I have a computer I built myself. Spec is as follows: AMD XP3000+ processor ASUS V9560XT graphics card ABIT NF7 series motherboard 512MB Elixir RAM Maxtor 200GB hard drive Mercury 450W PSU. All ran fine for about nine months (with an ASUS A7N8X-X motherboard installed.) Then one day it refused to boot and the monitor would not come on (standby light flashing.) I read that this was a common problem with this board and tried to reflash the bios. It still wouldn't work so I bought the ABIT motherboard. All worked fine for a few hours and then the new board failed to boot and the monitor refused to come on again. I have just bought a diagnostic card. As soon as I turn the computer on it displays the code 'FF' which means 'the BIOS has passed control to the operation system'. So apparently all devices are ok? But surely it should display other codes and the computer tests itself rather than instantaneously displaying 'FF' as soon as the power is switched on? My first impulse now is to buy another motherboard but my last one lasted a few hours so there must be something else wrong? Can anybody please shed some light on this because at the moment my system is useless! Thank you all in advance. Gary.
It's possible that the PSU isn't powerful enough for setup - I'm not sure if Mercury is great quality, which might explain why it partially boots but then cuts out. I'd definitely hold off on that new motherboard til one of the techie-dudes here has a think.
As always its not the size of the wave its the motion of the ocean. Your PSU may well be the problem. If you got a new motherboard and it only lasted for a few hours, then it really narrows it down to your PSU. I had a similar problem to yours and all was fine when I replaced it. Remember that your PSU might and probably will deteriorate as time goes on, so its best not to try and use it or put new components in, as it may damage them.
When the first motherboard went bad I originally had a different power supply (I think it was 300W). I thought the 450W would be easily enough (to boot the machine at least) and, except for the few hours use, it is brand new. If I replace this what sort of power rating should I go for?
well assuming it is a lousy PSU, then go for either Sparkle or Antec, they do excellent PSU - a 450W of those would be sufficient, or go for a 500W just to be safe, and for future upgrades.
I've just been having a read about power supplies and it said that the four pin motherboard connection is just for intel cpu's - I had this connected with the second motherboard - is it possible that that has caused a problem?
well that certainly could have fried the motherboard, which would explain why it died so soon, if it did actually die. damn. did you do the same thing with your old setup?
No, I found the socket on the new motherboard and looked on the internet and thought it needed to be connected - I don't understand why and AMD based motherboard would have a socket for a power connector that is only required by Intel processors?
It's not an Intel-only thing. It's an auxillary power connector, and if your motherboard has it, there's a good chance it's there so you can have extra juice. Athlons do require some power to run, and instead of creating total hell for upgrading, most motherboard companies just used what was available instead of trying some oddball power connector (See Tyan's 760MP Thunder motherboard for example) which would require a different power supply. I also haven't heard of Mercury power supplies. Despite the wattage rating, this really doesn't mean much. The Amperage is the key. I'm not kidding when I say there are cheapo 600W power supplies with the same amps as my 350W Sparkle or Antec power supplies. That 600W is conditional, like that wattage is available only under certain temps or it'll drop to only providing maybe 250-300W, for example.
im having the same sort of problem. asus pk5 prem motherbored intell Q6600 cpu 9600gt grfx card 2gb of ocz reaper 1066 ram running off a clio great power x14 650 watt psu and mine dont boot up. wont bring moniter out of standby. ive had the mother bored bench tested a great cost and it worked fine all componants r brand new. any ideas????
hai your configuration doesn't suit for your PSU.........so go for above 500W it will be safe and good enough to go for
