NF7-M POST problems

[Adam Crosby]

OK,
AMD 2500+ Barton core
Single 512MB PC2100 DIMM
using the onboard sound, NIC, video
2 power supplies (important for reason described later)
1) CompUSA 400W with ATX12V 4-lead connector, brandnew
2) Antec 350W old-style ATX PS, no 4 lead connector

Here's what happens, with each PS:

With the CompUSA plugged in, and switched 'on', the red 'standby' LED on the system board comes on. When the power button is pressed, everything spins up, the green 'POWER ON' LED on the motherboad comes on as well. About 2 seconds, sometimes less, all the fans stop spinning and the green LED gets 'dim'...it is still on, but noticably brighter. The fans 'attempt' to spin, ie, you can hear / see them twitch, like they are being *severely* underpowered. This Powersupply boots another system (Athlon t-bird 1.3, fully loaded with cards and crap) just fine. This powersupply booted this system, and I was troubleshooting the nvidia driver mess for about 5 or 6 continuous hours (rebooting once every ten minutes to install / remove drivers . It just 'stopped working'. This happens with or without the 4-lead power connector in.

With the Antec PS plugged in, something else happens! Everythings spins up and the led's turn on and stay bright for about 3 seconds or so, then the system turns off (the green LED goes off), and the PC Speaker starts playing what I think is the thermal shutdown alarm - short high note, litte longer lower note, and it repeats until I pull the power plug, or hold in the power button for 5 seconds. This had happened when I first installed the motherboard (I've only had it for 2 days), I read something on google about the thermal diode having issues, so I wiggled it alittle, moved it closer to the bottom of the cpu, reseated the CPU, and put the heatsink/fan back on. This fixed the issue for like 12 hours or so, while I installed windows, etc. etc. Now it's back, and wiggling the little diode didn't do anything.

I've pulled *everything* but the CPU out, including RAM, and the same thing happens. I've cleared the CMOS a few times, nothing changes - both power supplies still exhibit their respective behaviors. I do not have another motherboard or another XP chip to test with, and I really hope to not have to RMA another board (this one is a replacement for a different defective Abit board! 2 in a row would not be good . Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[Jens C. Hansen [Odense]]

Adam Crosby wrote:

I've pulled *everything* but the CPU out, including RAM, and the same thing happens. I've cleared the CMOS a few times, nothing changes - both power supplies still exhibit their respective behaviors. I do not have another motherboard or another XP chip to test with

Could be a dead powerconverter on the board, but who knows.. Why not test with the T-Bird 1.3 in the NF7-M? The NF7/-M/-S can use all Socket A processors.

Also, doesn't the other board support a XP 2100+ so you can try it in there?

 

[Mark H]

If it was my board I'd put a new thermistor in,, but in your case rma it.

Adam Crosby wrote:

OK,
AMD 2500+ Barton core
Single 512MB PC2100 DIMM
using the onboard sound, NIC, video
2 power supplies (important for reason described later)
1) CompUSA 400W with ATX12V 4-lead connector, brandnew
2) Antec 350W old-style ATX PS, no 4 lead connector

Here's what happens, with each PS:

With the CompUSA plugged in, and switched 'on', the red 'standby' LED ...

 

[minus200]

if you can get to the BIOS - change the RAM to 133Mhz rather than trying to run it in sync with a 166Mhz CPU PC2100 RAM is 133MHz and I think the BIOS default is in sync with the CPU and a Barton is 166MHz

may not help and if you continue to have problems - consider RMA

Adam Crosby wrote:

OK,
AMD 2500+ Barton core
Single 512MB PC2100 DIMM
using the onboard sound, NIC, video
2 power supplies (important for reason described later)
1) CompUSA 400W with ATX12V 4-lead connector, brandnew
2) Antec 350W old-style ATX PS, no 4 lead connector

Here's what happens, with each PS:

With the CompUSA plugged in, and switched 'on', the red 'standby' LED on the system board comes on. When the power button is pressed, ...

 

[Adam Crosby]

minus200 wrote:

if you can get to the BIOS - change the RAM to 133Mhz rather than trying to run it in sync with a 166Mhz CPU PC2100 RAM is 133MHz and I think the BIOS default is in sync with the CPU and a Barton is 166MHz

may not help and if you continue to have problems - consider RMA

thanks for all the input - I guess I'll RMA and get an Asus

 

[- HAL9000]

You might want to go back to using the Antec power supply too.

Forrest

Motherboard Help By HAL web site:
http://home.attbi.com/~hal-9000/

On 17 Jul 2003 13:57:38 -0700, (Adam Crosby) wrote:

minus200 wrote:
if you can get to the BIOS - change the RAM to 133Mhz rather than trying to run it in sync with a 166Mhz CPU
PC2100 RAM is 133MHz and I think the BIOS default is in sync with the CPU and a Barton is 166MHz

may not help and if you continue to have problems - consider RMA

thanks for all the input - I guess I'll RMA and get an Asus