DFI EXPERT NF4 Died after 2 hours!!

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12-04-2005, 01:26 PM
maverik-sg1

DFI EXPERT NF4 Died after 2 hours!!

Well I have to say firstly that I was mighty impressed with this board.

Best overclock with old board was 263*12 with 1.65v on a 4800 X2

I managed to get this board up to 297*11 100mhz more with less volts (1.6v) and better CPU temps (BIOS read -26degrees versus -13degrees in old) - that was 3dm05 stable ran 3dm03 at 264*12 too.

But while in windows log-on screen it suddenly shut down in the same way a computer shuts down if you switch the power off.

It has not restarted since. I have tested individual components and they all check out - reset cmos still no go,

Checked PSU and thats okay - there is a light on theboard to say power is present but she just wont start.

Has this happened to anyone else - is it really dead?

Mav
12-04-2005, 01:33 PM
AlterBridge86

have you shut off your PSU (either unplug or throw the switch), wait for the lights to turn off on mobo, then star the PSU up again? If you haven't, try that and then try and boot...i'm currently having this problem...I shut down and I can't turn on again until i recycle the power on my PSU...so give it a shot and let us know..
12-04-2005, 01:42 PM
maverik-sg1

Thanks for the quick reply - yes I tried that (4 times to be sure) and it did not work.

Help :(
12-04-2005, 01:47 PM
Vincentvega18

Condensation? If everything still works in another board then it looks like the expert died.
12-04-2005, 01:50 PM
maverik-sg1

Unfortunately yes, all components do still work in a diff board - is it common for these boards to blow up like that? Mine is revA02 and has the trace repair on the SPDIF.

I did check for condensation - dry as a desert.

Mav
12-04-2005, 02:10 PM
Betaboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverik-sg1

But while in windows log-on screen it suddenly shut down in the same way a computer shuts down if you switch the power off.

Do you mean it suddenly initiated the Windows Shut Down? (like if you pressed your Soft On/Off powerbutton) ... or if it just suddenly turned off, ie. like someone pulled the plug out?

If the latter, my first Athlon XP motherboard died on me in similar circumstances one morning.
I power it on when I got up, like I had everyday for months, and after a few seconds it turns itself off... hmmm... I try turning it back on and nothing...

After extensive troubleshooting I deemed the board dead and had to buy a replacement because it was secondhand and probably would have been over it's warranty period anyhow.
It was a GA-7VAXP, I still have it sitting in a box, it was a great motherboard :(
12-04-2005, 02:10 PM
mdzcpa

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverik-sg1

is it common for these boards to blow up like that?

I haven't seen this trend myself. I've beaten two Experts up pretty hard...one on air, and another on phase change. Both have handled the punishment of 24 hour prime sessions with serious volts and overclocks. However, 2 boards don't make a valid sample.

We'd need a full description of your set up and cooling to make any good guesses. We assume you've tried the usual like clearing the cmos with the jumper (not the button), removing the battery etc.
12-04-2005, 02:30 PM
sierra_bound

The board may still be alive. Same thing happened to me about a week and a half ago. Board would suddenly shut down. I let it dry out for a few days and did a better job of insulating. Board is fine now.
12-04-2005, 02:40 PM
mdzcpa

Quote:

Originally Posted by sierra_bound

The board may still be alive. Same thing happened to me about a week and a half ago. Board would suddenly shut down. I let it dry out for a few days and did a better job of insulating. Board is fine now.

Yep...been there too. If your sub ambient cooling and you have sudden instability this is something to consider. You can't always see the condensation either. It gets between the socket and board from the pins.

^This is good advice.
12-04-2005, 11:23 PM
SmokeyTheBandit

I also have this problem but im using air :S

When i press the power button in just 2-3 seconds it completely shuts down.
To resolve this i have to power off the power supply and power it on when the lights on the mobo goes out.
Then it boots up just fine ........

Once iit booted up it runs and resets fine but when you shut down and want to start it again .... :(

This is my second eXpert the other one also had this problem but that one just went dead after 3 days of work ......
I have to say im getting a bit paranoide with these boards .... thinking of going with the A8N32 .......

Somebody has got some tips to resolve this .... ?
12-04-2005, 11:42 PM
Dumo

The same here with RDX200 which have the same power systems and mosfets.
Condensation probly the culprit since I ran it with cascade, but my Ultra-D and SLI DR went w/out problem for months with xtreme cooling on cpu.
I just wonder if it something to do with 4V jumperless system on this boards (xpert and rdx 200).
12-05-2005, 12:41 AM
benji

I've had this happen to me once, on my Ultra-D.
I just left it alone for a whole day, reset CMOS and then fixed everything back. IT worked after that.
12-05-2005, 12:58 AM
maverik-sg1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betaboy

Do you mean it suddenly initiated the Windows Shut Down? (like if you pressed your Soft On/Off powerbutton) ... or if it just suddenly turned off, ie. like someone pulled the plug out?

IT died suddenly like the power was cut-off.

My rig looks like this:

X2 4800 12x261 1.60v
BH5 261 2-2-2-5 3.65v
DFI-NF4-SLI-DR EXPERT Release BIOS (never stayed alive long enough to change)
2x 7800GTX voltmodded
850w PCP&C cooling
2x 75GB Raptors Striped
2x 200GB Storage Drives
2x92mm Fan Ram cooling
Lian Li PC70 Case
ASUS 16x DVD R/RW
AKAS Fan Controller
Mach2GT R507
EXOS2 Cooled GPU's

The rig itself is proven on the NON-EXPERT unit and I am unable to fins any condensation traces anywhere - the unit AFAIK was properly insultated (all coments covered inside the cpu kit covered with seal string, dilectric on rear components and neoprene filler to reduce the possibility of air gaps in the kit itself,

Tried it again this morning and it's stll dead :(

Maybe a new one for Oskar Wu?
12-05-2005, 01:36 AM
sierra_bound

Unless you need a replacement board right away, I would remove the seal string and the evaporator head and let the board dry out for a few days. My board came back to life after I did that. In my case at least, I think condensation formed somewhere under the socket.
12-05-2005, 01:54 AM
maverik-sg1

Lets see if it works.

Putting it in the airing cupboard now - temps are around 35degrees in there so I'll leave it there for a few hours and try again.

I have 7-days to send it back under RMA from date of receiving RMA advice so I am willing to try anything (within reason) to get it working before that date expires.

It has to be noted that I could not find any traces of condensation at all with this - but gonna give this a go..... just in case

Mav
12-05-2005, 04:01 AM
SmokeyTheBandit

It is not an condensation only problem guys im on air and experiencing the same problems ...... (This is my second board !!! the other one also had these problems and after 3 days it suddenly died !!!!)

My guess its a manufactering flaw .... :mad:
12-05-2005, 04:32 AM
maverik-sg1

I think we should find more and more people experienceing the same issue - I have borrowed my mates ot test now and see if this holds it together a bit longer.

Funnily enough my mate has applied for an RMA under distance selling rule - just in case :)
12-05-2005, 06:51 AM
maverik-sg1

Okay - 35degrees celsius warm store room (airing cupboard) for 3.5 hrs - left to cool to 27 degrees room temperature - connected up and still dead.

Think this was a duff and it's on it's way to join the 'RMA an EXPERT Series Mobo' Club :(
12-05-2005, 09:40 AM
freecableguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverik-sg1

Think this was a duff and it's on it's way to join the 'RMA an EXPERT Series Mobo' Club :(

I'm not only the president, I'm also a client. :rolleyes:
12-05-2005, 05:34 PM
mdzcpa

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyTheBandit

It is not an condensation only problem guys im on air and experiencing the same problems ...... (This is my second board !!! the other one also had these problems and after 3 days it suddenly died !!!!)

My guess its a manufactering flaw .... :mad:

I doubt it. Too many folks are running just fine without any signs of these types of problems. Air cooled, water cooled, phase change, LN...you name it. Its likely a specific issue to your system or mobo. When it comes to stuff like this, it usually is.
12-05-2005, 10:54 PM
EvilCloudStrife

what was your old motherboard?
12-06-2005, 01:00 PM
maverik-sg1

My previous MOBO was the non-expert DFI NF4 SLI DR - I think it just might have been one of those things, but has anyone ever killed a board using incompatable temp monitor (in this case speedfan 4.27)?
12-06-2005, 02:00 PM
DFI Expert

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverik-sg1

IT died suddenly like the power was cut-off.

My rig looks like this:

X2 4800 12x261 1.60v
BH5 261 2-2-2-5 3.65v
DFI-NF4-SLI-DR EXPERT Release BIOS (never stayed alive long enough to change)
2x 7800GTX voltmodded
850w PCP&C cooling
2x 75GB Raptors Striped
2x 200GB Storage Drives
2x92mm Fan Ram cooling
Lian Li PC70 Case
ASUS 16x DVD R/RW
AKAS Fan Controller
Mach2GT R507
EXOS2 Cooled GPU's

The rig itself is proven on the NON-EXPERT unit and I am unable to fins any condensation traces anywhere - the unit AFAIK was properly insultated (all coments covered inside the cpu kit covered with seal string, dilectric on rear components and neoprene filler to reduce the possibility of air gaps in the kit itself,

Tried it again this morning and it's stll dead :(

Maybe a new one for Oskar Wu?

I would never use so high memory volts on expert.
12-06-2005, 02:07 PM
Pinnacle

3.65V

that could be yoour answer there. Thats damn high.
12-06-2005, 02:09 PM
maverik-sg1

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFI Expert

I would never use so high memory volts on expert.

Interesting, why would you say that?

Also I have no choice the board (my replacement board that is) wont accept OCZ PC5000 TCCD/TCC5 RAM that runs on 2.7v.

The BH5 is the only RAM I have that it will post on.

I have actually dropped the volts to 3.6v and it seems to be okay right now - but hearing you say that scares the life out of me now thinking she's gonna blow any minute now :eek:
12-06-2005, 02:11 PM
maverik-sg1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinnacle

3.65V

that could be yoour answer there. Thats damn high.

Why would you say that? The unit has a 4v jumper on it, surely if you can select it it should be safe?

I am worried now, very worried.

But in fact set ram to 3.6v now.
12-06-2005, 02:14 PM
Pinnacle

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverik-sg1

Interesting, why would you say that?

Also I have no choice the board (my replacement board that is) wont accept OCZ PC5000 TCCD/TCC5 RAM that runs on 2.7v.

The BH5 is the only RAM I have that it will post on.

I have actually dropped the volts to 3.6v and it seems to be okay right now - but hearing you say that scares the life out of me now thinking she's gonna blow any minute now :eek:

Well, there it is. You say your back to 3.6 and its fine, and 3.65 you got problems. STICK WITH 3.6
12-06-2005, 02:17 PM
maverik-sg1

no mate the board that we are talking about here hit the RMA trail it's dead, so very very dead.

I am just wondering three things now:

1) How many other failures have we seen so far.

2) Why people say those volts are too high when in the NON-Expert unit I actually pumped 4v into this BH5 just to see how fast it could go.

3) If high voltage is an issue why wont it let me run my low voltage TCCd/TCC5?

I can't hide my disappointment in this at all - it's appaling.
12-06-2005, 03:24 PM
^don.k's^

Running >3,2v on non-expert boards is dangerous coz the mosfet gets freaking hot, and in some cases killed memory, i don't know if also happens to old school bh5, but it happens on UTT based memory...
12-06-2005, 03:30 PM
maverik-sg1

Quote:

Originally Posted by ^don.k's^

Running >3,2v on non-expert boards is dangerous coz the mosfet gets freaking hot, and in some cases killed memory, i don't know if also happens to old school bh5, but it happens on UTT based memory...

The Mosfet on the EXPERT with it's new jumperless 4v line does not get anywhere near as hot as my non-expert did.

Both are actively cooled with 80mm fans anyways as teh extra heat causes a 'dirty' supply.
12-06-2005, 06:42 PM
mdzcpa

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverik-sg1

The Mosfet on the EXPERT with it's new jumperless 4v line does not get anywhere near as hot as my non-expert did.

Both are actively cooled with 80mm fans anyways as teh extra heat causes a 'dirty' supply.

I wouldn't be as worried as you are. I'd be more worried about the ram than the board. Just for $hits n giggles I threw my old BH-5 Corsair sticks in and ran around at 3.7v for a while. All was fine. The Vmem area of the board warmed up a bit, but it was nothing like how hot my Ultra D got. DFI learned from thier last attempt at 4v, and the expert is much improved in this area imoho. But thats just my limited experience with these 2 boards.

If in fact that IS the reason, I would be sorely dissappointed as well. Its one of the main features of the mobo. But, then again, DFI knows that and I'd think they would be de bugged the second time through.

I'd run the new board were you intended it....with all the good cooling. And if it goes tits up, it time for another brand board.
12-06-2005, 10:35 PM
Dumo

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverik-sg1

The Mosfet on the EXPERT with it's new jumperless 4v

Thats what I think is the problem, but I can't be sure about the specific.
Heres my RDX200..up in smoke.....

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3104/mvc851f4dw.jpg
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6152/mvc852f3zv.jpg

never have this problem with my Ultra-D.
12-06-2005, 11:43 PM
alpha0ne

Looks like it may be a manufacturing fault on some boards, components too close together = design flaw

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