Not sure if this is a Core problem or video problem or what so I'm posting it here.

First off, I'd like to say that I found this forum while surfing the net for help on my problem (which I couldn't find anything on). I've been reading a lot of posts and really enjoy it here. Glad I found you!

Now, for my problem...

I built my system almost exactly a month ago with mostly new pieces and a couple of older pieces from my older computer. Eveything has worked wonderfully (my first build ever too!) until yesterday. No problems at all until now.

Yesterday I hit the power button and almost instantly the machine started a continous beeping noise and a one line message appeared on my screen that said something like "The power extension cable for your Radeon is unplugged" and that's it. Continous beeping until you held the power button in long enough to power down.

I tried that a few times then opened up the case and looked around. I didn't unplug anything or find anything unplugged, I just moved some wires around while looking. Then I tried it again... this time it booted to the bios screen and stopped with all the normal info (it found and recognized everything from what I could tell) but had a line at the end saying something like "CPU has been changed or is inoperable, hit delete for settings or (something) to continue".
The first time I hit continue and Windows XP booted up but I could tell it was running at about 25% speed of normal. I tried Internet Explorer and it got online but was really really slow. I tried email and it checked email but was to slow that it finally timed out. I just shut her down then.
When I tried to reboot it went back to the beeping. I turned it off and went to bed... lol.
This morning I tried it again and first time it started the beeping again about the Radeon being unplugged. I turned it off and opened up the case. I unplugged the video card and plugged it into a different connector from the power supply for the heck of it.
Everything looks good and all my fans seem to be on and normal.
I hit the power button and it booted to the bios with the same message as before so I went to the bios. Everything looked normal but I hit (I have a new Abit IC7-G board) F7 (I think) for the optimal automatic settings and saved and exited. It didn't look like it changed anything though. However, Windows booted up fine and speed was normal. I quickly jumped online and played a game of COD (HoB mod) and everything again was fine so I really doubt it is a video card problem (though I have no idea). My Radeon 9800 pro is only 6 months old and been working fine.
I also surfed the net and checked email and everything seemed very normal and speedy.
I even did a virus scan from TrendMicro and then a Spybot and Adaware check then downloaded all windows updates just in case. Everything still fine.
So, I rebooted... not a good idea... back to the beeping!
I would turned it off and rebooted about 3 more times with the same beeping result. I turned it off, opened the case, moved some wires around without unplugging anything then tried it again. It fired right up and I've been online all day (don't want to turn it off again!).

Any ideas?

I have:
Chieftec case (new)
Abit IC7-G mainboard (new)
Pent 4 3.0 pro (new)
Corsair twin512-3200cs rt ram (new)
Computer store recommended best 400 watt Power Supply (new)
Older SoundBlaster Live Value card
Radeon 9800 Pro 128 mb card (6 months old)
New SeaGate hard drive with clean install XP home

Sorry for the long post but I'm stumped unless I have a weird short somewhere that suddenly showed up without anyone having moved the case or been inside the case in a month...

more likely an open circuit than a short. I would first try unplugging cables and re-seating in turn.

íf that doesn't cure, then try swopping cables, 1 at a time so that if a faulty one is detected it can be put out of harms way.

meanwhile, any error messages that you get, write them down word for word, sometimes you can get a good reply for them on google, if not it gives ppl here something to work on.

good luck.

You can get the beep sequence, duration of beeps, exactly ( as much as possible ) record what the beeps do.. as in like morse code or something like that.. those are the bios's way of telling what it senses.. and it might just tell exactly what you need to know or it could only get you your first step, as in which direction to look..
remain calm at all times , and do as you already know how to do...after all you assmbled the thing... you are in control of it, not the reverse...and please say these things to me, tomorrow when I call in with terminal messages from my system, and in stitches, from it...
haha jus'kid'n you will get it...and as you have already detected there is no better place to learn from friendlys with intent to help when given adequate data to go on..

best of luck
ciao-chow

Award BIOS pretty much uses on-screen information when there's a problem...

The continuous beeps could be Video but my guess would be RAM, as the video is said to have a definite code sequence.

You might want to try reseating your RAM...you could also run a RAM test:

http://www.memtest86.com/

Beep codes here http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

I notice that for:
IBM BIOS
Continuous Beep indicates "No Power, Loose Card or Short".

I had to look up the BIOS update to find out, (from the Abit site) this booard has Award BIOS. According to our good ol' PC Guide (http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/beep/award.htm) continuous beeps is video or RAM problems.

Reseat both, each has already been suggested anyway, and BE SURE you UNPLUG the power cord before doing it. I've fried 3 AGP video cards reseating them while the machine was plugged in. If you don't have a main power switch on the power supply, it still has low voltage going to the motherboard even when turned off. That voltage runs to both memory and video card.

I really appreciate the concern and time taken to reply to my post. I sure like friendly, helpful people!

On yesterday's post I mentioned that I was afraid to turn it off again. I didn't until going to bed last night (and only did because it's in my bedroom and the wife doesn't seem to appreciate the noise and blue colors coming from all my fans in the case (which I love of course)... LOL... anyway, I turned it off and just now fired it back up and no problem this time at all. I'm still a little perplexed but if (and probably when) it happens again I will try unplugging and plugging back in every connection. Then my next move might be to try another power supply. I'm wondering if maybe the power cord from the PS to the MB might be a problem (I had a friend with that ATX cord as an intermittent problem solved by changing the PS).

Not sure but until it happens again I will not worry about it.

Thanks all. I think the concensus is it is a connection problem more than a bad RAM module or video card but I won't rule that out either. I will also go and run the memory test suggested just for my own peace of mind!

I will be glad to take any other suggestions you have seriously. Thanks again!

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