EPOX 8K7A:Random Reboots (checked everything)

[Optimist]

OK, I'm at my wits end here....

I have an Epox 8K7A (version 1.0) and have been experiences random
reboots with a frequency of every other minute to twice a day. (I just
went about four hours before the latest reboot.) When I say reboot, I
mean that the system almost never crashes in the sense that I don't
get the BSOD and it doesn't have to run the diskscan when restarting.
These reboots can occur while I am in BIOS, booting up, or in Windows
2K. I have Epox's latest BIOS (which had something about the fan
sensor causing crashes) .

Here is what I have for equipment:

Epox 8K7A
Thunderbird 1.0 GHz with AMD cooler (never overclocked it)
Crucial 2 x 256m DDR SDRAM 2100 ECC
Sound Blaster Live
3com NIC 3C900
ATI AIW 128

Here is what I have done:

changed out each stick of memory
changed the CPU fan
pulled the sound card
pulled the NIC
reseated the CPU
left the case open for cooling
pulled motherboard and checked for shorts, cracks,loose parts

I have monitored the CPU and system temperature. The CPU temp seldom
goes above 110 degrees. The system temp is well within limits also, so
I don't suspect cooling problems. While in BIOS I have monitored
voltages and there are no dramatic fluctuations, even just
before a reboot.

The only odd thing I've noticed, but have not been able to resolve
yet, is a couple of odd post codes the Epox motherboard shows on its
little display LEDs (which are supposed to monitor port 80???). Codes
6b and 3c were displayed just before the system crashed (not just a
reboot this time). These aren't in their manual, so I am still trying
to find out what they mean.

Any ideas? Do I replace motherboard or CPU or power? Any guesses?

 

[juanicus]

i had a similar problem with a similar mobo. The culprit turned out to be a weak ps. I upgraded to a 300W and everything was cool. if you haven't tried beefing up your ps, i suggest you borrow one and give it a shot. If it is the problem, then get as much power as you can afford (especially if you want to add more hardware to the computer, ie burner, dvd).

juanicus

 

[Optimist]

Thanks. I should check the power supply. It is a new 350w Enermax so, at least by specs, it shouldn't be the problem.
However, it could be defective.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

First,I don't think it's your power supply and don't pay any attention to the 80h codes of 3c( advanced configuration of chipset registers) or 6b(load custom defaults{optional})they are just status codes and unless your recieveing audio errors there isn't a problem. Have you tried using fail-safe defaults in the bios to see if the system becomes more stable? How about upping the CPU vcore voltage a little?I recommend this highly as it can improve fault tolerance( may stop the reboots, it's worked on systems doing this that I've serviced in the past) when done and your temps are cool enough to allow them to go up and still be well within the "comfort" zone. If none of this solves the sporadic reboot problem see if you can get a stick of regular unbuffered DDR and try it. Also, do you have the latest drivers installed? If not Link. Post back and let us know how your making out and I hope some of this proves useful to you