POST failure on ASUS P4S8X-X

[Conrad W. Paul]

My system:

Power Supply: Okia 420ATX
Mainboard : ASUS P4S8X-X
CPU : Pentium 4 2.66 GHz/533FSB (SL6EH)
Memory : Samsung 2x512MB PC3200
Video: : Chaintech GForce FX 5200 (nVidia) 8X AGP
Drives : Maxtor 80 GB ata 133/udma
OS : Windows 2000 Pro

Problem : Failure to POST

History : P4 1.7GHz/400fsb (SL5TK) failed after a two months.
Always showed a +3.3v Bus undervolt (+2.9v to +3.2v) and associated BIOS
Beep Code (incessant Hee-Haw) when CPU was taxed by intensive applications
or games. I replaced the P4 with a 2.66 GHz/533FSSB (SL6EH) and received
the same BIOS Beep Code (+3.3v Bus undervolt). Nonetheless, the system
worked well for a few hours and provided adequate and expected benchmarks
via SiSoft Sandra 2005, PC Wizard 2004, CheckIt (NSW 2005) and Performance
Test (NSW 2004). Then the system froze admist nominal activity (chatting,
email & surfing) it froze ignoring keyboard and forcing a manual RESET. It
POSTed and BIOS screen warned me to check settings; I went to Power settings
and discovered the 3.3volt supply was showing up red at 2.9v. I continued
to boot and system ran well for about another 7 hours requiring a manual
RESET.

There was no POST. Board's SB_PWR LED was green (ON), fans worked, LED for
IDE activity stayed on (went off after obligatory self-diagnostics (35sec)
of the Maxtor primary drive. The Keyboard NumLock light and Scroll Lock
LEDs flash momentarily then remain off. There is no video. Recycling the
RESET switch repeats everything except the Keyboard LEDs no longer flash and
simply remain off. Only recycling the main ATX power switch allows the
Keyboard LEDs to flash.

The Power Supply is about a year old and I am using it now with another
mainboard to get online. The ASUS P4S8X-X mainboard is less than 90 days
old. I am crestfallen at ASUS lack of support since I deliberately bought
this board with my own cash and of my own considered free will and
discretion while under absolutely no duress.

Before I replace the mainboard and/or power supply, I would appreciate some
insights, advice or better yet: solutions.

Thanks,
Conrad

 

[Chris]

My system:

Power Supply: Okia 420ATX
Mainboard : ASUS P4S8X-X
CPU : Pentium 4 2.66 GHz/533FSB (SL6EH)
Memory : Samsung 2x512MB PC3200
Video: : Chaintech GForce FX 5200 (nVidia) 8X AGP
Drives : Maxtor 80 GB ata 133/udma
OS : Windows 2000 Pro

Problem : Failure to POST

History : P4 1.7GHz/400fsb (SL5TK) failed after a two months.
Always showed a +3.3v Bus undervolt (+2.9v to +3.2v) and associated BIOS
Beep Code (incessant Hee-Haw) when CPU was taxed by intensive applications
or games. I replaced the P4 with a 2.66 GHz/533FSSB (SL6EH) and received
the same BIOS Beep Code (+3.3v Bus undervolt). Nonetheless, the system
worked well for a few hours and provided adequate and expected benchmarks
via SiSoft Sandra 2005, PC Wizard 2004, CheckIt (NSW 2005) and Performance
Test (NSW 2004). Then the system froze admist nominal activity (chatting,
email & surfing) it froze ignoring keyboard and forcing a manual RESET.
It
POSTed and BIOS screen warned me to check settings; I went to Power
settings
and discovered the 3.3volt supply was showing up red at 2.9v. I continued
to boot and system ran well for about another 7 hours requiring a manual
RESET.

There was no POST. Board's SB_PWR LED was green (ON), fans worked, LED
for
IDE activity stayed on (went off after obligatory self-diagnostics (35sec)
of the Maxtor primary drive. The Keyboard NumLock light and Scroll Lock
LEDs flash momentarily then remain off. There is no video. Recycling the
RESET switch repeats everything except the Keyboard LEDs no longer flash
and
simply remain off. Only recycling the main ATX power switch allows the
Keyboard LEDs to flash.

The Power Supply is about a year old and I am using it now with another
mainboard to get online. The ASUS P4S8X-X mainboard is less than 90 days
old. I am crestfallen at ASUS lack of support since I deliberately bought
this board with my own cash and of my own considered free will and
discretion while under absolutely no duress.

Before I replace the mainboard and/or power supply, I would appreciate
some
insights, advice or better yet: solutions.

Thanks,
Conrad

I don't rate the PSU much, a quick web search showed many people complaining
about this PSU.


--
Chris
Technical director CKCCOMPUSCRIPT
Apple Computers, Intel, Roland audio, ATI, Microsoft, Sun Solaris, Cisco and
Silicone Graphics.
Wholesale distributor and specialist audio visual computers and servers
FREE SUPPORT @,
http://www.ckccomp.plus.com/site/page.HTM
(e-mail address removed)

 

[kony]

My system:

Power Supply: Okia 420ATX

Before I replace the mainboard and/or power supply, I would appreciate some
insights, advice or better yet: solutions.

You have a generic power supply paired with a name-brand
board and see a low rail voltage. First attempt at solution
seems pretty clear- Use multimeter to measure that rail and
with confirmation that it's low, replace power supply with
quality name-brand supply. "Could" be motherboard instead,
or in addition, but having known adquate PSU is first step
in testing other variables.