EPoX 9nda3J Nightmare!

[fatfreepork]

This is supposed to be my setup for the Xtreme Systems Grand Prix.

Specs
AMD Winchester 3500+
EPoX 9nda3J
512Mb PdP Xbl Tccd
80Gb Ata [Got trolled on a 36gb raptor ]
eVGA GeForce 6800Le 256Mb
Meridian Xclio 450w



First power up attempt with everything was last thursday with a Ttgi 550w because newegg decided to ship the Xclio psu 6 days late even though i ordered the same time with the motherboard.

With the Ttgi 550w all i got was a high pitched beep and the error code FF. Thinking the psu wasnt up to the job, i tested with a Fortron 530w. Same error. So now im confused.

I wait patiently until Tuesday when the Meridian Xclio 450w psu comes and i excitedly put it in. I get the same high pitched beep and the FF error code. This is when i begin troubleshooting.

I first searched google and got to the aoa forums where they have and EPoX support forum and i found that i am not the only person with the problem. In fact, about 5 users have reported the issue in a thread and EPoX Tech had nothign to say about it.

EPoX's site has almost nothing on motherboard troubleshooting, so i email them with my problem and asking for a telephone support number.

From fatfreepork at sbcglobal dot net to support at epox dot com dot tw

Epox 9nda3j boot issue "FF" and beep
I have read about the same problem on alliance of overclocking arts. Upon boot, I get a high pitched beep and the error code "FF"

What could the possibilities be?

System Specs

AMD Winchester 3500+
CoolerMaster Hyper 6+
512Mb PdP Tccd
Western Digital 80gb
EVGA 6800LE
Fsp 530w, Fortron Fsp 500 blue storm, Ttgi 550w, Meridian Xclio 450w

I have tried a ton of good psu's and obviously power is not the problem.

Currently i have a few reviews to get done, so i would like to get this problem resolved quickly.

Is there a phone number i can reach supprot at?

Thanks,

Alex

Dear USA FAE,
Please contact this customer by phone.

Dear Alex,

I'll forward your mail to our USA branch and let them call you.

I assume your board is 9NPA+SLI or 9NPAJSLI,right.
If so,could you try with antoher CPU (not dual core).
I am afraid it may your bios doesn't support new cpu.So please update
bios
to latest.

Thank you for your interest in EPoX products and contacting our support
department. If you reply ensure to include all previous E-mail text. It
will
prevent unnecessary delays and guarantee the fastest possible response.

Best Regards,

Okay, so they didn't really read my e-mail, but this isn't the main tech support.

I give a reply similar to my original inquiry and

I await the reply after they forwarded to tech support.

Busy number,

Anyhow,

I have read about the same problem on alliance of
overclocking arts. Upon boot, I get a high pitched
beep and the error code "FF"

What could the possibilities be?

System Specs

AMD Winchester 3500+
CoolerMaster Hyper 6+
512mb PDP Tccd
Western Digital 80gb
EVGA 6800LE
Various psu's

I have tried a ton of good psu's and obviously power
is not the problem.

Currently i have a few reviews to get done, so i would
like to get this problem resolved quickly.


Thanks,

Alex Zhao

I waited an hour for a reply, but none came, so I called EPoX technical support.

I explained my issue, and the guy asks what my psu and memory are. I told him, that i tested a ton of psus, and lots of memory, pdp xbl, corsair tccd, and some kingston bh5.

I mention a loud, high pitched beep and he immediately knew that i got the error code FF, as if he's heard this a million times.

So he tells me to strip the computer to barebones and test from there since it is testing procedure they do on their RMA boards.

I unplug the power from all the case fans and drives and try to test, same error. Tried calling EPoX 10 times the rest of the day and never got through.

So, back to email.




I check my inbox and they have a new message for me.

Dear Alex,
Please try below tips out,
1) Update to the latest BIOS from our website if possible (if you have
not already done so). Use magi flash utility.
2) Load the BIOS defaults (optimized or fail-safe).
3) Shutdown and remove all cards and devices EXCEPT for video, RAM,
CPU, CPU heatsink/FAN.
4) Ensure your CPU temperature remains within 30-55 Degrees C. Check in
the CMOS or use USDM for this information.
5) Check that your power supply is ok for your particular processor. We
generally suggest 350-400W or better.
6) Set all voltage and clock jumpers to the factory default.
7) Retest.

8) If you use a variable RPM fan ensure its set for full speed.

9) If using AGP set the AGP aperature size to 64M in the BIOS.
You can also give us a call if you like at 714-680-0898 ext# 223.

Okay,

1. Board wont even boot!
2. Board wont even boot!
3. Doesn't even power on, but yes, setup is like that.
4. No way of checking.
5. Done
6. Board wont even boot!
7. Done

8. Pwm controlled

9. Board wont even boot!


That was pretty much my email back to them.

Then minutes later, this is their reply.

Dear User,

Just to verify, If you are having trouble booting the system and getting a screen try the following multi-step procedure. Power off your system first before completing any of the following tips. Skip the items you may have already tried.



1) Check CMOS clear jumper JP1 (JBAT1 on some systems). Set for CLEAR for 5 seconds, then move back.

2) Check CPU host clock jumpers (if any) are properly set. Note: does not control memory bus.

3) Check your power supply. Should be 110/115v for North America.

4) Unplug all data cables for IDE and FDD from the motherboard.

5) Unplug all power supply cables attaching to your IDE and FDD drives.

6) Remove all cards and devices EXCEPT for video, RAM, CPU, CPU heatsink/FAN.

7) Move memory into a different bank, if available.

8) Unplug the CPU and reattach.

9) Ensure your CPU heatsink/FAN is attached properly to the CPU.

10) If you use a variable RPM fan ensure its set for full speed.

11) Retest.

12) If 1-11 do not help power off and test the motherboard outside the computer case to eliminate a case/motherboard power short. Test on a non-conductive surface. Do not test on an anti-static bag!



13) Retest. If the board now works check for case problems. If the system still is not working continue...

14) You may have a possible hardware problem. Any device in the system may be a possible culprit. Use process of elimination to determine the cause. Swap out as many components as possible starting with RAM, CPU, POWER SUPPLY, VIDEO CARD (if present) and/or MOTHERBOARD.

15) Ensure your power supply have the 4 pin 12 volts connector connected (Run with at least a 400 watt's PSU) and the power for your video card as well. If it the type that require it own power source. Thanks

Dear User,

Just to verify, If you are having trouble booting the system and getting a screen try the following multi-step procedure. Power off your system first before completing any of the following tips. Skip the items you may have already tried.



1. Yes cleared.

2. Wtf?

3. Of course

4. This is the step i missed! I only unplugged the power supply cables.

5. Done

6. Done

7. Tried

8. Done

9. Of course

10. Pwm controlled

11. Testing...

12.

13.

14.

15.


Okay, so after i find out that i have to unplug the ide cables too, i do that and get back to testing.


Power on.




Ahh!

Wtf?


My psu is smoking! My room smells of smoke!
Something must be wrong.

New psu in. Power button..

Doesn't work!



So now i e-mail Meridian about this erm.. situation

Was having boot problems all week with this system, i
thought it was my Epox motherboard and during one of
their testing procedures, something popped and then
everything smelled of smoke. I tried the hardware in
another computer and everything is dead.

AMD Winchester 3500+
Epox 9nda3J
512mb PDP pc3200
GeForce 6800LE


Meridian Xclio 450w PSU

Is it possible that the Xclio killed everything?

I emailed support, but for some reason the sales department replies.

Dear Alex,

I hope you havent open up the PSU to check what's going with it,
this is a very rare case to us, you are actually the first one who bought a factory defect PSU from us, so

Thanks,

Best Regards,

Not the reply i was expecting, but whatever.



Alright, an hour later, the smoke smell is gone, the psu is still a little warm, but i try testing again. Miraculously, the system boots, the fans are all spinning, the LED lights all work!!

and then, wtf i smell smoke again. This time its like burned pcb, wtf. I look down at my opened case, and my motherboard is on Fire!

I flip off the psu switch asap but not in time for the fire alarm to catch it.


Here are 2 emails i sent EPoX

Got through step 4. Testing with step 5 killed
everything, things power up, something in the psu
pops, smoking smell, everything is dead.

and

Holy !! My motherboard caught on fire when i tried
again. My whole room smells like burned pcb now.

While at it, i decide to email Xclio to clear some things up.

Hi,

I am still troubleshooting my problem. All the
hardware is dead, however the EPoX motherboard caught
fire. I am pretty sure this is psu related, and i am
also talking to epox to get this problem worked out.
If i have a need to RMA, i contact the place i bought
from, correct?

-Alex

Here is a little picture of the motherboard where i point out the locations of the burns.





You can imagine how pissed i am right now. Actually this post has helped me cool down, but also took about 45 minutes to type.


Hope you read it all.


Im not even sure of my question. I guess thoughts and comments are what I am seeking. I am definitely going to RMA this sucker.

[ZX7891]

Wow, I would get the s on the line and tell EPOX to pay for all replacements if it was the boards fault.

[fatfreepork]

Usually its the psu that kills everything. I am trying to find out what is causing the fire. I wish i had my digicam. Sister took it on vacation.

[fatfreepork]

Woah!

Dear Alex,

XClio PSU always come with fully capability circuit protection to avoid any electronic failure, we discovered that MB are the main problem with our previous experiences, we cant be sure what exactly went wrong with your system, so I will need you to send the defect PSU to our USA representative in LA, then our LA office will return with a brand new XClio PSU ASAP.

I got that reply, and then i guess their manager or something read the email the Xclio rep sent out, and accidentally e-mailed me.

Jerry,

You are too innocent for replying this guy.

Please be careful next time when answer for such type of end users.

1- Never admite anything wrong is our product's problem.
2- If enduser can not resulve the problem. Ask them to return to where they buy first.
3- If they can not return to where they buy, then send it back to me for RMA.
4- I need to issue them a RMA # before they send back to me.
5- End user pay for both shipping!!!!!!!!!!

I don't want any buster to get me anything. I don't know who they are, and never want to know who they are!
I assume anyone claim for such problem is trying something they can not imagin.

This guy might just want to get his FREE PC from you.

Note: Please skip wording like "always", Maybe, kind of "not sure" wording. Please use frim wording when reply.

Best Regards,

Michael Chang

Blue Whale System Corp.

That really really really ticked me off. Nowhere did i mention i wanted them to pay for any damages to my part, i didn't even lay the blame on the psu! for christ sakes.

[shinymod]

holy cow... this just puts more doubt in my mind over the 9nda3+/J boards.... i was going to buy one to replace my 2 crappy k8n neo2s... but maybe i'll get another neo and pray for a taiwanese northbridge.... both are plagued with problems, but are no doubt the 2 best boards for 939 AGP (excluding the new DFI which i havent heard much about yet...)

[fatfreepork]

Besides this FF code issue, i think the 9nda3 series is perfectly fine.

For those following the emails

This is what i sent back to Mr. Michael Chang

Yo dude

Careful who you reply to next time.

Nowhere did i mention that the Xclio was problematic,
i just had a hunch since smoke was coming out of it.
My system had died, and that could even result from a
faulty motherboard.

This was a test system for reviews that my website
puts out, I can cover the costs just fine, I would
just like to see good hardware work correctly. I
purchased this psu over an Antec Smartpower 2.0 500w,
after reading the review at Extreme Overclocking.

I haven't even diagnosed the problem yet, just
reporting to you what happened. If an Rma is
necessary, I would just send it back to Newegg for a
replacement, just like your manual says.

Next time, make sure you're sending the email to the
right person.

-Alex
www.OCRig.com

[Walrusbonzo]

Besides this FF code issue, i think the 9nda3 series is perfectly fine.

For those following the emails

This is what i sent back to Mr. Michael Chang

LOL, I wonder if he replies

[fatfreepork]

heh,

Hi Alex,

The email wasn't intent to sent to you.
I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I didn't know you had email
conversation with Jerry previously. There were cases happened in our
record
for other products that some end-user did amazing things that beyond
our
imagination.

You seem facing a problem between the PSU and motherboard. Before we
find
out this failure is caused by PSU, we need to follow up standard RMA
procedures. You are welcome to send the PSU back to newegg or to me for
replacement. We are going to investigate on how and what might cause
the PSU
to smoke. Again, this is first case that we know our XCLIO 450BL might
have
problem as your description. For maintaining quality control, we will
follow
up and study this particular PSU.

If you prefer to get the PSU replaced now, please ship the PSU back to
the
address below.

Wintec Ind. LA (Blue Whale System)
831 Lawson Street,
City of Industry, CA, 91748

RMA #BR0007 (please put this RMA number on outter shipping box.)

Again, there is no intention to offend you. We are responsible for our
product and will resolve this issue.

to which i replied

Hi,

As far as i am concerned, the psu might still be
working, and i would like to avoid an Rma if possible.
The motherboard is obviously dead since it has burn
marks on 3 of the chips. The Meridian Xclio psu is a
great one im sure. There just mustve been a conflict
somewhere.

About your previous run-ins with those end-users,
that is a moral issue to me and it is something i
would never do.

I will get you an update if it is a motherboard
problem.

Thanks for the replies

[fatfreepork]

I believe the motherboard is the culprit so i am going to rma that back to newegg

[The Mad Duke]

Right off the top, this has got to make the Horror Story Hall of Fame. WOW dude, thanks for sharing! To give you another data point on this board, I bought one to put my Winchester chip in after I got a Venice; I had been very happy with my 9NDA3+ so the J seemed like a good choice for a secondary PC. Whatta you know the 9NDA3J would not boot with 2 memory sticks in, and with a single stick in slot 3 it would boot but gave massive errors on memtest86+. NewEgg gracefully accepted my RMA and the replacement has worked fine since day one. The boards look very similar, so I am not sure if these are random quality issues or not. Let us know how the replacement board does.

[rise4310]

lmao, i laughed through that whole post. what a story.

so was it definitely the mobo or the x-clio? i have an x-clio 450, its ok but no antec.

[Lithan]

Xclio? You've got to be kidding me. Looks like a $20 PSU, but costs what a fortron costs. What were you smoking besides PCB's?

[fatfreepork]

Xclio psu's are very good, they are the same as antecs, just branded differently.

i am going to RMA the motherboard

[fatfreepork]

lmao, i laughed through that whole post. what a story.

so was it definitely the mobo or the x-clio? i have an x-clio 450, its ok but no antec.

his grammar sucks ass.

[Lithan]

http://www.systemcooling.com/images/.../image8big.jpg

If that's an antec then antecs have really gone down hill. That is THE WORST cooling I've ever seen inside a PSU.

[Absolute_0]

whoa! crazy story, yes i read through all of it. Certainly a horror story! Hope the RMA goes through flawlessly and you get a good board soon!

[Shadowmage]

Newegg RMA works every time. Next time, save yourself of the hassle when it was obviously the mobo's problem. You tried 2 PSUs, both failed. Obviously, it was the mobo.

[SPQQKY]

Xclio psu's are very good, they are the same as antecs, just branded differently.

i am going to RMA the motherboard

Xclio are pure garbage and NOT the same as Antec. Channelwell owns Antec and Xclio but the are not manufactured in same plant. Antec makes their PSUs and Xclio is not manufactured in same plant or to same specs and QC as Antec.
Too many speculation around the net about who makes what. GMC owns Chevrolet and Cadillac, but a Geo is nowhere near a Sedan DeVille.

[fatfreepork]

Its gm that owns gmc, chevy, and cadillac and geo no longer exists. Either way i am getting a refund and switching to an enermax 420

[hansbroken]

Man, that is a nightmare. Makes me want to steer clear of the 9NDA3J and 9NDA3+ MB's.

[fatfreepork]

IMO, it's the only worthy agp 939 board.