5 beeps on startup

Hello all,
I've been happily enjoying my A8n-SLI-Deluxe board for a little over a year now with only 2 real problems (chipset fan and onboard audio dead). Earlier this week I got a new video card and I put it in earlier tonight. After installing it into the PIC-E 16 slot (taking the old one out obviously), all I get is a long pause and then 5 short beeps. There is no video and I can't find a reliable description of the beep code sequence. I swapped back to the old video card which worked fine for over a year...same problem. I stripped the machine down to bare bones, just cpu, psu, 1 stick ram, and video card, still get same 5 beeps with no video. The green light on the MOBO lights up and all the fans spin. I don't think it's the PSU because it's worked fine for over a year with the old card, but now I get nothing. I am worried that it's the MOBO or specifically the pCI-E slot. I have reset the CMOS and removed the battery multiple times.

Any help you guys can give will be greatly appreciated, I would almost prefer to find out the mobo is dead instead of my brand new video card.

Old Vid card: ATI Radeon X1300 256 mb
New Vid card: ATI Radeon X1950 pro 500mb

Five beeps, I believe two short and three long (or the other way around) is a video card error report. Are you sure that you hooked up the six pin power to the new card? It may be as simple as that.

Try this with the old card. Remove it and reseat it in the slot. While the machine is unplugged from the wall, reset the CMOS one more time. Just move the jumper from 1/2 to 2/3 and let it sit several minutes, then move it back. Plug the machine back into the wall/UPS/power strip and see if it boots cleanly. If it does, we'll move on to the new card. If it does not, it well may be the motherboard gave up the ghost trying to power the new card.

I agree it is probably a power problem. Assuming that your PSU is the TR2-430W there is only 18 amps available on the 12v rail. I think that 30 amps on the 12v rail(s) is recommended for a fully loaded system (cxard doesn't require all 30 amps but the system needs, plus the cards needs, could approach 30 amps).

The extra load may have knocked the PSU off line. Let it sit for awhile, unplugged, and then try and start with the 1300 installed. If no-go, try another PSU if possible, with the 1300 installed. Meanwhile, start looking for a beefier PSU. Plan on spending around $100 for a quality unit.

Take a look at the PC Power & Cooling 610 silencer. $130 shipped is a bit pricey but when you move up to a bigger rig you'll have plenty of surplus power to handle anything you throw at it. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....encer&x=27&y=32

If $130 is too much take a look at the FSP 500w Blue-Storm II. $95 shipped. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...%2bblue%2bstorm

That Blue Strom is the minimum I'd invest in.

Thanks a lot for the replies, I had pretty much condemned myself to having to purchase a new motherboard (and since I have socket 939 = limited options). I'll definitely see if a new power supply works out. I just assumed that since I had the x1300 in there, the power supply would be more than able to power it up (since it has for a year now), but I did not imagine it might just be knocked out.

Thanks again

I got the new power supply in today (PC Power & Cooling 610 silencer) and tried booting with the bare bones setup (CPU, RAM, Vid card [1300], and fans) and unfortunately I still get the same beep codes. A single initial beep, 10 seconds later by 2 fast and 3 long beeps. Still not video going to monitor. I tried swapping in the new video card to see if maybe the old one is dead, but still no video. At least with the new video card the machine was a lot quieter when booting than with the old video card. But I suspect it means I am going to have to get a new motherboard...

I suppose my options are to search for another socket 939 board or start looking for upgrades to new processors/Mobo/and Ram. I think I'd prefer finding a new 939 board because I've been quite happy with all the components so far, but it's mostly that I don't have much time to catch up the learning curve towards researching new parts...

Any recommendations? Search for replacement 939 or go for new parts?

Thanks for all your help

That's rough MadDog. It probably is the board. Unfortunately finding a new 939 mobo will be tough. I guess you have two choices:
1. Find a used A8N32 SLI Deluxe or Crossfire capable mobo. A new high end 939 board is going for $230 plus dollars so I'd look for a used one.
2. Bite the bullet and move up to the 775 world while prices are cheap and the gear is awesome.

My recommendation would be:

1. Asus P5K Premium Black Pearl $200 shipped http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA4802835#
It has 8 phase power, P35 chipset, is crossfire capable and is better than my Deluxe which costs more. This thing is watercooling ready as well. The P35 chipsets are probably the best Intel has ever designed. There is an X38 around and an X48 coming out but they cost more and provide little advantage if any over the P35.

2. Intel E6750 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo CPU G0 stepping $195 shipped http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1938254
or
E6850 at 3.0GHz G0 stepping $267 shippedhttp://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1938255
or
Intel Q6600 Quad Core G0 stepping $278 shipped
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1938452

G0 stepping is the best at the moment as it runs cooler and overclocks better. They are incredible chips and overclock so easily it is scary.

3. 2Gb of Team Xtreme RAM DDR2 RAM This stuff in particular $97 shipped http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820313005
or
Corsair XMS at $54 shipped after a $40 rebate http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA4330522

The above will make a very, very nice, incredibly fast system but you're looking at anywhere from $400-$500 plus an OS reinstall. Going to another Nvidia chipset 939 board would be a lot cheaper and you could probably get away with no OS reinstall. So, a new 939 board at at $150-$250 or a new rig at $400-$500. Personally I'd bite the bullet and move up as the performance is so far beyond what you are running now that you may regret dumping more money into the 939 but I don't know your budget.

Something to think about is you really don't know how many parts may be damaged on the 939 setup so you may get the board and still be dead in the water.

I agree with Merc, upgrading now might be the best bet.

Merc is also right on with the parts. A different option with the mobo would be this one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128050

I used it in a recent build and it setup very easy and is extremely stable. Nice part is that its only $129, and comes with some essential features like being able to have the memory voltage in the mid 2.5 range.

Good luck with it.