Gigabyte P35 DS4 won't post - which component is faulty?

payingattention · 15 Jun 2007 at 16:13

Got my new P35 DS4 a week ago and it wouldn't POST, it kept resetting every 5-10 seconds. The case, CPU and video card fans would spin up for a few seconds, then it would go dead and start up again.

The RAM is 2x1GB GeIL PC6400C4, CPU is a Core2Duo E6600, video card is an 8800GTS 320MB. The PSU is a 500W Antec Phantom.

I phoned OcUK tech support, who told me to try removing the BIOS battery for 10 minutes, and to try one RAM module at a time; neither worked. I was told "it sounds like the motherboard [is faulty]" and I was sent an RMA number without me even requesting one. So I thought, they know what they're talking about, it probably is faulty, and sent it back to them, at my own expense.

Today I got the same motherboard back, and an email saying that it had booted without problems every time during their testing.

So, I'm at my wits' end, do I have to keep RMAing each of my new components until I find which is faulty? I can't afford to do that, and I don't have a spare socket 775 CPU, spare DDR2, or spare PCI-E video card that I can use to test it with.

I think I've tried everything, but before I waste any more time and money, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should try next?

stickroad · 15 Jun 2007 at 16:17

Make sure you have the Motherboard seated properly, might be short circuiting.

Egon · 15 Jun 2007 at 16:26

stickroad said:
Make sure you have it seated properly, might be short circuiting.

I remember putting an old board into an old Compaq case and hadn't spotted a rogue bolt on the case chassis that sat underneath the board. The PC switched on but wouldn't POST, took me ages to figure it out (actually, someone here made me think to check).

You could try testing it outside the case and seeing if it POST's. Thats how I fixed above problem and noticed (then removed) said rogue bolt :rolleyes:

payingattention · 15 Jun 2007 at 20:34

I actually cleaned my case out before installing the new motherboard; mostly to remove all the dust that had built up, but I would have noticed a rogue screw lying around, I think.

Anyway, I've now tested it in AND out of the case, and I still get the same result. Won't POST, nothing appears on screen, goes dead after about 5 seconds and starts again...

stickroad · 15 Jun 2007 at 20:39

payingattention said:
I actually cleaned my case out before installing the new motherboard; mostly to remove all the dust that had built up, but I would have noticed a rogue screw lying around, I think.

Anyway, I've now tested it in AND out of the case, and I still get the same result. Won't POST, nothing appears on screen, goes dead after about 5 seconds and starts again...

Ok leave everything connected apart from the Memory, take both sticks out, what sort of beeps do you get? Just see if the Mobo is responding to hardware not properly connected.

payingattention · 16 Jun 2007 at 11:16

It never gives any beeps (and yes, I did connect it to the speaker in my case).

What it does give is two very short, quiet "clicks" every time it tries to start, but I don't think these count as error beeps and besides, they don't change regardless of which hardware is connected.

Last night I took the graphics card and RAM round to a friend's house and tested them in his PC - it booted fine with both RAM modules, and the graphics card worked fine, too.

That only leaves the CPU - but I can't find anyone willing to lend me a Core2Duo and nobody is willing to unseat theirs and let me test mine in their motherboard (which is understandable, since cleaning and reapplying the thermal paste can be a messy process).

So, before I waste more money RMAing my CPU, is there anything else I can check? For example, which power cables should I have connected to the motherboard? The manual suggests it should work with either 20-pin or 24-pin, and either 4-pin or 8-pin CPU power. None seems to work, though.

parmz_11 · 16 Jun 2007 at 16:01

hi try building the system outside the case and c if it posts. use like a wooden bench or something so that it wont short circuit.

payingattention · 16 Jun 2007 at 18:30

I have managed to get the system to POST using only one RAM module in slot 3. (If only OcUK tech support had mentioned this before I RMA'd...)

I have spent hours changing BIOS settings and still can't find the correct settings to get it to POST with both modules. Tech support told me to "search for a guide on the Internet" but nothing useful has turned up.

I'm sure both modules are working fine as I tested both in a friend's motherboard and had no problems.

I guess I'll make a thread in the Memory or Motherboard forums...

noxidjkram@hotm · 16 Jun 2007 at 21:58

Is the memory on the compatibility list for your mobo?

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