Remove all the components except for the CPU and the RAM, also try a different module.

dominusprog wrote on 2024-04-19, 12:38:

Remove all the components except for the CPU and the RAM, also try a different module.

Powered it on only with cpu, ram and post card, but same results. Gonna look out for a pair of rimm thats at a reasonable price. Spotted that what looks to be an missing cap (near the ICH 2), but since this board was working fine before, I don't think its gonna be the issue. Any ideas what might be the issue?

P4T-E uses RAMBUS RDRAM. All RAM slot should be populated, with memory modules or CRIMM. Photos could be useful.

After unpluging the cmos battery and applying power to the board, then pluging it back it, the board has posted. Although i was greeted with this screen. Do you think its BIOS corruption? In the meantime ill stress test it for any potential issues.

That's certainly BIOS corruption. While not desktop, I've seen similar corruption on a HP Pavilion dv5-1131en and the only fix was a emergency BIOS reflash. So yes, a BIOS reflash/update should be in order for your board as well.

The corruption in bios was caused by what i believe an cpu with bent pins. Slotting in the cpu it was inside it before seems to make it go away. Sadly, this board has socket problems. I need to take off the cooler, press down on the cpu, lock the cooler in place, then boot. Are there any solutions to warped s478 from coolers, or at least slow it down from happening? I know i can unlock the cooler or take it off, but I am curious.

still solid metal plate on the back will fix bending

rasz_pl wrote on 2024-04-20, 19:26:

still solid metal plate on the back will fix bending

Can i buy it or do i make it at home?

^stiff
holy crap I googled your board and there is nothing on the back https://pc-1.ru/pic/big/1217606.jpg very un-Asus of Asus 😮
What you want is called socket 478 Back Plate, for example $2 from electromyne https://www.ebay.com/itm/285796279637 https://www.electromyne.de/Accessories---Zube … ueckplatte.html
another one $3 including shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/176292818001 made from stiff plastic, not as good as piece of iron but should be stiff enough

The issue was indeed CPU socket not making correct contact to mainboard. Fix was to put an metal backplate.

Nice work on getting down to the problem and taking care of it.

I think more people are unaware of this problem than I like to see.
Sadly, this is not only the case with ASUS boards or socket 478. It's a problem with just about every generation of motherboards past socket 370 / socket 462 - the last gen to use CPU socket clip-on style coolers. As much as that retention mechanism style is hated (mostly because of snapped "ears" on the CPU socket for the cooler), it at least doesn't warp the motherboard. Everything else afterwards... not so much the case anymore.

From all, I think Intel stock coolers with push-pin design for socket 775 and 115x take the cake for the worst design... though some stock AMD 754/939/AM2/AM3 coolers are also pretty terrible too and will warp motherboards like a skateboard ramp, despite the backplate on these.
A properly-designed cooler should NEVER warp the board or otherwise use the PCB material to provide the tension needed to keep the cooler on there.

Quick followup. The board still has socket problems, even with the backplate. I have to take off the cooler, open and close the socket, tap the CPU with a screwdriver, put the cooler back on and clamp it down. Guess there's only reflowing the socket left...