New ASUS A7N8X Won't POST!

[AnatomyGrad]

Hello All,

Well my new system arrived from googlegear/newegg this week. My components include:

ASUS A8N7X Deluxe Mobo
AMD 2100+ (T'Bred B)
SLK-800 HS
Albatron Gf4 Video
WDD 100GB 8MB HDD
Lite-On 52x CDRW
512 MB Kingston 2700 DDR
ChiefTec Case


Everything installed perfectly...that is until I powered the machine up. The mobo powers up, the HDDs spin, and the case fans come alive. However, the computer never boots! It powers on for 3-5 seconds and then shuts itself off! I've checked all of the connections, reset the BIOS via the battery, but no luck. I even swapped in my buddies AMD 1800+ with no luck. Swapped in different DDR sticks, and even a diff vid card and power supply. I've never had a machine power up for 3-5 secs and then power down. I verified that the CPU fan was plugged into the jumper labeled CPU_FAN but no change. In addition, I used the thermal grease included with the SLK-800 HS. I am cooling the HS with an Antec 80mm case fan. Is that OK, or should I be using something with more kick? Would that really keep the computer from not booting?

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is my new ASUS Mobo destined for RMA? There's nothing worse then having a great setup sitting around unusable!

Any advice is greatly appreciated!
AnatomyGrad

 

[CyberBard]

If the you aren't getting a post or even a series of beeps, chances are your motherboard is DOA. Give ASUS a call and they will probably confirm this.

Don't kill the messenger.

 

[dosulliv91]

I had exactly the same problem with this MB myself initially. I eventually resolved it by removing my cooling fan/heatsink from the CPU and removing the aluminum shim I had used to protect my CPU core. I then just installed the cooling fan directly onto the CPU and that seemed to resolve the problem. I'd suggest you try the same if you are also using a CPU shim.

I'm not sure what the shim had to do with the MB behaving the way it did or even if it's relevant to your situation. But since it sounded so much like my problem, I figured I'd mention it.

Hope it helps.

 

[dosulliv91]

Just thought of something else too: It may be the way you installed your cooling fan/heatsink. Try spinning the heatsink 180 degrees and re-installing and see if that helps also.

 

[AnatomyGrad]

Thanks for the suggestion....

I drove down to my local CompUSA and dropped $20 on a generic copper HS + Fan combo rated for 2.4GHz. I installed that instead of my SLK-800 and sure enough, the system turns on and does not shut off! At first, I thought I had solved the problem. However, I still don't get a video signal or beeps. I assume this means that I'm still not making it out of POST.

So, this changes my dilema a bit...but I think the original prob is still persisting. Has anyone had any experience with everything working except for video/booting?

Thanks in advance...
AnatomyGrad

 

[mechBgon]

Before proceeding any further, please consult this document and particularly look at what they're trying to tell you in Figures 7, 13 and 14. They don't cut a groove in one end of the heatsink base just for the heck of it... it's there to clear the socket and you should make sure that the heatsink is oriented that way, AND that the heatsink is slid as far as possible to the other end of the socket for clearance. Click here.

Also, if you got a cheapie power supply with the Chieftec, even if it is rated for 400W or more, I'd recommend getting a major name 350W+ unit such as Enermax, Antec or Sparkle Power instead. There's a reason why they cost more...

Also, make sure you've got your video card alllll the way down into the AGP slot. There are two rows of connectors in there, gotta get down past the second row. If that doesn't fix things, post your findings and we can keep chewing on it Welcome to the Forums, good luck with the bug hunt!

 

[AnatomyGrad]

mechBgon,

Thanks for the advice...I looked at the pdf form and double-checked my setup. I used a dental-type mirror and am sure that my HS is flush on my proc.

As for power, I too was concerned about the quality of the Cheiftech PS, so I swapped in a 400w Antec, but with the same results. Again, power on as long as I want, just never a beep or a video signal.

As for the AGP slot, I've tried 3 different cards and have verified that they are as far in as they will go. Still...no luck.

I'm beginning to wonder, how can I tell if I'm experiencing a cpu prob or a mobo prob? My ASUS has a handy green LED that tells me the board is getting power and all of the drives and fans spin up just fine. If I could only make it out of POST and safely to a boot screen.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks to all those who contribute!

 

[mechBgon]

Next idea, check your jumpering on your drives, and/or try with just your hard drive. If that doesn't work, try taking the mobo out of the case, lay it on cardboard, use one stick of RAM, the video card, and zero drives plugged in on either power or data cables. If that doesn't work, try a different video card, RAM and CPU if you have them.

 

[RanDum72]

Have you tried clearing your BIOS with the jumper in ther mobo? It may have been set to some setting that your configuration doesn't like.

 

[compudog]

Also, check the FSB jumper. Page 21 in the manual, item #5. Also, check Item #4 about clearing the cmos. It actually states;

1 Turn OFF computer and unplug
2 REMOVE THE BATTERY
3 Move the jumper cap from 1-2 to 2-3 momentarily, Replace to original position (1-2)
4 Replace the battery
5 Plug in and turn on
6 Hold down the <DEL> key during boot and enter BIOS setup to re-enter data.

 

[Denkkar]

I have the same mainboard. I've had difficulty with my RAM when setting it to 166 mhz, but anyway I won't talk about that worthless OCZ "PC2700" RAM...

The long and the short of it is that you don't need to pull your battery out (why would they make it more confusing in the manual??? I couldn't even pry out the dang battery, so I didn't). Just short the jumper next to the battery. This is all that is necessary to reset the BIOS. Believe me, I know, I had to do it 5 times, and it worked

Also, you don't need any hardware attached at this point. Don't plug anyting other than a video card into your system until you can POST.

Nonetheless, is it the CPU or the Mobo? Clearly it's not the RAM since you tried various sticks. I know in my case the RAM was clearly at fault, and gave me your exact problem... no video signal to the monitor... it would just stay powered on and do nothing.

Mmmm, well... try plugging in headphones/speakers to the Green jack in the back of your Mobo... maybe the speech reporter will tell you... heh.

 

[lumpypants2]

Same problem here!

I've been looking at the amdmb forums and the nforcershq forums and it looks like this board (A7N8X) is real picky about memory as it currently is!

I've been offered the suggestion of trying to get it fired up using a different stick of memory, get into the bios, and reset the memory settings to a manual setting,possibly re-flash to a different bios (mine had 1001.E tagged on the bios chip) and then re-start with the 2 sticks I have (see sig.)

I just RMA'd the board back and I'll get back into it next week when I get the "new" board!!

Looks like ASUS has some bios problems

 

[Tirade]

I read somewhere that heat conductive shims such as aluminum are not the best and that they can too carry current, causing shorting (possibly). I am not an expert but I think this is the argument for a company that sells non electrical conducting/heat conducting ships. Maybe you are getting a short? Try it without the shim (carefully).
-Tirade-

 

[AnatomyGrad]

Thanks to everyone who posted and offered their advice!

I purchased a new ASUS mobo today (same model) and a new T'Bred CPU. After a few quick tests, I have discovered the problem was the....

CPU!

Both mobo's boot with the new CPU but not the original CPU. I've never had a "bad" CPU before...anyone else experienced new T'Breds that are DOA?

WinXP Pro is installing as I type this and much appreciation goes out to the forum for their help!

Cheers,
AnatomyGrad