ASUS P5A-B Build

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sylvan2626
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ASUS P5A-B Build

Post by sylvan2626 »

A deviation from my usual EPoX SS7preference...

This is my first time using an ASUS mobo (P5A-B Ver 1.4). Got it several months ago along with an AT case and PSU, a K6-2 550 with HSF. I had suspected that some of my "+" CPUs would run at the 6 x 105MHz setting (I think that the 105MHz FSB would not over-stress the AGP and PCI bus/cards).

I 've replaced the K6-2 with a K6-2+ 533ACZ. Also, I'm using 2 x 256MB Crucial PC133 CL2, Radeon 9000, WD 80GB HDD, W2kPro, and other software. Runs just fine at 6 x 105MHz EXCEPT that Spybot won't run at that setting (OK at 6 x 100MHz). Rather pleased with it so far (except for some of the jumper block locations). I might have to try one of my P5A boards now!

Initially, I found the board to be slow and the Radeon to be very problematic. However, as it turned out, I had forgotten to install the mobo drivers. :oops:

I had some problems as a result of that - not sure that things are completely straightened out yet. Anybody running one of these mobos? If so, I have some questions.
EP-MVP3G2 Rev 1.0 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6-2+ 550ACZ @ 618MHz (103MHz FSB) 640MB PC100

EP-MVP3G5 Rev1.4 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6III+ 500ANZ @ various MHz
Jim
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RE: ASUS P5A-B Build

Post by Jim »

Yeah, I have had one running in SP2, though it is down right now. (That is the next project). The P5A-B, as far as I can tell, will blow the doors off a VIA SS7 board, no matter what kind, except maybe the FIC VA 503+.

EDIT : Man, you are RIGHT about the jumper locations!! The FSB & Multiplier jumper locations are awfull. Have to take the HDD pack out of SP2 to change either of them.
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sylvan2626
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Post by sylvan2626 »

Jim,
Does the POST process always display on your system in a reboot? This one will not display POST during most reboots (like after installing Windows updates or new software). If it starts up from a cold system, then POST displays. I'm using BIOS 1011 Beta 005.

During a warm boot the screen will usually remain blank until W2K loads the first "blue background screen" (not a BSOD) telling you that Windows is starting up. After that, all is OK - log-on screen pops up, etc.

Just seems strange, though. I went through 3 AGP cards before I decided that the problem - if there is one - was not a defective card when I was trying to install all the software. I did not have a PCI video card at the time, but will acquire one shortly.

EDIT ADDED: I'm not sure if maybe something went wrong during the ALi mobo drivers install or if maybe something is flakey with my AGP port or maybe the PSU that came with the case. Any thoughts?

I'm currently using CPUCool to change FSB and multiplier settings rather than fight with those jumper block locations.
EP-MVP3G2 Rev 1.0 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6-2+ 550ACZ @ 618MHz (103MHz FSB) 640MB PC100

EP-MVP3G5 Rev1.4 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6III+ 500ANZ @ various MHz
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Post by Jim »

Sylvan, it has been so long since I ran that machine, I can't tell you from memory w/ any degree of certainty. There is some variation in the post process depending on what has gone on before, BUT I do not recall ever having a completely blank screen until windopes starts up. There is a possibility that you do have a mobo driver problem. I remember once a long time ago some guy saying he was having probs w/ the ASUS mobo drivers; and both PunkRawker82 and myself said that they work fine IF they are the very first thing installed after loading windopes.

Sometime later today, I will disconnect SP3 and hook SP2 back up and run it a bit to get a better answer for your "Q"s.
Superpuppy 3
K6-3+ 450 ACZ (6x100)
DFI K6BV3+/66 Rev B2 (2 Meg) w/ 2x28mm Chipset Fans
2x256 Meg PC 133 Hynix SDRAM
1x 20G Maxtor (7200)
2x 80G Maxtor (7200) Ducted w/ 2x486 Fans Mount
52/24/52/16 LG CDR/RW/DVD
8/4/3/12/24/16/32 LG Super Multi
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SB Audigy 1 MP3 Sound
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KachiWachi
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Post by KachiWachi »

@sylvan2626 -

Is your monitor "awake" then?
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PC #9 - ??? ;)
sylvan2626
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Post by sylvan2626 »

Kachi & Jim,

I notice the problem when either I or Windows does a warm boot - like after installing Windows Operating System updates or new software that requires a reboot. The system powers off normally, monitor power light is blinking, the system goes into POST (various drive lights turn on and off and I can hear my floppy drive and HDD power up). All this time the monitor is blank - not even a blinking cursor.
After the appropiate time that it would take the PC to complete the POST process and Windows to load the startup splash screen and then turn the background color to blue while giving the user the usual startup messages the monitor comes to life with the blue background and usual network starting and eventual log-on messages. After that, all is well. Same thing happens if I turn my PC off normally and then turn it back on after a brief interval. Leave it off for several minutes, and all is OK on startup.

On cold startups (I NEVER leave my PC running unattended), the monitor behaves properly. I am certain that it is not a monitor problem, since this same monitor behaves itself with all my other systems.

Other brands and models of AGP cards behaved similarly with this mobo.
Leaves me wondering if something is wrong with the AGP slot or if the chipset drivers are user-buggered-up.

I did not remember to load the mobo chipset drivers until all Windows updates had been installed.

As a last resort, I can reinstall W2k (having the unofficial SP5 makes that task a WHOLE lot simpler), but all the other software is still a pain.

As always, my thanks to you guys for your help.
Last edited by sylvan2626 on Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
EP-MVP3G2 Rev 1.0 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6-2+ 550ACZ @ 618MHz (103MHz FSB) 640MB PC100

EP-MVP3G5 Rev1.4 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6III+ 500ANZ @ various MHz
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AlleyViper
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Post by AlleyViper »

My mobo does a similar stuff: after one of those reboots with shortened post it resets after the bypassed memory count and enters a loop. The solution was to set it to 2 way bank interleave instead of 4 way. The strange stuff is that it's perfectly stable at 4 (12h prime blend, etc).
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KachiWachi
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Post by KachiWachi »

OK @sylvan2626... I mis-understood your symptoms. :oops:
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PC #1 - DFI 586IPVG, K6-2/+ 450 (Cyrix MII 433), 128 MB EDO. BIOS patched by Jan Steunebrink.
PC #2 - Amptron PM-7900 (M520), i200 non-MMX, 128 MB EDO
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sylvan2626
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Post by sylvan2626 »

I will check the memory interleaving option tonight and try it at 2-way if not already set there.

Anyone else with suggestions?

The problem is not a killer - just a source of irritation since the system does not behave as I expect it to. Last resort will be to reload W2K (but I really am trying to avoid that).
EP-MVP3G2 Rev 1.0 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6-2+ 550ACZ @ 618MHz (103MHz FSB) 640MB PC100

EP-MVP3G5 Rev1.4 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6III+ 500ANZ @ various MHz
sylvan2626
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Post by sylvan2626 »

This BIOS does not have an option to set the memort interleaving - so could not try setting to 2-way.
EP-MVP3G2 Rev 1.0 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6-2+ 550ACZ @ 618MHz (103MHz FSB) 640MB PC100

EP-MVP3G5 Rev1.4 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6III+ 500ANZ @ various MHz
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Post by Jim »

I am afraid you do probably have mobo driver probs. The guy I mentioned before enquired about how do you get the 205s to work properly, and Wiggy said that the ALi drivers were always flakey. But both Punkrawker82 and I replied that they work fine if they are the first thing installed after Windopes. And I was using the 205s myself.

What I would do in your situation, is first create a backup of your "C:" Drive, then format and reload windopes. Having done that, install the mobo drivers, then finally do a restore from backup to get your software reloaded. If you do that, you may have to carefully select exactly what you are restoring to avoid winding up back in the same situation. I would not restore the "System Settings", though I would restore the registry, (to get your software working properly again), and I would also replace older file versions with any newer ones that were in the backup, thereby re-updating Windopes, (assuming it is updated), to save you having to go through that task.
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K6-3+ 450 ACZ (6x100)
DFI K6BV3+/66 Rev B2 (2 Meg) w/ 2x28mm Chipset Fans
2x256 Meg PC 133 Hynix SDRAM
1x 20G Maxtor (7200)
2x 80G Maxtor (7200) Ducted w/ 2x486 Fans Mount
52/24/52/16 LG CDR/RW/DVD
8/4/3/12/24/16/32 LG Super Multi
ATI 9000 aiw Radeon AGP
SB Audigy 1 MP3 Sound
CMD 649 IDE Controller
NEC USB 2 Card
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Cthulhu8u
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Post by Cthulhu8u »

Hi Sylvan,
I don't run Win2k, but I have two of those motherboards. One has a dead/defective AGP slot. I was never able to figure out what was wrong with it, so I just use PCI in it.

Anyway, that is a bit off topic. Just wondering, I notice you changed the video card several times, what about changing the monitor? I've used old monitors that don't work well with certain video cards, changing to another monitor solved the problem. If you have another one lying around, it may be worth a try.
ASUS P5A-B rev 1.04 (bios 1011 beta 02)
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256 Mb RAM
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sylvan2626
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Post by sylvan2626 »

Got a second monitor, so I'll try it this weekend. If that doesn't clear up the problems, then I'll reload.
EP-MVP3G2 Rev 1.0 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6-2+ 550ACZ @ 618MHz (103MHz FSB) 640MB PC100

EP-MVP3G5 Rev1.4 (8/6/01 BIOS) -- K6III+ 500ANZ @ various MHz
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