philo wrote:
> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>
> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>
> I've tried everything I can think up...
> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>
> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>
> even changed the cmos battery
>
>
> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo into
> the recycle bin...
>
>
> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
It could be in the motherboard or in the connections or it could
be that
you have a faulty power supply.
Make sure all the connections - right up to the wall power socket
- are very
firmly in place. First shut down the box and then pull each
connector out and push
it back firmly into place. Restart.
philo wrote:
> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>
> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>
> I've tried everything I can think up...
> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>
> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>
> even changed the cmos battery
>
>
> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo into
> the recycle bin...
>
>
> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
Exactly what happens when it _doesn't_ boot? Fans, lights, BIOS display,
tries to load OS, etc? I've got a machine in the basement which doesn't
boot every time but I know for a fact that it is simply a bad power switch
in the case and it doesn't make contact every time I press it. I've been
too lazy to see about replacing the switch for two years now and have
gotten quite used to it.
philo wrote:
> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>
> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>
> I've tried everything I can think up...
> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>
> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>
> even changed the cmos battery
>
>
> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo into
> the recycle bin...
>
>
> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
It has Dual BIOS, so you'd probably have to reflash it twice,
if you wanted to be absolutely certain both BIOS choices were
running the same version. As far as I know, the Gigabyte scheme
uses one boot block and two main BIOS code blocks, so there
is only one boot block to run the whole thing. Meaning, if
the boot block is damaged, then the dual BIOS won't work.
Check that the settings have returned to defaults.
Load setup defaults or whatever. Make sure the processor
used, is listed in the support chart.
There were a few AMD processors, that suffered from
electromigration due to overclocking. If you suspect
that is the case (user abuse), you can try running the processor
below stock speed, and see if that helps.
You can check the reviews on Newegg, and see if there
is a common theme.
It is possible the PCI Express slots are sensitive to static.
Carefully set the paddle card, to x8/x8 mode, on the
off chance that the video will work better if only
half the bus is being used. Use antistatic precautions,
like a wrist strap, while changing the paddlecard, just
in case.
It is kinda amazing, that a single chip Nvidia chipset solution,
can run without a cooling fan.
Your problem could be occurring while the boot block is doing
its thing, so in fact the problem could be entirely at stock
speeds. I don't know whether a board like that, does a double
restart to apply user settings or not. If it does do something
like that, there might not be much in fact that you can do with
the BIOS, to influence the problem.
John McGaw wrote:
> philo wrote:
>> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>>
>> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
>> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>>
>> I've tried everything I can think up...
>> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>>
>> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>>
>> even changed the cmos battery
>>
>>
>> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo
>> into the recycle bin...
>>
>>
>> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
>
> Exactly what happens when it _doesn't_ boot? Fans, lights, BIOS display,
> tries to load OS, etc? I've got a machine in the basement which doesn't
> boot every time but I know for a fact that it is simply a bad power
> switch in the case and it doesn't make contact every time I press it.
> I've been too lazy to see about replacing the switch for two years now
> and have gotten quite used to it.
>
All the fans spin up...
but the machine never posts
JD wrote:
> philo wrote:
>> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>>
>> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
>> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>>
>> I've tried everything I can think up...
>> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>>
>> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>>
>> even changed the cmos battery
>>
>>
>> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo
>> into the recycle bin...
>>
>>
>> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
>
>
> It could be in the motherboard or in the connections or it could be that
> you have a faulty power supply.
>
> Make sure all the connections - right up to the wall power socket - are
> very
> firmly in place. First shut down the box and then pull each connector
> out and push
> it back firmly into place. Restart.
>
> Good luck!
Paul wrote:
> philo wrote:
>> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>>
>> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
>> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>>
>> I've tried everything I can think up...
>> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>>
>> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>>
>> even changed the cmos battery
>>
>>
>> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo
>> into the recycle bin...
>>
>>
>> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
>
> It has Dual BIOS, so you'd probably have to reflash it twice,
> if you wanted to be absolutely certain both BIOS choices were
> running the same version. As far as I know, the Gigabyte scheme
> uses one boot block and two main BIOS code blocks, so there
> is only one boot block to run the whole thing. Meaning, if
> the boot block is damaged, then the dual BIOS won't work.
>
Well there may be something there...
as to access the recovery BIOS the prompt is to hit F9
I tried that prior to re-flashing the BIOS but hitting F9 did nothing...
I suppose that since the board is heading for the recycle bin anyway...
I might as well try re-flashing the BIOS again
Yep set it back to defaults
>
>
> There were a few AMD processors, that suffered from
> electromigration due to overclocking. If you suspect
> that is the case (user abuse), you can try running the processor
> below stock speed, and see if that helps.
>
Was not over-clocked but I might as well try under clocking it
> You can check the reviews on Newegg, and see if there
> is a common theme.
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ting=-1&Page=1
>
>
> It is possible the PCI Express slots are sensitive to static.
> Carefully set the paddle card, to x8/x8 mode, on the
> off chance that the video will work better if only
> half the bus is being used. Use antistatic precautions,
> like a wrist strap, while changing the paddlecard, just
> in case.
>
Pulled all the PCIe cards
and was testing it with a PCI video card only
> It is kinda amazing, that a single chip Nvidia chipset solution,
> can run without a cooling fan.
>
> Your problem could be occurring while the boot block is doing
> its thing, so in fact the problem could be entirely at stock
> speeds. I don't know whether a board like that, does a double
> restart to apply user settings or not. If it does do something
> like that, there might not be much in fact that you can do with
> the BIOS, to influence the problem.
>
> Drop to one stick of RAM and see if that helps.
>
> Paul
Yep...even tried that too
thanks for the ideas...
I hate to give up...
but suspect this one is not going to be put back into service
a cooling fan.
>>
>> Your problem could be occurring while the boot block is doing
>> its thing, so in fact the problem could be entirely at stock
>> speeds. I don't know whether a board like that, does a double
>> restart to apply user settings or not. If it does do something
>> like that, there might not be much in fact that you can do with
>> the BIOS, to influence the problem.
>>
>> Drop to one stick of RAM and see if that helps.
>>
>> Paul
>
> Yep...even tried that too
>
>
> thanks for the ideas...
> I hate to give up...
> but suspect this one is not going to be put back into service
philo wrote:
> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>
> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>
> I've tried everything I can think up...
> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>
> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>
> even changed the cmos battery
>
>
> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo into
> the recycle bin...
>
> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
larry moe 'n curly wrote:
>
> philo wrote:
>> I've got a GA-K8N Pro-sli on the workbench
>>
>> It typically takes 8 - 12 tries to get it to boot up..
>> but once booted the machine runs fine.
>>
>> I've tried everything I can think up...
>> reflashed the bios with a newer one.
>>
>> Tried a different power supply / ram / video card etc
>>
>> even changed the cmos battery
>>
>>
>> Since the machine starts too unreliably I'm going to pitch the mobo into
>> the recycle bin...
>>
>> unless someone here has an idea I've missed
>
> Lots of good info and advice here: www.badcaps.net
>
> If any cylindrical capacitors are bulging or leaking on top, they and
> all the ones just like them have to be replaced.
>
>
>
Thanks
the first thing I did was look at the caps...
they all look fine.
Of course looks don't tell the whole story.
About a year ago I did once try replacing the obviously bad caps on
another mobo...
but it was still flaky...so I assumed there were still some bad ones
that just had not yet exhibited bulging.
Considering that I've gotten several new boards in the $50 price
range...to me, it's not worth it to bother with replacing caps...
philo wrote:
>
> About a year ago I did once try replacing the obviously bad caps on
> another mobo...
> but it was still flaky...so I assumed there were still some bad ones
> that just had not yet exhibited bulging.
>
> Considering that I've gotten several new boards in the $50 price
> range...to me, it's not worth it to bother with replacing caps...
At Badcaps.net, I've read that some brands of caps often fail without
bulging. OTOH when I replaced about a dozen 1,000uF, 6.3v Ltec caps
on an Asrock mobo, only the three that bulged were bad, according to
ESR readings.
I haven't done much checking, but the $50 mobos I've seen had at least
some low quality brand caps on them, and boards with only good caps
start at around $75.
larry moe 'n curly wrote:
> philo wrote:
>> About a year ago I did once try replacing the obviously bad caps on
>> another mobo...
>> but it was still flaky...so I assumed there were still some bad ones
>> that just had not yet exhibited bulging.
>>
>> Considering that I've gotten several new boards in the $50 price
>> range...to me, it's not worth it to bother with replacing caps...
>
> At Badcaps.net, I've read that some brands of caps often fail without
> bulging. OTOH when I replaced about a dozen 1,000uF, 6.3v Ltec caps
> on an Asrock mobo, only the three that bulged were bad, according to
> ESR readings.
>
> I haven't done much checking, but the $50 mobos I've seen had at least
> some low quality brand caps on them, and boards with only good caps
> start at around $75.
>
actually I got some decent deals from NewEgg.
One of the boards was very good quality...it was an "open box" special.
The other was also pretty hi-quality board...but just slightly old
inventory.
I really do not need state of the art equipment here as I give all the
hard work to my GF <G>
On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:48:19 -0600, philo
<philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>the first thing I did was look at the caps...
>they all look fine.
>
>Of course looks don't tell the whole story.
>
>About a year ago I did once try replacing the obviously bad caps on
>another mobo...
>but it was still flaky...so I assumed there were still some bad ones
>that just had not yet exhibited bulging.
Depending on board design, if too many in the same
subcircuit fail it can exposed the ICs to high ripple which
could damage them. Other times the board just had a
different fault altoghether and you notice the caps bulging
because the other fault prompted an investigation with the
cover off the system.
>Considering that I've gotten several new boards in the $50 price
>range...to me, it's not worth it to bother with replacing caps...
Depends on the age of the board, role of the system, if it's
your system, etc. Sometimes people will bring me a board
that had caps fail but they can't or won't spend much
money, and I happen to keep a stock of spare caps suitable
for most boards though not so much the solid caps many use
today but they fail far less often.
Replacing caps also cuts down on system downtime and time
spent reinstalling or reconfiguring the OS if/when the
replacement board isn't the same model... seems I often buy
boards when I see good deals on them but to try and replace
with the same board later it seldom seems to be worth paying
more to get the same thing again instead of an upgrade of
some sort IF buying a new board seemed otherwise the best or
necessary option.
kony wrote:
> On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:48:19 -0600, philo
> <philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>> the first thing I did was look at the caps...
>> they all look fine.
>>
>> Of course looks don't tell the whole story.
>>
>> About a year ago I did once try replacing the obviously bad caps on
>> another mobo...
>> but it was still flaky...so I assumed there were still some bad ones
>> that just had not yet exhibited bulging.
>
> Depending on board design, if too many in the same
> subcircuit fail it can exposed the ICs to high ripple which
> could damage them. Other times the board just had a
> different fault altoghether and you notice the caps bulging
> because the other fault prompted an investigation with the
> cover off the system.
>
>> Considering that I've gotten several new boards in the $50 price
>> range...to me, it's not worth it to bother with replacing caps...
>
> Depends on the age of the board, role of the system, if it's
> your system, etc. Sometimes people will bring me a board
> that had caps fail but they can't or won't spend much
> money, and I happen to keep a stock of spare caps suitable
> for most boards though not so much the solid caps many use
> today but they fail far less often.
>
> Replacing caps also cuts down on system downtime and time
> spent reinstalling or reconfiguring the OS if/when the
> replacement board isn't the same model... seems I often buy
> boards when I see good deals on them but to try and replace
> with the same board later it seldom seems to be worth paying
> more to get the same thing again instead of an upgrade of
> some sort IF buying a new board seemed otherwise the best or
> necessary option.
>
What I often do is buy a board to match I cpu I already have.
Last year I got a couple of eMachines in here with bad motherboards...
but they had perfectly good dual core cpus's I did not want to waste.
So thanks to some deals at NewEgg, I was able to build a few machines
for next to nothing...I literally have boxes of spare parts in my workshop
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:05:07 -0600, philo
<philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>What I often do is buy a board to match I cpu I already have.
>
>Last year I got a couple of eMachines in here with bad motherboards...
>but they had perfectly good dual core cpus's I did not want to waste.
>
>So thanks to some deals at NewEgg, I was able to build a few machines
>for next to nothing...I literally have boxes of spare parts in my workshop
Me too, then eventually I need to clear out space and end up
throwing away some stuff because there's always 2/3rds of a
system built... if only I bought another X, Y, or Z part to
finish one. Right now I'm staring at a 1.1GHz Tualatin
system with a motherboard that I replaced the caps in about
5 years ago, it used to be mainly for internet and office,
but all the flash video and ads on the internet today it
can't handle very well so it gets demoted to a lesser job.
kony wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:05:07 -0600, philo
> <philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>> What I often do is buy a board to match I cpu I already have.
>>
>> Last year I got a couple of eMachines in here with bad motherboards...
>> but they had perfectly good dual core cpus's I did not want to waste.
>>
>> So thanks to some deals at NewEgg, I was able to build a few machines
>> for next to nothing...I literally have boxes of spare parts in my workshop
>
> Me too, then eventually I need to clear out space and end up
> throwing away some stuff because there's always 2/3rds of a
> system built... if only I bought another X, Y, or Z part to
> finish one. Right now I'm staring at a 1.1GHz Tualatin
> system with a motherboard that I replaced the caps in about
> 5 years ago, it used to be mainly for internet and office,
> but all the flash video and ads on the internet today it
> can't handle very well so it gets demoted to a lesser job.
Oh
NO
don't throw anything away
Seriously! next time you have stuff to toss Ping me
or gmail philo565
I will buy it from you (not anything too heavy to reasonably ship) I
need to support a Non-profit org.
I especially need obsolete mobo's of the P-III vintage
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:39:05 -0600, philo
<philo@privacy.net> wrote:
>kony wrote:
>> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:05:07 -0600, philo
>> <philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> What I often do is buy a board to match I cpu I already have.
>>>
>>> Last year I got a couple of eMachines in here with bad motherboards...
>>> but they had perfectly good dual core cpus's I did not want to waste.
>>>
>>> So thanks to some deals at NewEgg, I was able to build a few machines
>>> for next to nothing...I literally have boxes of spare parts in my workshop
>>
>> Me too, then eventually I need to clear out space and end up
>> throwing away some stuff because there's always 2/3rds of a
>> system built... if only I bought another X, Y, or Z part to
>> finish one. Right now I'm staring at a 1.1GHz Tualatin
>> system with a motherboard that I replaced the caps in about
>> 5 years ago, it used to be mainly for internet and office,
>> but all the flash video and ads on the internet today it
>> can't handle very well so it gets demoted to a lesser job.
>
>
>Oh
>
>NO
>
>don't throw anything away
>
>
>Seriously! next time you have stuff to toss Ping me
>
>or gmail philo565
>
>I will buy it from you (not anything too heavy to reasonably ship) I
>need to support a Non-profit org.
>
>
>I especially need obsolete mobo's of the P-III vintage
.... but then what will our garbage man do for spare parts?
It's funny sometimes watching him root through our garbage,
sometimes he just takes the whole bag or box and puts it on
the seat next to him, not even realizing he took the wrong
bag, lol.
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:05:07 -0600, philo
<philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>> Replacing caps also cuts down on system downtime and time
>> spent reinstalling or reconfiguring the OS if/when the
>> replacement board isn't the same model... seems I often buy
>> boards when I see good deals on them but to try and replace
>> with the same board later it seldom seems to be worth paying
>> more to get the same thing again instead of an upgrade of
>> some sort IF buying a new board seemed otherwise the best or
>> necessary option.
>>
>
>
>
>What I often do is buy a board to match I cpu I already have.
>
>Last year I got a couple of eMachines in here with bad motherboards...
>but they had perfectly good dual core cpus's I did not want to waste.
>
>So thanks to some deals at NewEgg, I was able to build a few machines
>for next to nothing...I literally have boxes of spare parts in my workshop
I suppose I just get into the habit of tracing faults and
trying to fix them... even if the hardware never gets used
again. Earlier today I picked up a couple LCD monitors,
both had bad caps on the output of their internal power
supply. CapXon capacitors apparently aren't fit for use in
these circuit placements.
kony wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:39:05 -0600, philo
> <philo@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>> kony wrote:
>>> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:05:07 -0600, philo
>>> <philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> What I often do is buy a board to match I cpu I already have.
>>>>
>>>> Last year I got a couple of eMachines in here with bad motherboards...
>>>> but they had perfectly good dual core cpus's I did not want to waste.
>>>>
>>>> So thanks to some deals at NewEgg, I was able to build a few machines
>>>> for next to nothing...I literally have boxes of spare parts in my workshop
>>> Me too, then eventually I need to clear out space and end up
>>> throwing away some stuff because there's always 2/3rds of a
>>> system built... if only I bought another X, Y, or Z part to
>>> finish one. Right now I'm staring at a 1.1GHz Tualatin
>>> system with a motherboard that I replaced the caps in about
>>> 5 years ago, it used to be mainly for internet and office,
>>> but all the flash video and ads on the internet today it
>>> can't handle very well so it gets demoted to a lesser job.
>>
>> Oh
>>
>> NO
>>
>> don't throw anything away
>>
>>
>> Seriously! next time you have stuff to toss Ping me
>>
>> or gmail philo565
>>
>> I will buy it from you (not anything too heavy to reasonably ship) I
>> need to support a Non-profit org.
>>
>>
>> I especially need obsolete mobo's of the P-III vintage
>
>
> ... but then what will our garbage man do for spare parts?
> It's funny sometimes watching him root through our garbage,
> sometimes he just takes the whole bag or box and puts it on
> the seat next to him, not even realizing he took the wrong
> bag, lol.
>
I don't toss any computer stuff in the garbage...
I drop it off at the recycler
kony wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:05:07 -0600, philo
> <philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>>> Replacing caps also cuts down on system downtime and time
>>> spent reinstalling or reconfiguring the OS if/when the
>>> replacement board isn't the same model... seems I often buy
>>> boards when I see good deals on them but to try and replace
>>> with the same board later it seldom seems to be worth paying
>>> more to get the same thing again instead of an upgrade of
>>> some sort IF buying a new board seemed otherwise the best or
>>> necessary option.
>>>
>>
>>
>> What I often do is buy a board to match I cpu I already have.
>>
>> Last year I got a couple of eMachines in here with bad motherboards...
>> but they had perfectly good dual core cpus's I did not want to waste.
>>
>> So thanks to some deals at NewEgg, I was able to build a few machines
>> for next to nothing...I literally have boxes of spare parts in my workshop
>
>
> I suppose I just get into the habit of tracing faults and
> trying to fix them... even if the hardware never gets used
> again. Earlier today I picked up a couple LCD monitors,
> both had bad caps on the output of their internal power
> supply. CapXon capacitors apparently aren't fit for use in
> these circuit placements.
I don't usually bother to repair stuff on the component level...
unless it's something highly critical
On Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:16:13 -0600, philo
<philo@privacy.invalid> wrote:
>> I suppose I just get into the habit of tracing faults and
>> trying to fix them... even if the hardware never gets used
>> again. Earlier today I picked up a couple LCD monitors,
>> both had bad caps on the output of their internal power
>> supply. CapXon capacitors apparently aren't fit for use in
>> these circuit placements.
>
>
>
>I don't usually bother to repair stuff on the component level...
>unless it's something highly critical
One of the reasons I do, is at least then I know it's not
likely to have the same fault again, could end up lasting
longer than similar bought new to replace it (in the case of
capacitors since I can choose better ones, not so much the
case if it's a transistor or similar and is landlocked so I
am reasonably forced to use same/equivalent parts again).
Then again, with LCDs you have the CCFL tubes dimming over
time and the inverter board is another potential problem,
and a monitor I bought myself I hesitate to open because the
warranty is still valid on it, but it still works, just
won't go into DVI input mode anymore.
Gigabyte mobo ? 
Linear Mode
