First Build - Need Help!

sportzkat · 31-December-03, 02:06 AM

Just finished my first build and I canÃ‚â€™t get it to work! Parts are as shown below:

Motherboard Ã‚â€“ EPOX 8RDA3+
RAM Ã‚â€“ Corsair DDRAM 512MB TWINX512-3200LL
CPU Ã‚â€“ AMD 2500+/333 ATHLON XP BARTON

Video card Ã‚â€“ EVGA FX5200 ULTRA 128M
CASE - ANTEC|Sever Tower SLK3700AMB

System powers up (drives start, all fans come on). During POST there is a single beep, then a 2-3 second pause, followed by a second single beep and another 2-3 second pause, then there is a series of beeps, one high pitched and then a lower pitched one. These continue without pause until the system is powered off. Power has to be killed by the main switch on the power supply. The front panel switch will turn the power on but it wonÃ‚â€™t turn it off after the beeps start. I never get a video signal so I donÃ‚â€™t have anything to offer there.

The Epox motherboard has a diagnostic LED on-board. It shows code C1, which according to the motherboard manual means "Detect memory". I tried moving the DIMMs around but still got the same error. I also pulled the DIMMs and left only one in at a time, and I got the same error. Also, I tried to boot with both DIMMs out (no memory in the system) and I also got the same error.

I checked everything I can think of and am at a loss. ANY assistance that you can offer is GREATLY appreciated!! Feel free to e-mail at sportzkat@verizon.net if you want.

Thanks!

j-dogg · 31-December-03, 02:19 AM

Is it overclocked? Just a suggestion. Also try using different RAM. If you have any other DDR memory installed, sometimes the third stick has to equal the sum of the first two, like if you're running two 512's in the first two slots then the third slot has to be a 1024MB (1 GB) stick.

Did you also try clearing the CMOS? Maybe the BIOS is trying to detect something.

Another suggestion, I doubt this is true for this board, but I got a similar error on an older Pentium III board, where I installed 1GB of PC133 SDRAM and the board wouldnt post and it gave me these beep error codes. The reason it did that was because it wouldnt support a DIMM stick over 256MB in each slot, and I had 1X 512MB and 2X 256MB. i tried it with just the 512MB stick and it still gave the same error. I took out the 512MB stick and it posted.

Also I'm sure somewhere in the user's manual for your board there is probably a listing of error codes. Be sure to also check the Epox FAQ on their website as well.

sportzkat · 31-December-03, 09:17 AM

System is not overclocked, and I have only the two DIMMs installed. They are Twin Corsair DIMMs so they should match up OK. I tried to get it to work with only one stick installed but got the same error. I also tried to boot without any memory installed and got the same error again. Makes me think it is the memory.

Thanks for the input...

$SOLID$ Necro · 01-January-04, 04:30 AM

First thing I would do is clear the CMOS with the jumper listed in the motherboard manual. you need to reposition it to the other pin for 15sce to 1 min to clear it, this will reset the Bios to default settings.
I had a video card not seated that did the same thing, reseat it or try another if you have one.

Also not having the Hard Drives and Floppy drives set up correctly will do something similar, try removing all the ribbon cables.

If all else fails, take everything off. Just have the bare board, CPU (HSF Also) and memory in the case, and start from there....

TekXoID · 01-January-04, 05:31 AM

Clear CMOS, then try booting with no ram or IDE devices. If still no go, try another graphics card. Process of elimination.

cpjlam · 01-January-04, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TekXoID


	Clear CMOS, then try booting with no ram or IDE devices. If still no go, try another graphics card. Process of elimination.

Just something to keep in mind: most motherboards will not boot without at least one stick of system RAM installed.

TekXoID · 01-January-04, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpjlam


	Just something to keep in mind: most motherboards will not boot without at least one stick of system RAM installed.

I happen to have the 8RDA3+ and it boots into bios without RAM installed.

Although my NF7-S will not...

sportzkat · 01-January-04, 11:07 PM

Well, it appears it was the memory. I went out and bought a cheap stick of Samsung memory, plugged it in and, no more error. Installed XP Pro and everything is looking good (for now!).

Read on some other boards where there are potential compatability problems with the Corsair memory and the Epox board I have. Maybe, or maybe just a bad stick. Either way, it didn't work in my system, that's for sure.

Thanks to all who offereed advice. It is great to have these forums to fall back on when you are doing something like this.

31-December-03, 02:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
sportzkat Apex Techie Wannabe Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3	First Build - Need Help! Just finished my first build and I canÃ‚â€™t get it to work! Parts are as shown below: Motherboard Ã‚â€“ EPOX 8RDA3+ RAM Ã‚â€“ Corsair DDRAM 512MB TWINX512-3200LL CPU Ã‚â€“ AMD 2500+/333 ATHLON XP BARTON Video card Ã‚â€“ EVGA FX5200 ULTRA 128M CASE - ANTEC\|Sever Tower SLK3700AMB System powers up (drives start, all fans come on). During POST there is a single beep, then a 2-3 second pause, followed by a second single beep and another 2-3 second pause, then there is a series of beeps, one high pitched and then a lower pitched one. These continue without pause until the system is powered off. Power has to be killed by the main switch on the power supply. The front panel switch will turn the power on but it wonÃ‚â€™t turn it off after the beeps start. I never get a video signal so I donÃ‚â€™t have anything to offer there. The Epox motherboard has a diagnostic LED on-board. It shows code C1, which according to the motherboard manual means "Detect memory". I tried moving the DIMMs around but still got the same error. I also pulled the DIMMs and left only one in at a time, and I got the same error. Also, I tried to boot with both DIMMs out (no memory in the system) and I also got the same error. I checked everything I can think of and am at a loss. ANY assistance that you can offer is GREATLY appreciated!! Feel free to e-mail at sportzkat@verizon.net if you want. Thanks!

31-December-03, 02:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
j-dogg Mystical Schwinn Guru Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: West Melbourne, Fl-HOE-rida Posts: 8,821	Is it overclocked? Just a suggestion. Also try using different RAM. If you have any other DDR memory installed, sometimes the third stick has to equal the sum of the first two, like if you're running two 512's in the first two slots then the third slot has to be a 1024MB (1 GB) stick. Did you also try clearing the CMOS? Maybe the BIOS is trying to detect something. Another suggestion, I doubt this is true for this board, but I got a similar error on an older Pentium III board, where I installed 1GB of PC133 SDRAM and the board wouldnt post and it gave me these beep error codes. The reason it did that was because it wouldnt support a DIMM stick over 256MB in each slot, and I had 1X 512MB and 2X 256MB. i tried it with just the 512MB stick and it still gave the same error. I took out the 512MB stick and it posted. Also I'm sure somewhere in the user's manual for your board there is probably a listing of error codes. Be sure to also check the Epox FAQ on their website as well. __________________

01-January-04, 04:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
$SOLID$ Necro Mastah Overclocker Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lima, Ohio Posts: 7,217	First thing I would do is clear the CMOS with the jumper listed in the motherboard manual. you need to reposition it to the other pin for 15sce to 1 min to clear it, this will reset the Bios to default settings. I had a video card not seated that did the same thing, reseat it or try another if you have one. Also not having the Hard Drives and Floppy drives set up correctly will do something similar, try removing all the ribbon cables. If all else fails, take everything off. Just have the bare board, CPU (HSF Also) and memory in the case, and start from there.... __________________ Join the PC Apex "Overclock and Benchmark" team today! Click Here! Necro's "Ultimate Links" Collection Click Here!

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31-December-03, 09:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
sportzkat Apex Techie Wannabe Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3	System is not overclocked, and I have only the two DIMMs installed. They are Twin Corsair DIMMs so they should match up OK. I tried to get it to work with only one stick installed but got the same error. I also tried to boot without any memory installed and got the same error again. Makes me think it is the memory. Thanks for the input...

01-January-04, 05:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned Join Date: May 2003 Location: looking for love in the nearest gay bar Posts: 4,089	Clear CMOS, then try booting with no ram or IDE devices. If still no go, try another graphics card. Process of elimination.

01-January-04, 11:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
sportzkat Apex Techie Wannabe Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3	Well, it appears it was the memory. I went out and bought a cheap stick of Samsung memory, plugged it in and, no more error. Installed XP Pro and everything is looking good (for now!). Read on some other boards where there are potential compatability problems with the Corsair memory and the Epox board I have. Maybe, or maybe just a bad stick. Either way, it didn't work in my system, that's for sure. Thanks to all who offereed advice. It is great to have these forums to fall back on when you are doing something like this.