Well, I've had TWO 8RDA+ motherboards die on me now.
I've built many computers, I'm not new to this. CPU=XP1700 (t-bred B), HyperX PC2700 512mb, GeForce 2 Ti
In the first situation the first boot was fine, operating system installation was fine, I even had it running at 10x200fsb for a day and a half. Was very stable under Prime95 and 3dMark. I started testing other settings to see what the upper limit of the cpu was, nothing too elaborate and the board spontaneously rebooted a number of times and then stopped all together. Code "FF" was the only result. I RMA'd the board.
Second board came 2 weeks later, I installed memory, cpu, and video card. "FF" was the only result. After trying all the usual stuff plus emails to Epox, I cleared the CMOS one last time (I had done the exact same thing before) and for some damn reason, this time the board booted.
This time I ran it at 11x166fsb but the board started rebooting again. I fiddled with memory timings thinking that the default ones might be too agressive, more random reboots. Then finally the board shut down and all I get is "FF". All attempts to clear the CMOS give no effect.
CPU, video card, and memory have all been tested in another machine. Power supply is brand new 350w. The individual components work.
Epox answer has been:
The odds of a person getting two bad boards in a row is too remote - I'm not doing something right.
Run through the steps I'm already doing and my problems should be fixed.
I've never seen a motherboard fry itself by the user adjusting BIOS settings. Shutdown and need to have the CMOS cleared? Yes. Burn up a CPU? Yes. But make the motherboard itself not work anymore? Never. Especially when voltages weren't adjusted.
I'm not RMAing this board. I'm returning it and never buying another Epox product. Each time I have to return the board it costs me $10. RMAing the first board also cost me two weeks of turnaround time. I'll buy an Abit or Asus motherboard instead - I've never had a problem with them.