UNOFFICIAL BIOSTAR TPower I45 M/B

[philbrown23]

wow! are you sure they were not shorted on something? I've accidentally connected those caps with my DMM and it didnt even shut the system down, I've also ran DICE on this board, so not sure that a phase would do that. but it'll prolly be quicker to RMA through the etailer imo.

[skullfcuk]

There was nothing shorting these out, im sure. i even used some insulating gunk on both sides of the board.

[Ace-a-Rue]

is there a reason that my pci slots do not detect anything?
I have tried everything from wif card, to soundcard and they all get power but are not detected, is there an option in the bios?

do you have the board set up with crossfire?

interesting problem...i will put a PCI card in to see if it detects the one i have in my parts box...my board is setup with for crossfire although only using ONE video card...the other 16x slot is occupied by my Areca Raid 8x card.

EDIT:...i see you solved the problem from your above post

[napox9]

Hello (first post here )

I build my rig this week and I'm getting weird problem with posting up.
The computer doesn't always start when I turn it on (only fans and mother board lights/ GPU lights),
I have to turn off the power supply switch and start again for 5-6 times till the system post.
I noticed the on-board two 7-segment (bios code) don't show anything when the system doesn't post.

This is what I tried to do/noticed :

- I run full check of OCCT, 1 hour at full load (never passed 59c) -> passed
- I run memtest for over 9 hours -> passed
- I run 3DMark Vantage at a loop -> passed
- Cleared the bios few times.
- I tried to connect only 1 stick of memory in different slots -> didnt make a change.
- When the system do post I can do restarts and the system always comes back, the problems starts only when I turn off the computer.
- ATM the system isn't at OC mode.
- Turning on the computer from the case switch or the on board switch has same effect.
the 24 pin + 8pin + 2x 6pin are connected properly.

What else can I do to be sure the problem is with the mother board ?
(I don't have other component for making checks)

EDIT (oct 23), Problems solved:
I RMAed and board and got a new one, the new one works great (well, I didn't try heavy OC yet but I'm happy it boots without any problems).
I guess I was unlucky and got a bad board.

[Ace-a-Rue]

Hello (first post here )

I build my rig this week and I'm getting weird problem with posting up.
The computer doesn't always start when I turn it on (only fans and mother board lights/ GPU lights),
I have to turn off the power supply switch and start again for 5-6 times till the system post.
I noticed the on-board two 7-segment (bios code) don't show anything when the system doesn't post.

This is what I tried to do/noticed :

- I run full check of OCCT, 1 hour at full load (never passed 59c) -> passed
- I run memtest for over 9 hours -> passed
- I run 3DMark Vantage at a loop -> passed
- Cleared the bios few times.
- I tried to connect only 1 stick of memory in different slots -> didnt make a change.
- When the system do post I can do restarts and the system always comes back, the problems starts only when I turn off the computer.
- ATM the system isn't at OC mode.
- Turning on the computer from the case switch or the on board switch has same effect.
the 24 pin + 8pin + 2x 6pin are connected properly.

What else can I do to be sure the problem is with the mother board ?
(I don't have other component for making checks)

might be that new VC...i see you have a 550W PSU, which could be putting out less watts than what you think.

go buy a cheap PCIe VC or a PCI VC to try out.

[napox9]

might be that new VC...i see you have a 550W PSU, which could be putting out less watts than what you think.

go buy a cheap PCIe VC or a PCI VC to try out.

At the start I also thought that was the case and now I just did the following check -
I removed the GPU and pressed on the power key,
1st try - only fans and MB lights turn on, nothing on the 7-segment (bios code), I turn the PSU off.
2nd try - only fans and MB lights turn on, nothing on the 7-segment (bios code), I turn the PSU off.
3rd try - beeps from the speakers (I didnt count how many) and I saw the code 2E -> 'Initializes all the output devices, I turn the PSU off.
4rd try - only fans and MB lights turn on, nothing on the 7-segment (bios code), I turn the PSU off.

Now I reconnected the GPU, turn on the PSU -> only fans and MB lights turn on, nothing on the 7-segment (bios code), I turn the PSU off.
Turn off -> Turn on -> normal boot to windows.

Does this check mean my mother board has malfunction ?

[Ace-a-Rue]

did you try clearing CMOS with the battery out and PSU unplugged?

if so, i would suggest reflashing the bios using the internal flash program.

EDIT:...2E means the board or bios cannot initialize all output devices, which could mean that the VC is removed

[napox9]

did you try clearing CMOS with the battery out and PSU unplugged?

Yes, I tried to clear the bios in every possible way -
cable unplugged + battery out
cable plugged + battery out
cable unplugged + battery in
cable plugged + battery in

All of those didn't help.

if so, i would sugest reflashing the bios using the internal flash program.

That also came in mind, but I never read about anyone with my problem using the BIOS version I use (Release Date 2008/06/20).
If there is a problem with the board that might kill it for good :/
Do you really think flashing is the right approach here ?
I have experience with flashing mother boards but I never did a flash for a mother board that has problems to post without any OC.

EDIT:...2E means the board or bios cannot initialize all output devices, which could mean that the VC is removed

I know
I removed the GPU on purpose for checking if it was a power problem, but the mother board keep acting the same as before -
Sometime the two 7-segment (post code) turn on and sometimes they don't.

[Ace-a-Rue]

That also came in mind, but I never read about anyone with my problem using the BIOS version I use (Release Date 2008/06/20).
If there is a problem with the board that might kill it for good :/
Do you really think flashing is the right approach here ?
I have experience with flashing mother boards but I never did a flash for a mother board that has problems to post without any OC.

you are using an old bios...there is a 2008/07/10...i would bet that your older bios is the problem.

check my signature for the link

[napox9]

you are using an old bios...there is a 2008/07/10...i would bet that your older bios is the problem.

check my signature for the link

Nop, it didn't make any change about my problem.
I updated the bios by the link in your signature.




But I keep having the problem that the mother board sometimes post and sometimes don't.

[Ace-a-Rue]

it has to be the video card...is the VC a "X2" card?

do this...go to page 20 & 21 in the manual and set up the board in a crossfire mode to see if that changes the dynamics of your posting problem.

pay attention that there are 8 red jumpers and one black jumper that needs to be set in order to put it in the crossfire mode.

are you getting beeps out of the board when it won't post?...if so, you need to count them to see if it matches any one of the descriptions on page 47 of the manual.

EDIT:...i did a quick search and i came up with a post for the same video card showing problems with the video dropping offline when posting...i am sure the problem is with your VC and the bios is not coded properly to handle the latest card out on the market.

[napox9]

Ace-a-Rue, first of all big thank you for trying to help me ./love

it has to be the video card...is the VC a "X2" card?

No, it is normal 4870. This one :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102769
I have one card, not crossfire.

do this...go to page 20 & 21 in the manual and set up the board in a crossfire mode to see if that changes the dynamics of your posting problem.

pay attention that there are 8 red jumpers and one black jumper that needs to be set in order to put it in the crossfire mode.

are you getting beeps out of the board when it won't post?...if so, you need to count them to see if it matches any one of the descriptions on page 47 of the manual.

EDIT:...i did a quick search and i came up with a post for the same video card showing problems with the video dropping offline when posting...i am sure the problem is with your VC and the bios is not coded properly to handle the latest card out on the market.

It wont be hard to find if the problem with Mother board or Video card.
If anyone kind to try to turn-on the computer without any video card attached, What is the error message on the two 7-segments ?
9 out of 10 tries I get no lights at all on the 7-segments and 1 out of 10 tries I get the '2E'.
Tomorrow I will try to the computer with a friend computer or jump to a computer store.

[Ace-a-Rue]

Ace-a-Rue, first of all big thank you for trying to help me ./love



No, it is normal 4870. This one :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102769
I have one card, not crossfire.



It wont be hard to find if the problem with Mother board or Video card.
If anyone kind to try to turn-on the computer without any video card attached, What is the error message on the two 7-segments ?
9 out of 10 tries I get no lights at all on the 7-segments and 1 out of 10 tries I get the '2E'.
Tomorrow I will try to the computer with a friend computer or jump to a computer store.

your video card will work in the "crossfire" mode...all it does, by moving those 9 jumpers, is make the 2nd PCIe slot come alive at 8x and the 1st PCIe slot drop from 16x down to 8x.

i have crossfire set so i can use the 2nd PCIe 16x slot for my Areca Raid PCIe 8x card...going from 16x to 8x for the video card will only be about a 6% drop in performance...but this exercise will help to see if the no post disappears or becomes less infrequent.

[Ace-a-Rue]

If anyone kind to try to turn-on the computer without any video card attached, What is the error message on the two 7-segments ?
9 out of 10 tries I get no lights at all on the 7-segments and 1 out of 10 tries I get the '2E'.

not sure what you mean by, "no lights on the 7-segments."...are you talking about the LED where the post codes show up?

as for board showing '2E' with the my video card removed, the answer is, YES!

i get about 4 post codes before it stops on '2E'!...every time i push the reset the button, it will cycle through 4 post codes prior to stopping on '2E'.

[Ace-a-Rue]

Now I reconnected the GPU, turn on the PSU -> only fans and MB lights turn on, nothing on the 7-segment (bios code), I turn the PSU off.
Turn off -> Turn on -> normal boot to windows.

Does this check mean my mother board has malfunction ?

i would now flash again with the 710 bios doing it from DOS and flash the Bootblock, NVRAM and the bios all in one segment...my link in the signature describes how...i still think it is your VC is not playing nice-nice with board's bios code...if you live in the USA, go to Wal-Mart and buy a cheap PCIe or PCI video card to try with the Biostar...you have a return policy for that VC with wal-mart (wink).

i just inserted an old 8mb PCI video card into the PCI slot and it worked..so, if you buy a video card, make it PCI...i used the 2nd PCI slot.

also, go into the bios and "Load Optimal Defaults" and then, save...this will reset the bios code to CMOS.

[has33]

Can anybody confirm if my Team Xtreem PC2 9600 (1200MHz) 2 x 1GB RAM sticks with Micron D9 GKX chips, work with this board ???

Other hardware: E8600, 3870X2, Tagan 800W PSU, etc.

Need 2 know soon as I'm getting it 2moro.

TIA !!!

[Ace-a-Rue]

you shouldn't have any problem...memory on this board is not a stopper!

[Solarfall]

you shouldn't have any problem...memory on this board is not a stopper!

i can confirm this all 3 of my kits work just fine with this board

[Ace-a-Rue]

are they all Team Xtreme?

i have Corsair Dominator PC-9142 and Gskill PC-6400 which work fine on the Biostar board.

[Solarfall]

are they all Team Xtreme?

i have Corsair Dominator PC-9142 and Gskill PC-6400 which work fine on the Biostar board.

one of them are Team Xtreme the same ones that has33 has i l also have a OCZ DDR2 PC2-9600 FlexXLC kit and a pair of cellchock pc2-8000 cl4 all work with this board

[philbrown23]

I have 2 diff. mushkin sets and they both work and overclock and undervolt just fine on this board. when my pc was hanging on the 2A post code it was because my videocard had died.

[PolRoger]

you shouldn't have any problem...memory on this board is not a stopper!

I have not had a problem running my OCZ PC2-8500 or my OCZ PC2-9200 but I seem to be fsb limited (so far) with my Kingston HyperX PC2-9200 and my Patriot Viper PC2-9600. I hope to test these sticks on a DFI Lan Party Jr. soon. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813136055

@Solarfall
I tried disabling everything in CPU advanced tab... no difference.

I also briefly tried some of fellow forum member ceemic's high voltage settings for 600+fsb...

Vnb: ~1,44V
Vfsb: ~1,49V
CPU Vpll: 1,60V
core0/1 GTL: 0,67/0,67
MCH GTL: Auto

and was able to post at around 550 but no post/fail at 575. I seem to hitting some sort of wall with these sticks when I go above 500.

I was exploring with ~ 500fsb and my Patriot Viper and I got these screen shots. I especially like the relative low chipset voltages... chipset +0.150 and FSB +0.125 this was with RCOMP 3, fsb fine tune enabled and DDR2 enhanced mode enabled. I can also run this with the 8.5 multi ~ 4.3 and cpu vcore +0.100.

[Ace-a-Rue]

put MCH GTLREF to 64% and CPU GTLREF to 63%...it might get you higher.

[Solarfall]

I have not had a problem running my OCZ PC2-8500 or my OCZ PC2-9200 but I seem to be fsb limited (so far) with my Kingston HyperX PC2-9200 and my Patriot Viper PC2-9600. I hope to test these sticks on a DFI Lan Party Jr. soon. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813136055

@Solarfall
I tried disabling everything in CPU advanced tab... no difference.

I also briefly tried some of fellow forum member ceemic's high voltage settings for 600+fsb...

Vnb: ~1,44V
Vfsb: ~1,49V
CPU Vpll: 1,60V
core0/1 GTL: 0,67/0,67
MCH GTL: Auto

and was able to post at around 550 but no post/fail at 575. I seem to hitting some sort of wall with these sticks when I go above 500.

I was exploring with ~ 500fsb and my Patriot Viper and I got these screen shots. I especially like the relative low chipset voltages... chipset +0.150 and FSB +0.125 this was with RCOMP 3, fsb fine tune enabled and DDR2 enhanced mode enabled. I can also run this with the 8.5 multi ~ 4.3 and cpu vcore +0.100.

hey try if loosening the performance levels on the memory helps you.. and also disable DDR2 enhanced mode and fsb fine tune they seem to hinder the overclocking potential ( at least that was the case with my settings ) and like Ace-a-Rue already suggested play around with the GTLREF/ CPU GTLREF settings.

[_G_]

Got a pick of what I added to the bolt mod to keep the motherboard from warping under the pwm heatsink.

Also found a clean way of getting to that 4pin power connector