ASUS A7n8x boot problems...shuts down after 5 seconds!

[justinfl]

Hello, I'm having problem with my new ASUS A7n8x motherboard that I've just installed. I'm running with a AMD 1800+ cPU and have tried two diffent types of memory: one 256mb 2100ddr stick (kbyte, i think) and one 512mb 2700ddr (kingston, i think). I just got a new 430watt power supply and a sweet new TT CPU fan. When I power up, all the lights come on, the drives get power, but I don't get any video. I've tried switching between my Radeon 9600 Pro AGP and my Geforce 2 Ti...still no video. But the bigger problem is that the computer shuts off after about five seconds and attempts to deliver the voice message: "System failure: memory...". I've tried both sticks of brand new memory in each of the three slots with no difference in performance. What could possibly be the problem here?

BTW, I saw in another post that it may be possible that when you mount your mboard, its possible to accidentally ground the motherboard out. How can one test the motherboard outside of the case? ...just hook up everything as normal on top of my kitchen counter? Thanks again!

I have now gotten the memory thing fixed. But the computer just sits there for a while with no video...then finally it shuts off. What could be the problem here!?


Justinfl
justinr_02@yahoo.com

[JohnE.]

Hi justinfl, welcome to techIMO

With the RAM you have you'd be better off to put the 512mb 2700ddr in DIMM slot 1 for single channel DDR mode, and not use the other one at all. To operate in Dual Channel DDR mode you need 2 sticks of the same size and speed in DIMM 1+3 or 2+3 or, say... 2X256 in 1+2 and 512 in 3. DIMM 1+2 is channel 1, DIMM 3 is channel 2.

Have you tried resetting the CMOS? Install the 512mb, reset the CMOS... that *might* get you up and running.

Good luck!

JohnE.

[justinfl]

I have the memory and the case fan in properly now. And after clearing the CMOS, it won't power down like it was. However, the computer just seems to idle. I am getting no video, whatsoever. Again, I have tried both my AGP cards with no success. Anyone ever heard of this problem?

Thanks again!!!

Justin

[JohnE.]

Is AGP enabled in the BIOS? Maybe try setting it to AGP 4X if at 8X or 8X if at 4X? Also, check whether the Primary display is set to AGP or PCI.

How old is the monitor? On one system I had no video... I kept rebooting, checking cables, reseating cards, tweaking BIOS settings, etc... still no video. Out of frustration I turned off the monitor (an old one), sat fuming for a minute, turned on the monitor... video was fine, lol. Guess the monitor needed to be reset.

JohnE.

[Xtreeme]

Whats yer temps. THis mobo will shut down if over 65c on cpu.

[Eryk]

ASUS COP protection, make sure the HSF is properly seated

[justinfl]

Ok, now I'm getting it to power on....but no video. I've tried 3 different AGP cards and one PCI card. I have tried 3 sticks of DDR memory. The motherboard is out of the computer on my kitchen table so I know there is not a grounding problem. Everything is powered on and running, but I'm getting no video. I've also tried 2 monitors. Should I RMA?

Thanks,

Justin

[Xtreeme]

Did you check temps in bios yet? Are you sure the HSf is on right. This sure sounds like C.O.P. kicking in. Seen too may times. Please tell us your cpu temp in bios.

[LoGiKaLFuRy]

it may be the same problem that the asus a7v333 mobo was having, there was a short with the cmos battery, the same thing happened to me repeatedly

[Xtreeme]

Its not the deseign of mobo faulty as I have this one. Its just- a isolated incident if it is that. Im betting his HSF is on backwards and it overheating and shutting down unit to protect it. COP its called on asus. Ive just seen this too many times. Id be very surprised if it was somthig else. As a short in batt. would just dump bios settings-not force reboot. Its not even useing bios after windows loads. A short on mobo-from being in case wrong is possible. But Id still check that HSF. And he's not been back-doubt he will be.