I removed the RAM from another machine that has a QC5000-ITX / PH board. I connected the PC speaker, it gave me a sequence of 3 beeps; so, the PC speaker was for sure working..

Then, on that board, I reset the CMOS with the jumper, and also briefly removed the battery, and it started to boot up again. I had tried it with the RAM that was in initially, and then again changed to the RAM from the first machine, and - it again stopped working.

The RAM modules are from a different vendor, and they also differ in speed, 1333 vs 1600 mghz. But both modules work in two other Desktop machines..

So, then, again, resetting CMOS, I put in yet another module (a slower one even), it booted. I changed the memory again to the one that was in initially (1333 mhz), same effect again, no boot up.. (but at least still pc speaker beeps if all memory was gone)

Same procedure, clear CMOS, booting works again.

I tried to reproduce the error again, but since didn't manage, it always booted up...

But in general, it seems that there is a severe issue if you change the type of memory module; or, it was all just coincidence.. In any case, my confidence in ASRock boards is towards zero, I have not experienced such issues ever before.

I think one issue in general is that, according to http://www.asrock.com/support/faq.asp?id=286, you are not supposed to get any beep code if the memory is "bad"; I think that itself is already a design flaw, and rather unusual. And further, I have not had any MB that is so "sensitive" to RAM changes...

I'm still curious what they did to the board, maybe a bios upgrade? If you have the same issue as I had, it will POST every now and then, one out of 50 attempts i guess with cooldown breaks after every ~10 attempts(very bad solution but I was desperate). So if you are afraid of that RMA takes too long, maybe you want to try to get it to POST and perform an BIOS upgrade? If that goes wrong you can still RMA the board.

Good Luck!

I bought the board several times more (for other systems) and never experienced this Problem again.

@squadjot, follow this advice and try different ram if you have some. If it beeps without memory you seem to have pretty much the same issue I had, so I'd recommend RMA in that case.

I'd also like to know what the default Video out is

Thanks for waiting!

It did not post on the first try, but after some power cycles and switching memory banks, it suddenly went into post and told me "No devices found", which is what one expects when there are none attached. The strange thing is though, that it did not beep at all. So everybody who tries to get this board working: do not rely on the post beep, attach a screen!

So far so good, but that was the only time I saw the post screen :( I'm afraid when i RMA the board, the technician will turn it on, see the mystical one time post and declare the board working.

I'd appreciate any suggestions!

- What is the preferred Display? VGA, DVI or HDMI?

- Are there any other things I can try to get the board working or prove it is broken?