GA-8N-SLI issues

[stevo1210]

I purchased a second hand GA-8N-SLI motherboard today and it had been deemed with a POST issue. I had a client the other day with the same board with the same issue but they built a new PC so they took that board back as well so I have no reference board.
Anyway, my issue is that the damn board will just beep at me with short and fast repetetive beeps that won't shut off until I switch the whole thing off. Sometimes it will POST and after a restart it screws up again. I changed the PSU and that hasn't changed anything. I tried resuffling my known good Kingston RAM into slot 3 and so far it hasn't exhibited any issues.
When I plug the RAM into slot 4, it is still OK.

Slots 1 and 2 will cause the board to not POST (I think). I want to use slots 1 and 2 so what else can I do?

Thanks.

[zandrax]

Re: GA-8N-SLI issues

This motherboard seems a cursed one: over 9000 results for GA-8N-SLI no boot
First check obvious things: make sure you've installed the last bios revision and check the board revision: rev 1.0 supports only Pentium 4 5xx and 6xx, a few 8xx and none of the 9xx while rev 1.1 supports almost all old P4 generation. Check all cables and jumpers, you never know; clear the cmos and load default settings.
Continuous beeping is related to ram: maybe your Kingston ram is too recent for the old nForce 4, there are rumors the GA-8N series works better with older modules like DDR2 533 and there isn't an official memory compatibility list [damn Gigabyte]. Try using only a module, in bios set all ram settings to their most tolerant values (e.g. highest latencies, low fsb); try all slots one by one, from first to fourth. If it doesn't work, try using old ram.

Keep us updated
Zandrax

[stevo1210]

Re: GA-8N-SLI issues

The RAM I am using is a Kingston 1GB DDRII 667MHz stick. This is the only 667MHz stick I own. The motherboard was apparently designed for 667MHz RAM. So far my system has booted without an issue for the last 4 days. I didn't use slot 1 or 2, but I used slot 3.
If I use slots 1 or 2, the beeping issue comes back. If I use slots 3 and 4, the beeping issue goes away. I would like to use slots 1 and 2 for another stick of DDRII for dual channel but I don't know how to get around the beeping issues.

Thanks.

[zandrax]

Re: GA-8N-SLI issues

If I use slots 1 or 2, the beeping issue comes back. If I use slots 3 and 4, the beeping issue goes away. I would like to use slots 1 and 2 for another stick of DDRII for dual channel but I don't know how to get around the beeping issues.

Hmmm, strange enough.
Try cleaning both slot 1 and 2 with a dry spray deoxidiser, check ram caps and chipset heatsink (remove it, clean it and make sure there is enough thermal paste): nForces are so hot I'm not surprised high temps may be involved in board lock-ups and system dizzyness.
Lastly there are a phisical damage, say a broken path or similar issues, or a bios issue: chances are quite low, though.

Zandrax

[stevo1210]

Re: GA-8N-SLI issues

I used compressed air to clean slots 1 and 2. No success at all. Still beeps when I plug some RAM into slots 1 and 2. Sometimes I may get lucky and I can boot with RAM in slots 1 or 2. But after a reboot, it goes back to the beeping stage. Slots 3 and 4 on the other hand work like a charm.

Thanks.

[zandrax]

Re: GA-8N-SLI issues

I used compressed air to clean slots 1 and 2. No success at all. Still beeps when I plug some RAM into slots 1 and 2. Sometimes I may get lucky and I can boot with RAM in slots 1 or 2. But after a reboot, it goes back to the beeping stage. Slots 3 and 4 on the other hand work like a charm.

This seems an hardware fault, maybe fake contacts or a short: if I were you I'd remove the board, check there isn't a screw, iron dust or something like that that is shorting ram contacts, then lie the board on a flat surface (a table) and try pressing slot 1 and 2 against the mainboard.
OTOH the board works with ram in slot 3 & 4 so you could forget slot 1 & 2 and simply check stability with Prime95 and memtest86+.

Zandrax

[stevo1210]

Re: GA-8N-SLI issues

Strangely enough when I took the board out of the case and tested the board on a cardboard box, RAM slot number 1 worked. Slot 2 didn't work whatsoever. When the board was put back into the case, only slots 3 & 4 worked. Sometimes slot 1 comes back to life but not for very long. Anyway, Stevo decided to ditch this board and buy an Intel DP965LTCK and he has been happy ever since he bought a new board. I even managed to have enough cash to fit in an Abit X600XT graphics card. The board was $40 and the graphics card was $15. My local computer store was having a closing down sale and saw these two on special.

Thanks.

[zandrax]

Re: GA-8N-SLI issues

Strangely enough when I took the board out of the case and tested the board on a cardboard box, RAM slot number 1 worked. Slot 2 didn't work whatsoever. When the board was put back into the case, only slots 3 & 4 worked.

So fake solderings, bad joints or maybe interrupted paths in pcb: you won't know since you changed board.

The Intel board is a good deal (has PS/2, Pata and floppy connectors too: an unexpected surprise knowing Intel's desire of getting rid of all legacy connectors); the Abit is adequate except for recent games and HD films, but it costed less than an used one so there isn't anything to argue.

Good purchase, Stevo.

Zandax