In short, my computer takes two 'tries' before it'll boot. So when I press the power button, it tries to boot for a few secs (i can hear it starting up, CPU fan is on, etc.), then shuts down. Then a few secs later, it tries to boot again and is successful.
I'm trying to work out what the problem is, and/or whether it's okay to just keep using the computer like this (i.e. what could I possibly be damaging long-term by not fixing this).
Any advice, suggestions are welcome. I'm very new to hardware issues, first time building a computer. I'm a little scared about what could be wrong tbh. Just not sure how I should proceed here.
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Build – I've basically removed everything not essential. At the moment, the problem is occurs with the following configuration:
CPU: Intel i5-2500k
CPU cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212+, with the fan replaced by a single Nexus Real Silent 120mm, with Arctic Silver 5
Mobo: ASUS P8P67 Pro Rev3.0 (B3 revision)
Memory: Kingston 1333 DDR3 8GB kit (2 * 4GB). This wasn't on the mobo's compatible ram list, although the said list did include the 4gb-kit and 6gb-kit versions of Kingston 1333 DDR 3 ram. The list also doesn't include any 8GB ram or ram kits, so I think that's why this item wasn't on the list.
HDD: Corsair Force Series 115GB
Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX 580 SuperClocked
Case: Antec DF-30, Lamptron acoustic foam is in use. The front USB and power led, etc. are plugged in.
PSU: Antec HCG 900W
All case fans are disconnected, all my other drives are disconnected.
---
Details:
The mobo has four POST LEDs – CPU, RAM, graphics, and storage
So these are four red LEDs that are supposed to light up when the computer fails to boot, to indicate what part is wrong. That's what the manual says. It seems to work – when I didn't install my ram properly (didn't press it down far enough), the computer wouldn't boot and the RAM led stayed on.
I'm guessing the correct sequence of activity when the computer boots up is:
- CPU led goes on for a second or two
- CPU led goes off, RAM led goes on for a second or two
- RAM led goes off, graphics led goes on for a second or two
- Graphics led goes off, hdd led goes on for a second or two
I notice my monitor starts receiving a signal as soon as the graphics led goes off.
The beep signalling successful POST happens after the hdd led goes off.
What actually happens when I start my computer is this:
- CPU led goes on for a second or two
- CPU led goes off, RAM ledgoes on for a second or two
- RAM led goes off, graphics led goes on for a second or two
- Graphics led goes off. the computer shuts down. Fans stop, etc.
- A few seconds later, computer tries to start up again.
- CPU led goes on for a second or two
- CPU led goes off, RAM led goes on for a second or two
- RAM led goes off, graphics led goes on for a second or two
- Graphics led goes off, screen receives signal, hdd led goes on for a second or two
- HDD led goes on, successful POST beep occurs, computer starts up.
Note that:
- No unsuccessful error beeps occur
- When my POST failed on RAM, the computer shuts down and the RAM light stays on. In this case, after the first attempt to boot, all the leds go off, none of them stay on.
- Monitor does not receive any signal until during the second attempt at start up
---
What is not a problem:
This problem does NOT occur if my computer is restarting – it doesn't matter if i'm restarting from within windows or from the bios config page. The computer restarts smoothly. Although the four POST leds do each turn on then off in turn, followed by a successful POST beep.
After the computer starts up, everything seems fine. I've installed windows 7, internet connects. No crashes, no blue screens. As far as I can see, temperature is really great, no strange noises. Everything seems good really!
---
What I've tried already:
Updating bios.
Downloading and installing ALL available drivers from asus website for the motherboard and evga website for the graphics card.
Computer is NOT overclocked, bios settings are default settings.
----
POST report – this is what I see on my computer screen as it starts up:
Screen 1: Dell monitor flickers on, icon appears to indicate DVI input detected
Screen 2: "JMicron Technology Corp. PCI Express to SATAII Host Controller Rom v1.07.23 Copyright© 2005-2010. JMicron Technology Corp. Detecting drives: Done; No drives found."
Screen 3: "Marvel 88SE91xx Adapter – BIOS Version 1.0.0.0016 PCIe x1 5.0Gbps. Adapter 1 Disks Information: AHCI Mode. No hard disk is detected!"
Screen 4: "AMIBIOS©2010 American Megatrends, Inc. ASUS P8P67 PRO ACPI BIOS Revision 1704. CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-2500k CPU @ 3.3GHz Speed: 3420MHz" Total Memory: 8192MB (DDR3-1372). USB Devices total: 0 Drive, 3 Keyboards, 1 Mouse, 3 Hubs. Detected ATA/ATAPi Devices... SATA Port3: Corsair CSSD-F115QB2-A"
---
Honestly I know very little about hardware (I'm a software background). Can anyone take a guess at what could be going wrong? Or what part may be the culprit?
Is this a genuine problem / incompatibility with my parts, or can I just ignore it (as I said, the computer runs fine afterwards). If I just ignore it, what should I keep an eye out for in terms of diagnostics? Like I use speedfan mostly to monitor my HDD health and temperature. Anything else?
Anyone with a P8P67 motherboard want to tell me what they see when the computer starts up (in terms of the POST leds). Just so i can be sure what the correct behaviour should be.
I'm trying to work out what the problem is, and/or whether it's okay to just keep using the computer like this (i.e. what could I possibly be damaging long-term by not fixing this).
Any advice, suggestions are welcome. I'm very new to hardware issues, first time building a computer. I'm a little scared about what could be wrong tbh. Just not sure how I should proceed here.
---
Build – I've basically removed everything not essential. At the moment, the problem is occurs with the following configuration:
CPU: Intel i5-2500k
CPU cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212+, with the fan replaced by a single Nexus Real Silent 120mm, with Arctic Silver 5
Mobo: ASUS P8P67 Pro Rev3.0 (B3 revision)
Memory: Kingston 1333 DDR3 8GB kit (2 * 4GB). This wasn't on the mobo's compatible ram list, although the said list did include the 4gb-kit and 6gb-kit versions of Kingston 1333 DDR 3 ram. The list also doesn't include any 8GB ram or ram kits, so I think that's why this item wasn't on the list.
HDD: Corsair Force Series 115GB
Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX 580 SuperClocked
Case: Antec DF-30, Lamptron acoustic foam is in use. The front USB and power led, etc. are plugged in.
PSU: Antec HCG 900W
All case fans are disconnected, all my other drives are disconnected.
---
Details:
The mobo has four POST LEDs – CPU, RAM, graphics, and storage
So these are four red LEDs that are supposed to light up when the computer fails to boot, to indicate what part is wrong. That's what the manual says. It seems to work – when I didn't install my ram properly (didn't press it down far enough), the computer wouldn't boot and the RAM led stayed on.
I'm guessing the correct sequence of activity when the computer boots up is:
- CPU led goes on for a second or two
- CPU led goes off, RAM led goes on for a second or two
- RAM led goes off, graphics led goes on for a second or two
- Graphics led goes off, hdd led goes on for a second or two
I notice my monitor starts receiving a signal as soon as the graphics led goes off.
The beep signalling successful POST happens after the hdd led goes off.
What actually happens when I start my computer is this:
- CPU led goes on for a second or two
- CPU led goes off, RAM ledgoes on for a second or two
- RAM led goes off, graphics led goes on for a second or two
- Graphics led goes off. the computer shuts down. Fans stop, etc.
- A few seconds later, computer tries to start up again.
- CPU led goes on for a second or two
- CPU led goes off, RAM led goes on for a second or two
- RAM led goes off, graphics led goes on for a second or two
- Graphics led goes off, screen receives signal, hdd led goes on for a second or two
- HDD led goes on, successful POST beep occurs, computer starts up.
Note that:
- No unsuccessful error beeps occur
- When my POST failed on RAM, the computer shuts down and the RAM light stays on. In this case, after the first attempt to boot, all the leds go off, none of them stay on.
- Monitor does not receive any signal until during the second attempt at start up
---
What is not a problem:
This problem does NOT occur if my computer is restarting – it doesn't matter if i'm restarting from within windows or from the bios config page. The computer restarts smoothly. Although the four POST leds do each turn on then off in turn, followed by a successful POST beep.
After the computer starts up, everything seems fine. I've installed windows 7, internet connects. No crashes, no blue screens. As far as I can see, temperature is really great, no strange noises. Everything seems good really!
---
What I've tried already:
Updating bios.
Downloading and installing ALL available drivers from asus website for the motherboard and evga website for the graphics card.
Computer is NOT overclocked, bios settings are default settings.
----
POST report – this is what I see on my computer screen as it starts up:
Screen 1: Dell monitor flickers on, icon appears to indicate DVI input detected
Screen 2: "JMicron Technology Corp. PCI Express to SATAII Host Controller Rom v1.07.23 Copyright© 2005-2010. JMicron Technology Corp. Detecting drives: Done; No drives found."
Screen 3: "Marvel 88SE91xx Adapter – BIOS Version 1.0.0.0016 PCIe x1 5.0Gbps. Adapter 1 Disks Information: AHCI Mode. No hard disk is detected!"
Screen 4: "AMIBIOS©2010 American Megatrends, Inc. ASUS P8P67 PRO ACPI BIOS Revision 1704. CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-2500k CPU @ 3.3GHz Speed: 3420MHz" Total Memory: 8192MB (DDR3-1372). USB Devices total: 0 Drive, 3 Keyboards, 1 Mouse, 3 Hubs. Detected ATA/ATAPi Devices... SATA Port3: Corsair CSSD-F115QB2-A"
---
Honestly I know very little about hardware (I'm a software background). Can anyone take a guess at what could be going wrong? Or what part may be the culprit?
Is this a genuine problem / incompatibility with my parts, or can I just ignore it (as I said, the computer runs fine afterwards). If I just ignore it, what should I keep an eye out for in terms of diagnostics? Like I use speedfan mostly to monitor my HDD health and temperature. Anything else?
Anyone with a P8P67 motherboard want to tell me what they see when the computer starts up (in terms of the POST leds). Just so i can be sure what the correct behaviour should be.