YIKES!!! (MSI P35 Platinum tale of woe...)

[emotepix]

Hi all.

Chris here, longtime PC builder and user.

My last project computer, based on a P4800 Pro-M and a 2.0GHz P5 and 2GB RAM has been my server and graphics machine for around four years. It crashed out recently and so I had to rebuild.

Long story very short, I'm now trying to build another machine based on an MSI P35 Platinum, an Intel Q6600 quad core, 2x1GB sticks of Corsair DDR2 1.8v RAM, ATI X800XL card, Antec 500W Earthwatts. The Mobo, PSU, CPU are all new (from Fry's)

I'm getting 4xred LEDS (bad or improperly connected CPU - but it's brand new and I checked the connections several times) and no POST LEDS on the board. No boot-die-boot, not beeps at all from the loudspeaker, even when I pull both sticks. Have tried one stick in the A1 slot, nothing.

Bad Mobo? I noticed on the MSI site that the Q6600 needs BIOS v1.8 to work, but I can't even get to the BIOS screen to see what BIOS I have...

Very frustrating. I guess I'm going to return everything if I can't get this to go...


Thanks!
Cheers
Chrsi

[Namslas90]

EDIT; Try reseting the CMOS using The button by the battery, Turn off the power FIRST. Check the the instructions on page 2-20 your manual. Check the manual FSB jumper settings to ensure they are properly set for your configutration, page 2-19 of you rmanual.

Use the "User CP" button at top of post section and fill out complete system specs, it helps a lot, Thanks.

[emotepix]

Hey Namslas90
I've reset numerous times, both the button and pulling the button battery. FSB is set to 200MHz. I don't know where to look to see what that FSB setting should be. Also, the manual says that the POST should reset after four tries but so far nothing.
I filled out the system specs. Thanks!

[farlex85]

I've had bad experiences with msi boards. Asus or gigabyte tend to be much better. I had a very similar experience with a different msi board. I suspect mine has a corrupted bios.

Try removing the video card and see if that produces a sound. If not the board is probably dead. Either way, you should consider returning it and getting a different brand.

[emotepix]

Yeah, bad news. Pulled the video board, the RAM - not a peep from the speaker, when it should be complaining like crazy. Ah well. Recommended replacement MB?

[Wile E]

I suggest this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128086

[farlex85]

Thats actually the exact board I got to replace my busted msi, and its been quite solid. Lots of bios options, support for lots of sata and great for overclocking. I definately would recommend that one too. Look around on newegg if that one is not quite to your fancy and get a gigabyte or asus p35. You really can't go wrong, they vary in bells and whistles though.

[technicks]

I have the MSI P35 Platinum and it is one of the most stable boards i ever owned.
And i owned Asus and Gigabyte boards so that means a lot.

And i think that you did not properly mounted your cpu.
You gotta mount while the case is laying flat or else the cpu will slip out of it's socket.

[farlex85]

Originally Posted by technicks

I have the MSI P35 Platinum and it is one of the most stable boards i ever owned.
And i owned Asus and Gigabyte boards so that means a lot.

And i think that you did not properly mounted your cpu.
You gotta mount while the case is laying flat or else the cpu will slip out of it's socket.

He said he is a long time pc builder, so the chances he just didn't mount the cpu properly, while not 0, are pretty slim. Also, he is not getting any warning beeps, even when board and memory are removed, indicative of a bad board.

I am not saying all msi boards are bad. They are a big company for a reason and I am sure plenty of people have perfectly stable msi boards. Mine worked fine for a while. But I know that I am not alone in having their msi board fail on them. And it seems to happen much more frequently with msi mbs than gigabyte or asus. Both of those brands seem to produce better overclocks and have better bios features, and seem to remain stable for longer. Could be a perception thing, but his case seems to be another example.......

[technicks]

I said it because i am a long time pc builder to
And i had it happen to me 2 times that the cpu did not make enough contact and i got the same led warning.

[farlex85]

Originally Posted by technicks

I said it because i am a long time pc builder to
And i had it happen to me 2 times that the cpu did not make enough contact and i got the same led warning.

Its worth a double check, still the lack of a sound when trying to boot w/o vc makes me think bad board.

[technicks]

You could be right on the MSI failing more then others but honestly i see more people with defective Gygabite boards then MSI over here.
I had a Gygabite board crap out on me before i got the MSI.
But hey we all share different opinions.

After looking at your bios story i think you really should update the bios to it's latest version.
Could be that you have under 1.8 bios (would be weird tho) so it won't recognize the cpu.
Would not be the first time that someone must update the bios before getting it to work.

[farlex85]

Indeed it really is most likely perceptual. I had a failed msi, and others have had similar things, thus, and I love my new gigabyte, thus in my mind gigabyte>msi. Probably if the actual statistics about failed boards were laid out there wouldn't be much difference.

[technicks]

I must be honest. It took me a while to to decide to buy the MSI board because of all the bad stories going round. But once i got it i even got the same brand videocard a few weeks back.LOL I love it.

[technicks]

Originally Posted by emotepix

Yeah, bad news. Pulled the video board, the RAM - not a peep from the speaker, when it should be complaining like crazy. Ah well. Recommended replacement MB?

Dude that sucks. But try to not be so hard on the board.
Look at it like this.
If you buy Crucial ram and it dies that doesn't mean the other sticks you got are bad to.
Shit happens, But if i may recommend a board het the MSI P35 Neo2-FR (iP35 - S775).
It is the same board as the Platinum except the firewire connection.
It's a bit cheaper and still a very good oc board.

I got my q6600 to 4.1Ghz on my Platinum. So they do oc pretty nice. Keep that in mind.
But the board Wile E suggested is a killer to.