Need help!! No video signal, defective Epox 7KXA motherboard?

Leo V

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
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Hi,

This problem has recently plagued my uncle's Athlon rig. Please help, I've got limited time to resolve it.

The System:
Athlon 600MHz (no overclocking)
300W Premier ATX power supply
128MB PC133 SDRAM
Epox EP-7KXA motherboard (latest BIOS version, worked fine in the past)
Default jumper switches, default BIOS settings, everything worked fine before

You'll shortly see why other components are irrelevant.

What Happened: In the middle of normal operation (web browsing), the screen suddenly went blank and the computer shut off. My uncle's attempts to boot up produced no video signal.

The Symptoms, After My Own Testing: Boot success is completely unpredictable; >95% of the time it's unsuccessful, but when I'm lucky it boots and works fine! However, usually the computer sounds like it boots normally, HDD spinning and seeking, the LED's in the front of the case working and everything. However, NO video signal gets produced. I've also found that the Athlon remains cold and probably gets no power; it cannot be dead because on a successful boot, everything works fine!

Past Record: This system has shut down during normal operation a couple times before over the last couple months. I suspected the 1) motherboard/chipset BIOS, which was updated several times, and 2) potential GeForce/KX133 chipset incompatibility, for which reason I made sure to use the latest official NVIDIA drivers.

I've Tried All These, None Made ANY Difference:
* Replacing the GeForce with an old Diamond PCI videocard (which worked w/this motherboard before); it's not the videocard's fault
* Using a different monitor&cable--same thing, the monitor was fine
* Ensuring proper cable and motherboard connections--wasn't the culprit
* Removing all other PCI/ISA devices--didn't change anything
* Moving the PCI Diamond to different PCI slots--didn't change anything
* Resetting the BIOS/CMOS--didn't change anything
* Replacing the CMOS lithium ion battery--didn't change anything
* Using a different power supply--didn't change anything
* Unplugging hard disk, CD-ROM, floppy; more power to CPU--didn't change anything, the Athlon gets enough juice already
* I also unplugged the IDE cables in above test; as I mentioned, no difference
* I've moved the tower to my house, in case the power source or extension cord were flawed; still same symptoms
Update: * Replacing the memory stick didn't help, either

What do you suggest? Has the motherboard gone postal?
Thanks!
--leoV
 

Wizkid

Platinum Member
Oct 11, 1999
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I guess you could try another processor or different ram just to be sure, but it looks like the MB is toast :(
 

Leo V

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
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Wizkid, I'll swap the memory and let you know in a minute...

I don't have another Athlon handy, but I'm fairly confident in it--perfect operation on every successful boot doesn't sound like a fried CPU.
 

Leo V

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
3,123
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Switched memory sticks, didn't help. So that's what happens when you get a sh1tty motherboard? :)
 

Leo V

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
3,123
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Contacted Epox tech support (required before returns/replacement). For their own good, they'd better give up troubleshooting and just get 'er replaced. :)
 

Leo V

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
3,123
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I've made a decision: I'll sell the replacement Epox once it gets here, and instead order my uncle a SocketA T-bird on Asus A7V.