Motherboard installation problem...

[mark01]

I just installed a new motherboard into a new case. The CPU was pre-installed. I ordered a 256 MB PC-133 Ram chip to put in it. Well I put it in and it worked just fine. After a few times of turning it on & off, it stopped working. The power-supply (atx) would turn on and the cd-drives would power up, but no display. The motherboard takes up to 512MB of pc-133 ram in one slot. I took the ram chip out, and put it back in again, made sure it was snug, and powered up. It worked fine, then I turned it off and when I tried turning it on again, I get no display again. Am I correct in thinking that it is a RAM chip problem??? Should I take the RAM chip back and try a different brand? (I bought generic that will work in 99% of motherboards, so it says) Any ideas??
AMD T-bird Athlon 1Ghz 266mhz front end bus

 

[schu]

Do you hear any beeps when you get a blank screen?

This is the motherboard check if everything is okay. If so, check you motherboard manual to see if it is a RAM problem.

It may be that you motherboard RAM connector is faulty or just the RAM is faulty. I do not think you need another brand, just replace you RAM first. The brand may be okay, just the RAM faulty. Best if you can check it out in the shop first.

 

[mark01]

i hear no beeps.

 

[paparazi]

Try pulling the graphics card out and then in again!!
I had exactly the same thing last week, all the fans on, no beep, just reseated the graphics card. Martin.

 

[mark01]

The video card is built in to the motherboard, so I can't pull it out. Thanks for the thought though!

 

[Mulga]

As well as the video card any faulty or badly seated expansion card (sound, nic, modem etc) can cause this problem. Try removing all cards abd see what happens. I have also known faulty CD-ROM or Floppy drives to do it, and even in one case a faulty system speaker. Another faint possibility is the mobo shorting out on the case. Finally, faulty cpu. If it was the RAM you should get beeps.

 

[schu]

Just eliminate all possibilities first.

take out all unnecesary cards, disconnect all drives, except primary harddisk etc.

Boot, see if you have problems.
You say it may be the RAM, so change the RAM if you have any or borrow some from a friend.

And of course when you boot, make sure that Monitor connector is firmly in place. Some systems do not boot if it cannot find a monitor.

If it works when everything is pulled out, replace each item one by one, hard disks, the CDROM, sound card, network card and so on.

Remember for HD and CDROM you just have to disconnect the power, this avoids the problem of putting the HD cable in the wrong way.

Of, course there is the possibility you Mobo is faulty. There are some simple cards which plugs into your Mobo to check these things and they are not expensive. Just a matter of whether you really need it or not.

 

[mark01]

The thing that is wierd, is that I can get it working perfect again if I take the RAM chip out, then put it in. And it works good. Then after I reboot, or restart, it stops working. Could it still be a Modem or CD-drive???

 

[ceh4702]

Check the voltage settings/jumper for the RAM and if it has a jumper for the bus speed the RAM is on. It is possible to get RAM of the right type that will work in another computer and have it be incompatable with your motherboard.

What type of RAM is it? I wouldnt try to save money on RAM. Micron RAM is on sale at "

http://www.crucial.com"

with free shipping in the US. They have a memory selector thing on their website that tells you the recommended RAM to purchase. Some RAM has ECC or Parity, and you could just have the wrong type. I have never gone wrong with memory from Micron. There could also be a setting for RAM in the BIOS.

Why don't you call these guys up where you bought the RAM and see if you can just trade or something. Sometimes an OEM Custom Computer shop can just use your RAM in their computer and order you some more. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[mark01]

The jumpers & settings are all right. It is PC-133 & I set the bus to 133 mhz. Works real good when it works, but doesn't work most of the time.

 

[jimcr]

You stated that if you remove the ram chip and reinstall it everything works fine , It could be that you have some bad ram , a crack on the ram board or a bad solder joint . I would try a different stik of ram and see if that takes care of the problem.

 

[mark01]

Well I called the company I bought the RAM from, and they said it was not a RAM problem. I call the company I bought the motherboard from, & they told me to send it in, & they would replace it. So I will have to wait & see if it was the RAM or not.

 

[Rhoon]

The problems with computer companies is that they all say its not their fault. Deny everything, let someone prove it if they want to. I'm assuming you have more than one ram slot, try it in the others. I had a bad ram chip, BSOD and I got every fatal error from A through E. Replaced the ram chip, everything was spiffy. The connectors could have been dirty too.

Good luck in your journey.

Andrew