Do I have a problem with my motherboard?

[Bert2211]

I have a pc that I am trying to repair, but I am unsure if the motherboard is faulty or if the problem lies elsewhere. Every time I try to boot it up all I get is a 6-beep error code. Any suggestions?

 

[clutchc]

Find out which BIOS that board has, and then go here to search out the beep code: http://www.technick.net/public/code/cp_dpage.php?aiocp_dp=guide_beep_codes
If you can't boot at all to see the BIOS manufacturer, let me know the make/model of the board (and any version number printed on it), and maybe I can find out.

 

[Bert2211]

Find out which BIOS that board has, and then go here to search out the beep code: http://www.technick.net/public/code/cp_dpage.php?aiocp_dp=guide_beep_codes
If you can't boot at all to see the BIOS manufacturer, let me know the make/model of the board (and any version number printed on it), and maybe I can find out.

It is a Dell DH57M01 Studio XPS 8100 Motherboard. I tried finding the bios myself to no avail. Besides finding out that it is a dell stock motherboard I couldn't find much else.

 

[jsmithepa]

A simple Google for DELL POST CODES yielded a ton of information.

 

[clutchc]

6 Beeps on an XPS 8100 usually means video card failure. Do you have a discrete card or are you using integrated video?

1 BIOS ROM checksum in progress or failure. BIOS Chip System board failure, covers BIOS corruption or ROM error

2 No RAM Detected No memory detected

3 Chipset Error (North and South Bridge Chipset, DMA/IMR/Timer Error for Intel platform); Chipset Error System board Failure

(Power LED Blinking Amber)

Time-Of-Day Clock test failure.

Gate A20 failure

Super I/O chip failure

Keyboard controller test failure.

4 RAM Read/Write failure Memory failure

5 RTC Power Fail CMOS battery failure

6 Video BIOS Test Failure Video card failure

7 CPU Failure CPU

 

[Bert2211]

6 Beeps on an XPS 8100 usually means video card failure. Do you have a discrete card or are you using integrated video?

1 BIOS ROM checksum in progress or failure. BIOS Chip System board failure, covers BIOS corruption or ROM error

2 No RAM Detected No memory detected

3 Chipset Error (North and South Bridge Chipset, DMA/IMR/Timer Error for Intel platform); Chipset Error System board Failure

(Power LED Blinking Amber)

Time-Of-Day Clock test failure.

Gate A20 failure

Super I/O chip failure

Keyboard controller test failure.

4 RAM Read/Write failure Memory failure

5 RTC Power Fail CMOS battery failure

6 Video BIOS Test Failure Video card failure

7 CPU Failure CPU

I am not sure what the model the card is but it is a discrete card released by AMD (or at the time ATI).
I tried booting the up the PC without the card and it gave me the same results as when I booted without the card, the six beep error code.

 

[Bert2211]

I did some more rummaging around in the PC, and I found a chip that is labeled "AMIBIOS". If that means my motherboard uses the AMI bios, then that should mean the error code I am receiving means I have a failing keyboard controller. Could this be true?

 

[clutchc]

If you 'breadboard' the system, it might help us determine if the MB is the culprit. Disconnect everything from the MB except for the PSU, video (remove discrete card), CPU/cooler, memory, and KB. Disconnect the case's FP wiring, the SATA/PATA cables from any drives, USB and audio cables. Actually, it would be best to take the board out of the case so you are sure there is nothing under the board shorting out the backside.
Then momentarily short the two pins that the power button would connect to. That will start the system. See if you get a display and loose the 6 beeps. If not, I would be seriously thinking the board was defective.

 

[clutchc]

Whoa. Just noticed you posted the above while I was typing the previous message. If your XPS 8100 doesn't have the BIOS I was expecting, that may indeed change everything. Have you found the beep codes for the AMI BIOS?

 

[Bert2211]

Whoa. Just noticed you posted the above while I was typing the previous message. If your XPS 8100 doesn't have the BIOS I was expecting, that may indeed change everything. Have you found the beep codes for the AMI BIOS?

I believe so. AMI codes list my 6 beep error code as a gate A20 failure. It further states that it could be happening because of a failing keyboard controller.

 

[clutchc]

Then I'd first swap out the KB to see if it is the KB or the MB.

 

[Bert2211]

Then I'd first swap out the KB to see if it is the KB or the MB.

What is a kb?

 

[clutchc]

Then I'd first swap out the KB to see if it is the KB or the MB.

What is a kb?

KB = KeyBoard
MB = MotherBoard

 

[Bert2211]

Then I'd first swap out the KB to see if it is the KB or the MB.

What is a kb?

KB = KeyBoard
MB = MotherBoard

Ah, thanks. I should have said this earlier but, all the times I have tried to boot the PC up I have had the keyboard unplugged.

 

[clutchc]

Then try it with a KB plugged in. Maybe older PCs fault if they don't see a KB. Either way, you should be able to tell pretty quickly. If still no joy, I'd have to give up in the MB.

 

[Bert2211]

Then try it with a KB plugged in. Maybe older PCs fault if they don't see a KB. Either way, you should be able to tell pretty quickly. If still no joy, I'd have to give up in the MB.

I tried it out, still no luck. I had a feeling that I was going to replace the motherboard. I feel a little less apprehensive now about purchasing a new one. Just glad I didn't turn out to be something worse, like having to replace the processor.