After the failed atempt, I went to a friends house and tried to see if I could use their powersupply... but they had an hp computer so all those wires for power switch and reset switch and all were different, all in one, so tomorrow I plan to take my case over there and use my motherboard outside the case, my case for booting, and my friends 330watt powersupply, this should be fun

Hope this works... if so, I can get that case that I was planning on getting soon anyway.

 

[mechBgon]

A name-brand 400W PSU might be a good idea for a nice system like that. Sparkle Power, Antec and Enermax have good reputations.

 

[Dexion]

What kind of HSF are you running on the Swiftech? Is is connected to the CPU1 fan header?
Most mobos nowadays detect the CPU fan on boot up. If it doesn't find a fan with an RPM reading, then the board gives off a nasty beep. Asus has some CPU thermal overheat features, I'm quite sure its on that board(I could be wrong since I don't own the board). The feature can be disabled from the bios, but its most likely defaultly on, so you won't be able to get there without the CPU fan connected.

The other thing I can think of is the Vid cards, make sure you clean off the AGP connector. I've have had problems before with the contacts on the AGP slot, which can also give you the "Vid Card problem Beep". The best way to clean it is with some isopropyl alcohol.

An Enermax 300W PSU is well over enough for a Athlon XP system in my opinion, especially when only the mobo, vid, ram and Cpu is attached. I highly doubt the PSU is the problem. Don't rule this possibility out though, trying another PSU might work(but I'll bet on it).

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Dexion
What kind of HSF are you running on the Swiftech? Is is connected to the CPU1 fan header?
Most mobos nowadays detect the CPU fan on boot up. If it doesn't find a fan with an RPM reading, then the board gives off a nasty beep. Asus has some CPU thermal overheat features, I'm quite sure its on that board(I could be wrong since I don't own the board). The feature can be disabled from the bios, but its most likely defaultly on, so you won't be able to get there without the CPU fan connected.

The other thing I can think of is the Vid cards, make sure you clean off the AGP connector. I've have had problems before with the contacts on the AGP slot, which can also give you the "Vid Card problem Beep". The best way to clean it is with some isopropyl alcohol.

An Enermax 300W PSU is well over enough for a Athlon XP system in my opinion, especially when only the mobo, vid, ram and Cpu is attached. I highly doubt the PSU is the problem. Don't rule this possibility out though, trying another PSU might work(but I'll bet on it).

The CPU-fan protection is an excellent suggestion. It's caused grief for lots of SOYO owners, for one thing. Out of curiosity I downloaded the manual from Asus for this board, and it turns out that it has a separate voice message for when it doesn't see an RPM signal from the CPU fan ("CPU Fan Failed!").

A little problem I had with a board once: I'd put in the AGP card but it only got down into the first set of contacts and I didn't push down hard enough to get it into the second row of contacts, so that's another great idea. Good luck with the bug hunt!

 

[KaranG4]

Well, I tried 3 different heat sinks, the swiftech, the one that comes with a standard 1.4 ghz athlon, and the one that came with the retail version of the 2000 xp+. About the other possibilites, such as fan protection, I think that there is another warning for that, cpu fan fail or something and it also has loud beeps if it gets too hot, i left it on for five minutes before, and all I heard was "System Failed CPU Test", two of the heatsinks did have 3 pin connectors for the motherboard, but the swiftech didnt, its fan was a Thermal Take 80mm smart case fan 2. About the video card, even when I dont install the video card, the same post message comes up, I think there is yet another message if the agp card is not installed, or improperly installed. I think it might be the power supply since, i had a lot of troubles with my previous system recently so i blamed the motherboard, and just about everything else eventually, costly mistake... but if the powersupply is to blame, I wont be too mad, cuz at least ill have a nice system now. Oh, and the problems I had with the old mobo were practically the same, power was distributed to the motherboard and all but nothing came up on the monitor, and I pinpointed it to any of the crucial parts of the system, motherboard, ram, cpu, or powersupply.

I was thinking about getting the "CHIEFTEC Server Chasis (Aluminum Workstation Tower with Plastic Front Cover) SILVER w/acrylic window **Now with 2 x Front USB2.0 and 1 x Firewire IEEE1394 ports**450W AMD approved Power Supply, Powered by Foxconn (Austin)" if I find out tomorrow that it works with my friends powersupply.
It has nice features, all i want and its a pretty cheap price ($110 shipped), anyone know if the Power Supply is good or bad?

 

[mechBgon]

I see you can also get the case without a PSU for $88+s/h. Foxxcon = Deer, and they have gotten a lot of flak for not being very good, so why not pick up Antec's SL350 or Sparkle Power's 350W unit, or their 400W units if you want to. I know I'd take a quality 300W unit from either company over a no-name 450W unit.

 

[KaranG4]

hmmm, if they are bad, then whats a good price/performence ratio at newegg for these powersupply's, I really am getting broke (its almost christmas, and you saw all that stuff i bought recently to fix my comp).

 

[mechBgon]

Sparkle Power's 350W unit is under $50 shipped from newegg.com, for starters.

 

[KaranG4]

hmmm... I was thinking of "ENERMAX EG365P-VE(FC). 350W Power supply" maybe, it looks like its not a bad power supply and has a lot of praise in the reviews...

 

[mechBgon]

I'm using one of the Enermax 365 variants myself here. Good units

 

[KaranG4]

heh, cool, I think I might just get this tomorrow and hold on the case for a few weeks unless i spontaniously spend all my money on it... but I can wait for about a month for the case. Oh btw, since there are a lot of different versions of this powersupply (EG365P), what is the main difference between them?

 

[mechBgon]

FM = Fan Monitoring (RPM wire coming from the 92mm fan)
FC = Fan Control (92mm fan is powered from motherboard, so it can be shut off when the system Suspends or Standbys)
FMA = Fan Monitoring and Adjustable (user can manually adjust fan speed with an external adjuster on the outside rear of the PSU)

 

[KaranG4]

Those seem like features which I dont really think are worth paying extra, ill go with the cheaper one if i buy one.

 

[KaranG4]

Results from today's attempt.
I went to my friends house to try his power supply and I tried two of the three cpus that I have, and yet again I get the same message "System Failed Cpu test". It was installed out of the case, on top of a anti-static bag on top of a cardboard box. I have no idea what could be the problem. Every part I've tried, I either have 2 or more of, or I've returned for another one. This is nuts, it makes no sense, only thing I had connected was cpu (and heatsink), motherboard, and the power supply. I installed it all correctly and about a hundred times in the case, and a few times out of it. Please help, I'm being squeezed dry of money from *possible* solutions and havent found the problem yet. I swear... If I cant get my computer to work, I'll never open another computer up and throw this one out the window , Im thinking that maybe I'll just go buy one from DELL or GATEWAY! And you DONT want me doing that, so please HELP.

btw
before I throw it out, ill hopefully have enough sense to go check a local computer store and see if they can help me, but like i said, im almost broke

 

[KaranG4]

I guess its gonna be the local computer shop........

 

[ChrisADuffy]

I had a strange problem similar to this, I removed the cmos battery which cleared the cmos. Then booted up just fine.

 

[KaranG4]

hmmm... when I was out my friends house I tried that but it didnt change anything. But I didnt completely understand the instructions for clearing it in the manual, they were badly worded, can someone give a quick rundown on the steps??

 

[mechBgon]

Is your friend's power supply a big burly strong one? You don't want to try starting a Mac truck's engine with the starter from a Ford Festiva There is also the unfortunate possibility that your power supply is toast and is toasting new boards as you go, somehow. Buy the right thing the first time, that's my motto.

As for clearing the CMOS, unplugging the power supply from the wall, punching the Power button on the case to drain it, and taking out the CMOS battery for a minute is a fairly sure method.