So I got all my components to my new build yesterday. I put them all together like a kid in a candy store and when I finally powered on, the system doesnt start. I'm used to this because I usually forget some stupid minute detail in the building process and then recall it and smack myself ont he forehead and fix the problem. I could find no such error this time. Everything was plugged in and ready to go.
So I checked on the back of the case on the LED screen and it reads "DET DRAM", So I can only assume it's a problem with my RAM. More accurately it is a problem with my RAM DIMMS on the motherboard. I tried two of the four different sticks in each of the 4 slots. A1 or A2 + any other slot = NO BOOT. B1 and B2 without A1 or A2 = BOOT. My next thought is BIOS update.
For some reason this was a severe pain in the neck even with the ASUS "EZ"Flash utility. The system would hang on very dang stage of the flashing process and I was worried I would have to get a new BIOS ROM chip.
I successfully updated from whatever the first version of BIOS was, I believe 1104, to 1301. Same problem. So from 1301 to 1502 then 1503. Same problems on each.
Ok so I now have the latest BIOS version so I figure Ill start messing with the voltages and timings etc. I set my RAM timings to the recommended 4-4-4-12 @ 2.2 volts. Same problems. Messed with the BUS speeds on both the processor and RAM. Same problems. Changed the NBridge voltage to 1.4. Same problems. I tried it with my friends memory. Same problems. And during this whole thing, my system will NOT reboot from a restart. It HAS to be a full power off to POST again.
I removed the battery/Cleared CMOS at nearly every stage in this process.
So I decided to stay with 2GB for now and test the other features of my computer. Well thats hard to do when it wont recognize your SATA to boot it. It reads it in BIOS and I have SATA enabled. I tried setting the SATA RAID on and off but it did nothing. Tried reinstalling windows, but the windows installation didnt recognize the SATA drive. (Both vista and XP)
Ok so Im ready to RMA, but I REALLY dont want to wait however many weeks that would take with ASUS's seemingly apathetic view to their customer support department. I need help and where else to turn but tomshardware?
System Specs:
Intel Q6600 2.4GGHz
Asus Striker Extreme BIOS 1503
Patriot PDC24G6400LLQK PC800 1GB x4 (4-4-4-12)
Rosewill 750W Powersupply
Samsung 500GB 3.0GB/s SATA HD (not in RAID)
MSI NVIDIA 8800GT
So I checked on the back of the case on the LED screen and it reads "DET DRAM", So I can only assume it's a problem with my RAM. More accurately it is a problem with my RAM DIMMS on the motherboard. I tried two of the four different sticks in each of the 4 slots. A1 or A2 + any other slot = NO BOOT. B1 and B2 without A1 or A2 = BOOT. My next thought is BIOS update.
For some reason this was a severe pain in the neck even with the ASUS "EZ"Flash utility. The system would hang on very dang stage of the flashing process and I was worried I would have to get a new BIOS ROM chip.
I successfully updated from whatever the first version of BIOS was, I believe 1104, to 1301. Same problem. So from 1301 to 1502 then 1503. Same problems on each.
Ok so I now have the latest BIOS version so I figure Ill start messing with the voltages and timings etc. I set my RAM timings to the recommended 4-4-4-12 @ 2.2 volts. Same problems. Messed with the BUS speeds on both the processor and RAM. Same problems. Changed the NBridge voltage to 1.4. Same problems. I tried it with my friends memory. Same problems. And during this whole thing, my system will NOT reboot from a restart. It HAS to be a full power off to POST again.
I removed the battery/Cleared CMOS at nearly every stage in this process.
So I decided to stay with 2GB for now and test the other features of my computer. Well thats hard to do when it wont recognize your SATA to boot it. It reads it in BIOS and I have SATA enabled. I tried setting the SATA RAID on and off but it did nothing. Tried reinstalling windows, but the windows installation didnt recognize the SATA drive. (Both vista and XP)
Ok so Im ready to RMA, but I REALLY dont want to wait however many weeks that would take with ASUS's seemingly apathetic view to their customer support department. I need help and where else to turn but tomshardware?
System Specs:
Intel Q6600 2.4GGHz
Asus Striker Extreme BIOS 1503
Patriot PDC24G6400LLQK PC800 1GB x4 (4-4-4-12)
Rosewill 750W Powersupply
Samsung 500GB 3.0GB/s SATA HD (not in RAID)
MSI NVIDIA 8800GT