*Cold Boot Problems 8K3A+*

[Srper]

Occasionally, I will start the computer after it has been off for a while. The LED will light up, the fans will spin, but no video or post. Also to note, the led on the mainboard (led3) will light, but the POST CODES Led (led4) will not light up. I simply hit the restart button and it will boot up fine.

Like I said, it only happens once and while and it is solved by simply hitting the reset button. I have tried the latest 2508 bios, as well as others. I have tried two seperate PSU's, video cards, memory sticks, etc. I think if the led3 lights up, but led4 does not, then it is a problem with the mainboard.

Tell me if anyone else has ever had cold boot problems with the 8K3A+.

[K6-III]

Which revision do you have???

[Srper]

I am not sure, but it has the 6 channel audio. Its only a month old.

[phiphen]

I had a problem once where my ram wasn't in all the way...I pushed em in correctly...
but it was loose somhow.... try there?

[Srper]

If it were a problem like that, then I would get an error on the led#4. The cold boot problem lights led#3 and powers up fans, but led#4 (diagnostic led) does not light, as well as no video or post. Anyway, I tried the memory in multiple slots but it still happens occasionally.

Plus if the memory was not installed right, then by simply pressing the reset button would not work.

[bigbear]

I am glad someone else also has the same problem ;-( )
According to Epox Tech, it was the NOT fault of the mb and the bios and therefore must be my fault and your fault.
Sorry I cannot be more helpful.

[Srper]

So Epox says it not the motherboard? Then why does one of their bios updates state:

Solved motherboard cold boot issue

I took my mainboard out of the case and ran it for a while with minimal components. It still happened. It only happens about once a week and is solved by hitting the reset button.

Next time it happens, look at the mainboard lights. LED3 will light up for me, but LED4 (diagnostic) will not light. Tell me what lights light up for you when this happens.

try setting the dram clock to SPD



is your system overclocked?



I´m on my third Epox motherboard (all diferent)

and not one of them gave me problems at default configuration :devil:

they have their issues OCed but at default they are mucho stable

and im running Oced 8k3a , and superstable , the limiting factor in my case is the ram and the cpu

[bigbear]

Mime is 8k3a V1.0 so I dont have any led's to look at.
I tried not O/C and stripped down my system but still has the problem. I tried most of the bios (latest offical bios and the last 2 beta bios) but same result.


Below is the cut&paste from Epox Tech:
I am sure that this is not a bug of the BIOS, otherwise we would have had a lot of complaints regarding this.

Provided that your memory is good, setting it to read from SPD should be all that is necessary - there is no need to make unneccessary alterations to the BIOS which may confuse or worsen the issue at hand.

I have Crucial PC2100 256Mb sticks here which we have tested in 8K3A with BIOS from January right through to May with no problems regarding stability or SPD information being gathered by the mainboard. I feel therefore very confident that the mainboard is not the issue here.

[phiphen]

so you still have the problem when you only have your agp card in it? cause if I have devices on the same irq share slot's, I'll have problems.....so like.... look in your manual page 4-22 and look at all the slot's that are shared, and mix up your cards so the right ones, <or no cards> share the same irq.

[Srper]

This is a problem with the mainboard. I run the bios at default and memory set to SPD. No overclocking or increased voltage. I have a 400W PSU Antec, so I am not underpowered. Like I said, it only happens once every 30 starts of a cold computer. The problem is resolved by hitting the reset button. COLD BOOT PROBLEM.

[Srper]

I just got an email from Epox stating that it might be the Gal chip. This makes sense, except for those of you without LED4 (diagnostic led). If it happens once every 30 cold boot attempts, then something is faultering intermittently. I wonder what the actual problem was that Epox addressed when they fixed the cold boot problem?

[Srper]

One thing I must say: Epox has one of the best support systems available. I recieve replies, sometimes within minutes. They always reply to inquiries and seem helpful. I will stay with Epox due to this great service.

To note: I was told that if the Gal chip wasn't working properly, then it would cause some instability.

[bigbear]

What is a Gal chip ?

[Srper]

The Gal chip controls the LED4 I believe. I do not know if the non-led4 boards have one.

[bigbear]

Then Gal chip is not the casue of my 8k3a cold boot problem as it probably does not has it.

[BobyJo]

The 8K3A+ I had became so bad with cold and warm boots.
I RMA'd it and returned to NewEgg.
I am getting credit for the mobo, and will not purchase another probably until the KT400's are available.
At first it had a warm boot problem, had to press the reset button several times to get the mobo to start over.
At first it always cold booted.
I contacted Epox tech and requested a new bios chip for the v1.2 mobo.
They sent a bios chip for the v1.1 mobo.
It did fit OK, the bios was the 2312 version.
It did startup but W2k went beserk stating the config was not found to be correct.
I did a repair of the OS, only to find the repair did a new install on the Data end of the hd. NOT the boot drive.
But it did make the data end a bootable drive and even changed all the drive letters in the system.
Then nothing would work. I replaced the chip with the original bios chip and reformatted the OS part in reinstalled.
After this the mobo would not cold boot, or warm boot. So I returned it.
I don't think the 8K3A+ is as good as the 8KHA+ that I have.

[EPoX Tech]

Originally posted by BobyJo
The 8K3A+ I had became so bad with cold and warm boots.
I RMA'd it and returned to NewEgg.
I am getting credit for the mobo, and will not purchase another probably until the KT400's are available.
At first it had a warm boot problem, had to press the reset button several times to get the mobo to start over.
At first it always cold booted.
I contacted Epox tech and requested a new bios chip for the v1.2 mobo.
They sent a bios chip for the v1.1 mobo.
It did fit OK, the bios was the 2312 version.
It did startup but W2k went beserk stating the config was not found to be correct.
I did a repair of the OS, only to find the repair did a new install on the Data end of the hd. NOT the boot drive.
But it did make the data end a bootable drive and even changed all the drive letters in the system.
Then nothing would work. I replaced the chip with the original bios chip and reformatted the OS part in reinstalled.
After this the mobo would not cold boot, or warm boot. So I returned it.
I don't think the 8K3A+ is as good as the 8KHA+ that I have.

There is no difference between a BIOS chip supplied for any of the three revisions of the 8K3A mainboard planar.

[bigbear]

to Epox Tech,

Do you have any solution to the actual problem ?
There are quite a few people reporting the problem already.

[BobyJo]

I agree with Epox Tech.
The chip was an exact same design as the chip that came in the mobo.
I don't know why W2k refused to startup. I don't know why it installed a different installation of the OS in the data end of the hd.
The repair never asked me about performing this proceedure.
I do know what happened, I don't know why.
It could have been a defective mobo to start with, but the system did perform great at first, if overlooking the soft boot problem. When it refused to start cold, and warm I knew that the board had to go back.
I just didn't want to return it, and thought I could get it going with a bios chip replacement.
In this case evidently the problem was not the bios chip.