New motherboard that does not post

[Daniel Prince]

I recently bought these items from Newegg:

MB ASUS | M5A88-V EVO 880G RT

CPU AMD|4-CORE FX-4100 3.6G 8M R

And this from Crucial Technology:

CT2KIT51272BA1339 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 240-pin DIMM

When I put it together, it did not post. It has NEVER posted. When
I press the power button, the CPU fan and case LED come on but I get
no display on the monitor and no beeps. I connected the monitor
cable to a laptop computer and got a display so it cannot be a bad
monitor or cable.

I tried it with two new power supplies. I tried it with two memory
modules, one memory module and no memory modules. If I hold down
the power button for four seconds when it is on, it turns off.

I took out the CMOS battery and left the jumper in the reset
position for more than 15 minutes but it still did not post.

Does anyone have an suggestions as to what I can do to get this
motherboard to post of how I can determine what is wrong? Thank you
in advance for all replies.

 

[Paul]

I recently bought these items from Newegg:

MB ASUS | M5A88-V EVO 880G RT

CPU AMD|4-CORE FX-4100 3.6G 8M R

And this from Crucial Technology:

CT2KIT51272BA1339 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 240-pin DIMM

When I put it together, it did not post. It has NEVER posted. When
I press the power button, the CPU fan and case LED come on but I get
no display on the monitor and no beeps. I connected the monitor
cable to a laptop computer and got a display so it cannot be a bad
monitor or cable.

I tried it with two new power supplies. I tried it with two memory
modules, one memory module and no memory modules. If I hold down
the power button for four seconds when it is on, it turns off.

I took out the CMOS battery and left the jumper in the reset
position for more than 15 minutes but it still did not post.

Does anyone have an suggestions as to what I can do to get this
motherboard to post of how I can determine what is wrong? Thank you
in advance for all replies.

You forgot to connect the ATX12V cable.

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#atx12v4

Paul

 

[Daniel Prince]

You forgot to connect the ATX12V cable.

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#atx12v4

Paul

No. I connected that cable with both power supplies but that was a
good guess. I really appreciate your time and effort in trying to
help me.

 

[Paul]

No. I connected that cable with both power supplies but that was a
good guess. I really appreciate your time and effort in trying to
help me.

"MB ASUS | M5A88-V EVO 880G RT

CPU AMD|4-CORE FX-4100 3.6G 8M R"

OK, let's check the BIOS compatibility.

http://support.asus.com/Cpusupport/List.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=M5A88-V EVO&p=1&s=24

FX-4100(FD4100WMW4KGU),3.6GHz,4C,95W,rev.B2G,AM3+ ALL 0707

The FX-4100 requires a minimum BIOS version of 0707. If you have
another processor chip to work with, you could work at verifying
the version present now. Or, if you know you've flashed the BIOS,
you may have some record of what version you flashed with.

If the motherboard is brand new and untouched with regard to
flashing, you can look for a paper sticker on the flash chip,
and see whether it is version 0707 or later. If the revision
is an older one, you may need to borrow an older processor,
to do the flash upgrade with.

If you connect the computer case speaker to the SPKR header,
remove all RAM, then there should be a RAM error (beep) code if
the processor is actually able to execute the BIOS. If the
case speaker remains silent, while doing the "missing RAM test",
then the BIOS revision may be too old to recognize the processor.
The speaker can only beep, if the processor can run code, and
pulling all the RAM, is a way to trick it into beeping the speaker.
But that only happens, if the processor is able to execute the
BIOS code.

Paul

 

[larrymoencurly]

I recently bought these items from Newegg:

MB ASUS | M5A88-V EVO 880G RT

CPU AMD|4-CORE FX-4100 3.6G 8M R

And this from Crucial Technology:

CT2KIT51272BA1339 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 240-pin DIMM

When I put it together, it did not post. It has NEVER posted. When
I press the power button, the CPU fan and case LED come on but I get
no display on the monitor and no beeps. I connected the monitor
cable to a laptop computer and got a display so it cannot be a bad
monitor or cable.

I tried it with two new power supplies. I tried it with two memory
modules, one memory module and no memory modules. If I hold down
the power button for four seconds when it is on, it turns off.

Have you tried hitting the reset button or blipping the reset pins on the motherboard? Sometimes doing that every 10 seconds will eventually make thecomputer boot.

Are there any shorts between the motherboard and case? They usually occur around the mounting holes (check each, top & bottom) or at an unsupported corner (no standoff within 2"). Also extra standoffs that don't line up with any motherboard holes can cause shorts.

Do you have a speaker connected to the motherboard pins? It can sometimes give diagnostic beeps even when there are no other signs of life.

Is the CPU heatsink installed properly and making contact all along the topof the CPU package? Some motherboard BIOSes won't allow operation if the CPU overheats, despite all modern CPUs having built-in heatproof protection.. Some do also do this if the fan doesn't detect spin (fan may spin but motherboard doesn't see any RPM pulses from it).

I normally test a new motherboard by installing just the bare minimum amount of hardware so I can see if it works -- CPU, CPU heatsink/fan, one memorymodule, speaker, power button, reset button, keyboard, monitor, and video.I run a memory test for a while before installing anything else.

 

[Daniel Prince]

If the motherboard is brand new and untouched with regard to
flashing, you can look for a paper sticker on the flash chip,
and see whether it is version 0707 or later.

The only sticker I see is this one:

There are two instances of the letter "O" that are filled in and
then this number:

O 0C1G023-01197-MB07N0-A03 0903

I think I have version 0903, which should be later than 0707.

 

[Darklight]

The only sticker I see is this one:

There are two instances of the letter "O" that are filled in and
then this number:

O 0C1G023-01197-MB07N0-A03 0903

I think I have version 0903, which should be later than 0707.

If you are getting no post beeps and no display it is likly a faulty
proccessor?.

how many watts is the PSU?

 

[Daniel Prince]

If you are getting no post beeps and no display it is likly a faulty
proccessor?.

how many watts is the PSU?

The first one I tried was a Thermaltake 775 watts. The second one
was a Corsair 600 watts. The manual recommends a minimum of 450
watts. I was using the on-board video and had no drives connected.

 

[Daniel Prince]

Have you tried hitting the reset button or blipping the reset pins on the motherboard? Sometimes doing that every 10 seconds will eventually make the computer boot.

I just tried that for more than six minutes but the motherboard did
not post.

Are there any shorts between the motherboard and case?

I do not think so.

They usually
occur around the mounting holes (check each, top & bottom) or at an
unsupported corner (no standoff within 2"). Also extra standoffs
that don't line up with any motherboard holes can cause shorts.

There are no extra standoffs. The motherboard has nine mounting
holes. All nine mounting holes have screws in them that are screwed
into standoffs.

Do you have a speaker connected to the motherboard pins? It can sometimes give diagnostic beeps even when there are no other signs of life.

I have a speaker connected. I used an ohm meter to check the
speaker and speaker cable. I measured 17 ohms at the motherboard
connector. Can a speaker fail and still measure 17 ohms?

Is the CPU heatsink installed properly and making contact all
along the top of the CPU package?

I think it is. The OEM heatsink has a clamp with a lever that
pushes the heatsink down with a lot of force.

Some motherboard BIOSes
won't allow operation if the CPU overheats, despite all modern
CPUs having built-in heatproof protection. Some do also do
this if the fan doesn't detect spin (fan may spin but
motherboard doesn't see any RPM pulses from it).

The fan is plugged into the motherboard. The fan does spin. How
can I tell if the fan is generating rpm signals? (I do not have an
oscilloscope.)

If the motherboard will not allow operation because it senses that
the CPU is overheating or that the cup fan is not spinning, would it
leave the power supply on?

 

[larrymoencurly]

I do not think so.

This usually requires a visual inspection by removing the motherboard. If you test the motherboard outside the case, be sure to do it on an anti-static, non-metallic surface, such as the foam sheet that was inside the anti-static bag with the motherboard. Plain wood is usually OK, as is a 1/2" thick layer of newsprint or brown paper bags (no shiney paper).

There are no extra standoffs. The motherboard has nine mounting
holes. All nine mounting holes have screws in them that are screwed
into standoffs.

How about the corners? Motherboards and cases can flex a surprising amountor be warped.

I have a speaker connected. I used an ohm meter to check the
speaker and speaker cable. I measured 17 ohms at the motherboard
connector. Can a speaker fail and still measure 17 ohms?

I don't know what the motherboard's speaker connector is supposed to measure, but speakers and their wiring commonly measure 8-32 ohms. I think you should hear a click or scratchy sound when measuring the speaker.

The fan is plugged into the motherboard. The fan does spin. How
can I tell if the fan is generating rpm signals? (I do not have an
oscilloscope.)

Some multimeters have a frequency (Hz) function that can measure the pulse,but in practice, that pulse is always there unless its wire is broken.

If the motherboard will not allow operation because it senses that
the CPU is overheating or that the cup fan is not spinning, would it
leave the power supply on?

Good point. I don't think so. Also a short between the motherboard and case usually results in the power turning off in a few seconds.

I have a feeling NewEgg sent you a dud motherboard. A lot of times they'llpay for return shipping if you phone them rather than use e-mail or their online RMA form.

 

[Paul]

This usually requires a visual inspection by removing the motherboard. If you test the motherboard outside the case, be sure to do it on an anti-static, non-metallic surface, such as the foam sheet that was inside the anti-static bag with the motherboard. Plain wood is usually OK, as is a 1/2" thick layer of newsprint or brown paper bags (no shiney paper).


How about the corners? Motherboards and cases can flex a surprising amount or be warped.


I don't know what the motherboard's speaker connector is supposed to measure, but speakers and their wiring commonly measure 8-32 ohms. I think you should hear a click or scratchy sound when measuring the speaker.


Some multimeters have a frequency (Hz) function that can measure the pulse, but in practice, that pulse is always there unless its wire is broken.


Good point. I don't think so. Also a short between the motherboard and case usually results in the power turning off in a few seconds.

I have a feeling NewEgg sent you a dud motherboard. A lot of times they'll pay for return shipping if you phone them rather than use e-mail or their online RMA form.

A PCI Port 80 POST card would be another way to debug, but
only makes sense to use if you already own one. If the display
stays stuck at 0xFF or 0x00, then no BIOS code is being executed.

The review on the right here, notes the same symptoms Daniel is getting.

http://www.amazon.com/6Gbps-Supported-Motherboard-M5A88-V-EVO/product-reviews/B004Z9Y64S

Paul

 

[David W. Hodgins]

Just ran into the same problem with an ASUS Sabertooth 990FX and an AMD FX 4170
cpu.

Then I noticed a review at
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_335&item_id=039203

Read the weakness section. The mb needs a bios update before it can post with an
fx cpu, but you need a working cpu to flash the bios.

I have a friend with a phenon cpu, that I hope to borrow next weekend. Hopefully that
will fix the problem on my system.

Just wanted to point this out, as it may be a similar problem.

Regards, Dave Hodgins

 

[Darklight]

Just ran into the same problem with an ASUS Sabertooth 990FX and an AMD FX
4170 cpu.

Then I noticed a review at
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_335&item_id=039203

Read the weakness section. The mb needs a bios update before it can post
with an fx cpu, but you need a working cpu to flash the bios.

I have a friend with a phenon cpu, that I hope to borrow next weekend.
Hopefully that will fix the problem on my system.

Just wanted to point this out, as it may be a similar problem.

Regards, Dave Hodgins

i run a asus m5a99x-evo with an amd fx-8120 i never had a problem.
If i remebeber correctly the bios version should be printed on the
motherboard. then you can check this should answer a few questions.

just done a search and here it is and where to find it

http://support.asus.com/repair.aspx?no=563&SLanguage=en

 

[Paul]

While you've mentioned it: Do you have any recommendations on one of
these tools? I've shopped them before, but it seems like their prices
are all over the map, and assume there's a variation in quality as well.

Are the codes pretty standard, or do the makers of these devices have to
keep up with new BIOSes so that their cards are reporting specific error
conditions?

Some of the POST codes, are part of the "base" BIOS code.
When AMI or Phoenix or Award write a BIOS, a certain number
of the codes will be common (all AMI motherboards would share
some common values).

Other codes can be added "custom" by Asus or other motherboard maker.

They're "progress codes" and not "error codes". Basically, the BIOS code
writes to I/O address 80, of the first PCI card slot, and updates a byte
value of some sort. A progress code would be "now starting boot" rather
than "error 39 cannot find boot drive". The progress codes are
relatively useless for diagnostic purposes. Some motherboard
manuals, have a table of values in the back, if you're lucky.
Some values are marked "reserved", and the value can still be
used by the BIOS, but we don't know what it means if it appears
on the display.

The PCI POST card consists of a register, for that write cycle to record into.
The minimum circuit, seems to have three small chips on it, but there are
other ways to do it (one larger chip).

The price can range from $20 (Hong Kong) to $100 (your corner computer store).
Your computer store likely buys the Hong Kong one, and then sells it to you.

Some, include separate LEDs that monitor the power rails that are visible
in the PCI slot. This one is a PCI or ISA tester, which you rotate 90 degrees
to insert either the PCI edge card or the ISA edge card.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Digit-PCI...808145592?pt=Motherboards&hash=item3a655496b8

The main value in such a card, is seeing the display change from the
initial 0xFF or 0x00 value, to some other value. If you see the code
changing, it generally means your processor isn't dead.

The LEDs for the power rails, may identify whether the rail is close
to its spec value. Sometimes, the power monitor LED gives a hint why
the computer isn't working, and has about as much value as the POST code
does. But your multimeter can also tell you that, with a little
more work.

There are also versions shipping now, that work in a PCI Express x1 slot,
but I've not read any reports of how well those work. PCI and ISA
are relatively low tech, and it's easier for a card design to be
successful, due to the lower speed of operation.

Paul

 

[David W. Hodgins]

i run a asus m5a99x-evo with an amd fx-8120 i never had a problem.
If i remebeber correctly the bios version should be printed on the
motherboard. then you can check this should answer a few questions.

It shows the version as 1.01. Looking at the bios updates at
http://support.asus.com/download.as...990FX&p=1&s=24&os=8&hashedid=H9GanpgqHG8yN8yQ
the second update (a beta released last october) included an update for AMD CPU
firmware.

The most recent bios update was released May 29th.

 

[tanstafl]

I recently bought these items from Newegg:

MB ASUS | M5A88-V EVO 880G RT

CPU AMD|4-CORE FX-4100 3.6G 8M R

And this from Crucial Technology:

CT2KIT51272BA1339 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 240-pin DIMM

When I put it together, it did not post. It has NEVER posted. When
I press the power button, the CPU fan and case LED come on but I get
no display on the monitor and no beeps. I connected the monitor
cable to a laptop computer and got a display so it cannot be a bad
monitor or cable.

I tried it with two new power supplies. I tried it with two memory
modules, one memory module and no memory modules. If I hold down
the power button for four seconds when it is on, it turns off.

I took out the CMOS battery and left the jumper in the reset
position for more than 15 minutes but it still did not post.

Does anyone have an suggestions as to what I can do to get this
motherboard to post of how I can determine what is wrong? Thank you
in advance for all replies.

Check the state of PWR-OK (sometimes called pwr-good) pin #8 on the 20
pin power connector with a multimeter. The mobo, cpu etc are held in
reset until the PSU asserts this signal. I did note that you had
replaced the PSU - but 'no stone unturned' is a good adage.

If the signal is OK, pull the power connector off and visually check
the pin to see if it's crushed or broken off.

Paul wrote one of his usual detailed essays on this topic a few days
ago in this group on July 12 in the thread "no power (DELL)" - 1st
response to the OP.

 

[tanstafl]

I recently bought these items from Newegg:

MB ASUS | M5A88-V EVO 880G RT

CPU AMD|4-CORE FX-4100 3.6G 8M R

And this from Crucial Technology:

CT2KIT51272BA1339 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 240-pin DIMM

When I put it together, it did not post. It has NEVER posted. When
I press the power button, the CPU fan and case LED come on but I get
no display on the monitor and no beeps. I connected the monitor
cable to a laptop computer and got a display so it cannot be a bad
monitor or cable.

I tried it with two new power supplies. I tried it with two memory
modules, one memory module and no memory modules. If I hold down
the power button for four seconds when it is on, it turns off.

I took out the CMOS battery and left the jumper in the reset
position for more than 15 minutes but it still did not post.

Does anyone have an suggestions as to what I can do to get this
motherboard to post of how I can determine what is wrong? Thank you
in advance for all replies.

Check the state of PWR-OK (sometimes called pwr-good) pin #8 on the 20
pin power connector with a multimeter. The mobo, cpu etc are held in
reset until the PSU asserts this signal. I did note that you had
replaced the PSU - but 'no stone unturned' is a good adage.

If the signal is OK, pull the power connector off and visually check
the pin to see if it's crushed or broken off.

Paul wrote one of his usual detailed essays on this topic a few days
ago in this group on July 12 in the thread "no power (DELL)" - 1st
response to the OP.