ASUS P4B-MX posts, gives weird error - Tech Support Forums

MtvFreak · January 27th, 2008, 08:10 PM

After my other system fried (see thread here), I started putting together a back-up machine from the mobo up. Yeah, kind of desparately.

I bolted a clean ASUS P4B-MX mobo (that came from a HP Vectra vl420 which I never owned) to a generic case with a 420watt PS and all the minimally necassary connectors ( I can provide details to this).

Moved to quickly test with a a 3DFORce 2MX32 AGP graphics card, some verified working PC133 ram and a 1.8G P4. The board posted every time, then got this error:

"CPU Fan Has Failed or is not working properly! PC will automatically power down in a few seconds. Service the PC immediately to prevent damage to the PC"

THe error persists after resetting the CMOS with battery removed also. I was using a high perf CPU fan so I thought that the "aftermarket" heatsink/fan was the ironic culprit -- that CMOS/firmware wouldn't recognize its cheap fan birthmate. I ordered (overnighted actually) the *original* three lead CPU fan that HP used on this mobo, The one piece fan/heatsink is kind of cheesy but very quiet (in its glory the vectra was a business machine, me thinks). Installed the propreitary wonder and still keep getting the same error!

Googled HP support sends me here:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...dlc=en&lang=en

which wasn't much help.

I 've also tried repositioning the fan/heatsink on top of the P4, applying different pressure forces on the chip. Always used the silver glue for heat conduction. Also tried 4 diferent CPU's just in case there was something wrong with the CPU. Tried a generic PCI video card.I cannot check the CPU temp because the system halts before i can run any utility no matter what I do (unless I do it externally which I have no facility of at the mo).

Some thoughts: Since I am using a generic case, is it possible the the original Vectra case has some type of sensors below the CPU where the heatsink screws extend to and rest on?

There is also a "white" power-type connector on the mobo that remains open after the usual 20 pin AND The 4 pin power leads are connected. I don't know what this connector is for (but my power-on sw is conneccted correctly according the the PDF manual I found).

The board also has two more three-led fan connectors, One for the case fan and the other is is for the ?? Not sure of these need to be also connected for the mobo to boot. I did connect the case fan to no avail. Dunno much about the other (aux?) fan.

I have not connected any IDE devices at this point. Looking for suggestions to continue. I can provide any info very gladly.

Thanks for your help!

**RicheemxX** · January 27th, 2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

CPU Fan Has Failed or is not working properly! PC will automatically power down in a few seconds. Service the PC immediately to prevent damage to the PC"

From personal experience that typically means the header isn't getting the signal from the fan meaning either the fan isn't sending it correct, the fan isn't plugged into the right header or the header has gone bad. Since you've tried other fans and I'm sure you made sure you are using the right header, the its likely the header is just bad.

You can try fans on the other headers just to make sure.

You can check the bios for the option to turn of the warning and power down feature. It should be under system health (I think).

As for the extra 4pin lead I don't see what you might be talking about

http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/.../p4bmx-101.pdf

MtvFreak · January 27th, 2008, 10:50 PM

Even though the mobo bears full ASus signage, it was apparently made "special" LOL for HP. Here's what the OEM version looks like diagrammatically:

I was talking about the connector labelled "Power SUpply Fan Connector (desktop only) at far right corner. I apologize I didn't specify the connector correctly the first time around.

I appreciate the header suggestion. I have tried playing fan header musical chairs with no luck so far. I will try a few more combo and post the results. I really don't know what to do about the Power Supply Fan terminal because my case is generic and my PS does not have an external fan controller or switch as far as I can tell. Am I missing something?

Thanks for replying.

MtvFreak · January 27th, 2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicheemxX

...

You can check the bios for the option to turn of the warning and power down feature. It should be under system health (I think).

I have, and I have tried! Problem is the systems halts even in setup mode after 2-3 seconds. I have tried almost everything to edit the bios with no luck. I have reset the bios and have tried hitting many key combinations in order to enter and stay in bios set up. If I could just turn the fan check feature off... Then again I am not concentrating on this avenue as to avoid toasting any components if the warning is fact-based.

**RicheemxX** · January 27th, 2008, 11:01 PM

Thats just a 4pin fan type connection right? If so that shouldn't be an issue.

I totally missed the other 4pin ATX connection...guess I wasn't looking very close on that one.

MtvFreak · January 27th, 2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicheemxX

From personal experience that typically means the header isn't getting the signal from the fan meaning either the fan isn't sending it correct, the fan isn't plugged into the right header or the header has gone bad. Since you've tried other fans and I'm sure you made sure you are using the right header, the its likely the header is just bad.

You 've got me thinking here... silly question: would a "bad" fan header still drive a fan? ALl the fans I 've tried seem to spin freely and .. healthily.

I wonder if the brain expects some signal on the open ATX connection,t he one labelled Power Supply Fan. I am so tempted to pick up a Vectra vl420 PS. More $$ wasted (already spent $7 on the CPU fan)?