Is my powersource the caues for "FF" code on EPOX?

[EC99SS]

Tonight we tried to build our system using an EPOX 8kHA+ board, PC2100 DDR, Athlon XP, etc etc. We put the processor, H/S, Fan, RAM, and video card in...and decide to power it up to see if it cycled through the codes (did this outside the case). Anyhow, I have a Chieftech case with a 420PSU...we immediately get the "FF" code. However, when I hooked up the mobo to our old system (250W PSU)...it cycled through the codes stopping at "7F" (I think an error for floppy drive not being installed or something). In either case..we keep getting an immediate "FF" code with the CHieftech case and 420W PSU and then we get a cycle of codes with our old PSU. Does this mean something is wrong with our PSU? Any help would be great. If so, then I'll RMA it and get a new one from newegg

Thanks

E

 

[adlep]

Dude,
I have exactly the same problem with the same board... Disconnected everything but the PW, processor and crucial ram, and still no
boot, only 2 big red FF's.. It is not a power supply, as long as you are able to get the power (you are, because you can see the FF's blinking) to the board, you dont have a problem with power supply.. I just send the request for rma to newegg, whatta coincidence LOL.

 

[JustStarting]

Reseat all cards VERY firmly. FF code will be displayed even while system is running normally. It is NOT a PSU issue.

 

[Mem]

"FF" is normally also what you get for boot attempt and while the system is running ok,did you check the 100/133FSB jumper is set right on the motherboard,I`ve read of the Epox 8kha+ board not booting if this is set wrong.

 

[adlep]

The problem is that this FF is in red instead of in green....
Which means failure.... I my board I have disconnected everything but the CPU, VIDEO, and RAM.... was not sure about the
video (RADEON DDR) so I have exchange it with a spare GF2Ti which still would not get rid of the problem. My board was fried big time.
I have removed the DDR stick just for the heck of it , yet still the two FF's whould show up... In my case all the jupers on the mobo were set to default, and to 100 Mhz fsb...... have done everything I could, have to RMA it

 

[JustStarting]

I have seen many boards with a red FF working just fine. I don't think the color is an issue.

 

[Mem]

<< The problem is that this FF is in red instead of in green.... >>




Hmmm I thought there was only one colour ie red for the LED display,my Epox 8KHA+ is red with "FF" and been working fine for last 6 months I guess nobody told my board .

 

[JustStarting]

Here is a red one- linky!!

 

[EC99SS]

If its not a powersource issue then what can it be? Like I said..I get an immediate "FF" code with the Chieftech and 420PSU? It doesn't even cycle..however when hooked up to my old system using a 250W PSU (nothing else changed)..I get a cycle of codes. Any suggestions on what I should do? RMA the case? The reason I'm lost is because it seems to cycle with the old PSU but not the new one.

In terms of reseating...how will this be any different? I'll give it a shot but it seems it wouldn't do much since the mobo works with one PSU and not the other. Then again..I'm new at this and may not be seeing it as a simple problem/solution. Any help would be great. Thanks.

E

 

[EC99SS]

bump up..I"m at a loss on what to do now :-(

 

[Technican]

hi:

Not sure this is the answer but give it a try. I believe the problem lies in the case. A client just came to me with an epox mobo (not 8kha+) but the via kt133a version. he tried every computer place in NJ and brooklyn yada yada yada. they told him all kinds of stories and no one could get it working. he exchanged the cpu, mobo, p/s and video card.

I took the connector that goes from the case to the pwr selector (you know , where u connect the hdd light, reset, speaker etc. usually J2 + J3) and just turned it around and it booted right up. In his case the white wire goes on leg#1 and black wire is ground. some cases use different colors for that connector so experiment. this guy almost died cause he never saw it boot...anyway give that a shot. also make sure its on the correct 2 pin header...

 

[Wayward]

I had this problem with a 4SDA. It would power up but it wasn't getting a video signal from my Geforce 2 mx. It would run through a bunch of codes then end at FF. The board worked fine when I popped in an old riva tnt card and the geforce worked fine in another system. Turned out that the geforce had a small ear at the back of the card that wasn't letting the card seat all the way. I took a hacksaw and removed part of that ear and now the card works fine. I'm using the system right now and it's showing FF in red.

 

[kgatwork]

Did you get the Chieftech case from Newegg? I did and had similar problems! My Hard drives and fan all came on, even the led diagnostic was on. I got 5v and 12v measured at the power connectors so I thought the ps was good. The only thing that was strange was that the processor did not heat up! I even unplugged the fan to the heat sink for 10 minutes with no heating of the processor! I thought I blew the processor, so as one last try I connected my old inwin q500 300watt power supply and it booted up! Then I remember reading a warning from fellow ATers that some of the Chieftech cases were shipped with the input voltage selector on the back of the PS set to 230Volts. Well you guessed it I checked and lo and behold it was set to 230 volts. A quick change to 115v and everything was working.

I hope its that simple.

Let us know what you find!

 

[JustStarting]

<<Then I remember reading a warning from fellow ATers that some of the Chieftech cases were shipped with the input voltage selector on the back of the PS set to 230Volts. Well you guessed it I checked and lo and behold it was set to 230 volts. A quick change to 115v and everything was working.>>


Same problem was posted by someone else in your post on the cases/cooling forum. Looks like you had it right after all- PSU problem. I'm betting this is your fix. Good troubleshooting!!

 

[kgatwork]

JustStarting: I debug it for a few hours, the damn thing fooled me. I really thought I blew the processor and was ready to toss it across the room. If I didnt plug the old PS into I would have! I think the 3.3v supply for the processor is affected by the fact that the input was 1/2 of what the PS expected.

Just hope its his fix and he doesn't have to return the whole unit.

 

[EC99SS]

I really hope its that simple. I'll check the back of the PSU tonight. Thanks for the info. I feel a little better now knowing that could be the cause!!!

Eric

 

[BuckMaster]

My Epox runs great a 1.4 T-bird@1.6. After it gos through all the codes your supose to get the FF meaning everything booted up fine. Also mine has always been in RED too. This board rocks!

I know along time ago the rumor of some bad BIOS chips that went out. Epox was sending these people replacements free of charge.

Good Luck!

 

[cookdog]

I had a simular problem when I booted for the first time. I spent 2 days trying everything. When I finally booted it outside the case, it worked fine. I put it all back to gether the same way I had it the first time and it has worked fine every since. Go figure.

 

[Kanly]

Just checked my Chieftec case and 420 ps from NewEgg -- it was set to 230.

Thx for the heads up.

Was having mad problems trying to get my 1.6A up and running and never even thought to check the PS setting.

DOH!

 

[Ogo]

<< Here is a red one- linky!! >>



Only I may link to my own pics

 

[Mr.Mike]

I had a very similar problem and never though to check the voltage selector on the PS. Sure enough in my box of "EXTRA PARTS" was my 400watt ps with the selector switch set to 230. I went through 2 boards and 2 power supplies till I read this thread. Thanks, somtimes the most simple of fixes is right in front of you! I even got so fed up with the 2nd 400 watt I tossed it after it refused to boot. DAMN!!! I though it was a bad - just user error.