Biostar TP43D2-A7 problems

[SonicTron]

I have this motherboard and since its relatively new (released like 40 days ago) I cannot find many resources on it. Anyhow, I think it is DOA but if anyone else has it I would like to confirm a few things about the error code.

My motherboard is powering on but it lights up LED1 for memory error. I have tried a stick of 256mb ddr2 pc3200, 512mb of pc4300 and a 1gb of pc5300 to no avail. I have removed the video card and still the only error I get is memory error.

So what I would really like is if someone else with this mainboard could do the following for me and report what the motherboard does:

Remove the memory. Does it give you a memory error?
Remove the memory and the video card. Power up and let it simmer. Does it give just a memory error or does it also alternate to video error? (just a heads up, LED1 ON LED2 OFF is memory error, LED1 OFF LED2 ON is video, I'm thinking perhaps it will cycle between those two modes).

For me the only thing the motherboard does is light up LED1, no alternating, etc. I read one other person who reported that the LED1 and LED2 cycled different codes, but I can't seem to get in touch with him.

Finally, is there any known RAM incompatibility issue with this motherboard? Before I run out and buy new RAM...and a) find out my mobo is faulty or b) find out the memory I bought isn't even compatible for some reason

thanks..hopefully someone can do this real quick for me

edit: also, no error codes get played over the pc speaker when it is hooked up. so I'm thinking theres something irreparable.

 

[vailr]

The slowest usable memory would seem to be: DDR2 PC5300.
quote:
"Dual-Channel DDR2 -1066/800/667"
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/...s/content.php?S_ID=369
My advice would be: don't use anything slower than PC5300 memory. Clear the CMOS (with the power cord removed) and see if that helps.

 

[SonicTron]

I think another thing I would ask then is if anyone out there has this mainboard and has some old DDR2 PC3200 / 4300 lying about, can you see if it will boot with those? Set your bus speed down to 200 and test if you could T_T I am really trying hard to see if this board is just garbage or if I need to drop cash on some diff brand of memory. I don't recall any DDR2 boards that were unable to use pc3200 memory at its rated spec, even if the board doesn't list it as compatible.

I tested a bit more, no cpu in the socket = no LED hardware diagnosis lights at all (thats probly bad) and also still NO pc speaker error codes. No matter what. Yes the pc speaker works.

 

[SonicTron]

anyone ?

 

[SonicTron]

someone must have this!

 

[o1die]

I would list all your components. You might have a power supply issue; older socket 775 cpu that doesn't work with your board, etc. I had a modded e4300 that wouldn't post with my new g43 board; never occurred to me that it wouldn't work but that was the case. Apparantly, some of the newer boards have different voltage specs. This cpu posts fine in older boards, but not my newer p45 and g43 boards.

 

[SonicTron]

I'm using a good 500W psu with pci-e power connectors and sata ones as well. 24 pin, although this motherboard can function with only 20. Pentium 4 630 3.0e Prescott 800MHz FSB (on the list of supported CPU's). No mods. I've read and seen screenshots of people using Pentium 4 prescotts with this motherboard. So that shouldn't be the issue. I'm guessing its straight DOA.

 

[cjz24]

hey. i have the same motherboard and just put my computer together. q6600, ocz sli ready 2x2 pc6400 ram, radeon hd 4850. i had the same problem you had with led1 on which meant a ram error. at this time no video showed up on my monitor either. so i thought by board was doa also. however i realized my problem was i didn't push the ram all the way in. this is my first build and i guess i was a little afraid of breaking the board. make sure the ejector clips are 90 degrees with the board the same way an unused ram slot looks. after that i was getting a video signal but now both lights light up which according to the manual is an abnormal cpu or chipset. Since i am getting a hardware monitor report on my screen with my fan rpm's , temperatures, and voltages, i assume the problem is my cpu. Hopefully it's something fixable.

 

[cjz24]

correction i'm an idiot. haha i realized now that both lights on is normal functioning so hopefully my main hardware is good. but i still can't seem to get past the hardware monitor screen. i may have incorrectly installed my drives.

 

[SonicTron]

oh, i assure I pressed all the way in. I had read about it being difficult to get ram in this board, but I'm not new to it. 100% pressed in. :|

 

[cjz24]

i tried taking the ram and video card out. for me it seems there is a hierarchy kind of thing. i took the memory out and the first led went on. when i took the video card out the second went on. when i took both out, only the first one went on which i guess means the board detected the memory problem first and doesn't move on. once i put the ram back in, the second one went on.

 

[SonicTron]

I appreciate the test, does your system beep any error codes? its plugged into a pc speaker right? mine only gets LED1 to light up no matter what and it does not process any audible error codes at all. I know the speaker works because I put my old mobo back in for now and its working.

 

[cjz24]

to be honest, i don't think the audio on my board works. i can't get any sound out of it. tried a couple speakers. i'm planning on buying a new soundcard anyway. like i said i'm new to all this so i'm not sure if an audio card will solve the problem. also, after doing memtest and memtest86+, there does seem to be a problem with my ram, however the computer boots and i can use xp and basic computing is fine. however, prime 95 fails and it freezes up during memtests so i figure memory intensive programs won't work well. currently i'm working with each module and trying different slots to find the root of the problem. these boards don't seem too reliable.

 

[SonicTron]

well I was speaking of the PC speaker, the 4 pin attachment on the motherboard for bootup codes. Not the regular speakers. =P

 

[cjz24]

haha i actually didn't realize there were two different types. i was wondering what the deal was with that speaker input. thanks for pointing that out. i assume that the speaker comes with the case but the problem was that mine was from a friend and there was no speaker line anywhere. took the whole case apart and never saw a speaker (compared it to google images). i guess i can go and get one if i need it, but as of now its probably not necessary since i can pass post and everything runs fine.

 

[ibyke]

Also having problems indicated by red leds. Sometimes one red led goes on, sometimes another, sometimes, neither and sometimes both. And this happens with no change in placement of memory chips or change in video card. Sometimes the mb mounted power switch won't work. Any ideas out there?

 

[SonicTron]

Hey anyways my problem was solved by using a new cpu. It would not boot with the P4 630 CPU although it is listed in the compatibility chart. I've heard of plenty of people using the Pentium D chips though, I dunno why mine doesn't work Anyways I picked up a pentium dual core and all is well.