Biostar M7VKQ now boots - but no audio - HELP MEEEEEE

[Dea]

I installed the CPU (AMD XP 1900+) , board powers up but no video. I do not get any beeps or anything. The Biostar site has some totally lame thing to try. Any help would be appreciated . I tried a PCI video card and still no video. I have tried various brands of memory both 100 and 133 and still nothing. I removed the board from the case, reset the CPU, reset the memory, cleared the CMOS and nothing. Board is new from newegg.com

Also, I used some screws with red fillers ( round red thing) between the screw and the motherboard. DO I need a filler between the screw and the panel in the case? Or should I use the plastic grommets instead?

 

[Killrose]

Those screws also provide grounds at various points for the motherboard. You don't want any grommets that act as insulators.

Also the board uses the Kle chipset which has on-board video. Make sure you dissable the on-board video in bios before you expect one of the other slots to work.

 

[Dea]

I cannot get to the Bios as I have no display and I do not see any jumpers that will disavle on board video. On board video is not working neither does changing CPU nor PSU nor memory.

 

[mechBgon]

Couple of things:

• Are you sure you put the heatsink on in the correct direction? It's directional.
• Are you using at least a quality-name 300W PSU? Generics are a hit-and-miss thing, often not nearly as powerful as their ratings make them sound.

 

[Dea]

Yes. I have an ANtec 350Watt pSU, I also tried a 400. The heatsink is the AMD it is on with the little hook facing the dimms sockets which is the correct way.
The board is brand new from newegg so it should be good

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, hmm... try starting up the board with no video or memory at all and see if it decides to beep or still stays silent. If it stays silent after that, try taking out the CPU and powering it up with no nothing! I mean heck, if you'll have to take it all apart to RMA it anyway... nothing to lose, and it might give insight on what part is the hangup. Do you have any other boards you can use to confirm that the CPU is working?

 

[Dea]

Tried all that and nothing. Tested CPU on another board and works fine. I tested another 1900+ and a 2000+ and still nothing. Then I read something in a review that some of the M7VKQ will not accept anything over a 1600+ so I tried a 1600+ and it works.


Ok. Now when I install in the case, you say not to use the red disks between the screw and the board? What are they there for then do you know? Or is it better to use the plastic grommets? I keep reading about the screws shorting out the boards

 

[mechBgon]

You know, I should've thought to check that. Biostar's site shows it supporting up to a 2100+ here, but only the Palomino-core version, the 0.18-micron one. I bet you've got the 0.13-micron Thoroughbred version (rectangular core and a black label at the edge, like pictured here) If you can find someone who'll trade you for their Palomino, that might be a good solution.

 

[tcsenter]

Those screws also provide grounds at various points for the motherboard. You don't want any grommets that act as insulators.

Actually the standoffs are not grounds at all and are not incorporated into a mainboard's ground plane or current drain strategy. At least there shouldn't be any current going through them. If there is, its entirely incidental and probably a defect.

Ok. Now when I install in the case, you say not to use the red disks between the screw and the board? What are they there for then do you know? Or is it better to use the plastic grommets? I keep reading about the screws shorting out the boards

The little red discs are to protect the top of the mainboard's PCB from damage by the screw head and to prevent the screw head from shorting any traces which might run very near a mounting hole. Using them cannot hurt and may help prevent a short that could damage your motherboard.

 

[Dea]

Well this board has been a through pain in the a**. I got it working but no no audio and the video freezes if I try to play and video clips or dvd. I have updated drivers for both audio and video but nothing is working to get audio working and Biostar's site is woefully short on Tech support.
Arghhhh. Any guidance from you biostar aficionados would be appreciated.

 

[mechBgon]

What CPU do you have running in it?

 

[Dea]

XP 1600+, 256MB 133 ram. I tried different cables, different drive, uninstalled audio device and video device rebooted and reinstalled several times with no luck.. I got updated drivers and chipset driver from biostar site but it did not help and it will not let me use an add video card.

 

[freshspace]

Hewwww, I'm sorry you are going through this crap. I recently ordered the same board with XP1700+, the .13micron Thoroughbred B from Newegg. Fortunately for me, the board recognizes the chip and the video and the audio work for me. However, the video is not as good as what the reviewers said. I get this "wave" like flashes that run across the screen when it is in 2D mode. However, it performs well for videos. I may have to get a PCI card. I am disappointed in how the board arrived. I thought all the boards were supposedly wrapped and taped. This came in a plastic static bag, but it was open as if someone went through it. Also, the driver disk was cracked!!! I put it in the cd-rom anyway, and luckily it works. I also didn't get a paper manual. But, there is one on the disk.

I think you have a bad board. It really should read your other chips. My chip is read as "unidentified chip" or something like that (because it is Thoroughbred B), but it is still recognized as 1.47Gig, which is what XP1700+ is. In addition, your video should have worked the moment you plugged your monitor to it. I know it is a pain in the butt, but maybe the best bet would be RMAing your board. Good luck.

PS - I hope I spelled Thoroughbred correctly.