EP-8RDA+ posts FF, no beep ***Final update...

[KnickNut3]

Hello. I'm building my second 8RDA+ system (this week, heh).

EP-8RDA+
AthlonXP 2000+
Geforce MX440
512MB PC2100 Crucial DDRRAM
Onboard sound/NIC
DVD-ROM/CD-RW
40MB Maxtor 7200RPM

Pretty standard. Anyway, I hooked it up to my Inwin case, and when I hit power, all the fans start, I get booting sounds (whirrs and all of DVD-ROM and HD), and the motherboard displays "FF" in the box, which usually means it's fine. Problem is, I get no video.

Problem is, I guess this could be caused by a number of things. The power supply and all is fine, because this is a used case I just pulled apart. I swapped out with a working video card, and it still doesn't work, so it's not the AGP slot (probably not the card either). I checked all connections and power, RAM, fans, etc., but still get no video. Monitor and wire is fine, too. I'll check the video card in another machine, but I think that's fine as well.

Any suggestions? Any way I can test to find the culprit? Nothing went drastically wrong in installation, and as far as I know I was always grounded. Thanks.

 

[Mark0999]

Make sure your video card and ram are seated properly. Press firmly down.

 

[KnickNut3]

Oh, I've done that 10 times over .

But yeah, I triple checked all the connections again. It's not the AGP port, but still no video at all. Reset button works (I can tell from the DVD/CD drives), I can reboot, but I have no idea what's actually going on. Thanks for the help...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Are you using one stick of ram in slot1? Have you tried booting barebones? Cleared the CMOS after unplugging the power cord? Might even want to pop the battery out for a few minutes. Tried swapping ram? Do you get audio error beep codes? Tried reseating the CPU and heatsink/fan? Tried swapping CPUs, you may have a dud.

 

[KnickNut3]

I've switched the RAM slots already. I've cleared the CMOS, I've tried booting barebones. I'll see if I can get out a stick of DDRRAM to try that. I'm not sure I want to fool with the battery, but I'll try it if I can. I don't have another CPU to switch out, but if worse comes to worse I'll reinstall it.

But there's nothing a little more specific I can do? I'll update... Thanks...

 

[mechBgon]

If your Inwin has the pre-formed "termite-mound" standoffs, make sure there aren't extras that don't match up to holes in the motherboard. In my older-generation Inwin S500, there was an extra, unneeded standoff that I had to insulate from the mobo's underside using an expired drivers' license.

Also, if you have a beefier PSU around, try a name-brand 350W unit perhaps. I'd recommend taking the board out of the case and trying to POST with just the board, CPU/heatsink, memory, video and keyboard... no drives on the data or power cables.

How recently did you get this motherboard, and has it ever POSTed? If so, do you happen to know the BIOS revision? I think there may be a glitch or incompatibility in either the hardware or BIOS with some recent 8RDA+'s, and it would help if you report your situation to EPoX at their support form so they have the information and can check into the issue.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I haven't used that board but try posting over@[url="http://www.nforcershq.com/"]http://www.nforcershq.com/[/url] in the Epox forum and someone may have 8RDA+ specific TS for you.

 

[KnickNut3]

Nah, it's never posted. I got it from Newegg 2 weeks ago, so I assume it's the latest revision, although I don't know for sure. I'll check out those forums. I don't have any other PSUs, unfortunately, but from what I can hear and see, I think it's running fine, except for the video. I'll keep troubleshooting, and I'll post there.

 

[KnickNut3]

I checked the video card, I popped out the battery, disconnected everything, grounded everything, all to no avail. "FF" posted (which could be a number of things), and no BIOS beep. Everything powers up properly, but all I get out of the mobo is FF. I guess it's not really starting up, I just got that because all the loud parts of the system (drives and fans) all started successfully).

 

[MARMADUKE]

so you are saying it runs through the codes? or it just shows the FF code all the time?(bad chip)

 

[MARMADUKE]

Ohhh..there is 1 known fix!
remove power cord and press start to remove juice!
set cmos to clear
remove battery and bios chip and let sit for 5 mins

now put bios chip back first then battery, and cmos to normal and boot that sucker up!

 

[KnickNut3]

Is removing the BIOS chip safe to do by hand? I don't have any special tools...

Can anyone else confirm this method, or at least confirm that it's safe? If my mobo is already bad, I don't want to permanently screw it up or void my warrantee by either not doing it right or doing something I shouldn't.

 

[Shimmishim]

you can go pick up a bios chip remover from your local radio shack... i saw them there the other week...

 

[KnickNut3]

Yeah, I saw 'em too.

Is this process worth the trip? (A) will that do it? and (B) do I need the tool, or is it do-able by hand?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: KnickNut3
Is removing the BIOS chip safe to do by hand? I don't have any special tools...

Can anyone else confirm this method, or at least confirm that it's safe? If my mobo is already bad, I don't want to permanently screw it up or void my warrantee by either not doing it right or doing something I shouldn't.

It didn't have any effect on my board, unfortunately. For a tool, I used a pliers to bend in the end of a saftey pin to form a little "L" shape, which I sneaked under the BIOS chip and lifted vertically with.

 

[KnickNut3]

Tried new memory to no avail. Still no POST, if I'm interpreting what POST means correctly.

 

[KnickNut3]

Sorry. It "POST"s FF, which means:

1. BIOS Chip inserted incorrectly
2. Wrong BIOS loaded
3. Mainboard problem
4. Add-on card inserted incorrectly

Well, I haven't changed the BIOS version, so 2's out (or I can't fix it). There are no add-on cards in the machine. That leaves 1 or 3. I'll buy a BIOS chip remover and try both reinserting it and marmaduke's idea. If neither works (I'm not hopeful at this point), that leaves option 3, so I'll RMA it. Sound right? Thanks...

 

[KnickNut3]

Update:

While uninstalling the board (ready to return), I noticed a couple things that could have been problems had they been there when I was trying it.

As I took out the motherboard, I noticed a screw between the case and motherboard. It probably wasn't there (must have fallen there as I was pulling out about 15 screws), but worth a try.

Also, more importantly, as I pulled it out, I saw that the processor was slightly tilted out of the sockets. DOn't know how this happened. Perhaps in the installation of the HSF, but more likelyas I was pulling it out.

Nevertheless, I very optimistically reinstalled the CPU (which was undamaged--all the pins perfectly straight, and it fit in perfectly), HSF, motherboard, video, and RAM. I connected the power, turned it on, and got....

the exact same thing as before . FF, no beep, no video. Guess those problems happend in uninstallation, not installation. For what it's worth, the LEDs on the case didn't work, despite the fact that I know they work and they were connected into the motherboard properly. Not sure if that helps.

Any final suggestions? I guess it's time to get the RMA, unless someone else can enlighten me .

Thanks again...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

RMA, you've spent enough time on that POS.

 

[KnickNut3]

I did what I was procrastinating against doing and ripped apart this working machine and swapped CPUs. The other machine worked (for the first time), and this one didn't. So, my CPU is bad. Thanks for the help, I'll be RMAing the CPU.