EPoX 9NPA+ULTRA custom build issues

[hobbkins]

*I realised this might be in the wrong forum, please excuse this*

Here is a complete summary of my setup and problem, any help/input would be greatly appreciated. I've been reading up on this motherboard and I can't seem to find any compatibility issues with the components and mobo, but maybe I missed something.

Thanks in Advance:

I am currently building a system with a EPoX 9NPA+ULTRA nFORCE 4 board, a Althon 64 +3500 Winchester Core AMD CPU, 1 Gigabyte (2x512mb) Corsair ValueSelect DDR400, ATI x700 GPU, 480W PSU, 180gb Hitachi S-ATA II HDD, and an Audigy 2 SoundBlaster card all in an Antec P180 case. After assembling the components into the case, I proceeded to boot up.

The first time I booted up, the computer displayed the POST screen with a monitoring program and a prompt telling me to hit F2 to continue, or Del to enter the BIOS. Also when I booted up, I noticed the nFORCE chipset Fan *directly below the CPU* was making a loud clicking noise, so I bent the metal covering out so that it would not hit the fan. I then rebooted the system, and the screen was blank. I don't believe the computer even started the POST, it went IMMEDIATELY from FF to the error message in the onboard LED-display. The onboard LED-display read d0. This error message is under the Appendix C in the user manual as 0D, which was "reserved". Nothing was mentioned about d0. I believe it's also important to note that the 3 "LEDION" lights were a bright blue throughout this entire process when ever the computer was turned on.

I read and re-read your quick start guides and manual on first boot setup, even re-installed the CPU and all the cards and cables. I also checked all jumper settings in the manual and reset the BIOS.

I am currently researching online if this board supports the +3500 Winchester I have, but since the computer entered the POST setup the first time, I believe it is compatible with the CPU. Maybe I damaged the nFORCE chip when bending the heatsink covering out.

 

[RobbyG]

Sorry to hear about your problems hobbkins. Not sure what fan you are referring to, but the chipset fan is not directly below the CPU, it is located near the end of the PCI-E x16 video slot.

Have you tried clearing the CMOS manually via the jumper pins to see if that helped? I would also contact Epox Tech Support to see if they can help you more, they should be able to tell you what that POST code means. If all else fails you should just RMA the board back to where you purchased it because it sounds like it is terminal.

Good luck and hope you are able to get everything up and running.

 

[hobbkins]

I've tried clearing the CMOS with the jumper twice. I'm refearing to the chipset fan, I was assuming the case was upright, in which case it would be below the CPU.

EPoX support has evaded me so far. I think it's just a dud...

 

[RobbyG]

Gotcha hobbkins, just wanted to make sure we were talking about the same fan

You can also try emailing support at support@epox.com.tw - they are in Taiwan so depending on the time difference you might not get a reply right away, but I have found they are a bit more helpful than the support on the US site.

 

[hobbkins]

it's been 3 days w/o a word from the US support, and just emailed Taiwan's support. Hopefully there'll be a reply before I come home from work tonight.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

If you did destroy the chipset, then EPoX RMA to the rescue!

 

[hobbkins]

If the chipset was destoryed, would the an error still display on the LED indicator?

 

[hobbkins]

Alright, EPoX sent me a repsone, nothing out of the ordinary. Told me to clear the CMOS chip, which I had already tried, and if that didn't work, then they would arrange for me to return in exchange for a new board. Since I ordered from Newegg, RMA's are no sweat, so I sent the board back and hopefully the new one will work on first boot.

Thanks for all your input!