What do the POST beeps from my Motherboard mean and how can I hear them?

[absic]

Q: What do the POST beeps from my Motherboard mean and how can I hear them?

A: To hear the POST beeps you will need to make sure that your motherboard has a speaker attached to the Front Panel header. This speaker does not come with the motherboard in most cases, but should come with your PC Case. If your PC Case isn't fitted with a speaker you will have to buy one to hear the beeps.

The POST beeps indicate the following:
1 short: System boots successfully
2 short: CMOS setting error
1 long, 1 short: Memory or motherboard error
1 long, 2 short: Monitor or graphics card error
1 long, 3 short: Keyboard error
1 long, 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi Absic,  

I send a msg to Global Technical Service today,
 and I receive a answer about Post beep code for AMI BIOS UEFI :

Dear Customer,

It is based on the AMI beep code chart

AMI BIOS FATAL ERROR BEEP CODES

1 beep –  Refresh failure.-  (DRAM-Memory Error)
2 beeps – Parity error. - (Memory parity check error-circuit failure)
3 beeps – Base 64 K memory failure. - (Basic memory 64K address check error)
4 beeps – Timer not operational. - (Real Time Clock=System timer failure)
5 beeps – Processor error.
6 beeps – 8042 – Keyboard controller gate A20 failure.
7 beeps – Processor exception interrupt error. - (Virtual mode exception error)
8 beeps – Display (Graphic card) memory read/write test failure.
9 beeps – ROM checksum error.
10 beeps – CMOS shutdown register read/write error.
11 beeps – CPU Cache memory bad. - (malfunction-error - The L2 cache is faulty)

******** END OF MSG ***********************


I would imagine that he gave me the most accurate information possible.

The word '' beep'' should be understood as equivalent to the word'' short''.

I added in bold characters more details.

In manual of Gigabyte motherboard GA-Z77X-UP5_TH , I see page 31:
One single short beep = no problem is detected at system startup.
My comments: Maybe is a Short Beeps of varying duration than other 1 Short  


Absic, can you confirm if it is a long or short with your motherboard?

I am not sure if this is applicable to the motherboard UEFI, but I know that it is applicable for AMI BIOS:

AMI BIOS NON - FATAL ERROR BEEP CODES

1 Long Beep Post- Post has passed all tests.
1 Long, 2 Short Beeps - Failure in video system - (An error was encountered in the video BIOS ROM, or a horizontal retracing failure has been encountered)
1 Long, 3 Short Beeps - Conventional/Extended memory failure
1 Long, 8 Short Beeps - Display/Retrace test failed
And a additionnal 2 short Post - POST Failure    One of the hardware testa have failed

Source :
http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/amibeep.htm
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
On http://datumza.com/downloads/ you find Beep Codes Viewer 0.4.8.485
What does BIOS beep sound mean?
http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/faq-page.aspx?fid=816
http://www.beepingcomputer.net/p/beep-codes.html


Note : If you want a infos about AWARD BIOS (regular Bios,
 maybe not applicable for UEFI, I do not have this infos), check here :
What does BIOS beep sound mean?
http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/faq-page.aspx?fid=816

Extract about Award Bios, from Gigabyte website:

1short beep ：System normal. - No error during POST
2 short beep ：CMOS Error. - Any - non fatal error, enter CMOS setup to reset
1 long beep and 1 short beep：Memory error
1 long beep and 2 short beep：Graphic card error
1 long beep and 3 short beep ：AGP error
1 long beep and 9 short beep ：Memory Error. - Flash RAM/EPROM (which on the motherboard) error

Continuous long beep  ：Memory not correctly installed - Memory bank is broken or not plugged well
Continuous short beep ：Power supply unit failed



I hope you will be pleased with the addition of information.

I'll try to help you as best I can on the forum.

Greetings to you.

[absic]

Thanks for the extra information Gloup_Gloup, it's always nice to get further input from other members of the Forum.

On my GA-Z77X-UP5 TH I get a short beep (about 1 second) when I start from cold to indicate everything is fine. The debug LED display then goes through a sequence (too fast to see all of it) but it settles on A0 when it BOOTS into Windows normally.

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi absic, 

Thanks for the extra information Gloup_Gloup, it's always nice to get further input from other members of the Forum.

On my GA-Z77X-UP5 TH I get a short beep (about 1 second) when I start from cold to indicate everything is fine. The debug LED display then goes through a sequence (too fast to see all of it) but it settles on A0 when it BOOTS into Windows normally.

Good information, thank you for given accuracy.

Hope to meet again.