BIOS Instability

[Piranti]

Hello, Bought this system on the first of the year (see below). Am having major issues, My BIOS seems highly unstable. I have the Latest Beta bios flashed. and have also tried the latest non beta BIOS, but I keep having to clear the cmos by the "reccomended" process (remove battery, power off [unplugged], capacitors discharged, CMOS jumper to clear, sit for 1-24 hours in this position). I end up doing this about once a week on average, sometimes more often. When I do have this board running its blazing fast (have not overclocked at all). I have followed and read these forums very carefully, and have tried just about everything I can think of or has been suggested here that has any relevance. I do have all 4 power connectors hooked up. I am forced to clear the BIOS when I power up all 4 diagnostic LED's are lit, and the system sits there. I have tested the rails on the current PSU with a oscilliscope and the power is clean and spike free.

 

 

I have replaced the PSU with different brands and wattage amperage. Used several different brands/revisions of memory. Different Video Cards, Different HDD's. Heat is not the issue as inside ambient case temps are 35-40ish Celsius. CPU runs 20-30 celsius 20 idle 30 load. 40-55 celsius for the Vid Card idle/load.

 

The only thing i have not tried because i do not have or access to is a different CMOS chip. It is behaving like memory that has been zapped by static discharge.

 

I am very carefull of that issue when building and fiddling with my machines as know the damage it causes. I cannot RMA the board now as it is beyond the 30 day return policy and well it takes forever to get anything done. Nearest store with comparable boards is 30-90 miles away (yes i live in the sticks).

 

Any Advice or help would be greatly appreciated. I would really like to try to use a different BIOS/CMOS chip to see if that really is the issue, would it be possible to obtain one? Would really like to try this out before i go out and spend 200 or so dollars on a new board.

 

 

I really do like the board when it is up and running. It has the most flexibility i have seen with control of the hardware and how its running. The Finickyness of the board i can deal with as it forces you to only buy quality parts.

[hellasvagabond]

Could the new bios be worse than the 623 ? Have you tried that ?

[Piranti]

Yes i have tried the 623 version Bios. Tried the stock (dont know what it came with) BIOS, went to a pre beta version, then tried the reccomended by Iraqi Information Ministers beta BIOS. went back to pre Beta and all same issues.

[RGone]

but I keep having to clear the cmos

 

Why? What tells you to clear the CMOS? What happens that makes you think you need to clear the CMOS? Some symptom occurs that says to you > "oh my gawd, time to clear the CMOS". What is it.

 

Post the power supply in use "now" in your signature and the part numbers of that memory as well.

 

RGone...

[Piranti]

From other threads in this section to resolve a hang on 4 LED's lit, it is suggested to clear the CMOS. Reseating the CPU has had no effect. Am at work atm so do not have part numbers for the ram atm. the only thing that has worked to get it to post has been to clear the CMOS.

[Piranti]

Well let me correct that by saying clearing the cmos is one possible solution to the problem of hanging on 4 led's, and has been only thing that has sort of worked. Have also tried 3 or so of the reccomended ram types/brands/revisions. Also Condensation or drips of water are not the cause, as setting that system up was done not hooked up to case/MB and pressure tested before instal onto MB and case (when MB is in case).