[GLO]

first off, here is my rig:
Quote:

My HTPC project build will comprise of: Asus P4P800E-deluxe mother board P4 3.0c Ghz 800FSB Hyper Threading Ready CPU Corsair TwinX 1Gb PC3200 C2 DDR ram (2x 512Mb sticks) running in dual channel mode (purchased together as a twin matched pack) Samsung Spinpoint 160Gb SATA 7200rpm HDD Asus A9600 XT/TVD TTGI 450w psu Hauppage PVR350 for recording Foxtel analogue signal Plextor PX-712SA Sata DVD burner (or Pioneer or NEC alternative) Asus onboard Wifi/access point and 2 HDTV tuners (either one of each DVICO & Nebula

I have stripped it down to only

Asus P4P800E-deluxe mother board

P4 3.0c Ghz 800FSB Hyper Threading Ready CPU

Corsair TwinX 512Mb PC3200 DDR ram

Asus A9600 XT/TVD

TTGI 450w psu


The Bios does not give any POST beep reporting (on both mobo's). even without any VGA card installed. I have never been able to get into the Bios since i cant get a VGA output. VGA and CPU fans runningand card is locked in.


Holding down the DEL button whilst powering on did not change anything.


Monitor working on other machines.


The CPU tested fine in another PC (so i doubt any bent pins, as it wouldnt have worked in that machine);


the memory is in the blue slots and have been tested individually (and confirmed working in another machine);


PSU looks to be a rebranded FSP derivative, very well made.


both power connectors are installed and clicked in.


Also tried both mobo's on test bench out of case, to ensure no grounding issues.


I had the first mobo tested in another machine too, and it had the same problem ie no vga output, but mobo led and mobo powered fans working!

CMOS jumpers have not been changed and are all in the factory recommenced positions.


Then the replacement mobo shows the exact same problem!


I will try the BIOS jumper clearing now as its the last resort, but i dont have much faith in that being the problem.


Let me know if you think of anything else?


regards

GLO

 

[pohh-bah]

Clearing the CMOS is the first thing I would do. Then I'd try it with a different power supply.


Try to get it to post with a minimum amount of hardware. Use one stick of memory and a video card (only). Try the memory in different slots. I've also had some luck by installing a PCI video card to get past this problem, then reinstall the AGP card.


Is the stock CPU cooler plugged into the CPU fan header on the motherboard?


I have seen boards that did this but had zero problems later in life.

 

[GLO]

Hi pohh-bah


Im using a Zalman CNPS7000 cpu cooler and that is plugged into the fan header on the mobo. this runs fine as does the other fnas that run off the mobo.


trying the CMOS jumper reset now, tried removing the battery for 1 minute yesterday, with no changes.

 

[The_smokester]

Just a couple of ideas to get this thread a little down the road:


First, the PSU seems to be the only thing you haven't independently verified. Is there an opporunity to check it's performance out in another similar system?


Secondly, Are all the standoffs holding the Mobo to the case in the correct position with no more than the proper mounting holes being used? The symptoms you describe are sometimes caused by an accidental shorting of the Mobo through an extraneous, redundant and otherwise unnecessary standoff (or something else) inadvertantly touching the backside. Look carefully for this because sometimes this can be hard to see.

 

[GLO]

Will try the PSU in another rig shortly, but can confirm that the mobo did not work with a different PSU.


Note, mobo LEDs and mobo powered case fans are operational.


Both mobo's have been tested outside of the case also, ensuring no earthing problems. And whilst in the case, only recommended mounts are used.

 

[GLO]

just tried the CMOS jumper reset, no change.

 

[The_smokester]

Is the memory compatible with the board?

 

[GLO]

Quote:

Originally posted by The_smokester Is the memory compatible with the board?

Yes, infact its the recommended preffered model too!

 

[GLO]

I triple checked the CPU and heat sink, even tried it with the stock HSF, still no difference!

 

[The_smokester]

Gotta try the Power Supply in another rig. There are two plugs to the Mobo, right?

 

[GLO]

Quote:

Originally posted by The_smokester Gotta try the Power Supply in another rig. There are two plugs to the Mobo, right?

yes, they are both plugged in too!

 

[Paul_Seng]

what revision of the board do you have? If it isn't v2.00 or higher there is a known problem with a solder blob that is shorting it out. It should tell you between the 2nd and 3rd PCI slots.

 

[GLO]

its v1.02.


The P4P800 E-deluxe was only just released in Australia, and i was probably the first to get it in a machine.


I wouldnt have thought that they would have gotten to v2.00 already.


But if they did then i would have thought that they would recall them before they are sold in Australia?

 

[GLO]

where can i find info about that blob? And is it 100% refering to the P4P800 E-Deluxe?


Thanks

 

[dantenatas]

I had an Asus A7N8X Deluxe that I tried to overclock, then it exhibited the very same problem you are having. I thought I would just clear the cmos, then be back up and running, but it was not to be. I ended up swapping parts between 3 systems, but could never get it to boot. I finally gave up and sent it back to Asus and they sent me a new one that worked perfectly. In other words, maybe the board is just bad.

 

[GLO]

That may have been the case, but the replacement board has the exact same problem!

 

[GLO]

OK here is the latest to this ongoing drama!


Took the mobo and psu to another shop and paid for some bench time! (no friends are close enough to visit)


Before i give you the punch line, I have to say that

1.in this rig i tested another vga and it didnt work -points to mobo fault


2.the following tested fine in another rig: cpu, ram, vga -points to mobo or psu fault


3.mobo with same vga but different psu and ram didnt work - points to mobo fault


4.got replacement mobo but still no vga signal or POST beeps - points to mobo fault.


So today i put it back on the test bench with a generic ram and generic psu and it worked!


Then next i and tried a generic ram with my psu and it worked! so whilst we proved that my psu is fine, we plugged the corsair ram back in and tried it once more. It did not work!


So the problem would seem to be a the RAM right? Maybe not,


The ram is on the Qualified Vendor List in the Asus P4P800E-Deluxe manual and infact this particular model was tested too and listed to work!


I contacted the Australian distributor who has the same mobo, cpu, vga and ram and the board worked!


Leaving me to say that the ram and mobo work separately but not together, even though they both claim to have tested them together!


So what am i to do????

 

[Xayd]

Doesn't matter what the list says if the RAM is fried .


Send it back, it's broke, you found your problem.

 

[GLO]

ram isnt fried, it works in another rig!

 

[The_smokester]

Glad you got it working.