Powering up Oddity

Maybe I should clarify the boot power thing. It only happens once. When I come home and turn on the PC it will happen. After that I can turn it off, turn off the power at the surge protector and turn it back on. The problem doesn't occur.

I ran Memtest86 ver. 1.06. It returned no errors, I let it run for 1 pass.

See if this helps.

https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-11184-0.html?forumID=56&threadID=178711&start=0

Dalton

First off, thanks for the reply Dalton. I read the post you provided the link for. That situation didn't exist on this system. I have the re-start on power loss disabled already and this BIOS doesn't have a video always on. It does provide for power on by mouse and keyboard.

I think I may have solved the issue, I removd the 2 modules of CAS 2.5 and re-installed the CAS 3.0 I let the system sit for an hour with the power off at the surge protector. When I turned it on it up it booted right up. The 3.0 is set to run @ 200 MHz external, like before.

I will know in the morning if this resolves the issue.

I would stil like input on this or maybe address the reason the CAS 2.5 caused the problem (if it did)

Did I error by running the CAS 2.5 at a speed higher than the CPU FBS (CPU FSB is 333 MHz). Will it run if set it to match the CPU FSB?

My mistake, I mean thank you "Willcomp"

Have you tried disconnecting the surge protector? These things are only good for one hit and it may be that the unit is developing a power blockage and at the start running with limited Amperage.

This is far more common in low Power Countries where the Amperage has to be higher. What I mean here is a 110 V AC mains power as apposed to 240 VAC power.

Col

Yes I have tried booting without going through the surge protector. Same result first attempt no boot, second attempt boot.

I think this has something to do with the power supply, as changing memory didn't change anything. Tried it this morning and same thing happened.

I may have found a possible reason though, There is a lead coming from the power supply for a fan connection (male) the leads connected to it are COM and Data. I had this connectd to the PWR FAN connection on the main board. Perhaps there is an interaction between the power supply and the main board that is not supported by this main board. I was getting fan speed readings in the monitoring software I have installed (Asus Probe)

I have since removed the connection, the computer started up first time after sitting with no power cord connected after about 1 1/2 hours. I will test this by letting it sit over night with no power connected the computer.

It appears the connection I spoke of was the problem. When I tried it this morning the computer started right up.

Now, would using another connector that only has a single lead and adapting from the power supply lead to the main board connection allow power supply fan moitoring?

Ah ha!

How close to the CPU was the connector you had the fan plugged into?

There have been many instances of fans generating excessive noise on the Tach (speed) line for some motherboards.

I have a couple of motherboards that do not like having the case fans I have plugged into the fan headers near the CPU.
With a case fan plugged in near the CPU, I cannot enter BIOS setup and get erroneous CPU speed information.

Unfortunately, you need to plug a 3 wire fan into the motherboard connector in order to monitor the fan speed with software like ASUS Probe.

You can get front panel displays that show temperature and / or fan RPM that fit in a 5 1/4" drive bay.

Go ahead and give the points to wilcomp.

I was just throwing in my 2 cents as to why the fan is the source of your problem.

Chas

Ok an error on my part. There is a "female" three hole connector (fan type) that has two wires attached. They are identified as a COM and a Data wire. One on each side of the connector the center position or hole is empty. The lead is identified as a Fan monitor Connector in the paper work that came with the power supply, it is part of the "harness" coming from the power supply. There are two "Male" fan type (three pin) connetions on the main board besides the CPU cooling fan connection. They are identified as PWR Fan and CHS Fan. They both supply +12v to operate a fan if needed.

I had the Fan Monitor lead from the power supply connected to the PWR FAN connection on the board. But I developed doubts because the the computer didn't boot straight up after turning the surge protector off overnight or during my time at work.

It does not seem proper that the computer will start but the BIOS won't kick in after it has sat with no power to the supply.

Is the power supply defective? Is the BIOS damaged? or is this just a safety feature of the power supply? The one sheet of data (connectors etc...) makes no mention of this.

The computer works just fine other wise. And the boot problem doesn't happen if the power is left on at the surge protector.

Oh yea forgot to mention, it did today upon coming home from work and turning on the computer. Power had been shut off at the surge protector.

Here is link to the manufacturer's site. I found it on the "Tom's Hardware" site:

http://www.apextechusa.com/proddetail_power.asp?id=21

Did you try a different video card? Has it just started to happen after it got warm/summer? Is it in an AC'd room? Are other computers on at the same time?

For me at least, my video card doesnt like the initial bump into working if it's very hot. Secondly, my computer doesn't like it if other pc's are on and my ac, draining it's power. I have a 450w PSU and 1 cdr, 9800 pro, p4 3.0ghz.

Thanks Chas.

The fan connectors are just above the AGP slot maybe an inch or so from the CPU socket. Come to think of it did start after setting overnight once with out the the PWR FAN connection being used. There has always been a fan connected to the CHS FAN connection. I have used leads with just the single COM/data wire on the connector on other boards.

I will let it set for a few minutes before turning on the system this evening. If it works then it's time to return a power supply. I will also try using the power supply that I had in at first.

Yes I have already tried a different video card.

First of all, thank all of you for your replies and input.

Here is where I am now, I tried a different power supply. It was even more of a problem, I had to double start the machine after each shut down. My guess is that it is indeed a problem on the board and I should throw out the other supply I had on the shelf.

The owner of the shop that I get my components from suggested that I re-flash the BIOS. He said sometimes it gets corrupted. Possibly from the supply I had before this one. It was bad I guess, I had to return it for this one. When I installed the previous "new" supply the machine wouldn't start and I had to clear CMOS to get it to start on the old supply.

I have re-flashed the BIOS but the problem still exists. The shop owner will honor the warranty on the board.

Todays thoughts,

I have resigned myself to having the owner of the shop where I bought the board check it out and honor the warranty.

Where would I find information on checking a power supply for being in working order. I am aware of the plug in testers and that they are not reliable. I am refering to using a volt meter and checking the supply that way. I know that there is a tester that can be bought at Comp USA that leaves the back of the connector open so a volt meter can be used.

Could someone direct me to either a site or a book that will provide this information. What leads to check and ranges they should be in. The manual for this board states that it requires 8A on the +12V and at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. This power supply exceeds these requirements (on the case label)

Lesson learned: just because it's new doesn't mean it's good. Though you would think that above all manufacturers would check their power supplies before putting them in the box.

Then again as more and more computer components are manufactured overseas, quality and dependability are going to suffer.

I'm bummed-out.

Well I may get resolution on this yet. I spoke to one of the techs. at PC Club where I bought the power supply. He seemed to think it was a problem with the power supply. They will hook up one of their power supplies and see if the system will boot first time. If it does they will swap out the power supply for free. The one I bought is still within their 30 day warranty no hassle policy.

Well this ends as much a head scratcher as it started.

I took the computer to work so I could take it to PC Club so they could check out their power supply. I hooked it up at work and it started right up. It had sat un-used for a week?

PC Club checked their supply and it was ok, they even used it to boot another board (no drives connected) it worked.

I got the computer home and it started right up?

So here is where I am:

I'll use the power supply, if it fails it will go back to PC Club. They have a one year in house warranty. If the board fails the shop I bought it from will help me with getting it to Asus. The board has a three year warranty.

Thank all of your for your assistance in this.

This question was closed by the author