P35-DS3R boot problems

[chrishill86]

Hi all (first post!)

Here is my set up-

Intel Q6600 @ stock
Gigabyte P35-DS3R rev1.0 bios F12
4Gb (1Gbx4) Geil DDR2 Memory
Nvidia 8800GT

A few months ago the computer started to fail to turn on when pressing the normal power button on the case. At the time this was resolved by turning the power supply off at the back, waiting about 10 secs then turning it back on, and pressing the case power button again.

This has now evolved into a bigger more confusing problem...

I think i've figured out a pattern to the problems. So first of all the above "fix" no longer works. I now have the board and components out of the case on my desk for easy testing. Pressing the power button once does nothing. If i sit there for about 2-3mins continuously pressing the power button, eventually it turns on. So first thoughts were that it could simply be the power button on the case, so i tested this with another board, and it works fine. What is strange is that once it has turned on, I can power off and on as much as i want if i do it quickly. As soon as i leave it for over 5mins, the system will no longer power up. Once it's on, the system is also perfectly stable, tested by running prime95 and memtest over night.

Important information, is that i've individually swapped ALL components (inc PSU) with another LGA775 based computer and they all work fine. I've also tried a new PSU, different CPU, RAM and Graphics card. All hard drives/PCI cards have been disconnected, but the problem persists.

So to summarise after my rant:

- pressing the power button once does nothing
- continuously pressing the power button eventually turns the system on
- once the system is on, its stable and can be powered off and on easily, unless left for longer than roughly 5 mins
- all components have been tested in other systems and different components have been tried in this motherboard.

Hope someone can help and thanks for reading!

Chris

EDIT: Forgot to add - Bios settings set to load fail safe defaults, and battery removed for about 30mins then replaced to clear cmos. F13 gave the same issues.

[Dark Mantis]

Try replacing the motherboard battery. It obviously hasn't actually gone yet because you are not getting the prompt screens on startup but a failing battery can give this type of symptom.

[chrishill86]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I'll get this done later today (at work atm) and report back.

Chris

[Dark Mantis]

It should be an CR2032 battery that you need just in case you weren't sure. It is a cheap option and definitely worth a try.

[chrishill86]

Hi again,

Just got home from work and tried a brand new CMOS battery. Made no difference. It still refuses to boot first time and takes a lot of presses to get it to turn on!

Any other suggestions or do you think the board is dying??

Thanks again,

Chris

[Dark Mantis]

Well Chris from your description of the problem I would say it is faulty or dying capacitors. Just where they are is another matter but I would think that from the lenght of time before discharge it would be the PSU. But as youi said that you have already tried another PSU that is unlikely. What power supply did you replace it with? If it wasn't powerefull enough it would have the same effect

[chrishill86]

The psu I've been using for the past 2 yrs has been a ocz stealthxtreme 600w. I replaced it with a friends 750w psu from his system, which as mentioned gave the same results.

[Dark Mantis]

In that case I would have to put it down to the ones on the board which would mean an RMA. I can't see any other option.

[chrishill86]

That was my fear! Any idea of the turn around time? Would I be posting to the uk?

[Dark Mantis]

As far as I am aware it is dealt with at a UK level. Gigabyte don't even charge the postage any more which I think is very decent of them. As for the time it will take I really don't know. I would guess at a couple of weeks but that is only a guestimate I am afraid.

[chrishill86]

Hi again,

Sorry to be a bit of an idiot but how exactly doi return the motherboard? It's about 2.5 years old so im asuming the shop won't want anything to do with it? Where on the gigabyte website do i go? It's a very confusing website!

Cheers again,

Chris

[Dark Mantis]

If you email Gigabyte on returns@gbt-tech.co.uk they will arrange it. You will need an RMA number first of course.

For future reference you go to the "Support" page and follow the instructions.  http://www.giga-byte.co.uk/support-downloads/support-downloads.aspx