Abit AV8 3rd POST Problem

Morkin

Hi,

I'm getting the following with a new AV8 3rd eye mobo (from Komplett)


3. then
02: when the power plug is connected and the system is off.
83: just after pushing the power-on button. This code will stay for about 5 seconds.
9C: will stay for another 5 seconds.
9E: barely for a tenth of a second before the system shuts down.
9F: this will show after the system shuts down and will stay so until I press the power button again.

It's an Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester, Corsair value RAM (2 x 256 Sticks) and Radeon 9200SE AGP graphics card. PSU is a Thermaltake Purepower Butterfly 480W.

I can't see many of the codes in the manual and newsgroups say it's a power issue though one said there's and issue with Winchester cores not being recognised.

This is actually my 3rd AV8 3rd Eye. The previous 2 were returned to Komplett as they were extremely unstable (I did get XP installed but the boards bounced (power cycled) after only a few minutes - tried PSU on old system and checked it out with a Multimeter and seemed okay).

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Cheers,

M.

ediz

I've had the same board as you and while I can't help on the post codes (i too got hit with dozens apparently no where to be seen in the manual) I did find it needed a bios flash before it would run in any usable manner, before that it would only run (just) on a s single stick of 256mb ram and had great problems completeing the xp/2000 installation.

ps: it seems unlikely it'd be the winchester not getting recognised doesn't it , it's the newer venice cores i'd imagine it has trouble with since the board was created prior to their release.

Morkin

ediz wrote:

I've had the same board as you and while I can't help on the post codes (i too got hit with dozens apparently no where to be seen in the manual) I did find it needed a bios flash before it would run in any usable manner, before that it would only run (just) on a s single stick of 256mb ram and had great problems completeing the xp/2000 installation.

ps: it seems unlikely it'd be the winchester not getting recognised doesn't it , it's the newer venice cores i'd imagine it has trouble with since the board was created prior to their release.

Thanks for the feedback ediz. I've done some more reading around and apparently BIOS versions prior to 1.5 don't recognise Winchester cores. My mobo box has a 90nm compatible sticker on it so I'll assume it's okay - can't get to BIOS screen to check.

The previous boards eventually got XP Pro installed and I flashed the BIOS to 1.9 but it didn't increase stability. CPU checked out fine on both RMAs of chip+mobo to Komplett so I think that's okay too.

It's very unlikely that I've received 3 dud boards. So I'm gonna buy another PSU today and check that. Maybe the ThermalTake PSU is flaky.

Could you publish your current working machine specs please - in as much detail as possible?

Cheers,

And anyone else with input - please post. Thanks.

M.

paddy

Have a look here link

Allin
15-01-2005, 10:20 PM
OK, I just got past the 9.F. post code.

The board apparently was not getting enough power. I had not plugged in the ATX12V1 plug in addition to the ATXPWR1 (see p. 2-5 in manual) . Once I did that, it looks fine. BTW, I have an Enlight 300W PSU with 13A on the 12V rail.

Sleeper
04-04-2005, 02:24 PM
from what i've read else where it is also states that the default bios the Abit AV8 ships with does not support the Winchester chips, so when the pc posts the board doesn't know what to do with the chip thinks its overheating and shuts off!

unkel

Been there

OK, here goes:

- if your board is older than revision 1.5, it will NOT POST with a Winchester :eek: Only solution there is to either RMA, get new BIOS chip off Abit (they ship them for free) and stick it in, or use someone else's CPU to flash the mobo. The fact that you eventually installed XP on a previous one means it was revision 1.5 or higher

ediz wrote:

it seems unlikely it'd be the winchester not getting recognised doesn't it

Unlikely, but true. Very embarassing for Abit. When they realised, they manually flashed all the boards that were to be shipped :~(

- you've got to have the additional 12V connector connected to the mobo otherwise the mobo will not POST

- it is unlikely to be your PSU, especially if it works in another rig

- you might as well reseat the cpu and HSF using good quality goo like AS5. Reseat graphics card and memory as well and make sure your powerbutton of the case is properly connected to the mobo

- did you run memtest? In my case it was faulty memory that caused the problem

Morkin

Guys thanks for the input so far,

Just to refresh/clarify.

I'm building the board outside the case with then without video card and HDD.

I believe the BIOS is later than 1.5 (though I can't boot to confirm yet).

Both 12V lines are connected.

Front Panel is connect correctly - even stripped it down to just the speaker and Power switch connectors.

Thanks for the link Paddy, I checked it out.

Bought a Jeantec 500V dual 12V rail (15A and 18A) which I'll try out tonight - the best they had at PC World - but at least I can return within 7 days no Qs.

BTW The older system I tried the Thermaltake on was only an XP so was not sucking as much as the 64. I still have my doubts about that PSU - it wnet AWOL on me for a bit - refused to power up AV8 or older Athlon XP system for a few hours - dunno why).

Will swop Memory as well later just to check.

BTW Unkel - will run memtest as soon as I get it to boot. What PSU you using?

Thanks again folks,

M.

Morkin

Just and FYI:

Tried new PSU (JeanTech 500W with Dual 12V rails - 15A and 18A) same results as before.

Gonna reseat everything this evening and if it's a no go then RMA and keep away from ABit for good.

M.

Morkin

Okay. Have tried the two PSUs listed above and three types of memory in all sockets. Still the same issue.

Tried POST w/o the CPU and the mobo spotted that but no go after re-inserting it.

Gonna RMA to Komplett.

Thanks for the feedback.

M.

Morkin

Just an FYI.

Komplett refunded me for the mobo and CPU with the following response:

Test result: system is cursed!!

So I guess I'm lucky to be out of that one. Anyone know a reasonably price mobo supplier in Dublin - bricks and mortar this time.

PC World have a 3200+ S939 Athlon for 209 but only PCI-E mobos (I need AGP)

Maplin are way off with prices (247 for a 3000+ !)

Cheers,