PC refuses to boot/POST

[bjkeates]

I recently upgraded my computer, replacing the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, one of the optical drives and adding another stick of memory. With the new equipment in, when powering on, the motherboard gives a series of repeated beeps continuously. According to the motherboard manual, for an AWARD BIOS this means "DRAM error". The complete specification of my system is as follows:

Gigabyte K8NS Socket 754 motherboard
AMD Sempron 3000+ 64bit (retail box)
2x 512MB Corsair ValueSelect PC3200 DDR RAM (total 1GB)
PowerColor ATi Radeon X700 256MB
Maxtor Diamondmax+8 40GB IDE HDD
Maxtor Diamondmax+9 80GB IDE HDD
LG 52x32x52x16 CD-Rw/DVD-ROM
Lite-On 16x DVD+/-Rw
Hiper 4S425 425W ATX PSU
BT Voyager 2040 Wireless-LAN PCI card

I have since attempted the following action to rectify the problem:

- Sent motherboard back to retailer (as originally had a different problem, no power at all.) It was sent back to me confirmed as working. (Seems the earlier problem was a short circuit which I have now isolated as the board now powers on in the case.)
- Removed one stick of RAM. Tried remaining stick in all three available slots.
- Swapped sticks of RAM. Tried the same process using the other stick.
- Removed both sticks of RAM and attempted using an older stick of 256MB PC2100 DDR RAM.
- Disconnected everything inside the case apart from CPU, Heatsink/Fan, 1 stick of memory, power switch, graphics card.
- Removed graphics card and replaced with old nVidia FX5200 128MB.
- Cleared CMOS and tried again with minimal components.

Having tried all this and effectively eliminated the graphics card and RAM as being a cause of the error, is it possible that the CPU is the problem? This is the only component I have been unable to eliminate, and I did accidentally drop it on the carpet before I installed it - there was no visible damage but I was worried something might be shot internally on it. But having said that, normally the CPU is only detected while on the POST screen, isn't it? So in that case, given that the computer won't even get to the POST screen, I'm not sure if the CPU can be a cause.The PSU is fine - only 3 months old with ratings of 28A, 30A and 31A on the 3.3V, 5V and 12V rails respectively.

Any suggestions as to what I can do? I've tried everything I can think of and I'm stuck. Any advice would, of course, be very much appreciated.

[DBTL]

"Gigabyte K8NS Socket 754 motherboard"

My sources say GB K8NS is a socket 939 board, which would be in accordance with your CPU. If you get beeps, your CPU does work. You can use either a 32 or a 64-bit memory configuration. Check the possible memory configurations on page 15 of your mobo manual:
http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_k8ns-939(k8nspro-939)_e.pdf

To eliminate possible AGP problems, you could borrow any old PCI display card and insert that into any of the standard PCI sockets. I'd take the board out of the case and test it alone with only the display card installed. Use a cardboard box or similar as a stand. A jumper block can be used as a power switch.

[Conan the Librarian]

If you have anything attached via USB, unplug that lot too. Seen a few machines where there was a lot of coughing on POST and the above sometimes works as well. If there is an improvement, then repolug, one by one until you hit the culprit.

Keep us POSTed (I think I ought to be shot for that one...)


Conan

[bjkeates]

My sources say GB K8NS is a socket 939 board


It's definitely 754... here's the specs from Gigabyte (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=motherboard&ProductID=1784&ProductName=GA-K8NS)

I've had a look at the page from the 939-version manual, and it's irrelevant to my board - I only have 3 DIMM slots.

When testing on a cardboard box or similar, am I correct in thinking it is OK to place the board directly on to the cardboard so the pins on the back are in contact with it? There's no need to raise it slightly off the cardboard or anything?

Also, how safe is it to run without any RAM in at all, or without the CPU - and would this help?


Keep us POSTed (I think I ought to be shot for that one...)


:{

[frostbite]

Resting it on a cardboard surface should not cause any problem but a rubber or plastic surface would be even better.

Don't think powering up without any RAM would serve any useful purpose.

[DBTL]

Yes, you're right. Strangely, there are two different boards with the same code, only the suffix differs: K8NS, and K8NS Pro-939, or K8NSC-939 .

Leave the add-on card side hanging over the box edge, you'll only need the display adapter card.

It's perfectly safe to test the board without the memory. You should be receiving the memory error beep code specified in your manual. There are two possible manufacturers of the BIOS, and the error beep codes will be different as well. The mfg will be printed on the label on the BIOS chip (a small square one in a socket).

Have you connected both power supply leads to the board, the small 4-pin one as well? It does matter on some boards, especially those with Intel CPUs.

[bjkeates]

OK thanks, I'll give it a try. The reason I asked about trying it without the CPU was that if it gave the same error beeps without the CPU, the fault could definitely be determined to be with the memory. Having said that, if the CPU was causing it, then a faulty CPU could give the same result as no CPU...

I've contacted AMD anyway and I'm going to RMA the CPU. They've been very helpful today and it's a major part I could do with having checked out. I know it's a pain in the arse, but even if they charge a testing fee if it comes back OK it's still cheaper than buying a new socket 754 board to test it in.

The PSU leads are all plugged in and fine by the way.

[ShyTorque]

"So in that case, given that the computer won't even get to the POST screen"

Sounds just like a problem I had - brand new CPU had failed. It was also an AMD.

[DBTL]

Yep, whenever I build a machine, it looks I need to get a set of two right away! The quality of (cheap) components is under the floor nowadays. If there's a slightest sign of mechanical damage to the CPU, there'll be no warranty return. btw, there'll be no beep without the CPU, only silence.

[empacher48]

Usually the long series of beeps does indicate a RAM problem, having just had a problem with a PC not POSTing myself (different story, but was a cooked capacitor on the Mobo and got absolutely nothing), I have run through all the steps myself.

You have two sticks of RAM - which DIMM slots have you inserted them into? If the K8NS is anything like my shiny new K8NSC-939, the Memory will only work if both DIMMs are either in Slots 1 and 2; or 3 and 4 only. They won't work if you have them set up in as an example 1 and 3; or 2 and 3, they won't work.

If you've only got 3 slots, then you might have to put both sticks into the same channel (my old Albatron Socket A had 3 slots, and you had to either put 1Gb into slots 1, and leave the others empty, or put in 512Mb into slot 1 and share 256Mb into slots 2 and 3, because slots 2 and 3 were considered one channel and slot 1 was another). Of course it may well be different because of the two different companies.

The other problem could possibly be a complete incompatability of the RAM with the system - that used to happen to me when I sent my machines to the local shop for new RAM, computer would come back and either refuse to work or shutdown in a hail storm of Blue screens... Then I joined the darkside and built computers myself!

Apart from that you could also seek advice from www.techsupportforums.com as that place is full of people who I think build CPUs and Operating Systems for Sh*ts and giggles in their spare time...:ugh: (Empacher moves into the background fearful of the wrath of revealing he posts elsewhere!!!:E )

[empacher48]

Have you connected both power supply leads to the board, the small 4-pin one as well? It does matter on some boards, especially those with Intel CPUs.

AMD Athlon XP 64 processors need this as well, not too sure on the Sempron, but I would guess so - they are power hungry little devils!!