NF4 ultra, will not post.

[Vaclov]

Hey all, I've been searching the site for several days now, reading up on things to try and possible solutions for my problem. What is it you ask? Well...

 

I bought all that parts you see in my sig [edit] gonna post if here[/edit] mid june to make myself a nice rig. Even checked the power supply thread. I built the system outside the case and it would boot up nicely. Later I had a hell of a time getting XP Pro SP2 (didn't have the right boot disks) but I got that sorted out no worries.

 

DFI Lanparty UT nF4 Ultra-D (0406)

AMD Opteron 165 Denmark

G.SKILL Extreme Series 2GB (2 x 1GB)(PC 4000)

XFX GeForce 7900GT EXTREME 256MB PCI-E x16

Seagate Barracuda 250GB SATAII

LITE-ON Black DVD±RW DL

OCZ GameXStream ATX12V 600W

Xp Pro SP2

 

After I had windows installed and were I wanted it I put everything in the case and I started playing with the memory and timing settings. Checked around here and tried some of the timing that others were running on similar builds. Locked it up a couple times, nothing a 15 second CMOS clear and a safe boot jumper didn't fix. A couple days later when I tried to cold boot it just started up, 3 diag leds, black screen, flashing power led, and 1 beep every 4 seconds. I though, Ok. Did a soft reset, booted up. Then I flashed to the 0406 bios to see if it would be ok. I can't recall if the system was optimal or if I had some things changed when I flashed. The system was ok for about 3 days. During those 3 days I think I did some more tinkering with the timings.

 

Ok, so one afternoon I get home from work looking forward to an evening of MMO's and the system wouldn't post. Ok, tried and soft reset, nothing. Hard reboot, nothing. 15 sec CMOS clear, nothing. 15 sec CMOS, no battery, safe boot jumper, nothing.

 

Ok, so I pull the box out to were I can get at it easier, disconnect everything save the 4 power cons on the MB the GPU and the HDD. Nothing. Disconnect the HDD, remove both sticks of RAM and proceed to try each stick individually in each slot. Nothing. I reseat the CPU and make sure theres no AS5 gobbing up the works or anything. Nothing. So I RMA the RAM to newegg and it's supposed to get here tomorrow.

 

Fast forward to last Fri. I get home. I have an nF2 Ultra Infinity rig here at home. It's running some Kingston ValueSelect DDR400. I try each chip from the nf2 in each memory slot of my Ultra-D, nothing.

 

So I search some more, tried the 2 hour CMOS clear, a 6 hour CMOS clear, each time following the posted procedures, even shorting the battery connections a couple times. Nothing. At this point I start reading up on hot flashing. I try using WinFlash 1.57 a couple times using the stock 0406 bios, it flashes but still no boot. Tried using the guide for awdflash, copy and pasted the posted string minus the /cc tag. Since I don't want to mess up my nF2, right? Nothing. I'm in the middle of trying an 8 hr clear, but I doubt it will work. I should point out that since I got home, I've reseated the CPU 2 more times, inspected for bent and broken pins and everything seems ok.

 

I don't have another 20+4 PSU or CPU or socket 939 MB around that I can test these components on. I'm debating getting a new chip from Tmod.

 

I really need to get this thing fixed, I'm interning for the state and have several papers to right for the secretary of transportation.

 

Do you guys think it could be the PSU? Also, I'm cooling this thing using a Scythe Ninja, and the back plate for it covers part of the solder points on the back for DIMM4. It's foam padded and doesn't look like it's shorting, but is it a possiblilty. Anyone else had any problems with the Ninja's backplate?

 

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

 

Oh, one more important thing. I only have access to my nF2 rig on the weekends when I can drive home. If anyone lives in the DC metro area, I'm in Bowie, MD if your willing to help.

 

Edit: It's come to my attention that I suck at making myself clear. Heh, I have two rigs, the one is my sig is the one I'm having issues with, an nF4 LP UT Ultra-D. The one that I have at home is a nF2 Ultra Infinity. This is the one that I took the memory from to make sure it wasn't the memory that I sent back. *sigh* There goes that postage.

[tasr]

To DFI-Street

 

Did you clear the CMOS before flashing?

 

In my opinion the natural progression of troubleshooting for your issues is to remove your motherboard completely from the case and place it on a non-conductive surface.

 

Build the rig with a minimal build of 1 HDD, 1 video card, 1 memory module in orange slot and PS/2 keyboard.

 

Clear CMOS long 8hr or more like this.

 

Then load optimized defaults and if need you RAM timings.

 

Then do some stability testing, MemTest86+ and Prime95.

 

 

Check this thread out in the Stock Speed Database (SSDB) 2x1024 G.SKILL Extreme Series DDR500 F1-4000USU2-2GBHZ UCCC. If they are your memory try loading those settings.

 

 

º¿º

[lowboy]

I hope I read all what you said. The value memory board may not like. I would clear cmos till memory comes in and try with mimimum components and 1 stick of memory in orange slot furthest from cpu. see if posts

[Vaclov]

Did you clear the CMOS before flashing?

 

Honestly, I can't recall. I don't think so.

 

In my opinion the natural progression of troubleshooting for your issues is to remove your motherboard completely from the case and place it on a non-conductive surface.

 

Build the rig with a minimal build of 1 HDD, 1 video card, 1 memory module in orange slot and PS/2 keyboard.

 

Check, check, check, check, and check. That's how it started out, then it worked and I put it in the case. Now that it's quit, it's been back out of the case and built just as you suggested for all of the testing I've done. With the exception that I haven't had the HDD hooked up.

 

Clear CMOS long 8hr or more like this.

That's how I did all the clears since I got home on Fri. I'm in the middle of the 8 hr right now. Not very hopeful.

 

Then load optimized defaults and if need you RAM timings.

 

Then do some stability testing, MemTest86+ and Prime95.

Assuming the darn thing will post and allow me into the bios, That's the plan.

 

 

Check this thread out in the Stock Speed Database (SSDB) 2x1024 G.SKILL Extreme Series DDR500 F1-4000USU2-2GBHZ UCCC. If they are your memory try loading those settings.

 

Yeah, those are the mem modules that I have, the new ones get here tomorrow, just in time to have completed a 24 hr clear.

[Vaclov]

I hope I read all what you said. The value memory board may not like. I would clear cmos till memory comes in and try with mimimum components and 1 stick of memory in orange slot furthest from cpu. see if posts

 

Yeah, I read about the orange slot deal. I'm planning on letting it sit till I get home from work tomorrow, it'll be about a 24 hr clear.

 

The fact that when it was in the case, the power led (the case led, not the ones on the board) kept blinking concerns me. Should it? Does it mean anything?

[wevsspot]

Pay special attention to the "insert" "delete" key sequence when you're completing your CMOS clear.

[lowboy]

Recheck your connections just to be sure and see if problem still there after you get it to boot.But getting boot is 1st.

[Vaclov]

Pay special attention to the "insert" "delete" key sequence when you're completing your CMOS clear.

 

Yeah, exactly how ExRoadie posted is how I've been doing them.

 

The power led thing only happened when the system wouldn't post, so I'm pretty sure if I get it to boot it'll go away. Was just curious how the two might be related. Anyway, I'm off to drive back up to Bowie which means no access to my nF2 rig and no hotflashing. I'll post back tomorrow with the results of the 24hr clear.

[Vaclov]

Ok, 24 hr clear later. Followed ExRoadie's instructions to the letter. All 4 power connectors +1 to GPU and HDD. 1 mem stick in far orange slot, 1 vid card in #1 slot, PS/2 keyboard.

 

No luck. I tried both chips.

 

Any other ideas? Anyone close?

[cuoficr]

whats your ultra infinity have in it for a PSU? can you get access to a voltometer to possibly check the PSU? have a PCI vid card you can try? only 3 things in my personal experience have made the power LED flash at me, bad vid card, some sort of short (the headers for the HDD light/reset switch) and a bad vid card slot. the PSU is just a random possibility that can happen to anyone so its worth investigating.

[Vaclov]

The rig at home is a 500W 20 pin. I has the seperate P4, but it's not 20+4 12v capable. Plus I'd have to wait till Fri. to drive home again to try it.

 

I do have a multimeter that I can use to test the PSU I have. The power led was solid when the system was working. That and it still doesn't post even when I have none of the cables from the case hooked up. I have some PCI cards at home but none here with me. I've tried the #2 PCIE slot as well, but I'm not sure if I set it up properly.

 

Instructions on testing the PSU with the multimeter.

[Vaclov]

TTT. Anyone else have any suggestions while I sit here posting on my PDA wishing it was being synced to my rig instead.

 

Guidance on checking the volatages on my PSU. The last think I want to go is bust a good PSU(maybe), hurt myself, or fry my multimeter.

 

BTW, I'm just letting the thing sit clearing. 36hrs+ so far. Gonna let it sit till Thurs or Fri. Unless anyone else has any bright ideas, or is close enough to meet for some troubleshooting.