Help! Problem with my MOBO!

[Vyper08]

-MSI P35 NEO2-FR Socket 775 Motherboard --(28015)--
-Patriot 2GB PC2-6400 C4 Extreme Performance (2x1GB) --(26802)--
-320GB Hitachi Deskstar SATA2 16MB --(24793)--
-LG GH20NS10 20x DVDRW SATA black bare inc SecurDisc --(30468)--
-Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64 OEM --(25906)--
-Antec Sonata III Quiet Super Mini Tower --(28369)
-nVidia GeForce 8800GT 512MB PCI-E --(29148)--
-Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz (Retail 775) --(30243)--
-BenQ 22" Display --(31037)--
-TP-LINK Wireless 54MB PCI Card --(30513)

These are my parts that I used to put together my PC, and so far the build has done well, no problems, everything works smoothly, except starting up...
A friend told me he thinks it's to do with the MOBO hence my post here, and basically when I press the power button, my PC whirrs as it powers up, then dies down again, then whirrs whilst powering up again, and probably holds this sound/state for a few minutes, before powering down again e.t.c, and I have to reset my PC once or maybe even a few times for it to finally turn itself on and show THIS ERROR:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/Vyper05/Photo0037.jpg

Then I have to press any key, and my PC goes into it's BIOS, and I have to exit that and then it finally boots into Windows.

The booting into BIOS isn't a big problem for me, but it's still an unecessary problem, but mainly it's the booting up that annoys me, as it can take anywhere from 1-20 minutes just to get it working.

Please help!
I will check this thread often so feel free to ask anymore questions, if it helps I'm running Vista 64-bit.

Oh and P.S I haven't tried to overclock anything, I've left everything stock.

Thanks.

[marsey99]

Oh and P.S I haven't tried to overclock anything, I've left everything stock.

Thanks.

dude nobody belives you :mrgreen: i dont overclock mine too :D

you need to clear your cmos by following the directions in the manual that came with your mobo.

then try setting your ram a bit slower next time you up your clocks :D

[wonderlust]

In my experience it's the ram timings that tend to cause those symptoms.

What timings are you running the ram at and at what voltage?

[mac124]

doesn't that patriot mem need 2.1v or something? either way i bet its defaulted to 1.8v.

Check the voltage and timings needed and manually set them in the bios as i too believe it is a memory setting.

[wonderlust]

on the MSI with a later bios (viper is using 1.8 from his pic) it defaults to SPD 5.5.5.16 @ 1.8v, BUT if he has set the timings manually, he may not have noticed that the main cell menu scrolls down to show the votage settings and be trying to run 4.4.4.12 @ 1.8v

[marsey99]

leave it cas5 and see how high it will go on 2.1v :D

[wonderlust]

well it's epp is 1000@ 2.3V 5.5.5.15

[marsey99]

2.3? ouch, mine does that on 2.02V

[wonderlust]

so does mine, but that's what patriot put in the spd chip!

[Vyper08]

Wow, one thing you have to realise is I'm pretty much a total noob so if anyone can be kind enough to explain that in 'simpler' english and perhaps show me a guide or step-by-step what to do...this is my first ever build and all I "know" is that I'm sure BIOS config's can be the end of your machine if you **** up :(

Thanks :)

[wonderlust]

ok, what have you done in the bios so far?

[marsey99]

nah, unless you bork a bios flash you can do nothing that cant be fixxed with a cmos clear.

a few people in here have that mobo so im sure they can help you out.

but if you havent clocked it yet....y not?

[jonwoad]

You should be able to put in the correct timings for that ram with that board as I have the same combination 4-4-4-12 @2.1v. Mine boots every time. Have you changed the FSB headers on the motherboard?

[Vyper08]

I haven't changed anything at all with it all I did was slot the RAM in place as with everything else, plug it all in and switch it on, no BIOS changing just loaded Vista on there, no overclocking, no anything, I'm too much of a "noob" to attempt any of that :P

[Vyper08]

bumping as i have no clue what to do in the BIOS :(
"Configure DRAM Timing by SPD" is the only thing i could find that seemed like anything to do with RAM but I'm not sure :/

[M4T VW]

In the bios go to the exit part and load the setup defaults, Then save and exit.

[Vyper08]

In the bios go to the exit part and load the setup defaults, Then save and exit.
still occured :(

[alexnifty]

Tried doing a CMOS reset using the pins on the mobo? Look in your manual on how to do this with your mobo.

Usually involves locating 3 pins on your mobo and then moving the jumper over by one.

[Vyper08]

Wow that CMOS thing sounds complicated but I could give it a try, but would it delete anything e.t.c?
what are the possible and certain consequences? It's still bugging me really badly :P

[wonderlust]

you have a neo2, no jumpers involved, there is a micro switch just below the pci slots, just press it with the mains turned off. that will reset the cmos.

you may have to reset things like boot order, splash screen etc.

[Vyper08]

im pretty sure i did the CMOS button (small red button) yet the problem still occurs :(

[wonderlust]

What are the Boot strap jumpers set at?

[Vyper08]

What are the Boot strap jumpers set at?

Not too sure what that means, and now the problem is so bad it can take hours to start up, really need some help here, really making me regretting buying the machine, and I can't sell it if it doesn't start up! :(

[wonderlust]

there are a set of jumpers on the board by the pci/pci-E slots,

if you check the manual it will tell you what they are set to.

i have mine set to 333

[Vyper08]

there are a set of jumpers on the board by the pci/pci-E slots,

if you check the manual it will tell you what they are set to.

i have mine set to 333

i might sound a bit retarded but i have no clue what you mean :o
how do you set what to what :S
im actually having problems even getting the machine to turn ON these days...in fact sometimes I plan to go on, and an hour later give up trying, must have been a week or so since i last turned it on now ... :(

[wonderlust]

check out chapter 2 page 19 of the manual.

I may have asked these before:-
Did you set the ram timings and/or voltage in the bios?
What Bios version are you running?
Have you tried clearing the cmos with the little button on the motherboard?

[Vyper08]

Erm, didn't set any timings/voltages...bios version is one that came with it, i think the picture in my original post shows what version? pressed that tiny red button, all it did was make my computer think the time was something waaay different...
but since then i cant even turn it on really...
read the page, means **** all to me really...i dont know what's 3 to put it to 333 and if that's even the ones i need.

[wonderlust]

Ok from the picture you posted you have bios 1.8 (1.9 is the newest).
1.8 is the first bios for that board to support your cpu so that should not be a problem.

as for bios settings I am in the process of rebooting and I will post some pictures of my bios settings, albeit I have a Q6600 processor so some of the settings will differ a little. I do have the same ram so you can replicate those settings.

would that be of help?

[wonderlust]

Ok let's start with the basics P35 based boards (and some others) do start and stop and restart once when you first turn them on. This is normal behaviour.

The only time I have experienced the same symptoms that you are getting in the op was if I dont set the Ram voltage after setting the timings, or overclock the ram too far.

So here goes the slide show ;)


Ok from the main screen select Cell Menu
Http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll177/teddyformandy/IMG_0115.jpg

Ok these are the settings for my overclocked Q6600, as it is overclocked to 3Ghz the settings are same for your chip (ie 9x333) the memory ratio is set at those settings as my ram (and yours) can run at 800, so the ratio lets the ram run at 800 while the FSB is 1333 (333x4) ram @ 1:1 woudl leave the ram at 667.



Http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll177/teddyformandy/IMG_0116.jpg

Scroll down to memory voltage and set this to 2.2V (this is the voltage specified in the SPD of the Dimms for Patriot 6400LLC ram)


Http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll177/teddyformandy/IMG_0117.jpg

Scroll up to Advanced dram configuration and press enter

Http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll177/teddyformandy/IMG_0118.jpg

If Configure by SPD is enabled disable it, thin set ONLY the top 4 settings to match mine (After a lot of tweaking I have changed the other timings, I suggest that you DO NOT change any other settings on this page.

Http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll177/teddyformandy/IMG_0119.jpg

press escape to exit as many times as required then save and exit.

this may cure your problems.