GA-P35-DS3R rev 1.x, death on changing memory!?

[gcranston]

Help! Hi everyone, hope someone can give me some pointers of what I can try next, or whether its bad news.

One of my 4 Corsair CM2x1024-6400C4 memory chips (which have been running untouched for a few years) developed some errors recently (giving BSODs), and so they were all RMA'd to them, and replaced with 2x 2gb chips: TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX. Fairly similar ram essentially, both ddr2 800, but 2x 2gb instead of 4x 1gb.

Swapped old memory in for new memory, same way I always would, and it seems to have broken my computer! Bios got to checking memory 4gb, or whatever it exactly says, then froze. Now it won't even start to boot/post. Sequence of events on my computer is that when powered up, graphics card fan goes at full speed for about 1-2 secs, then slows down, then display comes on and usual bios messages. What is happening now is it just gets stuck at the first stage with the graphics fan on full, and never any progress or display from there. I have tried original working ram setup again, single ram module of new, single ram module of old, same result. I have also tried connecting the cmos reset jumper for 10 seconds with power disconnected, and then tried cmos battery out for 25 minutes. Still same. No bios beeps or anything, just a freeze at the first stage. I haven't changed or moved any other components at the same time, or even recently.

Any suggestions what might have happened, what I can try? Or has the new corsair memory broken my motherboard!? I don't have a second rig to try the ram in, and to be honest I think I'd be pretty scared to! I only have a laptop as a second machine.

Very grateful for any help!

[Vinster]

Which slots do you have the memory in? they 4GB pair should be in the yellow slots. fir the time being I would just run 1 stick in the first slot. (one closest to the CPU) and try again.

now is the system still in the case? if you have no luck with 1 stick, I'd take the motherboard out and set it up on the box (no not put an anti-static bag under it) maybe something goofy shifted and is not shorting to the case.

Vin

[profJim]

When you removed the CMOS battery, was the power supply switched off at the back of the power supply.
You might need to repeat the process overnight with the psu unplugged from the wall outlet, battery removed and the CLR_CMOS pins jumpered.

Carefully inspect the electrical contacts in the memory slots and each memory module for damage.
Re-seat all add-in cards and power cables.
Power off your psu and remove the A.C. power cable from the wall outlet before removing or installing all hardware or cables.
Test with each memory module installed, one at a time as suggested above.
Your new memory is Cas5 and your old memory was Cas4, but this shouldn't matter after you cleared the CMOS.
You might need a slightly higher DRAM voltage with your new memory.
With both modules installed, (G)MCH OverVoltage Control might need to be set somewhat higher.

Do you have a case speaker connected to your motherboard? If yes, are the any beeps from the speaker?

[gcranston]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.

I was using the memory in the yellow slots (1+3 I think), and yep the first one nearest the cpu when only one in.

I have disconnected everything from the motherboard now except for the cpu, and the atx power. Then with the graphics card in, I know its still getting stuck at the first stage, as the gfx card fan is going away full throttle. With the graphics card out, I have no idea what its doing. Fans power up, but no beeps (I do have a little motherboard speaker still attached). So this has made me realise that I can't rule out it being the graphics card (as I know nothing once its out!), so I'm trying to obtain a spare one to try and see if a different one changes anything.

The CMOS battery was out for 25mins with the power cord out. Do you think it matters whether I connect the clear cmos jumper pins, or remove the cmos battery? Cos I don't have a jumper handy these days unfortunately!

Things I still need to try -cmos battery out overnight -try a different graphics card -get the motherboard out of the case so that everythings back to the basics!

[profJim]

Definitely remove the cmos battery for the overnight cmos clear.
With the battery removed, it probably isn't necessary to jumper the CLR_CMOS pins.
Be sure to unplug the external psu from the wall outlet or the back of the psu.

Your case speaker might not be working.
Near the end of the mobo user manual you will find a list of the beep error codes.
My P35-DS3L manual says that 1 long + 2 short beeps = monitor or graphics card error

Your motherboard will NOT post if you don't have a graphics card installed or if the 4-pin ATX_12V psu cable is not connected.

Make sure that your monitor and video cable is working when connected to another system.

A jumper block from an IDE hard drive or IDE optical drive is a perfect fit for the CLR_CMOS pins.

You might be able to test with a single memory module installed in the second DDRll2 memory slot. (page 16)

If worse comes to worse, test with each memory module (one at a time) in each of the 4 memory slots.

It's possible that your power supply has failed.
Can you borrow another psu to test with?

[profJim]

I forgot to include: Make sure that all of the motherboard mounting screws are secure and that none of them are loose.

Is your cpu cooler securely attached?