Building a Computer...buy now or wait?

[LockedOut]

Check your power connections. There should be a 24 pin and a separate 4 pin for your CPU connected to your mobo. There should also be 2 power connections to your video card. Do you hear any beeps or series of beeps. If your mobo supports it, plug in an earphone into the output jack and listen for an error message. My old ASUS mobo had this feature.

[Bobblehead]

Also, make sure there isn't a BIOS reset jumper in place.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

memory?

It wouldn't be the memory or he would get memory error beeps. It's not the powersupply either because if there was a loose power connection, the system would automatically start/stop (ie: fans would spin up and the system would auto ground out to protect itself). It's not videocard power or else he would get the onscreen error to plug in the video adapter.

These sorts of no boot, no post are difficult to diagnose, I really hate them because I always get the nagging feeling that I fried something. Are there no beeps at all? If your case doesn't come with a speaker, plug in some speakers to the audio out. Make sure the bios reset jumper is in the correct position (I don't know why it wouldn't be though). You could try to move the reset jumper over and then back again to clear the bios, or just pull out the battery and power off the PSU...but on a fresh install the default bios options should be fine.

[Burninator]

Ok here is what I've done in terms of trouble shooting. I took the mobo out of the case and wired everything on top of the mobo cardboard box. I did this to see if there was any case interference. Still nothing. Switched the memory around, tried one, moved it around, nothing. Hooked up a speaker, no beeping. I have the two power connections to the mobo hooked up. I have the two power connections to the video card hooked up.

I'll keep troubleshooting.

[LockedOut]

Have you tried booting up without any memory? If everything else is fine then you may still be able to get to the BIOS without the memory.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by LockedOut

Have you tried booting up without any memory? If everything else is fine then you may still be able to get to the BIOS without the memory.

No, I've never seen that to be possible. The system requires memory or it won't even POST. It's a good idea to test the mobo out of the case though, I usually do that first and it's too bad we didn't tell you to do that previously in this thread before you put it into the case.

At this stage, the next step for me would be to test the individual components in another computer to identify which component may be giving you the problem. At the least it will give you confirmation and peace of mind that your part do/don't work. Start with the easy stuff, try your videocard and ram in another computer. Next, the powersupply, plug it into a different computer and see if that computer will turn on properly. Then a harddrive, etc.

[Burninator]

Tried every memory combination (including none) but to no avail. Reset the BIOS, but still no luck. I'll try the components individually in another computer tomorrow. Other than that I think I am out of troubleshooting ideas. I'll have to give ASUS a call when they are open. I have a feeling my mobo is DOA.

[Regorium]

I almost guarantee this is a memory issue because I used that type of memory as well. The issue is that most motherboards have a default 1.8V setting for the memory slots, while the OCZ Plat series runs at 2.1V. The problem is that you can't boot it up to change the value in the BIOS. The way I got mine to work was to use the 1 stick technique in each slot until it managed to boot up. Then I changed the setting in the BIOS.

I ended up having to RMA my sticks to OCZ because one stick would boot, but the other wouldn't.

If none of the slots work, then try finding some value RAM which is rated at 1.8V in order to boot up and change it to the higher voltage setting required for your stuff.

[Burninator]

I actually changed my memory to Corsair. This one in fact. But I will try the one slot technique again just to be sure.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I actually changed my memory to Corsair. This one in fact. But I will try the one slot technique again just to be sure.

I've got the same Corsair memory in a P5KC board and it booted up fine. I had to change the voltage and timings to get the best results but otherwise , no problem, so I'd guess it's not memory.

edited to add, try posting on the NCIX forum as well.

[Hack&Lube]

I wouldn't bother calling ASUS, I'd just return it to NCIX, they have decent support...but confirm that the board is DOA first or you might get restocking charge.

I've bought computers from NCIX before but I think in the future, if possible, I'd buy locally from MemEx just for the peace of mind of local exchange...for important parts like the motherboard. Ram and videocard are extremely easy to diagnose and RMA to remote locations but motherboards are just a big hassle. It's too bad MemEx prices are 20-30% higher than the cheaper retailers and they have poor selection, not to mention always being out of stock when you get there and they suggest you take the more expensive model.

Last week I built a computer for my grandparents and I have the same thing you are describing, it's really frustrating, this kind of problem. I too suspect that my board is dead...but then again, the board I was using is 4 years old.

[Cliche]

You should be getting a no memory fault with no memory installed. Check CLEARRTC jumper, if possible, try in opposite pin configuration, as sometimes with the asus manuals they have the clear rtc jumper mislabeled. Otherwise, not much more you can do, you might have a dead mobo.

In general to make sure this isn't a mobo problem, going about triggering specific error codes is your best bet. EG: No memory fault, no video fault.
If you can't generate either of those 2 errors, something is probably wrong with your motherboard.

[Bertuzzied]

It sounds more like your cpu is toast.

This is why I would have stuck with Mem express in town. You don't have to wait for shipping items back and forth, plus they would have mounted your cpu and tested your ram before you leave the store.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Kobatuzzied

It sounds more like your cpu is toast.

This is why I would have stuck with Mem express in town. You don't have to wait for shipping items back and forth, plus they would have mounted your cpu and tested your ram before you leave the store.

Yes, it could also be a toast CPU unfortunately. I've had that happen to me about twice in the last decade and the symptoms are also the same.

[Burninator]

Phoned NCIX.com technical support last night. Everything he suggested as a possible fix, I had already tried. So he requested that I mail them my motherboard, CPU, and RAM. Sigh...looks like I won't have my computer running for about two weeks (hopefully sooner). Next time I'll buy the more sensitive and important components from Memory Express or another local store.

[photon]

The only downside of getting stuff remotely.. unlikely to have problems, but on the off chance you do it's a real pain. I hate waiting.

[Burninator]

OK got my mobo, ram, and cpu back from NCIX. There wasn't any documentation saying what they did, so I assuming that everything tested fine...But still nothing. No video. I don't know. I give up, clearly I am doing something wrong. I am going to take it into a computer store and get them to assemble it tomorrow morning. Fack.

[Bobblehead]

Gotta be something straight forward, a "can't see the forest for the trees" type thing.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Burninator

OK got my mobo, ram, and cpu back from NCIX. There wasn't any documentation saying what they did, so I assuming that everything tested fine...But still nothing. No video. I don't know. I give up, clearly I am doing something wrong. I am going to take it into a computer store and get them to assemble it tomorrow morning. Fack.

I've been waiting on an update on this thread. That's ridiculous, NCIX should tell you if they tested it fine or not. E-mail them again.

Did you test out your individual components with a friend's computer or anything? With everybody on calpuck who's familiar with this stuff, I'm sure we can get it going on NCIX says the cpu, mobo, and ram are fine. With everything you've tried and we've suggested, I don't think there's anything we're missing that a computer shop will fix.

[Vulcan]

Here's NCIXs toll free number, 1 877 624 9777 , if you want to call it.
Best of luck.