[drwho]

Well, I've had my new computer up and running for about a week now, sofar I'm happy with the results. I've got a couple of things I need to get straightened out yet, but all in all, it turned out real well. Anyway, my reason for this post has to do with the motherboard (Abit AA8XE Fatal1ty). First thing when I boot my computer up, I'm getting five very high pitched beeps. Besides the fact that these beeps are annoying, there doesn't seem to be any problems with my computer. The computer posts fine, and I've had no problems with anything that I know off. I just want to know what these five beeps are supposed to signify. Is anyone using the same motherboard, or does someone know where I could find a list of what the different beeps from this motherboard signify. Someone from the Abit forums told me that the number of beeps on Abit boards is for the number of USB devices I have connected. I'm getting five beeps, and I only have two USB devices connected, a printer and a scanner.


drwho

[Tipstaff]

One of 2 things:

Depending on the bios 5 beeps can either mean a processor error, or process error. The first is obvious.. if your machine still boots into Windows this isn't the problem. The second tells you that while you were booting up the bios was unbable to process something, and it's just letting you know. If you look in your bios under the boot options you will more than likely find that you have other devices, like network or usb, listed as viable bootable devices along with floppy, hard drive, and cdrom. Try removing any USB/Network devices from that list, save, shutdown, and turn the pc back on.

[drwho]

Tnks for the reply, Tipstaff. I've double and triple checked everthing in the Bios that possible could be related to the boot sequence and everthing is in order, there is nothing on that shouldn't be on. My boot sequence is floppy, cd-rom, hdd. I'm still getting the five beeps when I boot up my computer, and am no closer to any idea as to what they mean. Again, tnks for the suggestion.



drwho

[Tipstaff]

My money is still on the processor, or the bios not registering the processor properly. As I said before most bioses uses 5 beeps to indicate a processor error (with some indicating it as a bios process error as I mentioned before).

This is gonna assume that you have had experience with installing a processor. If not, make sure to get some that has to do this next step:

Here's something to try. Turn your PC off, unplug it, and remove the heatsink from the CPU (make sure you ground yourself by touching the inside of your case first before touching the CPU!!). Then, remove and reseat the processor from the socket itself. Be careful though. If your sig indicates is an indication of the board we are discussing, then you will want to be careful with Socket 775 processors (the sockets are more fragile than the CPUs). Then, reseat the heatink, plug the machine back in and boot her up. Sometimes that's all it takes to get things back up and running.

Also, take a look to see what the bios is telling you about the CPU, and compare it to what you know (cache size, speed, bus speed). You might want to also look to see if there is a new bios update for you board. It could be that the bios isn't detecting the CPU properly (again, cache, speed, type). A newer bios might do the trick.

[md5]

5 beeps mean a CPU or memory problem with motherboards that have an AMI BIOS. Your motherboard has an Award Phoenix BIOS, that has a bit different beep error codes.

Have a look at this website:
http://www.amptron.com/html/bios.beepcodes.html
and this one:
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
and this one:
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

to find out a possible cause for these beeps

The most likely problem I can think of is a badly seated CPU or memory. Try removing and reseating your CPU as tipstaff recommended, and also try to remove and reseat the memory chips. If that doesn't help, have a look at these websites for more possible causes of these beeps

[drwho]

I updated my Bios late last night, but unfortunately it made no difference. I will try reseating the processor and the memory in the next day or two. I'll post back after I've done the job and let you know if it's made a difference. Thanks for your help, guys.



drwho

[drwho]

I just finished reseating the memory, even going as far as moving it from slots 1&3 to 2&4. Still getting the five beeps upon booting the computer. I guess the processor is the problem or so it would appear. Will work on that next.


drwho

[Vasot]

Originally Posted by drwho

I just finished reseating the memory, even going as far as moving it from slots 1&3 to 2&4. Still getting the five beeps upon booting the computer. I guess the processor is the problem or so it would appear. Will work on that next.


drwho

Strange why you did not choose a AMD 64 processor
Intel Processors are not the best for games and you wanted a Gaming PC right ??

Anyway
Maybe it's not the CPU

Search from your Motherboard manual what 5 beeps mean

[drwho]

My post at the top was meant for one reason, and that was to seek help or advice from some of the knowledgable people here at Driverheaven.net on what the five beeps meant, because I could not find any information at the Abit forums or in the Fatal1ty AA8XE owner's manuel. I have no intention of getting into the age old debate between Intel vs AMD. I do not mean to be rude, Vascot, but the reasons for what I choose are of no concern here, I simple seeking help and or advice on how to fix this problem.


drwho

[itchy5]

intels are overclocking monsters well thats beside the point, and well 5 beeps ummm if you ruled out memory and cpu then try unpluging everything but your harddrive and fans into the motherboard. next if that doesnt work then im fresh out . all i can think of is RMAing the sucker have fun

[Tipstaff]

Originally Posted by itchy5

.... if you ruled out memory and cpu then try unpluging everything but your harddrive and fans into the motherboard. next if that doesnt work then im fresh out . all i can think of is RMAing the sucker...

Cha-ching! Just remember that if it does stop the beeps that you should add devices back until you sort out which one is causing the problem. Nice call itchy5.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I took a look at the manual for you board, and it seems to list options for turning on/off certain items that will intentionally give you beep codes... I know, I know, it sounds wierd, but it could just be that your bios isn't telling you something bad, but rather that it has checked something.

One thing to remember is that a number of guys here are pretty damn good at solving problems, but nobody knows your motherboard better than the guys who built it. If in doubt, give them a shot. 'Sides, as itchy5 has pointed out, sooner or later you may have to call them for RMA anyways.

[drwho]

Hey guys !! Thanks for the support. To be totally truthful, I haven't had time to completely rule out the cpu or the memory yet. After I get home from work tomorrow night, I plan to test both the memory and the cpu. I'll post back and let you know if I'm able to make any positive determinations. Again, thanks for your help, it is truly appreciated.



drwho

[Son_of_Thunder]

ok, back to the boot order thing. try putting the HDD first and see what happens. unless that's already been ruled out of course

[drwho]

OK, here's what I've done sofar. I originally bought the Fatal1ty AA8XE from a Microcenter not to far from my home. I went back there yesterday and had a talk with their computer tech person. His name was Antonio. Anyway he told me that more than likely the five beeps was caused by a bad memory stick. He suggested I take one stick of my memory out at a time and then reboot the computer to see which would boot up with the beeping. Ok shutting the computer off, I removed one stick of the memory. Rebooted the computer, five beeps on the way to windows. Shut down, shut all the power off, switched out the memory sticks thinking I should not here any beeps this time. Rebotted the computer, hearing five beeps on the way to windows. Now what the heck do I do?

to son_of_thunder. I switched the boot sequence around so the HDD was first on the list, didn't make any difference either.


Anybody else have any suggestions, I sure don't have any ideas.



drwho

[Tipstaff]

Abit Technical Product Support:
Tel: (510) 492-0882

Abit RMA Requesitng:
Tel: (510) 492-0968

I was checking Abit's tech support forum, and I see a lot of people with post boot beep issues. In every case they mention problems with Ram timings, and the boards inability to adjust to them. The tech guy you talked to had a good idea, but I would go one step further before resorting to the above Tech/RMA numbers. That next step would be to try a different brand of DDR2. See if they would allow you to swap the ram, or at the very least allow you to bring in your computer to test out another brand of DDR2. Kingston would be the safer bet. They aren't the fastest, but they are stable. As I recall there were a number of complaints in the Abit forum from people when they paired the board with Corsair and OCZ Ram which is odd since those are the 2 best Ram companies.

Sorry I couldn't be of much more help. From what we've worked out your list of options are almost out. See about switch the brand of ram, and if that fails then you should call either Abit Tech Support, or give in and RMA it.

-Tip

[drwho]

Tipstaff, I think you've hit the nail on the head. Now that you bring it up, I remember seeing the subject of the memory timings being brought up in the Abit message Forums. The memory timings in my Bios at this moment is 4,12, 4,4. I will see about what I can do about swithching ram. Hopefully I can find something workable.



drwho