[RESBAK]

After years of faithfully running, my area-51 7500 suddenly stopped working. i was playing StarCraft II last night, turned computer off, went to sleep and suddenly next morning the computer wont post. it will emit a somewhat long, stuttered beep (i call it somewhat long because it is not as long as the memory error beep).

Hoping for a quick repair, I opened the case, reseated the rams and video card and still getting the same beep. now, i removed all rams and opened the pc and i got a one really long beep. plugged back the rams and the somewhat long, stuttered beep came back. so i figured it is not a ram issue.

Next, I removed the video card to see if I will get a different beep. The somewhat long, stuttered beep remained. Plugged video card, unplugged video card, beeping sound remains the same. Am I right in thinking this might be a video card problem?

Any reply is appreciated, I really need to get this pc working because I also use it for school and work. And i am broke and cant afford another pc

PC: Alienware Area-51 7500
OS: Windows Vista
BIOS: not sure what, maybe AwardBios

Edited by RESBAK, 18 October 2010 - 01:00 AM.

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Hi there, sorry to hear you are having this issue.
Possibly a bad PSU, can you loan a known good one to try, are these the specs for your computer, the MB and PSU in particular; http://www.hexus.net...tem=6576&page=2

EDIT: Try clearing the CMOS by removing the silver CR2032 batty on the MB for a few minutes and then replace it, use a new one if you can, if you get a screen you will need to re-set the time and date in the BIOS and save and exit, also if that is your MB at the link above try putting the video card in the other pci-e slot.

Edited by phillpower2, 18 October 2010 - 08:07 AM.

[phillpower2]

Hi there, sorry to hear you are having this issue.
Possibly a bad PSU, can you loan a known good one to try, are these the specs for your computer, the MB and PSU in particular; http://www.hexus.net...tem=6576&page=2

EDIT: Try clearing the CMOS by removing the silver CR2032 batty on the MB for a few minutes and then replace it, use a new one if you can, if you get a screen you will need to re-set the time and date in the BIOS and save and exit, also if that is your MB at the link above try putting the video card in the other pci-e slot.

Edited by phillpower2, 18 October 2010 - 08:07 AM.

[Spirit Wolfe]

Puzzling for sure!

Well if the "stuttering beep" as you call it that you are hearing and it is not POSTing... then it could be the CPU, itself.

Some boards will not allow the PC to to POST or turn on if the CPU fan is bad or not supplying the correct RPMs to the BIOS. I am thinking if it is your PSU then it also might not supply the correct voltage to the CPU.

I am in an agreement with phillpower2, cheapest way first... CMOS Battery (change out),then PSU.)... You might want to check you fans and make sure they are cleaned out and still running ok, with a can of compressed air. do your computer as well. It could be just overheating just a tad.

I am kind of inclined to steer away from your PSU for the moment because it sounds like you are getting at least something on the screen, right? If it is blank then I would try your poser supply next.

I just hope it is not your CPU because you will probably not be able to find that flavor of CPU anymore never mind the MOBO itself.

Hope this s...

[RESBAK]

Just want to let you guys know I have solved the issue. The computer gives the same somewhat long, stuttered beep with or without the video card so I am fairly sure of the video card problem. Slapped a new videocard and presto, the computer now works. I tested the vid card on another pc and confirmed that the old videocard is dead

Edited by RESBAK, 19 October 2010 - 01:04 PM.

[phillpower2]

Congratulations on resolving the issue and thank you for letting us know the solution it may save someone else a headache