Ok Computer Commando, I'll get a new GB of ram tomorrow to try it and will even get a DIFFERENT make but as I'm completely inexperienced at this I didn't understand that if you say someone else has the same symptoms and says it turned out to be his ram then it must be my ram as well.

Now if you'd said that broken ram in or out would give the same symptoms (as in the post after) it would have been clearer even to me and I wouldn't have GONE and annoyed you. It simply didn't occur to me that broken ram would give the same results as no ram in the MOBO.

And what's the odds of both ram sticks being broken because I tried them individually?

Anyway, come tomorrow will get some more ram as a single gig is just about cheap enough and will let you now. If it is simply the ram that would make my day.Couldn't get any compatible ram locally as Intel recommend no more then 1.65volts. Everything locally is the same but for the voltage, which is 1.9V so can't use it.

I've contacted the company I purchased all the parts from. They don't think it's the memory. From the symptoms, they believe its either the mobo or PSU. I did get a mobo testing switch set but get nothing. No beeps and no leds.

They've given me some things to test. Here's what they asked me to do -


Remove the motherboard from the case, remove everything from the board apart from the CPU + heat sink and then clear the CMOS (refer to your motherboard manual for how to do this).

Place the board on a non-conductive surface, plug in the main power connector (usually 24 pin) and any extra power connector (4pin or 8 pin) the case speaker and the power button, and power the system up.

Depending on the board, you may receive a series of POST beeps. Make a note of these.

Add a single stick of memory and power the system again, noting the result.

Finally, add the graphics card (if using one) and again note the resulting POST beeps. Please be aware that you will need to plug in the six and or eight pin PCI-E power connections from your PSU.

Additionally, try swapping as many components as you can with other compatible components (PSU, motherboard, CPU, RAM, graphics card) to try to pinpoint the problem.

If you receive no POST beeps at any point or the POST beeps don't change when you add a component, then please contact us.

Note: Some motherboards have VOICE instructions detailing the problem, such as "CPU not present" and may not have beep codes. In order to hear these, you would need to have speakers connected to the speaker output on the motherboard (if present).


At least they pay for returns (unless they can START it up when they get it which is fair enough).

They've asked me to return the mobo, cpu, memory and PSU.

I'll post the results when I hear from them. Now I just have to resign myself to waiting.The steps they gave you are the same I suggested in an earlier post, so I hope they give you more of a clue as to what is causing this. I was leaning towards the RAM, but thats just based on personal experiences. Also, the PCI Express connector, (6 or 8 pin), to the GPU from the PSU is important. I'm not too sure what the symptoms are if this isn't connected, but it probably just won't work at all. You did make sure to connect this the first time, right?I know it's a bit late now but, I also think that it sounds like either a CPU or PSU issue, professionals with the proper testing gear would be the best to find out which.

In the mean time, do you happen to know if you were running at least the F3 BIOS version?Finally sorted. I've not had the parts back but the company have tested them and confirm it was a problem with the MoBo. They haven't said what the exact problem was but are going to replace the MoBo.

Thanks to everyone who suggested any possible fixes.Fantastic. Got the replacement Mobo and everything works. As I said earlier, it turned out to be a faulty Mobo. Might join the SBCC now.

Thanks again for all help and suggestions