Question I can’t access BIOS, motherboard beeps

[Wanderlove]

Hi,

So my Asus prime B450 plus motherboard does one long beep and three short beeps when turning my computer on. Which is apparently a video card or ram issue.

Sometimes I have to restart it once first, for it to boot up at all.

It goes from black screen into windows 10 starting, with no option or anything displayed to enter BIOS, even if I repeatedly press delete or f2 to enter BIOS while it starts up. I also tried to enter BIOS through windows advanced recovery troubleshooting, it did not work, boots straight into windows.

I double checked and reseated my nvidia gtx 950 2gb graphics card, problem persists.

The ram I was using was 1 8gb 2666 mhz ballistix by micron, installed by some bad professional who upsold me into this new motherboard and a new cpu a few years back (when all I wanted was to replace my broken C hard drive, and back up my created music that was on the D drive, the latter part he failed to do). Anyways while I am pissed about that, the songs are gone and that’s not my current issue.

The cpu is an AMD ryzen 5 3600 6 core, 3600 mhz.

I got 32 gb ram yesterday (2 x 16 gb). Tforce vulcanZ. It matches the motherboard specs, 288 pin 3200 mhz, but is not listed as QVL (guaranteed to be supported). Sold to me by some other bad professional. It still beeps the same way, as it does with the old ram, and I still can’t access BIOS.

In windows system information, it only shows 16 gb ram, not 32. With both ram sticks plugged in to the second and 4th slot as per motherboard user manual instructions. However my mouse and pc performance becomes choppy / stuttery with both plugged in. Only 1 slot of 4 on my motherboard appears to work, the second slot. I tried all 4 slots using a single 16gb ram stick, made sure it was all clean, my computer only booted up when using that 2nd slot. At least after booting up it runs smoothly, with a single ram stick plugged in.

However it’s not quite enough ram for Diablo 4, even though 16gb is a huge improvement over 8gb…and I tried another new Final Fantasy game, which clearly needs a new graphics card , the one I have is quite old, and it is the oldest part in my machine.

Though I don’t know what to do…can you suggest any way to fix this BIOS + unrecognized ram issue?

I do want to get a new gpu, should I just refund my current ram, and try to get guaranteed supported ram for my motherboard and see if that works?

Or do you think I should I just “start fresh” and buy a new motherboard, along with a new gpu, cpu, power supply and ram that all match too?

 

[Grobe]

After a brief web search, it seems there is a GPU or monitor issue.

Two randomly picked links from this search says:

[Motherboard] How to use buzzer to troubleshoot monitor display issues | Official Support | ASUS Global

3. "One long and two short beeps" from speaker

An anomaly is detected in memory. Please confirm that the memory is correctly installed.
Please refer to the Motherboard manual for related instructions about memory.

Asus motherboard: one long beep, 3 short beeps, one short beep

When my computer starts, monitor shows no signal, you can hear the computer trying to do something (almost sounds like starting a car with multiple tries). Then I hear one long beep, three short be...

superuser.com

My Asus Prime A320M-K board does this when No monitor is attached and ON.

So if I turn on HDMI monitor then turn pc on it stops beeping
1 Long, 3 short Beeps.

If HDMI cable is detached or Monitor is off the beeps return.

 

[Wanderlove]

After a brief web search, it seems there is a GPU or monitor issue.

Two randomly picked links from this search says:

[Motherboard] How to use buzzer to troubleshoot monitor display issues | Official Support | ASUS Global

Asus motherboard: one long beep, 3 short beeps, one short beep

When my computer starts, monitor shows no signal, you can hear the computer trying to do something (almost sounds like starting a car with multiple tries). Then I hear one long beep, three short be...

superuser.com

Ok, it’s just that I have display, it starts up, and can run games at 160 hz…so I don’t know how it could be an issue with my monitor or gpu.

3 of 4 memory slots not working with multiple ram sticks tried, and being unable to access BIOS, are however is issues.

Serious question - Do you think if I buy a new gpu, then my computer may recognize all the memory slots and also make BIOS accessible?

 

[Grobe]

Ok, right - so when using one RAM slot, you can access the BIOS, but using more than one RAM slot you cannot enter bios menu ?

Um, this is weird. Have you visited Asus web site to see if there may be a new Bios release that fix the issue you mention ?

Also - after trying to use two or more RAM slots, have you tried to reset cmos (kind of random suggestion) ?

 

[lojikal]

You're having an issue with your GPU. I would suggest borrowing a friend's GPU to confirm.

 

[Ralston18]

This: (my underline):

"I got 32 gb ram yesterday (2 x 16 gb). Tforce vulcanZ. It matches the motherboard specs, 288 pin 3200 mhz, but is not listed as QVL (guaranteed to be supported). Sold to me by some other bad professional. It still beeps the same way, as it does with the old ram, and I still can’t access BIOS."

The starting point is to swap in known working and supported (QVL) RAM using supported RAM configurations.

Note that some motherboards require that the first physically installed RAM be installed in a specific slot.

Double check both the motherboard's User Guide/Manual and the motherboard's manufacturer's website.

Install supported RAM in a supported configuration. Even if not 32 GB.

Objective being to clear the beep codes and have a stable system as a starting point for further troubleshooting.

 

[Wanderlove]

Ok, right - so when using one RAM slot, you can access the BIOS, but using more than one RAM slot you cannot enter bios menu ?

Um, this is weird. Have you visited Asus web site to see if there may be a new Bios release that fix the issue you mention ?

Also - after trying to use two or more RAM slots, have you tried to reset cmos (kind of random suggestion) ?

Oh sorry no I cannot access BIOS regardless of ram quantity inserted or type of ram.

I tried updating motherboard drivers, no luck.

I tried taking out the motherboard battery, and putting it back in to reset CMOS. That did not help for my BIOS issue. I still cannot access it. I’m just trying to get in there for overclocking purposes.

However I did notice while I had the box open that one of the 2 ram sticks I bought, despite being able to load windows, makes the mouse pointer and actions choppy / stuttery, when I use only the 1 16 gb ram stick by itself. The other 16 gb ram stick runs smoothly.

So I’ll just go to the store, refund current ram, and get some ram that is guaranteed to be supported by this motherboard. Then at least I’ll know whether it’s the board or the ram causing me to be unable to utilize 32gb.

 

[Grobe]

I tried updating motherboard drivers, no luck.

You have a hardware issue, means that no matter what action you take in OS config/software it won't help.

I tried taking out the motherboard battery, and putting it back in to reset CMOS. That did not help for my BIOS issue.

Have a look in the manual on how to do this cmos reset properly. It should be a jumper of some sort, you shouldn't need to physically remove the battery. Also, there may be a storage capacitor that just prevent data loss in case of replacing cmos battery (means you re-seating the battery won't cause Bios to reset).