Problems with P3V4X

[smartdot]

Hello,
I newly purchased a P3v4x, 256RAM, SBLive!, voodoo3 3000, western digital HDD 20GB; and I am running Win 2000 Professional.

Initially I had a PIII 733MHz, PPGA with converter card.

It happens that sometimes, I cannot start my computer. i get I long beep, 2 beep ... and finally a roar! after that, I have to turn off my computer by unpluging the cable since the power switch would not work.

I thought it is from the converter card, because, when the computer starts after this problem occurs, the BIOS recognizes the CPU as a 400EB. I have to fix the BIOS and restart...

I changed the CPU and got a Slot 1 800 EB. But it is still doing the same!
any clues??

 

[subhuman]

it could be your componants aren't seated properly. try removing the video card, and reseating it carefully and fully. then, do the same with your ram, and double check it's in ram slots 1 & 2 (strange but this help stability on some of my abit boards instead of ram slots 2, 3).

finally, the ASUS boards bootup at the lowest FSB speed (66mhz) after a failed start, to help you regain control of your computer if you overclocked too far, etc. be sure your CPU voltage is set properly as well.

 

[mikee]

i'm guessing that you've checked the jumper settings on your converter card?

 

[smartdot]

Yes, I checked the jumpersettings on the converter card. Anyway, I am now working with a Slot1 800EB, without converters, and I am getting the same problem.

For the ram, I have a one-chip 256MB, seated in DIMM0. IO tried to move it to DIMM1. No changes!
BTW, If I look at the pins on my RAM, there is a black pin (pin 8 in the 60-pin series) with no golden plating. Is that normal?!

Does the 3 beeps and roar! mean that the VGA card is not detected or it could be any hardware peace?

I tried to remove all the hardware peaces, one at a time, and make sure they are pluged correctly and firmly... no changes!


it is so confusing!

 

[AndyHui]

The beep code that you describe indicates either video card bad/not seated properly, or RAM bad/not seated properly. Since you have taken stuff out and put it back in, I am inclined to think that your strip of RAM is bad. Can you borrow some to test if your system will boot up? I seriously think there is something wrong with your RAM.....the fingers shouldn't be black....either there is no finger near the notches, or they are gold/silver....never black.

 

[smartdot]

Thank you for the hint.
I will try to borrow RAM from someone to test it out. And get back to the supplier to return the RAM I have if it turns to be bad.

Would trying to reboot several time when testing affect the motherboard in any way. Can it damage anything on the board?

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[Moving Target]

Might want to try a diff vid card and/or sound card to, maybe one of them is dying. I recently had problems with random reboots and could sometimes not shut off without unplugging it from the wall. Turned out to be a bad sound card.

 

[smartdot]

I think it's the RAM. Actually, one of the golden pins seems damaged. I t is black. I thought first when I got the chip that it was a blank pin, but now that I took a closer look, it seems "burned".
I purchased it over the net (mcglen.com).
Any idea if they might exchange it within warranty?

I have a 64MB DIMM, but PC100, can I use it with my PIII 800EB FSB133, to test? Do I do that in jumperfree mode or should I set the jumpers? How?

 

[AndyHui]

Some PC100 RAM will be able to run quite fine at 133MHz. You can always go into the BIOS, set the CPU speed to manual and then downclock your CPU to 600MHz with the 100MHz FSB. If your system is able to boot up, then it would appear that your problem is the RAM.

If it is still under warranty, you should be able to return the RAM and ask for another stick.

 

[smartdot]

I tried the PC100 64MB stick... It didn't work! Still the Same Problem!

Someone is telling me it is the Power Supply?! Could it cause that?
I have an LC-235ATX power supply.

Tried to increase the voltage on the mobo by switching the VIO jumper to pins 2-3, but i didn't help. I got the smae sounds, followed by a continuous beep!

I went back to 3.3v settings and removed all the cards from the system, plugged in a PCI Diamond Stealth old VGA card and powered the system. I got a VGA signal, then I was able to boot.

I went in, then shut down. I switched back to the prvious VGA CArd (VOODOO3 3000), and boot successful.
Then I tried to insert back the other cards on at a time, and try to reboot. Everything looks great.

I have now all the cards in and i am able to boot successfully. but I never know when it will stop working. This is what happened before.
Let you posted!