Well, I went ahead and replaced the motherboard with another M2N-SLI. I
got the system back together. It is now giving me a POST, but it is giving
me an error, and I still have no display. It is one long beep followed by
two short beeps. From what I understand, this indicates a video problem.
I already know the video card is good, as I tested it in another system.
I already tried reseating it and moving it to another slot. I am more
suspicious of the RAM because even when I remove all the RAM, I still get
the same error code. I cannot test the RAM as I don't have access to
another system that supports DDR2 RAM. I've heard and learned that
AMD-based Asus boards are very picky on RAM and the voltage they are rated
for, especially the M2N-SLI. I've also heard lots of conflicts with G-Skill
RAM and Asus boards. The G-Skills I am using are rated at 1.8V-2.0V. The
motherboard supports a max of 1.95V.
Do you think I should send the memory back for a different brand or do
you think it is something else that's wrong? Thanks.
"Travis King" <Anonymous@none.com> wrote in message
news:8YdCj.74143$yE1.30399@attbi_s21...
> Well, I went ahead and replaced the motherboard with another M2N-SLI.
> I got the system back together. It is now giving me a POST, but it is
> giving me an error, and I still have no display. It is one long beep
> followed by two short beeps. From what I understand, this indicates a
> video problem.
>
> I already know the video card is good, as I tested it in another
> system. I already tried reseating it and moving it to another slot. I am
> more suspicious of the RAM because even when I remove all the RAM, I still
> get the same error code. I cannot test the RAM as I don't have access to
> another system that supports DDR2 RAM. I've heard and learned that
> AMD-based Asus boards are very picky on RAM and the voltage they are rated
> for, especially the M2N-SLI. I've also heard lots of conflicts with
> G-Skill RAM and Asus boards. The G-Skills I am using are rated at
> 1.8V-2.0V. The motherboard supports a max of 1.95V.
>
> Do you think I should send the memory back for a different brand or do
> you think it is something else that's wrong? Thanks.
Do you have another PCI-E or PCI card around you can borrow?
"Augustus" <no_one@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:iveCj.77634$FO1.60865@edtnps82...
>> Do you have another PCI-E or PCI card around you can borrow?
> And, yes, I did read your part about how you're sure the video card is
> good.
>
I tried putting another video card into it, and I am still getting one long
beep followed by two short beeps.
"Travis King" <Anonymous@none.com> wrote in message
news:iHeCj.74201$yE1.66445@attbi_s21...
> "Augustus" <no_one@nowhere.net> wrote in message
> news:iveCj.77634$FO1.60865@edtnps82...
>>> Do you have another PCI-E or PCI card around you can borrow?
>> And, yes, I did read your part about how you're sure the video card is
>> good.
>>
>
> I tried putting another video card into it, and I am still getting one
> long beep followed by two short beeps.
>
I thought the RAM was just so wonderful when I went to pull one out of the
slot and the heatspreader slipped right off of it like a glove.
"Travis King" <Anonymous@none.com> wrote in message
news:BSeCj.21214$TT4.8069@attbi_s22...
> "Travis King" <Anonymous@none.com> wrote in message
> news:iHeCj.74201$yE1.66445@attbi_s21...
>> "Augustus" <no_one@nowhere.net> wrote in message
>> news:iveCj.77634$FO1.60865@edtnps82...
>>>> Do you have another PCI-E or PCI card around you can borrow?
>>> And, yes, I did read your part about how you're sure the video card is
>>> good.
>>>
>>
>> I tried putting another video card into it, and I am still getting one
>> long beep followed by two short beeps.
>>
>
> I thought the RAM was just so wonderful when I went to pull one out of the
> slot and the heatspreader slipped right off of it like a glove.
>
Just did a cardboard test with one stick of RAM, video card, and CPU, and
the same error code.
'Travis King' wrote:
> Just did a cardboard test with one stick of RAM, video card, and CPU, and
> the same error code.
_____
I think you must be missreading the beep code; in my experience with POST
the absence of any RAM will stop the POST process before video is checked.
I believe the 'sour milk' syndrome has arisen - once the question 'Is the
milk sour?' is raised, then you will always jump to the conclusion that the
milk IS sour.
The DDR2 memory may be bad, but what you have described about the beep code
seems a bit off. Though the 'one long - two short' beep code is listed at
various websites as representing a display adapter problem, MSI may have
customized the version of the Award BIOS used in your motherboard. I
suggest you contact MSI for a list of beep codes that is correct for your
BIOS.
Phil Weldon
"Travis King" <Anonymous@none.com> wrote in message
news:bffCj.21246$TT4.5954@attbi_s22...
> "Travis King" <Anonymous@none.com> wrote in message
> news:BSeCj.21214$TT4.8069@attbi_s22...
>> "Travis King" <Anonymous@none.com> wrote in message
>> news:iHeCj.74201$yE1.66445@attbi_s21...
>>> "Augustus" <no_one@nowhere.net> wrote in message
>>> news:iveCj.77634$FO1.60865@edtnps82...
>>>>> Do you have another PCI-E or PCI card around you can borrow?
>>>> And, yes, I did read your part about how you're sure the video card is
>>>> good.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I tried putting another video card into it, and I am still getting one
>>> long beep followed by two short beeps.
>>>
>>
>> I thought the RAM was just so wonderful when I went to pull one out of
>> the slot and the heatspreader slipped right off of it like a glove.
>>
>
> Just did a cardboard test with one stick of RAM, video card, and CPU, and
> the same error code.
>
Phil Weldon wrote:
> 'Travis King' wrote:
>> Just did a cardboard test with one stick of RAM, video card, and CPU,
>> and the same error code.
> _____
>
> I think you must be missreading the beep code; in my experience with
> POST the absence of any RAM will stop the POST process before video is
> checked.
>
> I believe the 'sour milk' syndrome has arisen - once the question 'Is
> the milk sour?' is raised, then you will always jump to the conclusion
> that the milk IS sour.
>
> The DDR2 memory may be bad, but what you have described about the beep
> code seems a bit off. Though the 'one long - two short' beep code is
> listed at various websites as representing a display adapter problem,
> MSI may have customized the version of the Award BIOS used in your
> motherboard. I suggest you contact MSI for a list of beep codes that is
> correct for your BIOS.
>
> Phil Weldon
>
It's interesting, that there are only 33 threads on vip.asus.com for that
board.
This post suggests installing one stick of RAM nearest the processor,
keep hitting DELETE at power up, and if you get into the BIOS, bump up
the Vdimm. If that doesn't work, you could find a memory with a
slower nominal rating (DDR2-533), something that won't need more than
1.8V to POST< and use that to get into the BIOS, and turn up the
voltage before installing the "good" memory.
"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:frc38t$s0f$1@aioe.org...
> Phil Weldon wrote:
>> 'Travis King' wrote:
>>> Just did a cardboard test with one stick of RAM, video card, and CPU,
>>> and the same error code.
>> _____
>>
>> I think you must be missreading the beep code; in my experience with
>> POST the absence of any RAM will stop the POST process before video is
>> checked.
>>
>> I believe the 'sour milk' syndrome has arisen - once the question 'Is the
>> milk sour?' is raised, then you will always jump to the conclusion that
>> the milk IS sour.
>>
>> The DDR2 memory may be bad, but what you have described about the beep
>> code seems a bit off. Though the 'one long - two short' beep code is
>> listed at various websites as representing a display adapter problem, MSI
>> may have customized the version of the Award BIOS used in your
>> motherboard. I suggest you contact MSI for a list of beep codes that is
>> correct for your BIOS.
>>
>> Phil Weldon
>>
>
> It's interesting, that there are only 33 threads on vip.asus.com for that
> board.
>
> http://vip.asus.com/forum/topic.aspx...Language=en-us
>
> This post suggests installing one stick of RAM nearest the processor,
> keep hitting DELETE at power up, and if you get into the BIOS, bump up
> the Vdimm. If that doesn't work, you could find a memory with a
> slower nominal rating (DDR2-533), something that won't need more than
> 1.8V to POST< and use that to get into the BIOS, and turn up the
> voltage before installing the "good" memory.
>
> http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us
>
> Paul
Unfortunately, I don't have any spare DDR2 RAM or I would have tried that a
long time ago. I actually don't really have any spare modern parts or even
ones in use. I tried tapping the delete key, and it wouldn't respond. The
monitor gets a signal for about 2 seconds or so when you initially turn on
the computer.
At this point, I'm tempted to send the memory and the motherboard back, and
get totally different memory and a different motherboard. At this point, I
am not interested in what's causing the problem, I just want it fixed. If
the motherboard is really this picky on the kind of RAM, should I really be
spending this much time & money finding the right kind of RAM?
Travis King wrote:
> "Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:frc38t$s0f$1@aioe.org...
>> Phil Weldon wrote:
>>> 'Travis King' wrote:
>>>> Just did a cardboard test with one stick of RAM, video card, and CPU,
>>>> and the same error code.
>>> _____
>>>
>>> I think you must be missreading the beep code; in my experience with
>>> POST the absence of any RAM will stop the POST process before video is
>>> checked.
>>>
>>> I believe the 'sour milk' syndrome has arisen - once the question 'Is the
>>> milk sour?' is raised, then you will always jump to the conclusion that
>>> the milk IS sour.
>>>
>>> The DDR2 memory may be bad, but what you have described about the beep
>>> code seems a bit off. Though the 'one long - two short' beep code is
>>> listed at various websites as representing a display adapter problem, MSI
>>> may have customized the version of the Award BIOS used in your
>>> motherboard. I suggest you contact MSI for a list of beep codes that is
>>> correct for your BIOS.
>>>
>>> Phil Weldon
>>>
>> It's interesting, that there are only 33 threads on vip.asus.com for that
>> board.
>>
>> http://vip.asus.com/forum/topic.aspx...Language=en-us
>>
>> This post suggests installing one stick of RAM nearest the processor,
>> keep hitting DELETE at power up, and if you get into the BIOS, bump up
>> the Vdimm. If that doesn't work, you could find a memory with a
>> slower nominal rating (DDR2-533), something that won't need more than
>> 1.8V to POST< and use that to get into the BIOS, and turn up the
>> voltage before installing the "good" memory.
>>
>> http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us
>>
>> Paul
>
> Unfortunately, I don't have any spare DDR2 RAM or I would have tried that a
> long time ago. I actually don't really have any spare modern parts or even
> ones in use. I tried tapping the delete key, and it wouldn't respond. The
> monitor gets a signal for about 2 seconds or so when you initially turn on
> the computer.
>
> At this point, I'm tempted to send the memory and the motherboard back, and
> get totally different memory and a different motherboard. At this point, I
> am not interested in what's causing the problem, I just want it fixed. If
> the motherboard is really this picky on the kind of RAM, should I really be
> spending this much time & money finding the right kind of RAM?
>
>
Did you purchase the hardware, from a local shop ? Any chance you could
visit the shop, and get them to pop in a DDR2-533 and adjust the voltage ?
If returning the motherboard is a cheap enough option for you, and you
can afford the turn-around time, that is certainly an option. The
vip.asus.com postings for your next prospective board, may help identify
how friendly it is with respect to RAM. The reviews on newegg.com for
motherboards, are also a source of feedback.
The issue with voltage and RAM that uses more than nominal voltage,
has been known for some time. It could be fixed, by the BIOS using
more than 1.8V for any RAM used in the system, followed by the
user turning it down. But you still see boards that have this
problem with DDR2.
Another possibility, is the BIOS itself. A later release of BIOS,
might have a different initial setting for DDR2 voltage. I don't
see it listed here, but it is a possibility. Again, if you have a
local shop, perhaps they have the ability to program a BIOS chip.
(The sticker on top of the BIOS chip, may show what release of
BIOS was shipped with the motherboard.)
[ 0601 ]
----------------------
The latest BIOS
[ 0501 ]
----------------------
1.Support new CPUs.
2.Set max HT Frequency as 4X instead of 5X to fix some PCB cannot boot.
[ 0401 ]
----------------------
1.Fixed sometimes it will boot fail while removing CMOS battery.
2.Support new CPUs.
3.Fixed that AM2+ CPU S3 aging fail for DDR800.
4.Fixed that some DDR667 DIMMs aging S3 mode fail issue.
[ 0301 ]
[ 0201 ]
----------------------
initial BIOS version
If dealing with a web retailer, then sending it back is the
right answer.
No Display - Part 2 
Linear Mode
