I'm asking for any advice here that may still help me from becoming suicidal here (sarcasm intended

I just bought a completely new $2k system last week, finally assembled everything last night, but after assembly it won't POST (can't get into BIOS, no video signal) with the Q6600. I have a Pentium 4 550 3.4GHz that I tried using, and I could get the motherboard it to post only a few times with it, but only after fiddling with the PSU like a mother - I would have to refresh the PSU by flipping the switch several times while hoping that my monitor light would switch from Standby (yellow) to green.

(the same problem occurs on my ASUS P5LD2, which I used this P4 on)



Specs:

ASUS P5K Premium/WiFi-AP
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - G0 Stepping
Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W Continuous @ 40°C
Patriot eXtreme Performance 4GB (2GB X 2) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
EVGA GeForce 8800GTX 768MB
Samsung HD501LJ 500GB SATAII 16MB Cache


The problem:

• When using the Q6600 (G0 Stepping), everything powers on but no POST or system beeps whatsoever
• When using a Pentium 4, the system will POST only after refreshing the power (flipping the switch, etc) several times

What I have already done/checked:

-I updated the BIOS to the latest version (0204) using the Pentium 4 CPU, because on the ASUS website it said that the Q6600 (B3 and G0) wasn't supported until this version

-All fans start up correctly
-Checked application of thermal paste on CPU - normal
-Q6600 runs at an adequate low temperature / no damage whatsoever, but can't POST with it
-Pentium 4 runs at an adequate low temperature / but I CAN POST (see above: refreshing power)
-Both 6-pin power connectors are connected to the 8800GTX
-Both ATX12V (2x2) and ATX (2x12) are connected to motherboard
-Motherboard is not being shorted anywhere
-Power to system from AC outlet is adequate and fine - tested in three different rooms
-Monitor is fine
-Monitor cable is fine
-8800GTX is fine (because it works when using the P4)
-Power supply is fine (works with the P4)
-New BIOS version 0204 is fine and in working condition (with P4)
-Tested with a GeForce 6800 and a GeForce 8800GTS - same problem
-Memory is fine (because it works with the P4)?
-Tried only one memory module - same problem
-Tried no memory modules - beep code is normal for no memory
-Removed everything except CPU, CPU cooler, power switch, power LED - same problem
-Tried plugging the computer into another wall outlet in another room - same problem

-Reset CMOS, both by shorting the jumper and removing the battery for a few minutes - same problem



Now before anyone tells me to RMA my motherboard, I want you all to read this similar issue that I found on another forum:

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=78475

Apparently the guy couldn't POST his P5K until he cleared the CMOS each time. And when he would change a setting it wouldn't POST back up. He tried three different boards (his first one, an RMA, and a third from another retailer) and still had the problem.

While it may not be quite the same issue, it does raise concerns. I am doubting whether or not I have a bad motherboard. However, my only choices for this problem would be the CPU (if that's even possible), the BIOS, or the motherboard.


ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Thanks in advance

You said you could get the MB to post only a few times with the P4 in there. Then you said THAT verified your PSU was fine. The PSU your are using didn't run the P4 either. It kinda tried to. I would swap out the PSU. If that didn't work I would RMA the MB. When you reset the CMOS jumper, be sure to unplug the psu from the wall and remove the battery, then reset the jumper.

what's your whole specs ?

It's listed under specs.

GAHH!! FOUND THE PROBLEM!!

THE LGA 775 SOCKET HAD 2 BENT PINS!!

thank you ASUS for sending me a defective motherboard, i did NOT put those there.

I will be returning this to Newegg and purchasing a working one tonight

Dude, there's a known compatability issue with the P5K Premium and the Samsung HD501LJ hard drives. I just built a quad core system w/ P5K Premium & HD 501LJ and can't get WinXP to install. I replaced the drive with another exact model and that one does it too. But I could successfully install XP onto my older Hitachi SATA1 drive. People on Asus's forums are having the same problem.

OK no guarantees.. BUT there seems to be some weird conflicts with the P5K and certain video chipsets, mine was a ATi 2600 chipset.. when I tried other cables, LCD monitors, motherboards nothing.. even another 2600 chipset, and the only way I could get it to POST is via a DVI to VGA converter on the back of the graphics card. This past week I tried a video card from N Vidia and it posted fine with a DVI cable and no converter, go figure I mean this chipset is designed to work in crossfire mode and that is only ATi chipsets..strange and ATi and ASUS pretend they have never heard of the issue, I will not be buying ASUS again... if you want to get POST then you need to use a VGA plug converter for your graphics card

OK first off even if there were conflicts with the above hard drive you should at least get an ASUS splash screen and a partial POST..

Anyway no guarantees.. BUT there seems to be some weird conflicts with the P5K and certain video card chipsets, mine was a ATi 2600 chipset, but I don’t claim to know the entire list of others that might have similar issues..

I 1st tried other cables, LCD monitors, motherboards nothing.. even another 2600 chipset, and the only way I could get it to POST with a 2600 graphics card is via a DVI to VGA converter on the back of the graphics card as my LCD has the ability to use a DVI or VGA cable.. I suggest anyone with a similar issue try this if you are needing to get the POST and get into BIOS.

This past week I tried a video card from N Vidia and it posted fine with a DVI cable and no converter, go figure! I mean this chipset is designed to work in crossfire mode and that is only ATi chipsets… strange and ATi and ASUS pretend they have never heard of the issue, I will not be buying ASUS again they have poor customer service at best and with a multi billion dollar firm you think they could locate their customer service in an area with a better bandwidth.. Their website is horribly slow... if you want to get POST then you need to use a VGA plug converter for your graphics card. This is aggravating at best as the motherboard is designed for one to be able to tweak the BIOS, just ridiculous that one must put this stupid connector on every time should they want to get in BIOS. Other than this without this connector the PC will usually boot in 30 or 40 seconds direct to Windows welcome screen.

Dude did you ever think that it might be a difference between the ATI card and the nVidia card? Not the motherboard. After all you did say it worked with the DVI cable on the nVidia card and not on the AIT card without the converter. So that would eliminate the motherboard as your problem.

Its most likely the DVI cable because if I remember correctly there are two differnet types of them. Maybe your monitor cable is incorrect for use with the ATI card.

I bet if you hook up that ATI card and set up the BIOS like you want then remove the converter and reboot you would find it may not show the BIOS boot screens but Windows will work.