ASUS P5N-E SLI won't POST

[superdantx]

Just built the machine today, has 2GB of Nvidia RAM in it, intel dual
core 6400, and trying to push a GeForce 8600 GT (256 PCIe) with it
(manufactured by EVGA). Having problems getting it to POST....
getting 1 long, 3 short, beeps out of it, leading me to think it has
something to do with the graphics adapter, powering up with the board
out of the machine and i get the error code fairly quickly, wiht the
board installed and a 20" widescreen LCD hooked up it takes about a
minute or so to get the error codes. The SLI card is set up in the
"single" position, and i have tried the graphics card in both PCI-E
positions, in the secondary one I get the error message just as
quickly as if the board was not installed at all. (as expected).
There is no evidence of life at all on the display. The fan on the
graphics card does spin. I remember my last few boards all had
secondary power connectors, this one does not seem to have one, kind
of surprising. Curious to see if any of you had any experience with
this combination or any suggestions?

 

[Dean G.]

Just built the machine today, has 2GB of Nvidia RAM in it, intel dual
core 6400, and trying to push a GeForce 8600 GT (256 PCIe) with it
(manufactured by EVGA). Having problems getting it to POST....
getting 1 long, 3 short, beeps out of it, leading me to think it has
something to do with the graphics adapter, powering up with the board
out of the machine and i get the error code fairly quickly, wiht the
board installed and a 20" widescreen LCD hooked up it takes about a
minute or so to get the error codes. The SLI card is set up in the
"single" position, and i have tried the graphics card in both PCI-E
positions, in the secondary one I get the error message just as
quickly as if the board was not installed at all. (as expected).
There is no evidence of life at all on the display. The fan on the
graphics card does spin. I remember my last few boards all had
secondary power connectors, this one does not seem to have one, kind
of surprising. Curious to see if any of you had any experience with
this combination or any suggestions?

The P5N-E SLI has a reversible "paddle card" that goes between the SLI
slots. It needs to be installed a certain way for single card, and a
different way for dual cards, IIRC. I don't have a manual handy, but
that's the first thing I'd look at. Also, I'm not sure about the 8600
having a secondary power connector. My 8800 does, but it appears that
most 8600 GT's do not (whereas most 8600GTS's do).

Finally, always check the basics : everything is seated properly,
including the card, the power supply cables (to the motherboard),
nothing is loose to cause a short, and of course the "paddle" is
installed correctly.

Dean G.

 

[deeseeemm]

The P5N-E SLI has a reversible "paddle card" that goes between the SLI
slots. It needs to be installed a certain way for single card, and a
different way for dual cards, IIRC. I don't have a manual handy, but
that's the first thing I'd look at. Also, I'm not sure about the 8600
having a secondary power connector. My 8800 does, but it appears that
most 8600 GT's do not (whereas most 8600GTS's do).

Finally, always check the basics : everything is seated properly,
including the card, the power supply cables (to the motherboard),
nothing is loose to cause a short, and of course the "paddle" is
installed correctly.

Dean G.

Finally got it cranking, yeah the "Paddle card" you referred to was
installed correctly, finally after enough insertions/removals form the
slot the card finally started working, guess there was something on it
preventing good contact that finally worked free. Got it up and
running now, had a bitch of a time getting some of the updates to
install, kept getting error messages, still getting BSOD's, but closer
and closer to getting it all cleaned up now, only annoyance i have now
is a hard stop now and then, display freezes, mouse freezes, keybaord
no longer responds (not even the LED's for num/caps/scroll lock), oh
well.