Fans spin, no monitor signal or beeps

[imported_hardwareguy]

I have an Epox 8RDA+ with an Athlon 2500+ in it. Today it locked up and I hit reset, but nothing happened. I turned the system off and waited a bit, then turned 'er back on. I got fans but no beeps or monitor signal. The mobo has 2 8 segment displays that read hex codes during boot. They read C1, which is some sort of memory error according to my users manual. I swapped the ram with a new system I was building, but when I powered the system on, nothing changed. I then tried swapping the CPU with the new system I was building, to no avail. I also tried swapping power supplies. When I was just ready to say that my CPU and mobo died at the same time and switched everything back, the new system showed the same problem. Now I have 2 dead systems and I'm pulling my hair out. Thanks in advance for the help guys!

System specs:
Epox 8RDA+
Athlon 2500+
2x Corsair PC3200
420W Enlight PS
80GB Seagate SATA HD
40GB WD IDE HD
Liteon 40-24-40 CD-RW
Pioneer 16x DVD ROM
Windows XP Pro SP2

2nd system
Epox 8RGM3I
Athlon 2500+
2x Corsair PC3200
350W Antec PS
NEC 3500A DVDRW

 

[amdskip]

Try reseating your video card and if that does not work, take the motherboard out of the case and try booting. You may have a shorting issue but that is not very likely.

 

[imported_hardwareguy]

I did try taking out every card and have tried both systems on a piece of cardboard out of the case. The second mobo has a built-in video card. When I have been testing the systems I disconnect all unnecessary peripherals. Basically just video and keyboard connected to them. I have reset the BIOS, but I get no beeps from speaker, and nothing to monitor. The 8RDA+ has those HEX codes and mine reads C1 or FF each time. What kills me is the problem jumped from one mobo to the other. Is it possible for my 2500+ to have a short that somehow destroys the BIOS? That is the only thing that makes some kind of sense to me.

 

[imported_hardwareguy]

Anyone have any possible solutions?

 

[mechBgon]

On the new mobo, you didn't overlook your ATX12V cable, by any chance?

 

[imported_hardwareguy]

Oh, I wish it were that simple. I hooked up the standard ATX and the extra 12v plug.

 

[mechBgon]

I can share my observation that historically, the 8RDA+ has had plenty of reports of random failure. Mine failed at random on a routine reboot.

So the situation now is that you have the new board, the new CPU, the new RAM, a working PSU, and it spins fans but you never get a POST, am I on the right track? And your new 2500+, it's an AthlonXP and not a Sempron, right? Was this new kit all working at one point?

Try this next:

1) rant and throw stuff

2) unplug the new mobo from the PSU

3) take out its CMOS battery

4) move its Clear CMOS jumper for about 15 seconds, then move it back

5) put the battery back in and plug it in with the new 2500+

6) see if that changed anything


If that doesn't help, you could also try switching JCLK to the 100/133MHz setting to bring the CPU speed down.

 

[imported_hardwareguy]

Yeah, I didn't just come out and say it. I have the new mobo, CPU, RAM, case, and PS that worked before the whole switching started. All those new parts together no longer post. I have competed step one several times. I will try to clear the CMOS, though I have already tried it several times. Thanks for trying to help me. I'm about ready to just RMA all the new stuff minus ram and case/PS and use the whole debacle as an excuse to get a shiny new Athlon64 proc and mobo.

oh, the proc is an actual barton 2500, but the new mobo does say it's "Sempron Ready", whatever that means

 

[mechBgon]

I have competed step one several times.

Hehe! Hey, if you strip the new board completely so it has no CPU or RAM, does it give any beep codes when you power it up like that?

 

[imported_hardwareguy]

I get nothing from either board with just a speaker hooked up, but I don't think I've ever gotten a beep from a mobo without a CPU, working or not.

 

[imported_hardwareguy]

I've done some more testing by introducing a third motherboard. I've determined a few things:

1. New processor is fine
2. Old Processor is toast
3. New mobo is toast
4. Old mobo is toast

The 3rd mobo I tested with is an ECS, and it POSTS fine with the new processor. My hypothesis is my old processor has some strange error that likes to kill Epox motherboards. I've decided to RMA the new mobo back to newegg, RMA the old mobo back to Epox, and buy a new DFI mobo Athlon64 combo. I don't know if I should trust Epox anymore either. Thanks for all your help.