[SOLVED] Used Asus P5Q-E - - - I'm going completely insane!

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LuKaWin10

LuKaWin10

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May 6, 2024
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Hi everyone,

I’m at my limit with this motherboard and could really use some guidance. I recently bought a used ASUS P5Q-E and was hoping to build a retro system around a Xeon X5460. But after days of testing and troubleshooting, I’m starting to think I got sold a defective board, and I feel like I’m going insane trying to make it work.


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Specs:

ASUS P5Q-E

Xeon X5460 (LGA771 mod, stable and POSTs fine)

2x2GB DDR2 800 (I’ve tried multiple kits, 1.8V and 2.1V)

MSI MAG 650BN PSU

GTX 970

DVD drive

No drives connected for now (just trying to get it to POST properly)


Note: All of these components have been fully tested and confirmed working in a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 Rev 2.1 board. That system runs completely stable — dual channel, full POST, no issues at all. The problem only exists on the ASUS P5Q-E.


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The Problem:

The board only works when RAM is in slots 1 and 2, which are on the same memory channel. That means I’m stuck in single channel mode.

Slots 3 and 4 don’t work at all. Not even with one stick. If I put RAM into either slot 3 or 4 — alone or in combination — the system won’t POST. Black screen, no beeps, just fans and lights.


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What I’ve Tried:

CMOS reset (jumper and battery method)

Flashed the latest official BIOS and a modded version

Set manual DRAM voltage (1.8–2.1V) and relaxed timings (667MHz, CL6)

Cleaned all RAM slots with compressed air and isopropyl

Tested multiple working RAM kits (2x1GB, 2x2GB, different brands, voltages)

Swapped every module into every slot, one at a time


All sticks work perfectly in slots 1 and 2. None work in 3 or 4.


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I’ve also:

Removed the board and reinstalled it

Checked the socket for bent pins

Inspected the PCB for any burnt traces or physical damage — nothing visible


At this point I’ve spent days on this and it’s driving me absolutely insane. I’m not new to PC building, I’ve done many systems including older platforms like this, and I’ve never run into something this stubborn.


---

Is the second memory channel just dead?
Is there any known fix for this on P45 boards, or am I totally wasting my time?

Any suggestions would be appreciated — I’m seriously burned out over this and just want to know if I should give up and move on.

Thanks
 
Solution
LuKaWin10
Update: everything works! All drivers installed, now some time for overclocking...

Edit: even the GIGABIT LAN works, on my DS3 it did not work cuz of the s***ty Realtek LAN chip probably being fried, I have heard they did f*** up in 2008 and 2009
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The board only works when RAM is in slots 1 and 2, which are on the same memory channel. That means I’m stuck in single channel mode.
This platform has a North Bridge and a South Bridge, the North Bridge was the one responsible for controlling your memory, so yes what you've stated is a faulty memory controller/channel = faulty motherboard. If reflashing the BIOS on the motherboard doesn't help, then you should decide on returning it and getting another motherboard or scrap the board and look for another board.
 
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LuKaWin10 said:
The board only works when RAM is in slots 1 and 2, which are on the same memory channel.
Slots 3 and 4 don’t work at all. Not even with one stick. If I put RAM into either slot 3 or 4 — alone or in combination — the system won’t POST. Black screen, no beeps, just fans and lights.
Click to expand...
Classic symptoms for bent/broken LGA socket pins.
LuKaWin10 said:
What I’ve Tried:
Checked the socket for bent pins
Click to expand...
Show high resolution socket photos from different angles.
(upload to imgur.com and post link)
 
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Lutfij said:
The board only works when RAM is in slots 1 and 2, which are on the same memory channel. That means I’m stuck in single channel mode.
This platform has a North Bridge and a South Bridge, the North Bridge was the one responsible for controlling your memory, so yes what you've stated is a faulty memory controller/channel = faulty motherboard. If reflashing the BIOS on the motherboard doesn't help, then you should decide on returning it and getting another motherboard or scrap the board and look for another board.
Click to expand...
Yooo Lutfij, haven't heard of you in a while.

I reflashed to the newest BIOS (that I modded with correct microcodes and SLIC 2.3 (which is in ACPI and does no harm to the BIOS itself, aka harmless), and I still get major issues)
 
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Lutfij said:
The board only works when RAM is in slots 1 and 2, which are on the same memory channel. That means I’m stuck in single channel mode.
This platform has a North Bridge and a South Bridge, the North Bridge was the one responsible for controlling your memory, so yes what you've stated is a faulty memory controller/channel = faulty motherboard. If reflashing the BIOS on the motherboard doesn't help, then you should decide on returning it and getting another motherboard or scrap the board and look for another board.
Click to expand...
I will also try asking the seller for a refund, now I am back to my DS3 with modded VRM heatsinks (I add thermal pads and heatsinks on VRMs to attempt better OC lolz, I'm too poor 🥀)
 
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LuKaWin10 said:
I don't think the pins are bent... well you all see for yourselves and tell me!!
Click to expand...
At least those two pins are out of alignment.
And there are dust pieces in the socket.

orFyO0r.jpeg
 
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Also just a quick question, you've tried blowing out the dimm sockets and cleaning the interface the dimms make with the motherboard? Sometimes its just some dirt. If its working now, it could have just been that you reseated the dimms enough times to remove enough gunk, that the pins can finally make decent contact. I still recommend cleaning those dimm sockets and interface pins when you get a chance. We're looking at almost 20 year old hardware now, and things just tend to get dirty over time.
 
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artk2219 said:
Also just a quick question, you've tried blowing out the dimm sockets and cleaning the interface the dimms make with the motherboard? Sometimes its just some dirt. If its working now, it could have just been that you reseated the dimms enough times to remove enough gunk, that the pins can finally make decent contact. I still recommend cleaning those dimm sockets and interface pins when you get a chance. We're looking at almost 20 year old hardware now, and things just tend to get dirty over time.
Click to expand...
Yooo brooo, I haven't talked to you in a while. I did clean the socket and the dimms, along with the PCI-E (with water, yeah, not so smart of me) but I was able to fix this actually. Now I can finally run my 4 GB of DDR2 1066, I am gonna test it right now, all 4 slots seem to work, and yes there were some hairs, but I was able to clean them out. I can also maybe wash the board but it is time consuming... overall I am happy. I did not blow out the dimms, just like a bit blow, and clean. If I do need to clean major I will use WD-40 or something else. And thanks for the help and suggestions

Edit: I just have to Optimise my BIOS and my boot times, cuz it does take time, seems to take when I don't have a speaker
 
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artk2219 said:
Also just a quick question, you've tried blowing out the dimm sockets and cleaning the interface the dimms make with the motherboard? Sometimes its just some dirt. If its working now, it could have just been that you reseated the dimms enough times to remove enough gunk, that the pins can finally make decent contact. I still recommend cleaning those dimm sockets and interface pins when you get a chance. We're looking at almost 20 year old hardware now, and things just tend to get dirty over time.
Click to expand...
I also have to get used to the AMI BIOS. First time using it, for me it was always AWARD! Much simpler, AMI I did use it once on an AsRock 2004 motherboard at my neighbours house but that PC of theirs is thrown out. It was some junk Pentium 4 System anyway
 
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LuKaWin10 said:
Yooo brooo, I haven't talked to you in a while. I did clean the socket and the dimms, along with the PCI-E (with water, yeah, not so smart of me) but I was able to fix this actually. Now I can finally run my 4 GB of DDR2 1066, I am gonna test it right now, all 4 slots seem to work, and yes there were some hairs, but I was able to clean them out. I can also maybe wash the board but it is time consuming... overall I am happy. I did not blow out the dimms, just like a bit blow, and clean. If I do need to clean major I will use WD-40 or something else. And thanks for the help and suggestions

Edit: I just have to Optimise my BIOS and my boot times, cuz it does take time, seems to take when I don't have a speaker
Click to expand...
LuKaWin10 said:
I also have to get used to the AMI BIOS. First time using it, for me it was always AWARD! Much simpler, AMI I did use it once on an AsRock 2004 motherboard at my neighbours house but that PC of theirs is thrown out. It was some junk Pentium 4 System anyway
Click to expand...
Its been a minute, glad to see you're still sticking with it. Waters honestly fine, so long as the water you're using doesn't have a high mineral content, and you make sure its dry before you turn it back on, you're good. Its what they use at the factory anyway after the boards are assembled, a batch flux cleaner, basically a dishwasher with filtered water and a detergent like simple green. Every BIOS is a little different hah, some are definitely better and worse than others on their layout and options. The most fun and weirdest ones, are the ones they use on various cheap Chinese boards from Aliexpress. You definitely never know what you're going to get with those.
 
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artk2219 said:
Also just a quick question, you've tried blowing out the dimm sockets and cleaning the interface the dimms make with the motherboard? Sometimes its just some dirt. If its working now, it could have just been that you reseated the dimms enough times to remove enough gunk, that the pins can finally make decent contact. I still recommend cleaning those dimm sockets and interface pins when you get a chance. We're looking at almost 20 year old hardware now, and things just tend to get dirty over time.
Click to expand...

artk2219 said:
Its been a minute, glad to see you're still sticking with it. Waters honestly fine, so long as the water you're using doesn't have a high mineral content, and you make sure its dry before you turn it back on, you're good. Its what they use at the factory anyway after the boards are assembled. A batch flux cleaner, basically a dishwasher with filtered water and a detergent like simple green. Every BIOS is a little different hah, some are definitely better and worse than others on their layout and options. The most fun and weirdest ones, are the ones they use on various cheap Chinese boards from Aliexpress. You definitely never know what you're going to get with those.
Click to expand...
Exactly, and thanks for confirming it. I use normal drinking water we have, nothing major. And yeah now I will connect everything and test it out (with the X5460). And certainly the AliExpress Chinese BIOSes are weird and fun, but they are like a mix kind of, and overall similar. Welp I will test it and then tell you the results. I will use as a testing ground Windows 7 Build 7229, then the other versions I have installed
 
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artk2219 said:
Its been a minute, glad to see you're still sticking with it. Waters honestly fine, so long as the water you're using doesn't have a high mineral content, and you make sure its dry before you turn it back on, you're good. Its what they use at the factory anyway after the boards are assembled, a batch flux cleaner, basically a dishwasher with filtered water and a detergent like simple green. Every BIOS is a little different hah, some are definitely better and worse than others on their layout and options. The most fun and weirdest ones, are the ones they use on various cheap Chinese boards from Aliexpress. You definitely never know what you're going to get with those.
Click to expand...
Could also be is I just saw in my case a standoff right on the RAM solder parts under the board it was touching them, maybe thats why Slot 1 worked and others didnt cuz it may have been causing shorts?
 
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