Startup Problems...

[Rhody738]

Well to start off this is a wonderfull site!

First, I had my AMD XP 2700, ASUS A7V8X-X, 512MB RAM, RADEON 9600, working great with little trouble untill one day when it would not finish a startup. It would check the ram, and then check the drives (hard drive, cd-roms, floppy)and show which was slave or master, and then nothing. The computer would stop. I didn't do too much in the way of troubleshooting, this is a pc I have built myself and changed many times with no big problems. So i decided it was time for an upgrade anyway. Not a bad system though, but my was of troubleshooting with no internet access is to buy new stuff and replace till it works.

I though by purchasing a AMD XP 3000+ 400mhz, ASUS A7N8X-X, and a new beefy heatsink & fan, would help with my problem. I have also ordered a new stick of RAM wich has not arrived yet. But now instead of getting to the POST screens, I have nothing but the fans spinning and the drives spinning up. Except for some very nice beeps, the beeps are a long beep followed by a pause and then another long beep, which never stop.... I have tried a barebones startup, I have tried without my video card.

One thing that troubles me is that the new MB has a specification for an 8X AGP 1.5V video card, where my card says it requires an 4X(1.5v) 8X(0.8v), wich makes me wonder is my video card won't work with the ne MB, I hope not since a Radeon 9600 isn't a bad card at all....


I still have all my parts if anyone can offer some good help, I would really apreciate it!!!!

[malcore]

Except for some very nice beeps, the beeps are a long beep followed by a pause and then another long beep, which never stop

This means RAM troubles. Try reseating the RAM or inserting it into a different slot.

If it was the video card, you would get one long beep, followed by three short beeps.

Try the RAM first.

Then try disconnecting everything, and reconnecting ONLY the RAM, video card, monitor, mouse and keyboard. If it posts, connect everything one at a time and check for post.

You didn't mention your power supply specifications.

[Rhody738]

Running a 300 wat power supply.

Oh and by the way, I really appreciate the help, I'm running on my PC right now. I put in the new RAM I got, and then removed the old RAM, it won't work in my pc. Would that be because the new RAM is 2700, and the old is 2100? hummm, well i also had to reformat and install windows on a new hard drive. I'm going to now try and configure my processor, it's only running at 1.2 Ghz. I do belive it should be running better. I'm just not sure about the bios settings for an
AMD ATHALON XP 3000+, 512K cache (Barton), 2.1Ghz, 400 Mhz

any help would be great!!!

[gwallen4]

Your CPU is supposed to run at a FSB speed of 200 MHz and a multiplier of 10.5 (200 X 10.5 = 2100 MHz).

Right now it sounds like it is running at a FSB of 100 MHz and a multiplier of 12 = 1200 MHz. The settings should be made in bios.

However, you have another problem. Your memory probably won't support a FSB of 200 since it is PC2700 333 MHz memory (FSB of 166MHz X 2 (DDR)).

You could send the new memory back and get PC3200 (400 MHz). Or you may have to run the CPU at the slower FSB speed (166 MHz). Or there may be a setting that will allow you to run slower memory with a 200 MHz FSB.

Or you could use your old processor at a FSB of 166 MHz and try increasing your multiplier (overclock watching temperature and adjusting Core voltage) until you end up with the equivalent of your Barton3000.

[Rhody738]

Ahhh I see, yea I changed my processor settings to run at 2100 using the settings you just did describe. And now when I start up it does tell me that my memory is running at 200 Mhz. I left thoose setting on auto, so it seems at the moment that it is running fine.

I really appreciate the help!

[gwallen4]

Great. It sounds like your memory is overclocking nicely. What kind did you get?

If you notice any instability, it is probably from the memory. In that case you could still try to up the Vdimm or relax the memory settings, but for now I would just cruise and enjoy.