**Official Epox 8K5A Series (KT333) Thread** (Files, Reviews, and Info Inside!)

[RideFree]

is the 11/1 the latest OFFICIAL BIOS?

AFAIK

 

[MaxDSP]

can somebody help with my 8K5A2+ Problem?

I hooked everything up and double-checked the connections for the cables and slots. I hook the monitor up and power on the system. The Power led turns on (so does the floppy LED, the cable is probably inserted wrong) and the fans start spinning. A couple of seconds later, I hear the hard drive revving up and the LED on the DVDROM starts flashing (like it does when it starts reading).

However, there is no video on the monitor. The monitor is a Samsung 955DF which I purchased not more than 3-4 months ago and used about a total of 10 hours, so that rules that out.

There is no code in the LED1 (which would show any problematic codes). The bright-red LED2 lights up and stays red when I start turn the power on, but from what I gathered in the manual, it just shows the ACPI status and doesn't indicate a problem.

I'm thinking the problem is probably the video card. I was using the video card in my last system, and the mobo on that old system burned out because of some power/dust problems. From what I saw, the connector that connects the PSU and the mobo had like 4-5 slots burned out and the plastic was deformed on some of the slots, and I also some capacitors near the CPU bubbling on the top. Could this have burned out my video card also? It's a 3-4 year old Creative RivaTNT 16MB (PCI)

 

[Macro2]

I see Epox has new KT400 and nforce2 boards on their website. Better to get those of the old KT333 boards?

Mac

 

[Live]

New bios out for the Model EP-8K5A3+

BIOS: K5A32A25.BIN
Fixed:
1.) Added AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+, 2700+, 2800+(FSB333) CPU support.
2.) System hang when in 'setup is starting Windows 2000' screen when install windows 2000 and use ASUS v8420 + Promise TX2000 + Tekram DC395U.
3.) Turn off KB led after Power OFF.
4.) Fix fan sensor to make system crash issue if the FAN speed result overflow.
5.) Solve UDMA133 option will be hidden.
6.) Update AWDFLASH.EXE version to V8.22A.
7.) Set USB 2.0 item disabled as default.
8.) Update High Point Adapter ROM to V1.22.


Bios can be downloaded from here:
K5A32A25

If you try this one out please post your findings.

 

[RideFree]

Max,
Get ready to check the video voltage and if you put the wrong voltage vid card into your new M/B, better look in your wallet next.

I hope you checked voltage requirements before plug 'n go.
If you are silent, we'll assume that an RMA is in the works.

 

[RideFree]

Macro2,
Get ready! Check the new review of the A7N8X on uncle Tom's
Then, check out the sticker-shock on Newegg:frown:. Oh well, it does include the third from the top-of-the-line-video...

 

[Macro2]

Those are impressive nForce boards. I also see VIA has a revision of the KT400 coming. They must be feeling the pressure. Never seen a SIS 746 chipset.

 

[AMDBOY]

RideFree,

Did you try the stick of 512 in slot 2 or 3?

. absolutley. I've read this thread about 4 times. Some guys had somewhat similar situations, however they DID get their boards to post(magically) some by changing slots etc. I will RMA this DIMM the 2nd time. This time to Corsair. Of 2 working systems, niether will post when this DIMM is introduced into them, in any configuration. It has to be faulty RAM, right??

 

[techfuzz]

We seem to have lost our sticky again... bump

 

[RideFree]

It has to be faulty RAM, right

Right!

 

[AMDBOY]

Roger that on the RAM being dead. Thanks . I think Googlgear RMA'd me the same stick, lol. That was helpful.

 

[JustStarting]

How do I get rid of the EpoX splash screen on bootup?

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: JustStarting
How do I get rid of the EpoX splash screen on bootup?

Edit: Wrong advice. See post after mine for correct advice. I think I was still asleep when I wrote this post the first time.

techfuzz

 

[MrPALCO]

Enter the Bios.


Select "advanced bios features".


You must now scroll the screen to find "full screen logo show" near the bottom.
Select "disabled".


Save and exit.

 

[JustStarting]

Thanks!! I love this board (8K5A2+). My XP1600+ is warming up @ 1800+ speeds (9.5*168) w/ default voltage. RAM timings are maxxed for performance too (2-5-2-1T)!! I'm going to run it here for a few days to break it in, but my Hardware Dr. only has the CPU @ 42 loaded running Seti 24/7.

 

[JustStarting]

BTW- for those of you that have the square heat sink on the north bridge, the 3 screw fan from a Blorb screws right in between the fins on the HS. Keep that north bridge nice and cool!! I wasn't about to try and pry that HS off a new board without doing something different.

 

[MrEMan]

Hello all,

Anyone else get the notice from TC Computers about the price reductions on Athon XPs?

From http://www.tccomputers.com/static/amd_pd_111102.php?src=5027

The retail versions including fan and heatsink, and 3 year warranties (which according to AMD's site are voided if you use any other heatsink or thermal compound than the ones provided) are priced as follows (current as of noon CST on Wednesday 11/13):

Athlon XP 1700+ $65.99
Athlon XP 1800+ $79.99
Athlon XP 1900+ $79.99
Athlon XP 2000+ $99.99
Athlon XP 2100+ $109.99

I am not sure as to what the shipping charges are, nor have I seen such price reductions at NewEgg, nor MWave.

Are these good prices? Thanks.

 

[Macro2]

googlegear.com has the 2100+ for 100 shipped...RETAiL BOX

newegg.com has some betters deals on select slower Xps.

 

[techfuzz]

MaxDSP and myself are both experiencing the same problem with our motherboards. We've completely lost our video even though we both know our video cards are OK and working. Seems to be the same problem. Everything else seems to work fine, including HD's, fan's, CDROMS, etc.

I have contacted EPoX and they are stumped suggesting that I return my board for replacement. I have one more option I would like to try but I need help in doing so. I have reasons to believe that the 11/01 BIOS might be responsible, however without video output I have no way of flashing my BIOS back to an earlier version very easily. Can someone give me EXACT instructions down to the minute/second and keystrokes required to update the BIOS? This is going to be a blind attempt at flashing the BIOS from 11/01 BACK to I think 9/15. Can someone do this on their motherboard and post for the steps, which keys to press, hold long I should need to wait, any visual cues such as the FDD being accessed and etc.

Thanks!

techfuzz

 

[WebDude]

techfuzz,

Just make a bootable floppy with an autoexec.bat file that executes all the commands for you, so you don't have to use any keyboard input. If you download the older epox bios, run it, it will expand into several files, one of which is "update.bat" Running this file from a bootable floppy (with all the other files on the floppy of course) will do everything you want. So just make an autoexec.bat file with one line, "update.bat" on it, and copy it to the bootable floppy with all the other files (awdflash.exe, etc.) Stick it in your floppy drive, boot up, and it should automatically execute the bios update. Hope it works for you.

WebDude

PS Just in case you're wondering, here's the relevant command line of "update.bat":

AWDFLASH 5a2p2815.bin OLD.BIN /PY /SY /E
the /E returns you to dos after the flashing is complete. If you want, you could replace it with /R, which will "RESET System After Programming"

 

[JustStarting]

why does my system hang with this board (8K5A2+) when my USB card reader is plugged in on startup?? It works fine if I plug in the card reader after the system has booted. It hangs when "Verifying DMI Pool Data". If I have a disc in the reader upon booting it says-"Missing Operating System". If I plug in the reader after boot up it's fine. Everything looks good in device manager. Running Windows 98- soon upgrading to XP (when My Promo CD arrives).

 

[Live]

Originally posted by: JustStarting
why does my system hang with this board (8K5A2+) when my USB card reader is plugged in on startup?? It works fine if I plug in the card reader after the system has booted. It hangs when "Verifying DMI Pool Data". If I have a disc in the reader upon booting it says-"Missing Operating System". If I plug in the reader after boot up it's fine. Everything looks good in device manager. Running Windows 98- soon upgrading to XP (when My Promo CD arrives).

It seems it is trying to boot from the usb device. Try and change your boot options in bios. For info check manual.

 

[JustStarting]

I have boot options as follows:

1st- hdd0 (IDE#3)
2nd- cdrom (IDE#1)
3rd- cdrom (IDE#2)
other- disabled

Whenever that damn card reader is plugged in, it hangs when Verifying DMI Pool Data. When I pull the plug, it says "Boot disc Failure", and prompts me to start from CDROM. It's completely overlooking the HDD?? With the card reader pulled it boots fine. Guess I'll just have to plug the reader in when I use it.

 

[JustStarting]

OK- just saw this:

device manager:

via usb to pci- irq5
via usb to pci- irq10
via usb to pci- irq11

HPT372- irq10


Think the usb is interfering with the raid channel? on my old abit board HPT controller did not want to share with anything. how can I fix this?

Update:

From the release notes on the 2.47 USB drivers-


c) Windows Me/98/SE



8) Known Issues/Limitations:

a) This package is for English user ONLY. There is a Multilingual edition
for non-English user.

b) VIA USB 2.0 Host Controller Driver -
Limitation:
1. Only USB wakeup from S3 (by mouse or keyboard) is supported. Of course,
your system BIOS should support/enable this function First.
Issues:
2. If some specific USB devices are plugged in, you may NOT Hibernate or
Shutdown the system.
3. If you connect a USB 2.0 hub to the root hub and continue to plug some
USB devices into this hub. The system would be hung with some specific
USB devices or these USB devices might not be recognized.

Possibly my card reader is one of those devices in section b)3.

 

[chargin8]

Im having USB problems also, I love the 8k5a2+ I bought, nearly got everything how I want it, except the usb. Ive run the intel USBready utility and it says it cannot determine hardware config and the driver is not operating correctly, I always liked USB before now because it was so easy. Ive installed the 4in 1's and usb drivers off the cd I got with the board, fresh install of windows, latest bios and played with bios a bit, turned usb 2.0 on and off and enabled/disabled all other USB settings but nothing has worked so far. None of my usb devices are detected. Device manager has 4 listings of USB controller under the USB controller heading and 1 has a exclamation mark in it and the properties of this one say the drivers arent installed, Ive tried updating driver for the device but no matter where I point to windows says it cant find a driver, anyone know the solution here???

My thoughts on the board--- its great, clocked my xp1800 to 1750mhz with a pretty standard cooler, the onboard sound is not bad except I get hard drive interference even after installing the latency patch, heres a tip, the temp and voltage monitoring software that came with the board didnt work nor did MBM but epox has a working util on their website, I laughed at the internet bios update thingy and even had a go, it worked, something to tell my friends