Help - my new P5E3 won't post

[cimurray]

New build - fans spin in case and graphics card but nothing happens. No beeps or anything then system closes down after 15 to 20 seconds. Thought the new processor wasn't supported (E8400) so swapped for an old celeron but still getting the same thing. I have stripped everything out to just the processor, memory and graphics card and still the same result. Any bright ideas of things to try appreciated. Full spec::
Asus P5E3
2x1GB OCZ DDR3-10666C9
E8400 3GHZ 1333FSB "Wolfdale"
Leadtek GF 8800GT
Corsair 620W modular PSU

[ctal]

Well, all that occurs to me are some things that may be obvious to you, but I'll list them -- is the EATX12V aux power connected? are the clear CMOS and chassis intrusion jumpers in the right positions? are the mobo mounting screws not overtightened, and have you checked to see that they are not shorting to any adjacent conductive signal runs? Have you tried removing and reseating the memory stick(s)? Is the cpu fan monitor connected to the mobo properly, so the mobo doesn't incorrectly sense that the fan is not running or not present?

Good luck!
-- Al

[cimurray]

Originally Posted by ctal

Well, all that occurs to me are some things that may be obvious to you, but I'll list them -- is the EATX12V aux power connected? are the clear CMOS and chassis intrusion jumpers in the right positions? are the mobo mounting screws not overtightened, and have you checked to see that they are not shorting to any adjacent conductive signal runs? Have you tried removing and reseating the memory stick(s)? Is the cpu fan monitor connected to the mobo properly, so the mobo doesn't incorrectly sense that the fan is not running or not present?

Good luck!
-- Al

I had fitted the power connecter behind the CPU - unplugged that and system no longer shuts off. Re your other points I will work through them and see how I get on - thanks for the ideas.

[fvbounty]

If you can get into the bios, use ez flash 2 to flash your bios to the latest bios so it will recognize your cpu.

[SRTDodge05]

You need these bios in order for the e8400 to work.
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-

[cimurray]

Originally Posted by SRTDodge05

You need these bios in order for the e8400 to work.
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-

I know - it's the age old problem. Fortunately I have the new BIOS on a CD ready to flash. It's getting to that stage that's causing me the problems and is why I'm using an old celeron. I now have the mobo outside of the case with only the CPU and memory installe?

[cimurray]

I think I know what's wrong. Having checked the specs for the Celeron I was using to try and get the machine going it is a 2.66MHz 775 processor running at 533MHz. However this mobo does not support speeds below 800MHZ! So all I need is a processor that runs at 800MHz, flash the BIOS and job done. But where the heck do you find a processor at midnight?

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by cimurray

I know - it's the age old problem. Fortunately I have the new BIOS on a CD ready to flash. It's getting to that stage that's causing me the problems and is why I'm using an old celeron. I now have the mobo outside of the case with only the CPU and memory installe?

If you have a usb flash drive use it to flash, really easy and safe, I used it on my QX9650 on my P5E3 wifi....

[ctal]

Originally Posted by cimurray

I think I know what's wrong. Having checked the specs for the Celeron I was using to try and get the machine going it is a 2.66MHz 775 processor running at 533MHz. However this mobo does not support speeds below 800MHZ! So all I need is a processor that runs at 800MHz, flash the BIOS and job done. But where the heck do you find a processor at midnight?

Yup, sounds like you've got it figured out. Guess you'll have to wait unless there's another rig handy that can be borrowed from.

Regards,
-- Al

[fvbounty]

My P5E3 wifi let me get into the bios with my QX9650 witch is a 1333 cpu it didn't recognize it but it ran and let me flash to the newest bios so your should too...I hope this makes since?

[cimurray]

Originally Posted by ctal

Yup, sounds like you've got it figured out. Guess you'll have to wait unless there's another rig handy that can be borrowed from.

Regards,
-- Al

False alarm I'm afraid. I have just cannibalised an E4300 from my wife's computer and tried booting with that - but nothing doing. As before the fans spin up, the hard drive is running and the DVD is getting power but there are no peeps from the mobo and no video signal. Trying to troubleshoot a problem without feedback is not easy. I am absolutely stuck and don't know what to try next - any bright ideas gratefuly received.

[Sir Skully]

Memory is it compatible with the mobo?

[SRTDodge05]

Do you have a PCI video card to try? Also try one memory stick at a time, could have a bad stick. Also unplug any sata and ide devices.

[cimurray]

This is getting more bizarre. I plugged the atx four pin power lead back in (having been advised previously that it wasn't needed) and everything fired up beautifully. So I quickly flashed the BIOS to the most recent version powered down then swapped processors to fit the new Wolfdale E8400. Started up the machine and it posted perfectly correctly recognising the processor. So I put everything back inside the case fired it up and .... only the fans would spin. No beeps no nothing. So I have dismantled everything again with the barebone mobo, memory and processor on my desk and I can't get anything other than the fans to spin. So it seems that everything does work but the problem is it does so randomly. I am going to leave it for now as I am too tired to do it justice but I will be back.....

[ctal]

You definitely do need the aux power connected. The manual makes clear that it won't boot otherwise, iirc.

-- Al