Did I kill my 8kha+ update:(Yes, can it be fixed?)

[DT4K]

I was installing a new heatsink and the screwdriver slipped. I couldn't see any visible damage anywhere, but my system won't boot now. I get a series of beeps and the post code C1. This is supposed to indicate a failure detecting the RAM or bad RAM. I couldn't tell if I hit the mobo or the ram. Does this sound like it's definitely the RAM or is it possible it could be a trace on the mobo that goes to the RAM slots. I tried taking out and reseating the RAM and this didn't help. I pulled the new hsf off and reseated the CPU and cleaned it up and put the old sink back on. I thought it might have been a short or something. Still no luck. Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

[SnakeChomp]

Take a chip of ram from a working PC and stick it into this motherboard. If it still won't detect RAM its the motherboards fault. If you can't do that, take out the ram from this computer and put it into another, if it won't boot and or gives a No Ram / Bad Ram error, its the ram.

 

[DT4K]

Yeah, that is what I will have to do. Most of the people I know have either older systems with SDRAM or P4's with Rambus. So I just bought a stick of PC2100. If the RAM isn't the problem, then I'll just end up with 512 after I replace the Mobo. Anyone know how good Crucial is about replacing RAM. I can't see any damage at all. Or how about Newegg.com if it's the mobo? Just wondering what my chances are of getting a replacement.

 

[DT4K]

Well, it was the mobo. I put new RAM in and got the same post code. I can see that one of the tiny components on the board that sit between the cpu socket and the RAM slots was hit. I'm not sure what they are. They are small black rectangular parts (maybe 1/16th of an inch wide) with the number 220 printed on top. There are a bunch of them with traces that look like they lead to the RAM slots.

Does anyone know what these are or if they can be replaced if damaged?

Or am i stuck with buying a new mobo?

Thanks

 

[Rivergater]

my 8kha+ just died last week to for reasons unknown to me. i get the same c1 error that you do. my ram checks out fine and i didn't really do anything to the computer, it just died on me out of the blue.

where did you buy your board?
i understand that motherboards are pretty durable and a screwdriver slip is something that shouldn't really break it.

from certain sources, i hear that stories about the 8kha+ malfunctioning mysteriously after a few months are a dime a dozen.

i just bought an abit to replace my epox. hopefully it works out...

 

[CubicZirconia]

from certain sources, i hear that stories about the 8kha+ malfunctioning mysteriously after a few months are a dime a dozen.

Everything I've heard about the board has been positive (aside from a few gf4's not fitting). I personally own the board and have had no problems. If he was installing a new heatsink and the screwdriver slipped, I'd say thats much more likely to have caused the problem than a random malfunction that happened to occur at the same time.

I've heard many people say that newegg gladly replaced there (insert broken pc part here) even after the time they officially except returns. I suppose they could have lied to newegg about how the problem occured, but I still think it is definately worth asking for a new board.

 

[Rivergater]

check a few of my sources. newegg customer reviews, via arena, and amd mb.
the latter two have epox sections.

i've been researching this for quite awhile and i've observed many cases where the mobo stops working after a few months of use.

i'm sure since cubiczirconia was one of the lucky ones that received a perfectly working board, he hasn't needed to do the type of research that i did in trying to figure out what went wrong with my board. therefore, he probably isn't aware of many of the stories i've heard.

the 8kha+ was a solid board for me while it worked and i was intent on purchasing another one to replace my dead one. but the store i put the order through with called me to inform me that they were out of the 8kha+ so i went with an abit.

if epox sells 500,000 of these boards and 490,000 of them work perfectly you will certainly hear all the success stories.
but on the flip side, you'll also hear from the other 10,000 about their problems with the board. and that sizeable 10,000 is not a group you can't ignore.

 

[LastRide]

If your mobo is still under warranty send it back for a replacement.Just don't tell them what you did.

 

[DT4K]

Well, I think it was the screwdriver since I can see the scratch on the little black component that I hit. I was totally happy with my 8kha+. I had it for about 5 months with no problems whatsoever except one little quirk that had been happening lately. Every once in awhile when I bootup, the onboard audio doesn't get detected. Reboot and it's fine. Anyway, I was happy with it.

But I decided to just order a new board since I didn't want to go too long without a PC. I was going to get another 8kha+ but they were about the same price (95$) as when I bought it 5 months ago, and I found the Abit KR7A-Raid for $64 at Directron. Add $34 for a Soundblaster Live 5.1 and I couldn't pass up that killer deal. When I originally got my board, I wanted the Abit, but I didn't have the extra money for a sound card.

Anyway, I guess I can't be 100% certain (only 99) that the screwdriver killed the board, so maybe it's worth sending it back to Newegg and seeing if they will replace it. I looked at the Epox site, but it said to contact the reseller for warranty returns.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Rivergater
my 8kha+ just died last week to for reasons unknown to me. i get the same c1 error that you do. my ram checks out fine and i didn't really do anything to the computer, it just died on me out of the blue.

where did you buy your board?
i understand that motherboards are pretty durable and a screwdriver slip is something that shouldn't really break it.

from certain sources, i hear that stories about the 8kha+ malfunctioning mysteriously after a few months are a dime a dozen.

i just bought an abit to replace my epox. hopefully it works out...

I think you guys are both having troubles with the same motherboard because you both have the fish icon in your profile, and because you have similar post count #'s .

Seriously, though, how did your machine "die"? Did it just not boot up or did something happen?

 

[mattyrug]

from certain sources, i hear that stories about the 8kha+ malfunctioning mysteriously after a few months are a dime a dozen.

I'll have had my 8KHA+ Rev 2.0 one year to the day on October 2nd. I can honestly say (after a long debate on going back to a VIA board) This is the happiest I've ever been with a system. I've always had a bad case of upgrade-itis, and have been very content with this motherboard. NEVER given me so much as a hiccoup! I leave it up for a week at a time, without restarts(on a win98 install), and NEVER a problem.

 

[Mem]

Set my Epox 8KHA+ up last November,only one verdict "rock stable",VIA should let Epox design their reference boards .Epox have come a long way IMHO,for stability they`re up there at the top .

 

[LastRide]

There were a couple for in the for sale/trade forum for $50 shipped,8KHA+.

 

[Rivergater]

I think you guys are both having troubles with the same motherboard because you both have the fish icon in your profile, and because you have similar post count #'s .

Seriously, though, how did your machine "die"? Did it just not boot up or did something happen?

still trying to figure out what happened over here. i've narrowed it down to cpu or power supply... power supply is still functioning if i pop in my old mobo and cpu (a7v w/ duron 600). its an antec 300watt ps. going to get the cpu checked out soon and most likely get another power supply. if the cpu is dead, would the 8kha+ report a c1 error for some reason???

the only thing i did to this computer that i usually don't do was to turn it off for a two week stretch. its been on basically the whole time since i got the board 4-5 months ago. when i came back after two weeks, it turned on fine but the next morning i woke up and i was getting nothing on my screen but all the fans were spinning. tried to restart and nothing... i feared it might've been lightning but power supply is okay as well as the vid card, sound card, and ram.