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[Songbird]

Just put this together last night, got up the nerve to push the power button and- no joy. I get a second of fans & LEDs, then shut down to beep-beep, beep-beep until I pull the power plug.
Here's the equip list:

Antec 900 case (3 fans)
Gigabyte P35C-DS3R mobo, Award BIOS
2 x 1GB Kingston PC6400 RAM
EVGA 8800GTS 320MB graphics
650w Enermax Infinity PSU
Intel Dual Core E6600 CPU
WD 320MB HDD
2 Lite On DVDs

Here's what I've done so far:

1. Barebones start- CPU, RAM, PSU, & fans only
2. Pulled the CMOS battery out and put back
3. Put the memory sticks in every possible slot configuration
4. Tried each stick separately
5. Re-plugged the cables (assuming I have them right to begin with...)
6. Stood and looked at it pleadingly...
7. Looked up all the beep codes and got different answers

Thanks for your time, it's probably some dumb butt newb thing.

[Rick]

The constant Beep is normally a ram or cpu error or power error

From Gig manual


A: The following Award BIOS beep code descriptions may help you identify possible computer problems.
(For reference only.)
1 short: System boots successfully
2 short: CMOS setting error
1 long, 1 short: Memory or motherboard error
1 long, 2 short: Monitor or graphics card error
1 long, 3 short: Keyboard error
1 long, 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error



First thing to do is figure out what your getting Long or short beeps

[Songbird]

2 short beeps, continuing until I pull the power plug.

[Rick]

At boot up go into bios setup
Set everything to autodetect or better yet have it load the boot default or safe boot
Then save and exit

Then reboot and see if it continues
Also check the clear cmos jumper if it has one
Make sure it is set to run not clear

All this is assuming you did not make any changes to the jumpers or dip switches on the mother board

[Songbird]

It doesn't boot. I don't even get POST. Just beep-beep. Another list of Award codes said it could be a power error, so I tried reseating the CPU cooler for better contact. Nada.

[Rick]

By Power error they mean
It is most likely the 24 pin power connector or the 4/8 pin CPU power connector

Not the heatsink or fan

But you need to make sure the cpu heatsink fan is plugged in correctly
It doesn't hurt to also connect a fan to the #1 case fan connector also

This could also mean you have a bad/doa power supply and it is not putting out the required power


You may want to to do a bench test at this point

Remove everything from the case

Place the mother board on a non conductive surface
With only the CPU,Ram, video card installed and the power supply connected

Hook up the video to the card
Then try to power up
Make Note of the power switch contacts
2 pins on the mother board that you connect the power button connector to.
Use something to make contact between these two pins and let it boot

[Songbird]

I get the fans (3 case fans and CPU fan) and LEDs to go for a split second when it shuts down and beeps. Power is getting through somewhere. What would I do to test the 24 pin connector?

[Rick]

The easy way would be to try another power supply

But you should start by making sure the 2 main power connections are correct
That being the 24 pin and the cpu power

I just noticed you have an 8800
Make sure the 6 pin sli power connector is Plugged into it also

The only way to test a power supply 24 pin is with a volt meter or a dedicated tester

[Songbird]

I will begin a bench test immediately and forthwith. I'm not running in sli mode, but there is a 6 pin power connector on the 8800 that goes to the PSU, if that's what you mean.

[Rick]

Yes.
The 6 pin power connector to the video card MUST be connected also
without it the video card will not work

[Songbird]

Thanks Rick. I'll let you know how this works in a little while.

[Songbird]

Results of the bench test were the same as before. I'm out of ideas, guess I'll have to RMA the mobo and memory. Thanks for your time and assistance!:cool:

[Rick]

Before you do that
make sure it is the M/B and ram
and not just a weak Power supply or bad cable somewhere
it is a pain to return one part just to find it is another

Do you have another Video card you can install in place of the 8800 ?

if so give that a try
remove the 8800 and install the other card
Connect everything on the bench and try it.
A weak power supply may power the M/B,CPU and memory without the extra draw of the 8800.
if it does then you have found the problem
if not then try it with only 1 memory card installed

Power issues can be a real pain to diagnose without the parts and or proper diag tools

[Songbird]

Hey Rick- I notice you are in Milwaukee- my home town. I'm in SoCal now. About the PSU- I have brand new 650w Enermax Infinity. It gets excellent reviews and has behaved so far, so I don't have any reason to think it would be defective. I don't have another card unless I totally tear my business system apart. The video card would not keep the system from POSTing, at any rate. Thanks again for your help.

[Rick]

Actually it would
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Or card not recognized .. Same thing

Also PSU are know to be doa as well.
I've had a couple over the years. It does happen even to the best of them

To Bad your not in the Old Home Town .
I have 3 or 4 spare video cards Just for testing this type of thing :)

Do you know anyone in your area who may have a card to use for testing ?
Even an old PCI card would work to test and get it to post

Assuming you have an old style 15pin cable for the video to monitor