ASUS BIOS screen 1/4 actual image...other failures

[wannabegeek]

Hi all,

I just bought an Asus P8 H67-M with an i3 CPU and 4 GB RAM.....I put it all into my old box
and have had trouble with it every step.

My bios doesn't show up by holding 'DEL' while booting...I have to disconnect every drive.

When it does show up, I only get 1/4 of the actual image, not scaled by 1 /4, just a 1/4 of the data...i can see
from the instructions screen shots that something is wrong here...

Can't get Ubuntu 10.10 or 11.10 Live CD's to so anything....

please help me, I'm close to throwing it out the window....

PS I did try a CMOSE reset, no help....tried old CRT monitor, nothing better...Don't have windows at the moment
may borrow a copy from someone soon.


TIA!,
wbg

 

[suteck]

I know it's a long way thru but follow the thread under my banner and follow it step by step doing all the steps that apply to your set up. Don't skip steps cause the one you skip will be the one that's wrong and causing the problem lol. Even the experienced ones can use a step by step sometimes. Fresh eyes and all. - And you should tap the delete key about once a sec during boot to get to bios not hold it down.

 

[wannabegeek]

I know it's a long way thru but follow the thread under my banner and follow it step by step doing all the steps that apply to your set up. Don't skip steps cause the one you skip will be the one that's wrong and causing the problem lol. Even the experienced ones can use a step by step sometimes. Fresh eyes and all. - And you should tap the delete key about once a sec during boot to get to bios not hold it down.

OK...will check it out

 

[Proximon]

Also please post full specs.

 

[wannabegeek]

@ Poximon

Thanks for the interest...

I read the list don't see anything I missed, except possibly the PSU power rating is no
good for my setup.

What's weird, is that everything boots, but I only get about 1/4 of the output to my monitor...I've never seen that in a BIOS.

Since updating the BIOS my keyboard stopped working and no BIOS screen, unless I press
the memory test button, then the BIOS loads.


Fullspecs:
No Drives connected at the moment.
Trying to run BIOS reliably and then a Ubuntu Live CD from Memorex DVD WR Drive
on IDE cable.
Just updated the BIOS to latest Version
New P8H67-M Pro MB
i3 Intenl CPU
Corsair 4GB stick of DDR3 RAM
Old PSU from 7 seven year old IBM ThinkCenter and Case.

 

[Proximon]

So there is no other video card? Just the onboard?

What is the native resolution of your monitor?
What cable are you using to connect?
When you swapped monitors did you also swap cables?
Have you examined the cable connections?

A 7 year old PSU might very well have incorrect power. It might not be able to deliver enough 12V power to the system.

You may need to manually set your RAM settings now. Could you be specific about those? Corsair sells lots of different 4GB sticks of RAM.

 

[wannabegeek]

1)Monitor's native Res is 1024x768 however this 1/4 image problem occurs with CRT as well

2)Using an HDMI cable which was left behind from a roommate, but VGA/CRT setup was identical

3)PSU being bad, seems unlikely, since there's no other devices but CPU and fans,
but I'll think of a way to check it with multi meter, measuring current draw I guess....

4) Setting RAM manually is one step I did not follow onthe check list....sorry I forgot to mention
I was working on that...

5) RAM details from invoice: C614-9X XMS CMX4GX3M1A 1333C9 4GB DDR3 1333

thanks !
wbg

 

[Proximon]

To be clear about the PSU, I'm not saying it's bad, I'm saying that once upon a time PSUs were designed with more power on the 5V rail than the 12V... old PCs did not require as much 12V power.

You might see a dip in the 12V voltage though if it's being pushed too hard. You could get that from any free molex while the computer is on.

I figured you would not be able to do that (memory) at this point. It was more for future reference as I doubt it's causing the BIOS display bug.

This board has the graphical interface? The UEFI?

So it's this RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233132
That should be very compatible.

There is a part common to both RAM and display though... the CPU has both those functions built in. That's something to keep in mind going forward.

 

[wannabegeek]

That's the right RAM....

As for CPU voltage....The part of my BIOS that I can see, shows the voltage on various components
including the CPU, which is at 1.36 V as I type. It is under no real load, as no big current draw
components are connected....

Is 1.36 V OK .....?

wbg

EDIT: Also, the two USB ports that I connected to COM1 don't have power...and there's
4 pins missing of a 24 pin ATX power connector...the one next the IDE ribbon
connector....I'm suspecting my PSU more and more

 

[Proximon]

That's high, but BIOS readings aren't very reliable.

 

[suteck]

ooops, I think we're looking at the psu if it's missing those 4 pins.

 

[wannabegeek]

@suteck

Yeah....that's fishy eh ? It's kinda weird that the video display would only be fractional due
to whatever problem the PSU is causing....USB's lacking power seems reasonable....but I'd guess
that RAM is more picky and wouldn't work at all....but.....It's the most reasonable explanation right.

I should have just bought the new PSU they were trying to sell me....

 

[wannabegeek]

Hi all...so my PSU is older 230 W unit with a 20 Pin ATX connector not the 24 pin.....I missed that line in the MANUAL...so i didn't really read it enough....typical newbie mistake....I will ask for a test
of my MB at the shop I bought it from and hopefully have a reason to buy a new 350 W PSU with the
propper specs... !

thanks everyone....hope I'm not back here too soon...
wbg

 

[suteck]

Replace the psu yet?

 

[wannabegeek]

Hey suteck,,,,

So I replaced the PSU and have better BIOS screens....

However, it turns out that Ubuntu 10.10 may not have drivers for the latest release of this MOBO, so only
11.10 can work BUT it won't mount the CDROM.

So, I installed Ubuntu 11.10 to an IDE HD and tried again....got further in OS but failed to completely load...
Turns out, that the MOBO doesn't like IDE HD and must use a SATA HD.....waiting to get one tomorrow.

Also, although my RAM should work, others have had trouble with Corsair RAM and changed theirs to another
on the QVL list and had completely reliable results....

So I'm waiting for a SATA HD for my OS, which I want anyways cuz they quiet and I need better/newer HD for
my pics and music.

And trying to exchange my RAM through my local dealer and get something else.

I think it's gonna work and be a great media server upgrade for $350 ....I hope

I'll post back when I get stuff....

thanks guys for your interest !

 

[suteck]

Also, although my RAM should work, others have had trouble with Corsair RAM and changed theirs to another
on the QVL list and had completely reliable results....

I'm with you on the QVL. It is by no means an all inclusive list but it is a guaranteed compatibility list and you can't beat those. Did you run the corsair memory configurator? If it shows up on that list then they have tested it for your board and they also guarantee it's compatibility. And it's not that people have trouble with corsair memory, only sometimes with compatibility.

 

[wannabegeek]

thanks for the link to the configurator....I'm looking at it now.

I am trying to get a SATA HD tonight, then borrowing a USB CDROM on monday.

I hope this all works out !
wbg

 

[wannabegeek]

Best answer selected by wannabegeek.

 

[wannabegeek]

I solved my mysterious problems by exchanging my memory for a chip from the Corsair QVL list for my MOBO.....even though memtest86 produced no failures, it didn't work....

thanks everyone !

 

[suteck]

I'm glad you got it working with a simple fix. Enjoy your new toy!