Hi.
This is my first post in the forums, and i am hoping fo some help with my current computer problem.

The system in question was built by myself a bit more than 2 years ago. The components are:
- Asus K7M motherboard (with AMI BIOS)
- AMD Athlon 700 processor
- 384MB PC133 memory (128MB + 256MB)
- 300W PSU
- Matrox G400 Max graphics card
- Soundblaster Live Value
- Maxtor 20GB HD

And now the problem:
Over the last couple of months the computer has been more and more reluctant to boot. Everything has powered up but there was no video and just a single beep error code. After a couple of tries the system has booted and been as stable as ever. The number of retries needed has increased over time and a couple of days ago I was not able to get it to boot at all.

So it was time to open the system up and do some serious troubleshooting (with the help of the PCGuide Trobleshooting expert and this forum). I cleaned out all the dust and disconnected everything but MB, CPU, memory and graphics card. It still would not boot but now I got an 8 beep error code. After some fiddling the error codes seem to be the following:
* Without floppy drive connected - 8 beeps (display memory)
* With floppy drive connected - 1 beep (DRAM)
* With floppy drive connected and boot disk inserted - 2 beeps (Parity circuit) and an occasional 5 beep (Processor failure)

Since then I have tried the following without success:
- Used just one of the memory sticks (no change with either of them)
- Tried a known working graphics card
- Tried a new PSU
No change at all http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

So I am reluctantly leaning towards the theory that my motherboard has finally just given up. Can anyone think of some other reason for this behaviour?

/Johan Kaving

Hmm.. If it's a series of one long beep, you may have a problem with your memory.

Originally posted by thesnakepit:
Hmm.. If it's a series of one long beep, you may have a problem with your memory.

Yes, but i think the fact that I get different beep codes speaks against that. I have also tried using both of the memory sticks by themselves with no change for the better. Wouldn't it be quite unlikely for two sticks to go bad at the same time?

One other possibility, faulty power supply, not supplying sufficient 3.3V anymore...all the items that are coming up with problems rely on the 3.3v leg of the psu to run. Try swapping it with another one, or if you have a multimeter you can check the voltages and see it they are within spec (you may also have voltage monitoring in your BIOS, but,if you can get into the BIOS then the voltage is probably ok at the time...)

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Originally posted by mjc:
One other possibility, faulty power supply...


I have actually tried two other PSUs. First a 245W that I had lying around at home, then a brand new 300W one (which I'm returning tomorrow). None of them helped http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

I Had a similar prop, found out it was a badly seated graphics card, with poor connectors....

Originally posted by Dazman:
I Had a similar prop, found out it was a badly seated graphics card, with poor connectors....

I don't think that is my problem. I have tried pulling the graphics card out and putting it back in a number of times. I have also tried with a different graphics card, but there was no improvement.

Have you tried stripping down to a minimal system (CPU, RAM and video card) and running the motherboard outside of the case on a non-conductive surface.

You need to find a place to test the motherboard (a place with some test equipment).

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Originally posted by mjc:
Have you tried stripping down to a minimal system (CPU, RAM and video card) and running the motherboard outside of the case on a non-conductive surface.

You need to find a place to test the motherboard (a place with some test equipment).



I did try it with a minimal system. Had the motherboard lying directly on a wooden table. Is that non-conductive enough?
The results I described in the original post were gotten with this setup.

I'm leaning towards seeing this as a good reason to upgrade and just buy a new MB and CPU.

/Johan

If you go with a new MB and Athlon CPU, make sure your power supply module is up to the task.
Athlon 1.0 - 1.4 GHZ and Athlon 1500+ - 2000+ CPU's are power hungry, and you will need a PSM with at least 180 combined watts on the 3.3 volt and 5.0 volt legs, or preferably 220 watts combined on those legs if you plan to upgrade your video card anytime soon.
Also, the 12 volt leg should be at least 20 amps if you plan to install additional drives.

Originally posted by ski:
If you go with a new MB and Athlon CPU, make sure your power supply module is up to the task.


Ok, thanks.
I'll probably have to add a power supply to the shopping list then.