Old Dell XPS Gen 3 Parts - New Case / MB Issues

[NimbleOne]

[*]1 long 2 short beeps - video issue or memory or other?
3 or 4 years I bought a Dell XPS Gen 3 or 4. Ever since there have been issue with it - mainly overheating inside the case. Went through 4 harddrives in a year and a half. Then some of the fans failed - so bought new fans and eventually new power supply. Finally wouldn't start at all. This is the original configuration:

Intel Pentium 4 processor 550 (3.4 GHz) w/HT Technology and 1 MB cache
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533 MHz (2 - 512)
Original Graphics Card (Radeon X800 XT) replaced in 2006 with ATI X1900 GTO
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2
160 GB Maxtor Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Dell MotherBoard
48x CD-RW
16x DVD+RW
Windows XP Home


So I decided that since there always seems to have been an overheating issue, I decided a new case and motherboard was in order. I bought off newegg the following:

XCLIO GREATPOWER X14S4P3 ATX12V 550W Power Supply
ASUS P5GC-VM(GREEN) LGA 775 Intel 945GC Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
XCLIO A380PLUS-BK Fully Black High Gloss Finish 1.0mm SECC/ ABS ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Everything arrived last night so I started putting things together. Turned it on - and got 1 long and 2 short beeps. Looked up beep codes and found it could be a display adapter issue. Removed the graphics card and plugged the monitor into the unboard video. Same thing. After further reading some messages say it could be the memory. I only put in 1 Dimm in the slot closest the CPU. Same beep error code. Decided to reset CMOS RTC RAM - removed battery - did jumpers. Still same beeping.

I'm wondering what to try next to get it working. I'm hoping that the motherboard isn't faulty with a bad display adapter.

Thanks in advance for any help...

 

[bruceb]

First did you buy the new / correct RAM ? ?
The new mobo requires

Memory
Number of Memory Slots 4×240pin
Memory Standard DDR2 667
Maximum Memory Supported 4GB
Dual Channel Supported Yes

Next is to check if the mobo is shorting out to the
case. See if it will POST by testing it outside of the
case. Note also you will need a new copy of XP
or Vista to install as the Dell OS is tied to the Dell
BIOS and can not be legally installed on another
computer except a Dell

 

[NimbleOne]

You are right - I didn't notice the memory difference- I'm off to buy some new memory - will let you know what happens.

 

[cubby1223]

The memory speed makes no difference, you can use ddr2 533 just fine in that board.

My concern is you linked to an open box motherboard. Newegg doesn't test their returns like they used too, I would say chances are you got a bum motherboard. Buy new next time.


You're basically building a new machine here, you can increase performance and greatly drop heat output if you switch to a Core 2 Duo processor, a combination perhaps like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813186116
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052

 

[daveybrat]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
The memory speed makes no difference, you can use ddr2 533 just fine in that board.

My concern is you linked to an open box motherboard. Newegg doesn't test their returns like they used too, I would say chances are you got a bum motherboard. Buy new next time.


You're basically building a new machine here, you can increase performance and greatly drop heat output if you switch to a Core 2 Duo processor, a combination perhaps like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813186116
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052

He's right, i just checked on Asus's site, and that board takes DDR2 533/667.

Of course it can't hurt to try different ram, but it might not fix the problem. Might just be a bum motherboard.

 

[NimbleOne]

Thanks everyone for the good information. After many frustrated hours - and an email to Asus tech support - I decided to try something radical (ha ha) by putting the new ram I purchased in a different slot (NOT the one closest to the CPU) and everything went on and POSTed. So turns out it was a bad memory slot. I don't feel like going through the whole return thing -so I'm just going to keep the memory at 2GB and call it good.

Thanks cubby123 for the processing suggestion - that will be my next upgrade in a few months.