Can't boot Asus p5n32-e SLI mobo - memory problem?

martincwday

martincwday

martincwday

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15 Mar 2005
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7
Two years ago I built my main PC with bits from Overclockers, based around a Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 in an Asus P5N32-E SLi motherboard. I swapped out my original GeIL memory fairly soon for 4x 1GB Ballistix DDR2 PC2-8500 (5-5-5-15, DDR2-1066, 2.0V); all was fine until this morning. After switching on, and a slight pause, it emitted a series of long beeps with little pauses (are the beep codes written in the booklet that came with the mobo? Are they buttons! - the BIOS is some variant of Phoenix-Award, BTW).

I suspected that perhaps a stick of memory had gone south, but whatever I do, and however much I reset the CMOS, absolutely nothing appears on screen - so no chance of getting into BIOS (and making sure that the memory gets the 2v it wants - I believe that this is a problem with this motherboard - that, and it sometimes doesn't like four sticks of RAM!). If I leave just one stick in, or put two sticks next to each other (i.e in different channels?), I get a continuous beep (which I believe is another memory warning - fair enough); if I put just two sticks in the correct place, I don't get any beeps, but the thing doesn't POST. No BIOS, nothing on screen. (It also doesn't seem to matter which two sticks I use.)

I'm going to try some different memory tomorrow (maybe try some 1.8v stuff?), but in the mean time, is there anything else I can try? All thoughts gratefully received...!

Many thanks,

Martin
 
i used to have one of those boards quickly get it RMA'd mine only lasted 9months i mean i tried everything from gfx to ram and nearly changed the cpu to check what was wrong but it turned out to the be the mobo asus offer a 3year warranty on mobos act quick!!!
 
siumatfung said:
i used to have one of those boards quickly get it RMA'd mine only lasted 9months i mean i tried everything from gfx to ram and nearly changed the cpu to check what was wrong but it turned out to the be the mobo asus offer a 3year warranty on mobos act quick!!!
Click to expand...
Thanks for that - I have heard (at best) mixed reactions to this motherboard in the longer term! Just to confirm, should I try to swap this board out via Overclockers or directly via Asus?

Still, as a freelancer who needs this machine for work, and is now facing the prospect of several days/weeks without it, then another day (assuming I ever get a replacement board!) putting everything back together, you'll appreciate why I feel a little like the man in the story, hanging from a cliff by his fingernails, shouting out, "Is there anyone there?" He hears a voice, saying "This is God. Let go, and I will catch you." The man pauses, then shouts out, "Is there anyone else there?"

So, does anyone have any advice or tips on how I might be able to get the thing running again, at least for a few days? Is there anything I can try that I haven't thought of yet?

Best wishes, and thanks again

Martin
 
Well, blow me down!

I bought 4GB (on two sticks) of the best-looking DDR2 memory I could find in A Certain PC Store (time is of the essence!), bunged it in, switched it on - not really expecting it to make any difference - and the ruddy thing booted first time!

Either all the memory failed at the same moment, or the motherboard did indeed decide to stop pumping enough voltage into the DIMMs. I know I may need a new motherboard at some point, but while it's working I think I'll leave well alone (and can now get on with my work!). Just leaves the small issue of the four sticks of 'old' RAM - I'll probably sell them on eBay if they're OK, but I'm thinking I should probably test them on the kid's PC first... [evil grin...]

Thanks,

Martin
 
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