MOBO Stability Issue

[Frosty47]

Hello every 1,

I am currently experiencing a major stability issue with my Epox 8RDA3+ Pro mobo. The system randomly hangs during all kinds of activities: system hanging in BIOS, during POST, after successfully loaded into OS, during BOOTSTRAP, ETC. I have tried more than a dozen alternatives: tested my system with different components ( RAM, PSU, GPU). I uploaded the latest version of BIOS. I even went as far as CHANGING THE MAIN CAPACITORS ON THE MOBO. Yet, this did not solve my problem as I still have this instability issue. The record time my system would run without hanging is down to about 3 min. The shortest, well lets just say right before I can hit the del key to enter BIOS menu. I think that changing the rest of the caps might resolve this issue however; the capacitors show no signs of physical damage (no bulging, leakage or any other type of damage can be seen). The 9 caps I changed already are the main CPU volt caps. Does anyone know what the problem is with this Epox board ? I heard similar stories reported by people owing similar Epox mobos but, non of those individuals seem to be certain of this problem. I always had sufficient cooling (CPU temps never exceeded 42 C, GPU does not exceed 41 C, overall airflow is managed by two 120mm system fans, PSU cooled by DUAL 80mm Vantec Stealth Fans). I contacted Epox directly explaining this problem in detail to them but, in response, the Epox staff treated me like a total NOOB, telling me that I need to reinstall OS and check the power cables. I believe that Epox is aware of this problem and their customer representatives are purposefully withholding information about this problem.

Does any one know anything about this problem ?

Thanks, any suggestions would be of help to me?

P.S. The board is around 10 month old and there were no issues prior this incident.🙁

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Have you tried a known good PSU?
You could search the Epox Forum at badcaps.net/

 

[Frosty47]

Thanks for reply,

Badcaps.net seems to be an interesting place. I did find Epox 8RDA motherboard thread however, people that changed the caps on the mobo didn't describe their problem. Anyways I did have a psu issue prior this problem. My system used to run on Antec Smart Power 450W psu but, it got blown about a month ago and so I temporairly replaced it with ThermalTake True Power 350W psu. Everything was stable with this psu (was able to play Doom 3 on high quality). When this instability issue startted taking place, I bought a new low brand name psu (Safe Power 465W: 32A on 3.3V; 32A on 5V; 26A on 12V; although the Amperage does not define it's power output 🙁 ). I am quite sure that this is not a psu issue because if it was, my system would most likely reboot every time there was insoficient power or voltages provided by the psu. I am going to test the voltage outputs of my current psu with a DMM just to confirm that. I also realized that I should have used LOW ESR Caps. The new caps I put in are made by Unitted Chemicon and I have no idea what series they are. The formor caps I replaced were marked as "SANYO" caps however, I have a feeling that they were/are not made by SANYO.