is it the motherboard or the power supply, that is the question?

[M]

Not sure which is wrong here. Its a homemade with

ASUS A7N8X-X Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 400 ATX AMD Motherboard -
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 333MHz FSB Socket A Processor Model AXDA3000BOX -
Retail
Windows XP Pro
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC
3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
ASUS V9520 Video Suite Geforce FX5200 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card

If I turn it on it runs for 4 seconds then everything shuts down. I 'm
watching the cpu fan turn on and power up and like I said 4 seconds into it
everything stops. The green light on the board is still lit but there are no
beeps or alerts.

The PSU, is a replacement named Premier Performance Pro and its 450 W, my
previus one died last year at this time.
I run an older sound board and sage tv with happauge card and the asus
v9520 video.

I had it powered off as I was away and previously it was run for long
lengths of time without shut down.

I removed the memory and did another power test and got a beep and then a
shut down. That's the normal 'no memory beep' I believe, so it knows enough
to know theres no memory there but when the memory is in it just gives the,
4 seconds no beeps.

Any thoughts?

Thanks alot !!

 

[Al Dykes]

Not sure which is wrong here. Its a homemade with

ASUS A7N8X-X Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 400 ATX AMD Motherboard -
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 333MHz FSB Socket A Processor Model AXDA3000BOX -
Retail
Windows XP Pro
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC
3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
ASUS V9520 Video Suite Geforce FX5200 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card

If I turn it on it runs for 4 seconds then everything shuts down. I 'm
watching the cpu fan turn on and power up and like I said 4 seconds into it
everything stops. The green light on the board is still lit but there are no
beeps or alerts.

It's easy to swap a PSU. It's the first thing I do if I'm scratching
my head, but as you describe the symptom it sounds like overheat
shutdown which means there is a problem with the way the HSF is
mounted on the CPU.

I't swap the PSU first.

 

[JAD]

couple of thoughts,

heat - the cpu cooler is plugged with dust or is not working

The power supply regardless of age maybe not up to par

try stripping it down to CPU MEMORY VIDEO, no hard drives, then boot.

 

[Adam S]

Not sure which is wrong here. Its a homemade with

ASUS A7N8X-X Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 400 ATX AMD Motherboard -
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 333MHz FSB Socket A Processor Model AXDA3000BOX -
Retail
Windows XP Pro
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC
3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
ASUS V9520 Video Suite Geforce FX5200 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card

If I turn it on it runs for 4 seconds then everything shuts down. I 'm
watching the cpu fan turn on and power up and like I said 4 seconds into it
everything stops. The green light on the board is still lit but there are no
beeps or alerts.

Try lowering the speed of the memory in the BIOS to match the CPU.

My A7N8X-X would shut down soon after starting up until I did this.

Adam S

 

[Robert Heiling]

Not sure which is wrong here. Its a homemade with

ASUS A7N8X-X Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 400 ATX AMD Motherboard -
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 333MHz FSB Socket A Processor Model AXDA3000BOX -
Retail
Windows XP Pro
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC
3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
ASUS V9520 Video Suite Geforce FX5200 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card

If I turn it on it runs for 4 seconds then everything shuts down. I 'm
watching the cpu fan turn on and power up and like I said 4 seconds into it
everything stops. The green light on the board is still lit but there are no
beeps or alerts.

The PSU, is a replacement named Premier Performance Pro and its 450 W, my
previus one died last year at this time.
I run an older sound board and sage tv with happauge card and the asus
v9520 video.

I had it powered off as I was away and previously it was run for long
lengths of time without shut down.

I removed the memory and did another power test and got a beep and then a
shut down. That's the normal 'no memory beep' I believe, so it knows enough
to know theres no memory there but when the memory is in it just gives the,
4 seconds no beeps.

Any thoughts?

Thanks alot !!

Is the power sweitch sticking on?

Bob

 

[spodosaurus]

couple of thoughts,

heat - the cpu cooler is plugged with dust or is not working

I was thinking something similar: CPU heatsink off-centre on the die.
I've seen this with both AMD and Intel chips. Got some systems this way
from people throwing them out because they were 'broken'. Took them
apart to test the components in known working systems, and when I got to
the CPU I found the HSF had been installed incorrectly. That was the
only problem!

The power supply regardless of age maybe not up to par

try stripping it down to CPU MEMORY VIDEO, no hard drives, then boot.



Motherboard -


AXDA3000BOX -

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[kony]

Not sure which is wrong here. Its a homemade with

ASUS A7N8X-X Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 400 ATX AMD Motherboard -
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 333MHz FSB Socket A Processor Model AXDA3000BOX -
Retail
Windows XP Pro
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC
3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
ASUS V9520 Video Suite Geforce FX5200 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card

Has the system remained static or has it changed recently,
especially just prior to the onset of this problem?

If I turn it on it runs for 4 seconds then everything shuts down. I 'm
watching the cpu fan turn on and power up and like I said 4 seconds into it
everything stops. The green light on the board is still lit but there are no
beeps or alerts.

Does "Power up" mean that you say "anything" at all on the
monitor or nothing? When I write "anything" I mean anything
coming from the system, like the video card's bios screen.
The monitor may go in and out of a sleep or screen-saver
type of mode but that doesn't count towards anything coming
from the system as an (actual) video signal rather than a
mere electrical signal over the video cable.

Is it possible your case power button is sticking? Try
unplugging it and shorting the two pins together with a
conductive metallic object, like a screwdriver tip.

Has the system been moved? Is it possible the heatsink has
become dislodged? IF the heatsink is still properly
installed, then it cannot be overheating after only 4
seconds, if the the fans or dust buildup were a problem then
that problem wouldn't be evident until it had ran for at
least a couple minutes from a COLD off state.

The PSU, is a replacement named Premier Performance Pro and its 450 W, my
previus one died last year at this time.
I run an older sound board and sage tv with happauge card and the asus
v9520 video.

I'm suspecting you aren't buying decent PSU. That board
uses 5V rail for CPU power and needs a power supply actually
capable of at least 200W 3V+5V combined power, rated as
such. The problem with many generics is that the ratings
can't be trusted until a unit has been qualified, proven
capable of it's claimed/labeled values.

I had it powered off as I was away and previously it was run for long
lengths of time without shut down.

I removed the memory and did another power test and got a beep and then a
shut down. That's the normal 'no memory beep' I believe, so it knows enough
to know theres no memory there but when the memory is in it just gives the,
4 seconds no beeps.

Any thoughts?

Unplug it from AC, use the clear CMOS jumper or remove the
battery for 10 minutes. If you have a spare PCI video card,
remove the present card and install the PCI card then clear
CMOS (again with AC power disconnected). Sometimes this
will allow seeing display on the monitor, "some" variants of
that board are prone to a bios quirk where it then allows
the user to see a prompt to insert a floppy to reflash the
bios.

Some refer to this as a lost bios syndrome but I don't know
if anyone has actually tracked down the cause- but it wasn't
that the bios was actually lost, rather a bios flaw in the
configured settings (seems to be the most likely problem)
because on occasion such systems will later post and try to
boot ok which is a signal the bios was still more (if not
entirely) intact, else it never would've done any better on
subsequent attempts.

I'm not (yet) suggesting it's a bios problem though, and
would first examine the board for failed capacitors and take
power supply voltage readings with a multimeter, then try
another known-viable power supply. Just because a generic
runs (by itself mostly unloaded or on a different system),
that doesn't necessarily make it suitable for some of the
more modern systems.

 

[DaveW]

The fact that the system runs for 4 seconds before shutting down implies
that you have a thermal fault, most likely as you said either in the PSU or
the motherboard. The only way to isolate the problem is to replace the
power supply unit with a unit that is known to work and is of adequate power
output. If that doesn't fix it, then it's the motherboard, which is
obviously harder to replace for testing purposes.

 

[Clark]

Have you tried unplugging the power supply and plugging it back in. The
other night mine would not boot or even come alive and I was ready to take
it apart, but I thought I should do the easiest thing first and it worked.

Some Motherboards will come on and go off after about 4 seconds when power
is applied initially. But they will return to normal operation after that
temper check Are you leaving the power plugged in all the time or turning
it off prior to the computer?

I really hate when folks multiple post--that error noise always surprises
me!

Clark

 

[Ruel Smith]

If I turn it on it runs for 4 seconds then everything shuts down. I 'm

watching the cpu fan turn on and power up and like I said 4 seconds into
it
everything stops. The green light on the board is still lit but there are
no
beeps or alerts.

Classic symptom of improperly seated heatsink or fan not working. Try and
re-install your heatsink on your CPU if you're sure the fan works. Make sure
it seats completely and all fasteners completely click into place.

The motherboard shuts down when the CPU overheats, thereby saving the CPU
from getting fried.

 

[M]

yep that's exactly what I'm doing.

I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[M]

yep that's exactly what I'm doing.

I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[M]

are

Try lowering the speed of the memory in the BIOS to match the CPU.

My A7N8X-X would shut down soon after starting up until I did this.

Adam S

Never even saw the bios until later



I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[M]

Is the power sweitch sticking on?

Bob

Nope

I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[M]

Has the system remained static or has it changed recently,
especially just prior to the onset of this problem?



Does "Power up" mean that you say "anything" at all on the
monitor or nothing? When I write "anything" I mean anything
coming from the system, like the video card's bios screen.
The monitor may go in and out of a sleep or screen-saver
type of mode but that doesn't count towards anything coming
from the system as an (actual) video signal rather than a
mere electrical signal over the video cable.

Is it possible your case power button is sticking? Try
unplugging it and shorting the two pins together with a
conductive metallic object, like a screwdriver tip.

Has the system been moved? Is it possible the heatsink has
become dislodged? IF the heatsink is still properly
installed, then it cannot be overheating after only 4
seconds, if the the fans or dust buildup were a problem then
that problem wouldn't be evident until it had ran for at
least a couple minutes from a COLD off state.




I'm suspecting you aren't buying decent PSU. That board
uses 5V rail for CPU power and needs a power supply actually
capable of at least 200W 3V+5V combined power, rated as
such. The problem with many generics is that the ratings
can't be trusted until a unit has been qualified, proven
capable of it's claimed/labeled values.





Unplug it from AC, use the clear CMOS jumper or remove the
battery for 10 minutes. If you have a spare PCI video card,
remove the present card and install the PCI card then clear
CMOS (again with AC power disconnected). Sometimes this
will allow seeing display on the monitor, "some" variants of
that board are prone to a bios quirk where it then allows
the user to see a prompt to insert a floppy to reflash the
bios.

Some refer to this as a lost bios syndrome but I don't know
if anyone has actually tracked down the cause- but it wasn't
that the bios was actually lost, rather a bios flaw in the
configured settings (seems to be the most likely problem)
because on occasion such systems will later post and try to
boot ok which is a signal the bios was still more (if not
entirely) intact, else it never would've done any better on
subsequent attempts.

I'm not (yet) suggesting it's a bios problem though, and
would first examine the board for failed capacitors and take
power supply voltage readings with a multimeter, then try
another known-viable power supply. Just because a generic
runs (by itself mostly unloaded or on a different system),
that doesn't necessarily make it suitable for some of the
more modern systems.

I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[M]

The fact that the system runs for 4 seconds before shutting down implies
that you have a thermal fault, most likely as you said either in the PSU or
the motherboard. The only way to isolate the problem is to replace the
power supply unit with a unit that is known to work and is of adequate power
output. If that doesn't fix it, then it's the motherboard, which is
obviously harder to replace for testing purposes.

yep that's exactly what I'm doing.

I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[M]

Classic symptom of improperly seated heatsink or fan not working. Try and
re-install your heatsink on your CPU if you're sure the fan works. Make sure
it seats completely and all fasteners completely click into place.

The motherboard shuts down when the CPU overheats, thereby saving the CPU
from getting fried.

wooo didn't know that one!!! I'll check that out after I check the power
supply. I think the addition of my tv card burnt it out.



I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[PWY]

yep that's exactly what I'm doing.

I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power
down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

Have you considered that the floppy drive might be the problem ? Try
disabling it in the bios and then unplug it and see if everything works.

 

[spodosaurus]

Motherboard -


AXDA3000BOX -



I unplugged everything but my 2 wd drives and attempted a power up and had
nothing/ Then undid the drives and it fired up ok and beeped. So I plugged
in the monitor and it said midding floppy drive. I then powered down and
plugged in the floppy, power it back up and bam 4 seconds and a power down.
It couldn't even power the board and the floppy.

So it's going back tomorrow.

Thanks

People took time to send you individual replies. You know where you can
stick your cut and paste BS

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[Norm De Plume]

The PSU, is a replacement named Premier Performance Pro and its 450 W

No, it's not.