Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

VERY strange POSTing issues

Tags:
  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share
January 8, 2002 3:46:55 PM

I am having a strange strange problem. I have the following hardware:
Athlon XP 1800+
on Epox 8KHA+
Antec 400W Server case (black)
Asus T5 Deluxe GF3 Ti 500
1.5 GB Mushkin High perf DDR
SB Audigy
Plextor 24/10
Toshiba 16x DVD
Sony G520 Monitor

This computer works great and I've had not problems with it at all. I did have a LeadTek GF3 Ti500 that was replaced by the Asus because I wanted the extra options.

OK now to the strange part. I ordered 2 Athlon XP 1900+ chips, one with an Epox 8KHA+, and the other with a Soyo K7V Dragon Plus mobo. As far as the other stuff went it was identical to the first computer.

When I tried the Epox and 1900+, I got no video at all. I tried several cards and got nothing. It also wouldn't do anything without any cards in it at all so I RMA'd it. With the Dragon Plus I put in my LeadTek GF3 Ti500. It wouldn't POST, no video. I tried my old Geforce 1 card. No POST. I tried an old Intel based AGP card..No POST. I tried my old Matrox G200 AGP card and it POSTed! I took out all of the cards except Video and one stick of Mushkin RAM in the first DIMM slot and tried all of the vid cards again. None of them would post except the Matrox G200! I tried pressing each card down as hard as possible without breaking it and still none of them would work right. I called Soyo tech suppt and they had no idea, so I RMA'd the board.

About that time, my new Epox 8KHA+ replacement came in. I put the system together, put my LeadTek board in and, guess what...no POST. I tried the same tests with it, I even pulled out an old TNT2 card of mine and NONE of them would post EXCEPT the Matrox G200!!! Actually the TNT2 looked like it was going to post one time, but I never got any video. Anyway, the LED codes would just stop at FF whenever I put in anything but the MAtrox card. With the MAtrox card it would go through each error code as it POSTed and the video and such would work just fine. Just to make absolutely sure, I found my old Geforce 2 Ultra and tried it in the mobo and it wouldn't post either. I even pulled the mobo out of the case to make sure the case wasn't keeping them from being seated, and I still got no POST.

I am going crazy trying to figure this out. 2 different brand name mobos, 5 different video cards and only the Matrox G200 POST's. Just to test things even further, I put each of these cards into a P3-733 box I have and they all worked just fine. I am sure power is getting to the cards, because their fans come on (if they have one). I just cannot fathom what the problem could be. I'm even more perplexed that my first machine with the Athlon XP 1800+ works great without a hitch! I even tried out my Asus T5 Deluxe GF3 Ti500 in the new mobos and couldn't get it to POST either. I've been searching everywhere for some hint, some answer as to WTF is going on.

If anyone has ANY ideas at all, please help! I'm going freaking crazy! I'm typing this right now on one of the new Athlon XP1900+ systems I built, but my vid card is that Matrox G200. I will be miserable if I'm stuck using this vid card in this powerhouse machine.

Thanks!

More about : strange posting issues

January 8, 2002 11:17:28 PM

With the Matrox installed, load up the hardware monitor software or get a copy of Motherboard Monitor and check the 3.3 volt and 5 volt lines. See if they seem low. If they are try the other video cards using another power supply.

You might even want to try the power supply from the p3 system just to see if it behaves differently.

<b>We are all beta testers!</b>
January 9, 2002 2:03:02 AM

I aggree, there may be something wrong with your Powersupply, since all the cards work in other computers. Also, check the website to see if the video cards are compatiable. I doubt that this is the problem but you never know.

If it works for you then don't fix it.
Related resources
January 9, 2002 1:46:54 PM

OK, here's what I've found with MBM:
The 3.3 volt line shows 3.18 volts, and the 5 volt shows 4.84 volts. The +12.00 shows 12.28 and the -12.00 shows 1.46 and the -5.00 shows .54.

Are the 3.3 and the 5 volt too far out for proper tolerances? I have a 300W Sparkle PSU that I'll try in the machine and see if that makes a difference with the vid cards.

Thanks!
January 9, 2002 5:23:34 PM

phsstpok, my friend, I owe you a beer! WOOOHOOO!
I took my 300W sparkle PSU out of my P3 and just temporarily rigged it to the mobo and then started up the machine with the G200 still in it. The voltage actually didn't look much different at all to be honest, so I wasn't sure that it had changed anything. I then tried my GF2 Ultra and it worked! Now the voltage is different. I don't think I understand at all how it is regulated. For example, the +3.3 volt reads 1.52 volts, the +5.00 is 4.84, the +12.00 is 11.86, the -12.00 is 1.79, and the -5.00 reades .54. I'm not sure why the 3.3 shows so much lower than it did with the matrox, but I suppose it just has to do with how they handle the flow. I downloaded powerstrip to check the settings, and was surprised to see that my mobo doesn't support 4x AGP. I can't beleive that.

Anyway, thanks a TON for the great advice!
January 9, 2002 8:15:50 PM

I'll answer both your posts here. Your Antec power supply in theory is operating within tolerance which I hear need only be within ±10% but I have never seen the 3.3 volt line run low and it has me worried. I'd be looking for something a lot better for that rig. I've been using Enermax PSU's lately but a couple doesn't qualify me as an expert. You're already using one Sparkle PSU. They have a good reputation why not go with a 400 watt unit for the Athlon XP system? I think the same units are available under the Fortron label (but I'm not sure). I don't think you would go wrong with an Enermax 450 watter, either.

You got a lot going on with your system. I think there is something wrong with the hardware monitoring software you have 1.5 volts for the 3.3 volt line is highly unlikely. The PSU would just shutdown. Try Motherboard Monitor 5.

As for what to expect with a good PSU. 3.3, 5 and 12 volts will stay just that, with a light load, medium load and even a heavy load. It's normal to see minor fluctuations as drives turn on, video cards go into 3D mode, and CPUs take on heavy loads but voltages should hover right where they started. That's what power supplies do, keep voltage constant. At least that's what they are supposed to do.

If you're seeing that AGP 4X isn't available then I'm guessing you loaded the VIA drivers without activating "turbo mode".

That's about it.

Oh, make mine a Sam Adams Boston Ale or a Killians Red.

Update: Just read your last post again. I was thinking about the PSU's 3.3 volt line which should not waver but AGP does switch from 3.3 to 1.5 volts. I think it happens at AGP 2X or faster.

<b>We are all beta testers!</b><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by phsstpok on 01/09/02 05:23 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
January 9, 2002 9:59:48 PM

I just spoke to my hardware vendor and he's going to get me another Antec 400W to replace the one that came with the case. Since I have the identical case on my home computer, I know it's a good case. BTW I am using MBM 5 to monitor these voltages.
I'm just very happy to discover that it has nothing to do with the mobo chipset, etc. because I've just gotten to trusting Athlon mobos with my mission critical stuff since they're so much faster than any of the Pentiums we have.

You like the same kind of beer I do! I'll upload it to the forum. =)
January 10, 2002 4:41:44 AM

Don't blame you for wanting a replacement but if you get similar voltage readings with that unit I'd look for something else, even if the system seems to work.

Quote:
...I have the identical case on my home computer

Does this mean the problem computer, the one with the GF3 Ti 500, the SB Audigy, and the DVD player, is at work? ;) [ :wink: ]

Since you're already uploading, email me some Augustinerbrau. I haven't seen it for a decade. :) [ :smile: ]

<b>We are all beta testers!</b>
!