New system won't post

[RandomUser]

I'm putting together a new system from scratch (1st one in 4 years so I'm a bit rusty on the latest technology)

Asus P5B Deluxe
E6400 Core Duo
MSI 7900GT Video card

I installed the CPU, memory, and video card and wanted to test to make sure it would post before I started adding in other parts.

I only connected the 24-pin and 8-pin power connectors and the pci-e power connector along with the cpu and chassis fans.

First attempt, the fans came on, and that was it. No beeps, no picture, nothing.

Removed RAM and tried again.

Now I get 1 long and 2 short beeps, which I think is a video card error, so I removed and reinstalled the video card, tried both PCI-E power connectors and both Video outputs but I'm still getting the same 1 long and 2 short beeps.

I'd like to test another video card in the machine, but I only have AGP cards, no PCI video cards.

Do I simply have a dead video card? Or could it be some other cause?

And why would I get no response at all with the RAM installed and then get beeps when RAM was removed? Does that mean that the RAM is going to be an issue, too?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Severian]

The mainboard will almost definitely beep if it doesn't detect any RAM installed, so I wouldn't worry about that just yet.

I would assemble the mainboard, cpu/hsf, video card, and one stick of RAM on a bench and power that up, to rule out the possibility of a short in the case. Try clearing the CMOS with the jumper as well.

Make sure you have ALL power connections to the board plugged in. My DFI, for example, has four separate connections to the PSU that must get power for the board to POST.

Good luck

 

[RandomUser]

Originally posted by: Severian
The mainboard will almost definitely beep if it doesn't detect any RAM installed, so I wouldn't worry about that just yet.

I would assemble the mainboard, cpu/hsf, video card, and one stick of RAM on a bench and power that up, to rule out the possibility of a short in the case. Try clearing the CMOS with the jumper as well.

Make sure you have ALL power connections to the board plugged in. My DFI, for example, has four separate connections to the PSU that must get power for the board to POST.

Good luck

Update:

I took everything out of the case and rehooked it back up and it is acting the same (1 long 2 short beeps).

Minor change is that I can put in a single stick of RAM instead of two and it beeps now.

What other power connections do I need to hook up? I only see the 24-pin main power connector and the 8-pin secondary connector.

Edit: I found an old Millenium2 4meg card (HA!) and put it in a PCI slot and I"m getting the same response (1 long 2 short beeps)

 

[HauntFox]

I have the same board with an E6600 and can't get mine to boot either, but I don't even get beeps. I have ordered a cheap celeron CPU to see if that will work.
Some people with the same problem have said it may be an older version of the BIOS that doesn't suppport Core 2.
Here's my topic if you want to follow it: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=32&threadid=1921616&enterthread=y

Is your RAM listed on the quality vendor list in the manual?

 

[RandomUser]

Originally posted by: HauntFox
I have the same board with an E6600 and can't get mine to boot either, but I don't even get beeps. I have ordered a cheap celeron CPU to see if that will work.
Some people with the same problem have said it may be an older version of the BIOS that doesn't suppport Core 2.
Here's my topic if you want to follow it: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=32&threadid=1921616&enterthread=y

Is your RAM listed on the quality vendor list in the manual?

Yes, I have the Corsair XMS2 RAM. I've read that the default memory voltage is only 1.9V and the COrsairs are rated at 2.1.

I am going to pick up a stick of cheap RAM and see if I can get the system to post. If that doesn't work, I'll have to try your method with a Celeron.

 

[HauntFox]

Have you made any progress yet?