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Thread ID: 62219	2005-09-30 16:19:00	Gigabyte K8N Pro-SLI and AMD 64 +3500 won't do POST	BrianSkibinski (8989)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
392345	2005-09-30 16:19:00	Hi All, This is my first build so I'm a little unsure about the whole thing. Here's what I have: - AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz - GIGABYTE GA-K8N Pro-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - CORSAIR ValueSelect 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS512MB400] - Case: Antec Sonata w/default PS. - Old Video card (worked as a secondary video card in my dell for dual-monitor setup): VisionTek Xtasy 9200 SE 64MB DDR PCI I can't get the system to perform the POST. Upon power, the System appears to be working (floppy, cd drive check in order, HD LED and Power LEDS all work as specified, and it looks like it's doing something). I don't hear a beep ( I guess one is good ). I've removed all the drives (HD, Floppy, DVD/CD) and it didn't work. I know the memory is good because I tried it in another PC (although a slower pc). I think the video card is fine (i've used in my dell without problems, but the dell also had built in video) I've also verified all my connectors and jumpers to make sure the board is installed in the case OK. So my question is, how can I tell which part is bad? I think it's the Mobo becuase if it was the processor the Mobo wouldn't be able to scan the drives, correct? I know there's usually a laundry-list of items and any help is appriciated. I also notice that in the CPU list for the MOBO (www.giga-byte.com) that the 3500 Venice core is only supported in BIOS version 4, but I can't get the thing to boot into BIOS to check the version / update the version, because it needs a processor. According to Gigabyte's website, version 4 was just released on 7/22/2005 so I'd think it's not on my MoBo. Would this prevent it from performing the POST? Thanks, Brian Skibinski	BrianSkibinski (8989)
392346	2005-09-30 19:09:00	Yes, you should get a series of beeps on post... I think mine does 1 then 3. I'm not sure about the bios update being required, I would have thought it would work ok because as you say- you have to be able to boot to get into the bios before you update. One thing that you might not have checked and is simple... make sure that you have the ram in the correct slot and it's seated firmly. The same thing happened to me as you describe (these m/boards are a bit confusing which slots to use if you're using a single stick of ram). If you can't figure out from the instruction book you might have to try each slot. From memory mine works in the 2nd slot and not the 1st as would be logical.	Shortcircuit (1666)
392347	2005-09-30 19:29:00	Yes, you should get a series of beeps on post... I think mine does 1 then 3. I'm not sure about the bios update being required, I would have thought it would work ok because as you say- you have to be able to boot to get into the bios before you update. One thing that you might not have checked and is simple... make sure that you have the ram in the correct slot and it's seated firmly. The same thing happened to me as you describe (these m/boards are a bit confusing which slots to use if you're using a single stick of ram). If you can't figure out from the instruction book you might have to try each slot. From memory mine works in the 2nd slot and not the 1st as would be logical. In the case of memory I have tried both 'outer' memory slots (the left one on the red section and the right one on the blue section), although I guess I could try the inner slots as well. I just hope it's not the MoBo or processor... that will suck trying to get that warranty replacement/repair.	BrianSkibinski (8989)
392348	2005-09-30 19:43:00	Just to be different. My AMG 3200+ in an ASUS K8N-E m/b. Has never beeped since the day I built it. I get one quiet beep at the start of post, and that's it. Never heard another sound from it.	JJJJJ (528)
392349	2005-09-30 20:58:00	Just to be different. My AMG 3200+ in an ASUS K8N-E m/b. Has never beeped since the day I built it. I get one quiet beep at the start of post, and that's it. Never heard another sound from it. Thats what they should do.	pctek (84)
392350	2005-09-30 21:04:00	- AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz - GIGABYTE GA-K8N Pro-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard I can't get the system to perform the POST . I also notice that in the CPU list for the MOBO ( . giga-byte . com/Motherboard/Support/CPUSupportList/CPUSupportList_GA-K8N%20Pro-SLI . htm" target="_blank">www . giga-byte . com) that the 3500 Venice core is only supported in BIOS version 4, but I can't get the thing to boot into BIOS to check the version / update the version, because it needs a processor . According to Gigabyte's website, version 4 was just released on 7/22/2005 so I'd think it's not on my MoBo . Would this prevent it from performing the POST? I wouldn't have thought so - it should POST and come up with something along the lines of UNSUPPORTED CPU error or similar . I've had that . You could take the board and CPU back into the shop and get them to flash the BIOS . Are you sure you have the ram correct? You have the one piece correct? You aren't putting it into a dual channel slot? Although that should give you beeps if it is expecting 2 pieces . Power supply is OK? That can ofetn cause the result you have been getting .	pctek (84)
392351	2005-09-30 23:48:00	The Mobo specs state that dual channel will be disabled if only one stick is inserted. I'll have to double check the location that I put the stick in. I really wish this Mobo had an LED (or maybe even intigrated video for exactly this type of situation). Oh well. In the setup in the manual they do have the VGA card being placed in the PCIe x16 slot, I think I'll have to go out and grab one quick to see if it helps. This being my first build I'm not really sure what the thing is doing (I'm much more of a software guy). I have an ubuntu live cd and can verify that it's not booting from the cd, so it's gotta be stopping beofre that. Also, just to verify, the mobo was installed using regular screws that used brass standoffs to keep the back off the back of the case, which is how the manual said to do it. I'm assuming that the metal ring around the screw holes is there on purpose to keep it seperate from the rest of the system, right? I don't need an insulator between the Mobo and the MoBo screws, correct? I'm just making sure because it's always something dumb like that that seems to do me in. Here's the Mobo manual if it helps: america.giga-byte.com Thanks for all the help so far!	BrianSkibinski (8989)
392352	2005-10-01 00:51:00	You say you cannot get the system to perform the POST but the hard drive, floppy, etc appear to be "doing something", right? Does that mean that the CPU, PSU and case fans spin up and work properly? If you remove the RAM and try starting the computer does it make any protest beeps indicating no RAM? If the CPU was dead nothing would work . The fans may spin for a second or two then stop and you would hear no beeps even when the graphics card and RAM was removed nor would you get any response from the hard drive and floppy drive . You are sure that you put the CPU in the correct way? There is only one way it will go in without being forced . The best thing you can do is find someone with a CPU of the same socket type and try that to ascertain whether it is actually a dead CPU . If it still won't POST with another CPU then you will know it is the motherboard .	FoxyMX (5)
392353	2005-10-01 05:57:00	Well I removed all video from the MoBo and got a series of beeps that indicated a video error, so at that point I figured the memory, cpu, and mobo were all fine. I went to Best Buy to get a PCIe card (for now, I'll return it when I get my newegg one), and it worked perfectly. Then when I was browsing the BIOS I saw the 'initial display' setting was on PCIe, and not PCI, which is why my video wasn't working. Why they wouldn't develop a BIOS to autodetect that the slot is empty and try PCI instead is beyond me, but the good news is that all my hardware works. The weird thing is that the BIOS had to kind of recognize the PCI card because otherwise it would have given error beeps... so it must have known the PCI was plugged in, but it wasn't sending any data to it because of some setting. Dumb as hell but other than that the system is up and running, installing Linux as we speak. Thanks for all the advice!	BrianSkibinski (8989)
392354	2005-10-01 07:49:00	Well I removed all video from the MoBo and got a series of beeps that indicated a video error, so at that point I figured the memory, cpu, and mobo were all fine. I went to Best Buy to get a PCIe card (for now, I'll return it when I get my newegg one), and it worked perfectly. Then when I was browsing the BIOS I saw the 'initial display' setting was on PCIe, and not PCI, which is why my video wasn't working. Why they wouldn't develop a BIOS to autodetect that the slot is empty and try PCI instead is beyond me, but the good news is that all my hardware works. The weird thing is that the BIOS had to kind of recognize the PCI card because otherwise it would have given error beeps... so it must have known the PCI was plugged in, but it wasn't sending any data to it because of some setting. Dumb as hell but other than that the system is up and running, installing Linux as we speak. Thanks for all the advice! I was just reading your earlier bit. Of course it wouldn't go without a PCI-E card! They don't have that because they don't expect someone who bought a PCI-E board - not an integrated VGA board - to stick an ancient PCI card in it! I even expected you to have a real card in it! Also the screws in the MB - thats fine, but if they provide those orange washers I always use them as well.	pctek (84)
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