Help! EP-8RDA+ wont post. Code 02

[PolymerTim]

OK guys, I haven't had a whole lot of experience putting systems together, but I've helped out enough to know that they often don't work the first time around. So here's my problem.

I just bought an Epox 8RDA+ motherboard, Corsair 512MB XMS LL PC3200 RAM, and Athlon XP 2500+ Barton core.

I am trying to install them in my current computer. Everything appears to be installed properly, but upon boot, I get alternating pitch beeps (continuous) and a post code of 02. I've tried unplugging a lot of the misc stuff. Here's the basic components in addition to the ones listed above.

250W Enlight Power Supply
40GB IBM Hard Drive
GeForce2 MX400 AGP Video Card

I've heard that it is suggested that you have at least a 300W PS, but even with no drives plugged in I can't get it to post. Let me know what you guys think and if I need to supply any other information. Everything in my current comp works with my old setup (Original Athlon 500MHz, 256MB PC100 RAM, MSI 6167 motherboard). Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

Tim

 

[mechBgon]

Two things:

1) 250W PSU is tempting fate. Get yourself an Antec TruePower 330 or maybe an Enermax 365-series or Sparkle Power 350W+ unit.

2) Along with your LL modules, put in one stick of plain old Crucial too, just temporarily. The system is having a deadlock between the mobo and the memory modules regarding what timings to use, and putting in a "tame" module gets you past this impasse so you can go into the BIOS and manually set the memory timings. More info on this concept here

 

[PolymerTim]

I'll definitely look into buying a new PS. I can't really afford it right now, but if that's the problem, then I'll buy one. Looks like newegg has some of the Enermax series ranging in price from $47 to $60. I don't know about the tech specs of PS's , but the ENERMAX EG365P-VE(FM) looks good to me at $47, especially the low noise feature.

As far as your idea about the memory, that definitely looks like a possibility. Unfortunately, the only other RAM I have is PC100 in my current machine. Will this motherboard be able to run that? I think I will go ahead and email the guy in the link you posted and see if he has any other ideas.

I also just remembered that when I was unpacking the CPU, it popped out of the packaging and landed on the mobo. I had to straighten a few pins, but it did insert properly and effortlessly. What are the chances I killed the CPU?

Surely that post code should be saying something. I thought that was the whole point of the LED, but I guess if the problem is with one of the major components, the mobo still can't always tell exactly what's wrong. The listing for that post code in my mobo manual just says "reserved." A lot of help that is.

 

[mechBgon]

You could also try holding down the Insert key before and during power-up of the system to see if that helps. Sometimes it does.

The PC100 modules aren't compatible with the board, so that's a no-go. Regarding the power supplies, I happen to like the Antec TruePowers even more than the Enermaxes (I have an Enermax at home and unfortunately it's not so quiet).

Dropping the CPU *probably* isn't the problem unless it took a static electrical shock when it landed. I've had to straighten pins before and there's nothing wrong with that, per se. I bet you were looking like this when it happened, though -----> :Q

 

[PolymerTim]

Next time I boot it up, I will definitely try the insert key. I'd like to get a few other ideas first though. Since I only have the one computer, I have to disassemble the one I'm typing on now to try anything with the new motherboard. I'm fairly comfortable with basic assembly of hardware, but I've already switched to the new motherboard and back twice now and will now try to minimize the number of times I do that. I do leave the cpu and ram in their prospective mobos since I figure as long as the were carefully installed while the mobo was screwed down, it's not necessary to remove them when removing the mobo. Also, I don't want to have to replace the thermal paste that came with the AMD cpu. I know I should prob get some Arctic Silver III anyway, but I figure as long as I don't overclock, that's really not necessary.

OK, I emailed the Corsair RamGuy in the link above and hopefully he can give me some ideas in the next few days. I'll let you guys know when I get some info.

As far as the PS, I checked out the Antec website and am definitely sold on the idea of the TruePower series. I like the idea of the dedicated circuits and the low noise, variable speed fan (especially for my case fan which is way too loud right now). My big question on that is how much wattage do I need. My new system will have:

Epox 8RDA+
GeForce2 MX400 AGP card
AthlonXP 2500+ Barton core
Corsair XMS3200LL 512MB
CD-ROM drive
CD Burner
Zip Drive
Floppy drive
1 x 40GB IBM Ultra ATA HD
3 x Case fans

Does anyone know a website that can give info on how much power you need. Also, if I get a 330W will I have enough for a possible future upgrade to my AGP card, or if I switch out my CD-ROM drive with a DVD burner? Let me know what you guys think.

 

[mechBgon]

A TruePower 330 should hold up fine. If you want to go a little over and get the 380, there's nothing wrong with that... kind of like getting a towing package when buying a new truck.

 

[amdskip]

Next thing that will be a bottleneck will be that video card Start saving $$ my friend.

 

[PolymerTim]

Yeah, I don't know if I can really afford any PS right now, but maybe I can save up for the TruePower 380 in a few months. Until then I guess I'll just tempt fate, at least as long as the comp works. I can probably disconnect my zip and cd-rom since I don't use them much. I guess that would lighten the load some.

I'm definitely planning on a new video card. I'll have to see what's out in 6-10 months when I can actually afford one around $100-120. <sigh> Such is the life of a poor starving college student.

 

[amdskip]

I would not run that computer with that power supply. Way to risky and I wouldn't doubt something or the whole thing getting fried.

 

[PolymerTim]

Really, I didn't realize that too little power is actually risky to components. I thought if there wasn't enough juice, you would just get weird problems like devices not working properly. If you guys think it might actually damage any components, I'll go ahead and buy one. Is that true?

 

[mechBgon]

Yeah, sometimes an overstressed power supply will fail catastrophically and nuke the entire system. Not Good