If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Defective CPU or mobo ?
Over the past 12 months, I've built more than 30 systems based on
boxed Athlon XP processors and Asus A7N266-VM mobos, and never had any problem until very recently. One new CPU, a 2000+ Thoroughbred, failed completely (confirmed by cross-substitution), giving continuous high-low BIOS beeps. Another new case, a 2400+, is harder to pinpoint because the fault is intermittent. It has never failed during usage but sometimes refuses to start up, sometimes silently, sometimes with high-low beeps. Resetting the BIOS by removing the battery and discharging the CMOS enables it to start again, even if the RTC and BIOS settings are immediately changed to preference again. Battery is OK and replacement makes no difference. Even just removing and reinstalling the battery restores it without shorting the "clear" pins. One indication : It seems to be OK as long as the BIOS time/date is not adjusted (NOT confirmed). Hard to confirm this because the fault sometimes takes days (hours at the least) to reappear although this particular computer is normally turned on and off several times a day. At first I thought it was probably a faulty BIOS chip, but the other dead CPU, so closely followed in time, makes me wonder. I live in a small isolated town and get all my supplies from a city more than 500km away. My point of purchase will replace confirmed defective products without fuss, but I'm reluctant to remove the CPU for substitution because the AMD-recommended "thermal interface" is not available here or with my supplier. I have normal electronic heatsink compound but not the special AMD gunk. I've eliminated other obvious factors like memory, power supply, drives, etc. I'll be grateful for any suggestions. -Zotin |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Zotin Khuma wrote:
Over the past 12 months, I've built more than 30 systems based on boxed Athlon XP processors and Asus A7N266-VM mobos, and never had any problem until very recently. One new CPU, a 2000+ Thoroughbred, failed completely (confirmed by cross-substitution), giving continuous high-low BIOS beeps. Another new case, a 2400+, is harder to pinpoint because the fault is intermittent. It has never failed during usage but sometimes refuses to start up, sometimes silently, sometimes with high-low beeps. Resetting the BIOS by removing the battery and discharging the CMOS enables it to start again, even if the RTC and BIOS settings are immediately changed to preference again. Battery is OK and replacement makes no difference. Even just removing and reinstalling the battery restores it without shorting the "clear" pins. One indication : It seems to be OK as long as the BIOS time/date is not adjusted (NOT confirmed). Hard to confirm this because the fault sometimes takes days (hours at the least) to reappear although this particular computer is normally turned on and off several times a day. At first I thought it was probably a faulty BIOS chip, but the other dead CPU, so closely followed in time, makes me wonder. Given the other system gave the same beeps, I'd be leaning towards another CPU. I've used a bunch of those boards as well and they work great. -- Stacey |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 00:38:45 -0400, Stacey wrote:
Zotin Khuma wrote: Over the past 12 months, I've built more than 30 systems based on boxed Athlon XP processors and Asus A7N266-VM mobos, and never had any problem until very recently. One new CPU, a 2000+ Thoroughbred, failed completely (confirmed by cross-substitution), giving continuous high-low BIOS beeps. Another new case, a 2400+, is harder to pinpoint because the fault is intermittent. It has never failed during usage but sometimes refuses to start up, sometimes silently, sometimes with high-low beeps. Resetting the BIOS by removing the battery and discharging the CMOS enables it to start again, even if the RTC and BIOS settings are immediately changed to preference again. Battery is OK and replacement makes no difference. Even just removing and reinstalling the battery restores it without shorting the "clear" pins. One indication : It seems to be OK as long as the BIOS time/date is not adjusted (NOT confirmed). Hard to confirm this because the fault sometimes takes days (hours at the least) to reappear although this particular computer is normally turned on and off several times a day. At first I thought it was probably a faulty BIOS chip, but the other dead CPU, so closely followed in time, makes me wonder. Given the other system gave the same beeps, I'd be leaning towards another CPU. I've used a bunch of those boards as well and they work great. -- Stacey Re-Flash the bios,Sounds like its corrupt if that dont do it then change the board coz its faulty, Simple Really :-) |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
It was a dark and stormy night, and Zotin Khuma managed to scribble:
Over the past 12 months, I've built more than 30 systems based on boxed Athlon XP processors and Asus A7N266-VM mobos, and never had any problem until very recently. One new CPU, a 2000+ Thoroughbred, failed completely (confirmed by cross-substitution), giving continuous high-low BIOS beeps. I have two a7n266-vm mobos revision 1.005, and a Duron 1300 & and Athlon XP 2000. One of the CPUs does not work in one of the mobos. There ARE timing issues that need resolving by ASUS/AMD. And ASUS needs to get a better method of reporting errors the the old beep codes. gtoomey |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Strange mobo ID | Zotin Khuma | General | 3 | December 21st 04 06:46 PM |
Shipping and defective stuff from Newegg - if you have high shipping costs this could be a nightmare | [email protected] | General | 6 | June 20th 04 09:47 PM |
Weird Mobo Problem... | Grativo | General | 7 | April 17th 04 07:17 PM |
What can I do about my dead mobo? | Zenobia | General | 3 | January 5th 04 09:30 PM |
How to connect front audio ports to mobo | *Vanguard* | General | 5 | December 17th 03 09:35 PM |