My computer is making a loud beep five times and isn't showing any video output.
My computer is making a loud beep five times and isn't showing any video output.
Hello everyone, this is my initial post. I'm experiencing some technical difficulties with my PC, which is a Chinese X99 Huananzhi BD4 equipped with an Xeon E5-2670 v3 processor, 64GB of RAM, and an RTX 3060 12GB graphics card. The issues have persisted for several months, and I'm trying to understand the cause.
Occasionally, without warning, my PC fails to boot properly. Before it starts, the motherboard emits a series of beeps—sometimes one long tone followed by five short ones, other times a single short beep followed by five short ones. My video card completely fails to display any output. I brought it to a repair shop, and the technician informed me that the PC boots normally there, which adds to my confusion.
However, I suspect the problem might lie with the HDMI cable. There are instances where, if I disconnect the HDMI cable from the monitor, the PC boots up correctly, but I have to reconnect it again to view the video, which is quite frustrating. I changed the HDMI cable about a month ago, yet the beeping continues. Still, I don't believe the cable is the issue.
This morning, my PC started beeping once more, producing five distinct tones. I decided to take it back to the same repair shop for further diagnosis. To my surprise, the technician called me later and informed me that my PC booted up perfectly on his test bench as well, leaving me even more puzzled about the underlying cause.
Actions I've taken:
- Reset CMOS (no improvement, still beeping);
- Rearranged the position of peripheral cables such as keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc. (no effect);
- Switched the HDMI cable (still resulted in beeping);
- Attempted multiple restarts and entered BIOS (BIOS not responding because the monitor doesn't show a video signal).
I feel stuck with no clear solution. What should I do next? I've already removed a stick of RAM, tried launching the system without it or the graphics card, but the beeps persist. I've also looked into what these five beeps might mean, suspecting a CPU-related issue. However, if that were the case, shouldn't the PC have triggered a beep at the repair shop? Also, it's not uncommon for my PC to suddenly stop beeping at random, which is quite unusual. If anyone can assist, I would really appreciate it!
I'll also share a video demonstrating the five-beep phenomenon. This recording is from last year, but the issue remains unchanged.
PC specifications:
- Huananzhi X99 BD4
- Intel Xeon E5-2670 V3
- 64 GB RAM (4x16GB DDR4 ECC)
- Gainward Ghost RTX 3060 12GB
- Corsair CV550 550W
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
-64 GB RAM (4x16GB DDR4 ECC)
Have you experimented with using only one RAM stick?
Regarding your power supply unit;
-Corsair CV550 550W
How long has this unit been in use and what was its performance during that time?
Have you looked for any pending BIOS updates on the motherboard?
-Gainward Ghost RTX 3060 12GB
Because of the RTX3000 series' sudden load spikes, a 550W PSU wouldn't be ideal for running an RTX3060.
This video is a bit outdated, from last year, but the issue remains unchanged.
What steps did you take previously to restore the system after facing this problem?
I brought my PC to a repair shop where the technician informed me that the computer starts normally there, which is confusing.
The only difference from your home and the shop is the wall outlet (source of power). I suspect a grounding issue. Another clue is that you need to discharge the system by re-seating components.
If your motherboard's BIOS is an AMI BIOS;
https://www.lifewire.com/amibios-beep-co...:text=Five short beeps mean there,try reseating any expansion cards
there might be a problem with your monitor. those beeps come from the GPU and occur when it can't find any connected monitor (UEFI only). you could try using a different port or an HDMI to displayport cable. but even if you hear beeps during boot, if you let it proceed and Windows loads with its own drivers, does the monitor activate?
I had already tried using the HDMI cable disconnected from the graphics card, but it kept beeping five times. Once I turned off all peripherals—mouse, keyboard, speakers, webcam, and others—I left only the HDMI cable connected to the RTX, and the other bridge was disconnected from the monitor; it still beeped, which is unusual.
Later, after a technician visit, I managed to fix the issue. All cables were reconnected, and when I powered on the PC, the normal startup beep came through, and the video displayed correctly. Regarding starting Windows, I use BitLocker, so the first screen before Windows loads is the BitLocker interface. I can still type my password even without video, as my keyboard works fine, but when I actually enter Windows, there’s no video and I can’t proceed.
that is when during startup it emits a sound? if the operating system fails to recognize your display, then the graphics card isn't communicating with it at all. is this related to your monitor or television?
Yes. When my PC beeps five times, both the keyboard and mouse remain functional. If I enter the BitLocker password correctly without using video, the mouse and keyboard shut down promptly, but once Windows loads after the BitLocker screen, the keyboard and mouse lights return, suggesting the logon screen is prompting me to type my password. However, since there is no video, I can't interact with it. Yes, I use a monitor. My display is a 24-inch Samsung T35F.
I am completely sure this isn't due to an issue with my HDMI cable, as I replaced it recently. Even with a fresh cable, my PC keeps beeping. The connection to the graphics card's HDMI output and the monitor's input remains secure. A technician previously tested my PC on another monitor using a different cable and other devices from the store (I left my mouse, keyboard, and other accessories behind).
I'm currently at work, but upon returning home I'll restart the PC and check if it beeps again. If it does, I'll record a video documenting the event.
nothing will occur, those sounds indicate the monitor wasn't detected.
if both cable and GPU appear fine, only the monitor stays active.
you might attempt connecting via TV (if available), but ensure the TV is turned on first before starting your PC; otherwise, you'll receive beeps and no display during POST. this is typical behavior since the GPU can't detect a powered-off TV.