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I am trying to build a P4 system . I have a brand new MSI MS-6523 850 chipset mobo , with brand new retail P4 1.5 gig , 2- 128 megs sticks Rambus , brand new P4 ceritfied power supply . I can not get it to boot . It powers up but will not start the bios up . The light on the monitor just blinks , but the fan on the cpu and hard drive , floppy etc power up just fine . I tried everything I know but it wouldn't boot . I tried my ram , cpu , and power supply in a friends P4 system and it all worked fine . So I figured I must have gotten a defective mobo . I ordered another mobo and it does the same thing . Any suggestions ?

I've had some parts work on one setup but not on another and it is very frustrating. Usually the problem you are having is caused by either the video card, ram or cpu and sometimes the power supply or mobo. I've reseated each several times and eventually got it to work. Being seated right is something some mobo's are picky about. But that's a socket cpu so I'd reseat the ram or try just one slot then try different ram. Then reseat the video card and then try another if the probem still happens.

It helps of course if you have extra parts around to test. Good luck Phil

I am not sure what else to try . I have reseated 'til I am blue in the face and red in the buttocks

Did you try just one stick of ram and then in different slots? Also I'd then try different ram and a different video card and a power supply, that is if you have all of that. I know, it sux.

just qa shot in the dark here, but p4s have an extra power thingy don't they - nm if it worked in a friend's machine it's probably not that. did you try all the parts in the friends machine?

i had that with a bx system like blade said - just wouldn't start up for a long time - i finally put it aside and did it all one more time from scratch and it fired up and never had another problem - never did figure out what it was

don't know of any bbs on the 850 boards but there's probably some out there.

Do you get any beep codes when you power up? If you don't get any beeps its your CPU. If you get continuous long beeps, its a RAM problem. If you get a long beep followed by 3 short beeps, its your vid card. If it powers up, chances are its not your motherboard.

No beep codes . I am at a loss . I don't know what else to do .

You've probably tried it but I'd try re-doing the cpu too. Redo the heatsink compound and reseat it. And be sure all is correct in the bios for it. Too bad you don't have other parts to try in that setup. Sorry Phil, but I still feel it's either the cpu, ram or video card or maybe the power supply.

If you can dig one up, try a PCI vid card, just for yucks. Sure sounds like a vid card/ AGP slot though. Especially as how you tested everything else.


sethpa

The video card is good also . I checked it in my regular setup and on a friend's setup also . I have even tried a different case . Well I'm off to work , guess I have about 12 hours to grieve over this

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions . It might be noted I also posted this on a couple of other tech forums and have received more suggestions here than the other , larger , tech forums . Another example why PCA is the best forum site going !!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's the video card. remove the mounting bracket, then stick it in the motherboard. sometimes, the vid card won't seat right because the mounting hole is off a bit, and it pulls the back end out when you tighten the screws.

I had the same exact problem (except on an Athlon system). The problem was the BIOS battery wasn't working. So everytime i'd unplug the system (or cut it's power), i'd have to reset the BIOS and redo all the settings after i plugged it back in (even though they seemed to be 'ok'). It was strange.

Try resetting the BIOS.

What order do you have the Ram sticks in?

Try like this:


===========TERMINATOR===========================
===========TERMINATOR===========================
===========RAMBUS==============================
===========RAMBUS==============================

and if that doesn't work

===========TERMINATOR===========================
===========RAMBUS==============================
===========TERMINATOR===========================
===========RAMBUS==============================

or:

===========RAMBUS==============================
===========TERMINATOR===========================
===========RAMBUS==============================
===========TERMINATOR===========================


Seen this before W/P4 boards. They are often very particular about the ram setuo, AND terminators are Crucial.

Try out the board still connected to the PSU but not in any contact w/ the metal of the case? The case might be shorting it out. I've had this problem w/ numerous boards, FIC 503VA+ was one of the memorable ones.

Is there a CMOS clear jumper that might be set wrong?

Also do what tangluva said and try running it out of the case (on a non-conductive banch or tabletop).

I helped troubleshoot a co-worker's non-POSTing PC (that he had justa ssembled)... turned out he had two standoffs in the wrong spot which where shorting the board