8rda+ won't boot error code FF HELP!!!!!

[alphasigmookie]

I just bought a pair of 512k pc 3200 memory sticks and was playing around with my bios settings trying to achieve optimal performance with my 2100+ processor and after attempting to reboot I could not get my system to post. any suggestions. I've already tried resetting the bios.

 

[EPoXTech]

alphasigmookie

Power off
Remove the new memory.
Reinstall the new memory (try a different bank).
Move CMOS clear jumper to CLEAR for 10 seconds.
Move jumper back.
Power on and load the BIOS defaults.
Save and exit.
Retest.

 

[alphasigmookie]

I've tried all that. It booted fine with the new momory 5-6 times, but i was playing with the CPU settings seeing if i could get it to run at 166 fsb and most of the time i'd just get a cpu overclock error when it tried to boot. now it won't boot at all. could I have blown my CPU? It never got a chance to run long enough to overheat. i've got a high quality thermaltake heat sink. any more suggestions?

 

[mechBgon]

What model of Thermaltake did you get? And you can fry a CPU in under 5 seconds if the circumstances are right, so don't assume too much

Secondly, what brand/model of memory sticks are these, and what voltage did you try for them? Thirdly, does the system run with the original memory in it if you go through the routine that EPoXTech suggested, using the original memory?

Also, what brand/model of power supply are you using? Lighten the load on your power supply as much as practical by unhooking non-essential drives and using just one memory module at a time (try each of them).

 

[alphasigmookie]

I have a volcano 7+ heat sink which is rated up to athlon 2800+. My powersource is a generic 350W. I tried using the old memory stick as well with the exact same results as with the new memory. I still get FF on the error LCD. I'm starting to think more and more that I fried something. is there any way to find out if my cpu is blown without another system to plop it into? Is it possible it's the motherboard? I was running everything on default/auto voltages, but i did try to run the CPU at 166 FSB and I played with the multipliers a bit, but only down never up from the default.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: alphasigmookie
I have a volcano 7+ heat sink which is rated up to athlon 2800+. My powersource is a generic 350W. I tried using the old memory stick as well with the exact same results as with the new memory. I still get FF on the error LCD. I'm starting to think more and more that I fried something. is there any way to find out if my cpu is blown without another system to plop it into? Is it possible it's the motherboard? I was running everything on default/auto voltages, but i did try to run the CPU at 166 FSB and I played with the multipliers a bit, but only down never up from the default.

The Volcano 7+ comes disassembled, so it is possible to assemble it with the clip reversed. The clip is not symmetrical. Its pressure point is offset. Look at the fifth and sixth close-up photos of the heatsink with the copper circle here and notice how the clip has a screwdriver-tip receptacle on one end, and that end of the clip is at the stepped end of the heatsink. That's how yours should be too.

It certainly could be the motherboard that failed... my 8RDA+ bit the dust at random, running an AthlonXP 1700+ at stock speed. I noticed somewhat of an outbreak of similar random 8RDA+ failures at that time, so maybe EPoX's suppliers sold them a batch of bad components or something. But that can happen to any company, like Asus's recent problem with bad capacitors on K8V Deluxes.

If I were you, I would look at this as an excuse to buy a name-brand 350W+ power supply to start with, no matter what (Antec is a safe bet, so are Enermax and Sparkle Power). If you were also running with your heatsink's clip reversed, then you may have toasted your CPU too, in which case the second line of my signature applies really nicely. The logical thing to do if your CPU is (probably) toast would be to get an AthlonXP 2500+ or one of the mobile AthlonXPs, and try that in your 8RDA+ with the heatsink on correctly. If it won't run, get yourself a new mobo or RMA the EPoX and wait for a replacement.

Good luck bro, and welcome to the Forums

 

[alphasigmookie]

I'm pretty darn sure my heat sink is on right. i've had it assembled at stock speed for over a year and if I put it on wrong i'm thinking I would have had problems earlier. the temp never got above 44C even after long periods of operation before. i'm starting to think i might have blown the power source, and if that's not it i'm thinking the mb is probably the next most likely problem. i'm going to see if i can borrow another PS tomorrow and get it to boot. I was thinking about upgrading to a quieter PS anyway so this will give me a good excuse. thanks for the help so far

 

[NEVERwinter]

according to the manual, FF means BIOS and/or motherboard error. Try turning on the PC without RAM and any other peripherals, it should displays different error code.. if it still displays FF, I'm afraid your mobo is a toast.

my 8RDA+ just died last week, it showed the FF error code and apparently 3 of the capacitors were leaking.

 

[alphasigmookie]

Yeah, I took out the memory and unhooked the HD and still got the FF code. Damn it! the one thing i was hoping to not have to replace! If it was the cpu or powersource I was at least planning on replacing evenutally anyway. any suggestions on a new relatively inexpensive board?

 

[mechBgon]

The Shuttle AN35N Ultra has been going over pretty well, although you'll be giving up the fancier MCP-T southbridge for the regular MCP southbridge (no Firewire, no nVidia hardware-based audio processors). It overclocks pretty well and uses the ATX12V secondary power cable, which is considered a plus these days.

 

[StumbleBum1]

The same thing happened to me last year with my 8RDA+...I hosed the bios trying tighter setting on my ram....It's a well know issue (weak 8RDA+ bios) Contact Epox for a RMA and they should send you a new bios chip for free Epox RMA