Help!! 8k7a with 1.4 GHz Athlon won't POST!

[StevenG]

I am at my wits end troubleshooting this problem. Just bought a new EP-8k7a, Athlon T-Bird 1.4/266 (both from Newegg), and a 256MB stick of PC2100 DDR (from Crucial). Assembled the system, and it won't POST. The POST LED on the motherboard kust immediately says 'FF' when powered on. And I mean *immediately*, the system doesn't even TRY to boot. The fans come on, but nothing else happens.

Except one time, after repeatedly powering on and off, the system did try to POST. It reported the 256MB of memory and a few other things, then displayed some sorrt of 'overclock warning' on the screen (can't remember the exact wording) so I powered down immediately. Strange thing is, I have the multiplier dip switches set to 'Auto', the FSB jumper set to 133/266, and haven't had a chance to get in the BIOS to overclock the FSB, so there is no way this thing is overclocked!

Anyway, I can't get the system to POST again, it just immediately says 'FF' on the POST LEDs. I have only the video card (GeForce3) and floppy drive connected. I've tried 2 video cards, so that's not the problem. I have an AMD-approved CoolerMaster heatsink/fan that came with that pink thermal compound on the bottom. I even tried removing all of that stuff, applying a new coat of Arctic Silver II, and reinstalling the heatsink/fan, but that didn't help.

here are some other things I have tried:
- Reseated the video card and memory several times.
- Took the mobo out of the case, looked for shorts, and reinstalled it.
- Thinking my lame 250W power supply might be choking, I ran out and bought a new 400W AMD-approved power supply.
- Changed the multiplier dip switches to a multiplier of 5, to underclock the CPU.

Nothing helps. I figure it must be either the mobo, the CPU, or the memory that is fried. (But what about that one time it started to POST and reported the 256MB of memory? That implies that the memory and CPU are ok, right? I'm so damn confused!)

So assuming it's the mobo, memory, or CPU that has failed, here's my bigggest problem - all three components are brand new, and I don't have another Athlon system to swap parts into to find which is the culprit. So how the hell do I know which component to ship back to the vendor?!?! Do I just send them all back?

I am soooo frustrated right now. If anyone has an idea what the problem might be, or can just pinpoint it as a CPU, mobo, or memory problem based on the symptoms I have described, I would be extremely grateful!!

One more thing - Epox support emailed me back that the 8k7a does not support the 1.4 GHz athlon. Could this be the problem? If so then I'm screwed, because I can't even boot the machine to apply a BIOS update.

Steve

 

[Flashram]

Do you have something (printer) plugged into the parallel port? If so, unplug it. Worked for me.

 

[GundamF91]

8K7A doesn't support 1.4??? Why o Why???

I know it doesn't say it, but I really don't see how that could be a problem with same pins, vcore and all!! :/

 

[whistleclient]

(bump)

 

[BD231]

Send the Mobo back and get another one, if that dosent work get another CPU....

 

[jaggrey]

That's happened with two Epox boards I've gotten...one was the 8KTA3 and the other was my new 8K7A.

In the case of the 8KTA3, the power supply was set at 220 instead of 110 (duh!)

In the case of my 8K7A, it was the power supply. The power supply is less than a year old, 300-watt AMD-approved, came with my Fong Kai 320 case. I took a 250-watt one out of my old case and that works fine.

That is frustrating though, what you're going through. Believe me, I've been through it twice!

 

[tjdavis1138]

Slightly off topic, but could someone explain to me why Epox says the 8k7a does not support 1.4G Tbird's? I have my Tbird running at 1400 on my 8k7a just fine.

 

[Mungla]

Probably due to the shipped motherboards containing an old BIOS.

 

[StevenG]

(bump)

Problem still not solved. Any ideas?

 

[Courtland]

have you tried underclocking it by lowering the multiplier on your motherboard and posting at a speed lower than 1.4ghz?

 

[StevenG]

Yeah, tried that, no effect. I'm going out now to get another power supply, as I've heard the 8k7a can be finnicky about power supplies. If that doesn't help, I'm going to call Newegg and see what they suggest.

 

[Courtland]

did you ever get the thing to post? Just curious.

 

[StevenG]

No, never got it to POST. So I put in my old motherboard/CPU (ASUS P3B-F \ PIII-800) and everything is working fine. I did buy a new CompUSA 400W power supply for the case because I read that 250W is inadequate for an Athlon system.

So I've packaged up my EP-8K7A and the Athlon 1.4 CPU, and I'll call Newegg on Monday to find out what to do. Maybe they'll let me exchange both the CPU and the mobo even though I don't know which is defective. Or maybe they'll exchange one component at a time, e.g. first just the CPU then if that doesn't work exchange the mobo too.

Problem is, I leave for vacation on Thursday night, and won't be back until 10 days later, so I'm really worried about their 7-day OEM CPU refund/replacement policy. Hopefully they will work with me on this.

 

[IdahoB]

Damn man, that sucks. Hope you fix it. We've all suffered the horror of the machine that stubbornly won't POST, so I sympathise.

 

[mrwade]

I wrote Epox tech support as I am about to assemble my 8k7a and 1.4, here is the reply:

Dear User,
Please refer to our processor support lists from our website for the board.
Unfortunately yes yor would need the system to boot up inorder to flash the
bios, and also the board does not support up to a 1.4 currently we are still
testing on this issue

not good.

 

[jaggrey]

well that sucks. what about with the new BIOS that's floating around?

 

[heffe734]

Doesn't seem like a BIOS issue...and i've seen many ppl using the 8k7a with a 1.4...but my friend had the exact same problem as you, although i don't know if this scenario will fit your case. It's a silly mistake but his computer didn't post. On the back of the P/S...make sure it's 115...some of these "Made in Taiwan" ps's have it at 225...which will undoubtely cause your computer to not post. So ya...check that first...i had the same problem on my 1.33...some how all of a sudden...while checking the chasis fan socket on my mobo..i started the computer and it was just a big black screen. It wouldn't post...i tried replugging all my connectors and cables. Still no use. I got frustrated and gave my case a big slap and wha laa...it started working. hehe. Try that too. Seems far-fetched i know...but it worked for me.

 

[Courtland]

PANIC question here, will the epox 8k7a work with an athlon with a stock speed of 1.4ghz? I really need to know, I am getting my parts tommorow.

 

[heffe734]

Ya it should...like i said...i've seen many ppl in the forums have the epox with 1.4 cpu. Trust me...if those two didn't go together...there would definately be an outcry within the forumers. Cuz Epox has been getting the most thumbs up within the forums.

 

[heffe734]

BTW...when you were removing the pink compound off the coolermaster...did u touch the dye...? I hope you did all of that stuff carefully cuz there have been some ppl who've done some damage to their cpus that way.

 

[StevenG]

Yeah, I removed all of the thermal compound with a cotton swab and nail polish remover, then wiped everything down with a lint-free cloth.

By the way, Newegg is being very cool about the situation. They gave me an RMA to return both the motherboard and the CPU for replacement. No hassle at all. But I guess I shouldn't be too complimentary until they send my new components; I'll really be pissed if they claim I damaged the CPU or something. (When I cleaned the CPU off to return it, I noticed I got some of the Arctic Silver II on the ceramic and it left a mark that I couldn't remove.)

Just to be sure, I also bought a new Enermax 431W power supply for when the new parts arrive.

 

[BadBllock]

Maybe, a new bios can help you.

 

[mrwade]

Courtland, I was worried too. I had gotten in an Epox 8k7a and tbird 1.4 and was waiting for the HSF. I started reading about the board not supporting the chip, I wrote to Epox and they said , yes, at this time the board does not support the 1.4!! Last night I mounted the HSF on the 1.4, stuck in a video card, hooked up the monitor and keyboard and turned the system on. It posted!! Read the chip as 1400 10.5X133. Boy am I happy.

 

[LostHiWay]

make sure you don't have a printer attached, then set the FSB jumper to 100/200. After you have done this reset the BIOS. You should be able to post after this. I would then recommend you upgrade to the lastest BIOS.

 

[dominic01]

Have you guys changed anything from the brand new motherboard. I got my board (8k7a) and cpu (1.2) yesterday and will it work by default. That is without changing anything?

Do I need to take care of anything before starting the system? Please guys.. help me (PMail) this is the first time I am doing a system assembly.

Thanks