| Next: November 6 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #242 Mark Do.. |
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pasquanel
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Maine
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 Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:23 am Post subject: beep, beep |
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Hi gang I'm having a problem with my computer it's one I put together and so far it's been running great. But now when booting up I get a series of beeps most often 2 and then 20-30 seconds later it powers off. It never gets to the bios splash screen but if I turn off the switch on the PSU wait a few seconds for the power to bleed off it boots fine and seems normal in every other way.
I'm suspecting the PSU but what else possibly? Loose ram? The PSU came with the case and is only 450 watts I am running 2 HD , a huge Asus cpu cooler, 2 DVW, several case fans and an ATI 4850 vid card with fan.
The CPU is a 1 1/2 years old.
What do you think? Once it boots up it runs fine for at least several hours my initial thought is the CPU wasn't ever really big enough and now the initial surge at boot is too much.
sys specs,
Win 7 Home Premium
MB Intel DG35EC
CPU Intel core 2 Quad 2.66 mh
Ram 8 gigs
Video ATI Radeon 4800 series |
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Baby_Tux
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Posts: 1242
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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Look up the beep codes for that MOBO, it will tell you what is wrong. That is what they are for. |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2747
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pasquanel
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Tux, Zlim, thanks for your input the problem I;m having is the beeps aren't always consistent. The bios appears to be Intel see below.
Property Value
BIOS Vendor Intel Corp.
BIOS Version ECG3510M.86A.0117.2009.0731.1421
BIOS Date 07/31/2009
BIOS Size 1024 KB
BIOS Starting Segment F000h
DMI Version 2.4
Characteristics - supports PCI
- upgradeable (Flash) BIOS
- allows BIOS shadowing
- supports booting from CD-ROM
- supports selectable boot
- supports Enhanced Disk Drive specification
- supports INT 09 and 8042 keyboard services
- supports INT 14 serial services
- supports INT 17 printer services
- supports INT 10 CGA/Mono video services
- supports ACPI
- supports legacy USB
- supports booting from ATAPI ZIP drive
- BIOS Boot Specification supported
- Function key-initiated Network Service boot supported
- Enable Targeted Content Distribution
I'm fairly certain the PSU is at best minimal so I have ordered a 750 watt
and will change the cmos battery just in case and make sure the ram is well seated. I was tempted to flash the bios but if I encountered the same problem I would be the proud owner of a very expensive paper weight! So I'll wait and see if the PSU and cmos battery work either way these are both things I wanted to do anyway.
This machine has been running for about 8 hrs straight without a hitch so it definitely seems to be a post problem.
Thanks for the assist I'll let you know what I find  |
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Baby_Tux
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Posts: 1242
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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Can't hurt ...
Check your cards, connectors, fans, etc. too. & clean out dust, if needed. (while you have it open...)
But personally, I'd forget the flashing - IMO, this should only be done to fix an actual BIOS problem ( something "screwy" in the BIOS code itself) & then only as a last resort. - & with a backout option build in the MOBO - or as you stated, may end up with a "door stop". |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 2240
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hmmmmm! A 450 watt PSU that came with the case may in fact be only a 300 watt (all day value) PSU.
The Intel CPU is a power hog anyway and 8 gig's of ram suck up power like a sponge, so I'm betting you're just plain running out of power.
Unplug everything you can do without for a while and see how it boots up and runs. Just for troubleshooting purposes, of course.
But in the long run you should be looking for at least a 600 watt PSU from a known good vendor.
My system is really LOADED and I'm getting along nicely with an Antec Earthwatts 650. I like it so much that I bought one for my 8 yr old backup system.
Most PC cases come with really cheap PSU's.
It it says Codegen or Bestec on it,,,, get rid of it ASAP!
You just can't argue with success! 
good luck,
The Doctor 
Last edited by drwho07 on Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Baby_Tux
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Posts: 1242
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:04 am Post subject: |
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450W? - now how did I miss that? - yeah, that IS a tad bit low...
Well, you soon will know  |
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PhotoCarp
Joined: Sep 06, 2007
Posts: 207
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:48 am Post subject: Re: beep, beep [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| pasquanel wrote: |
| ... 2 DVW... |
OK I'll bite.
What's a DVW? That's a new one to me. |
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pasquanel
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:22 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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It's a typo I've been known to actually overheat my spell checker  |
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PhotoCarp
Joined: Sep 06, 2007
Posts: 207
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:40 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Still scratching my head.
Should that have been DVD Writer? |
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pasquanel
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:28 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| yes it should have been |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 2240
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:51 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Last spring, I went into my junk box and scrapped out 14 PSU's. Some were fairly old but most were in service for less than a year, before they failed.
In every one of them, I found bulging or ruptured Electrolytic filter capacitors.
Most were OEM supplies and only a few were 'after market' supplies.
I saved the little fans and threw the rest away.
In most cases, the PSU is the last thing we think about and the first thing to fail.
What most PSU buyers don't realize is that the Wattage value printed on the PSU label is usually the "Maximum Peak Wattage" that the supply can produce during the one or two seconds that it takes to charge all the filter capacitors on the mobo and start up all the drive and fan motors.
Derate that printed value by as much as 25 to 30 % for the all-day operating wattage that the PSU can supply, without damaging itself.
That will vary greatly between cheap supplies and the top-O-the-Line supplies.
Cheers Mates!
The Doctor |
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pasquanel
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Doc thanks for the info I was hoping you might drop in. I wasn't comfortable with the PSU but hey it came with the case and worked for quite a while!
The rating on these things is somewhat misleading as we (me) assume this is what it's capable full time.
I did order one from NewEggg a 750 watt it's made by Sunbeam it seems they're new in this market but what the heck they made a hell of a toaster 
I'll keep you a posted as to how this works out |
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pasquanel
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| PhotoCarp wrote: |
Still scratching my head.
Should that have been DVD Writer? |
I like to believe that I think faster than I can type but the real truth is I'm a slow typer |
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goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9662
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:33 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Hello,
Two beeps on an Intel DG35EC motherboard is not documented very well, but it could indicate a "video card failure." Most likely reason would be that the video card is not getting enough power from the power supply.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 2240
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:54 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| pasquanel wrote: |
Doc thanks for the info I was hoping you might drop in. I wasn't comfortable with the PSU but hey it came with the case and worked for quite a while!
The rating on these things is somewhat misleading as we (me) assume this is what it's capable full time.
I did order one from NewEgg a 750 watt it's made by Sunbeam it seems they're new in this market but what the heck they made a hell of a toaster
I'll keep you a posted as to how this works out |
As a service tech of 29 years, I've had a lot of experience with power supplies,,,,
some of it good and a lot of it BAD. 
As an electronics engineer in the Caterpillar research labs, in the early 80's, i had to design and build a myriad assortment of power supplies, that absolutely, positively could not fail. I came up with a design for a series regulated supply that was totally IDIOT proof. Those supplies are still used today, as bench power supplies throughout the T&E Division.
That's 29 years of constant service, without failure.
I've purchased 450 watt PSU's at computer shows for as little as $19.95 usd and had them fail in the first month. (bad capacitors, again)
Sunbeam? No way Jose!
I did say "from a known good vendor", did I not?
That would have to be something like "Antec" or "Thermaltake".
I've used both brands, with GREAT success.
By the way, I'm still using a Sunbeam toaster that my Grandmother had back in the '50's. It's fully automatic..... you put the bread in and it slowly goes down and starts toasting.....a few minutes later it turns off and the toast comes up.
I've never seen another one like it. So you're right, "they do make a good toaster".
Oh, I have my Grandmother's Sunbeam Mixmaster too.
Cheers Mate!
The Doctor
Last edited by drwho07 on Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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pasquanel
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Posts: 517
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:19 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| Quote: |
By the way, I'm still using a Sunbeam toaster that my Grandmother had back in the '50's. It's fully automatic..... you put the bread in and it slowly goes down and starts toasting.....a few minutes later it turns off and the toast comes up.
I've never seen another one like it. So you're right, "they do make a good toaster".
Oh, I have my Grandmother's Sunbeam Mixmaster too. |
We had the same toaster and mixer needed to replace a gear in the little
"elevator" but it's still running at my Dad's house.
The thing that puzzles me is this machine runs fine once it boots up but will not boot unless I turn off the power switch on the PSU and back on again?
Aryeh, thanks for the reply you may indeed be right that video card has a gig of ram and it's own fan. |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 2240
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Go for a 600 + Watt PSU and say goodbye to your power up problems.
I can't guarantee it, but I'd bet you lunch on it.
(But, you'll have to buy my bus ticket to Maine)
I'll even opt for live Lobster. (Yum Yum!)
Laters,
Doc |
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