Epox 8RDA+ problems *solved*

[adeno]

I just got my 8RDA+ today.. and while installing it, I had quite a few problems. At first, I noticed how sluggish the system was moving.. then reading through the manual, i found out that the PCI Slot 6 (where I put my Hercules GTXP card) shares an Interrupt with the AGP. So I move the GTXP to PCI Slot 3 where there are no conflicts.

Right then, the bootup sequence was notably faster, so I proceeded to install Windows XP on it. All went fine until the first real boot into windows (after the installation is completed). The system acted extremely slow again, I could not even make the start menu open up. Restarting again, I get an error message that my video card driver was causing instability (this video card is an ATi RADEON 64mb VIVO).

I proceed to change the video card to another one I had available (SIS 315 chipset based 32mb) and booted up again. Finally, I was able to get into windows and actually move around. I installed the nForce drivers from the supplied cd without problems. To test for stability, I downloaded Sisoft Sandra. Installed fine, without a hitch. However, I try to run it and what do I get? System shutdown. It just turns off. The weird thing is, I see the power LED still on, and the built-in Ethernet LEDs are still on also. This was the strangest thing.

I've also tried switching to a different hard drive (the one I was using was a WD800JB) to an older Seagate Medalist Pro 9.1gb. Now when the XP cd would try to load, shutdown happens. I return the WD drive back into its place.

Well, maybe the 300watt Antec PSU wasn't enough? I take an Enermax 350watt PSU to replace it. Results are the same; I can't run programs without encountering a shutdown (again the power LED and the ethernet LEDs remain on, everything else has turned off).

After around 4 hours of fiddling and trying to get this thing to work, I've concluded that the motherboard - this 8RDA+ - is defective. Is there anything else I could test here to confirm this is a bad motherboard before I call the company I got it from?

Thanks for any help.

 

[mechBgon]

Try running all the same parts but with a different motherboard, if you have another suitable one. That would help answer whether the board is the problem. Do you have the RAM clocked at reasonable timings? I would also try a different operating system (Win2000 fan, myself). It might be smart to try a different, plain old 80-pin IDE cable for the hard drive, especially if yours is rounded or could be damaged, and the drive should be on the end of the cable to eliminate signal bounce on unoccupied cable. Somehow I doubt that's the answer, but hey.

 

[adeno]

Well, after trying yet a different cpu, i switched around the direction of the heatsink/fan (ie turned it 180 degrees).. and wow.. it works. I run several benchmarks including Sisoft Sandra 2003 without any problems. System speed seems to be optimal.

The only problem was that the heatsink/fan wasn't making good contact with the cpu
Such a simple thing I overlooked yet it was something so simple.. lol

Oh well.. live and learn I suppose.

As of now, I've got an xp1700+ t-bred running on it with 2x256mb Crucial pc2100 @ 191mhz fsb (382mhz ddr) and a 9x multiplier for a clock speed of around 1720 MHz.

 

[Mustanggt]

I have all kinds of trobles if I drop my X less than 10 and read somewhere there was also a performace hit runnung that board less tha 10 X

 

[Cybordolphin]

Glad you figured it out BEFORE you sent back the board.

 

[CraigRT]

Does the 8RDA+ unlock the TBred CPU for you? or do you have to unlock it?
I'd consider getting the 8RDA+ board actually.