Working through ASUS M4N68T-M/nVidi failure and need second opinion...

[munkittrick]

Hello all! I'm working through an issue that has me out of my wits and under the gun. I purchased a barebones system from a reputable source that consists of my listed specs. I was utilizing the computer and began to get random BSOD and all indicators led me to a failed video card. My nVidia 9600GSO, typically a terrific 16x PCI-e card, simply stopped outputting a DVI-D video image. I reverted to the onboard (M4N68T-M) VGA video port to search for a failed or corrupted driver, but it everything appeared to be functioning as expected (minus the lack of video via the 9600GSO). I swapped a nVidia 8500 and managed to get DVI-D video output, but one of my onboard RAM slots seemed to be unable to recognize the full amount of the RAM. After reseating the RAM and back-up video card, I rebooted to (1)-long and (2)-short beeps. My Asus motherboard is using an Award BIOS and that seems to indicate a VIDEO error, but the inability to boot into my BIOS at all seems to indicate that my Motherboard is toast. Based on this and the system specs that I have in my profile, does it sound like a motherboard failure, or am I missing something in the way of testing that might turn up an issue more (or less) sinister?

 

[munkittrick]

Anything I can try here to get this settled?

 

[alphanumeric]

Even new parts sometimes fail. I have the a M4N68T-M V2 in my main PC, the one in my specs. Double check all your cables to be sure you didn't knock something loose when you were doing things inside the case. Reseat your RAM and all add-in cards etc.
If that fails to get results unplug and or remove everything not needed for the PC to post. Start with just the motherboard, CPU with heat sink, one stick of RAM, power supply and a keyboard. Unplug your hard drives, any add-in cards, and any headers for USB and front panel audio, until you can get it to post. If you have another power supply try that. If you have to, you can remove the motherboard from the case and set it on a non conductive surface.

EDIT: You may want Reset the BIOS to fail safe defaults to.

 

[munkittrick]

Double check all your cables to be sure you didn't knock something loose when you were doing things inside the case.
Reseat your RAM and all add-in cards etc.
If that fails to get results unplug and or remove everything not needed for the PC to post. Start with just the motherboard, CPU with heat sink, one stick of RAM, power supply and a keyboard. Unplug your hard drives, any add-in cards, and any headers for USB and front panel audio, until you can get it to post. If you have another power supply try that. If you have to, you can remove the motherboard from the case and set it on a non conductive surface.

EDIT: You may want Reset the BIOS to fail safe defaults to.

Every bit of this was done, that's why I'm out of my mind. I'm 90% sure it's the MoBo...but I was looking for a second opinion.

 

[alphanumeric]

If you swapped power supplies, that means it's CPU, Motherboard or RAM. If you have more than one stick of RAM did you try the other stick.

 

[munkittrick]

If you swapped power supplies, that means it's CPU, Motherboard or RAM. If you have more than one stick of RAM did you try the other stick.

But I get the beeps, so it shouldn't be the CPU. The motherboard is where it all leads back to, so I'll give it a try. Worst case, I'll have a back-up.

Thanks for everything.

 

[alphanumeric]

It could very well be the motherboard, that beep code would suggest that. Assuming you don't have an add-in video card plugged in and the onboard still won't work. I've had a motherboard that was indicating a CPU overtemp even though it was cool to the touch. It ended up being a bad power supply. I don't assume anything these days. However, if you don't have spares and you're going to replace parts to find out which one is the culprit. I'd likely replace the motherboard first.