Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

[lmacmil]

Bought this mobo used 2 years ago. Been fine until the last month or so. Has started crashing (system shuts down completely without warning or the video disappears) during CPU intensive tasks (e.g., virus scan, full screen video). I have watched the CPU temps (Athlon 2800) and any time it gets to 55C or so, it's likely to die. Always starts back up fine (runs CHKDSK of course). Have swapped PSUs and video cards and it still does it. The caps look ok. I previously had an 8RDA+ with bulging caps and it ran for a couple years. Never crashed but finally wouldn't boot.

Does this sound like a bad capacitor scenario?

[lucky13]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Post some pix around the CPU?

[lmacmil]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Pix of caps near the CPU as requested:

http://home.comcast.net/~lmacmil/blue_caps1.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~lmacmil/green_caps1.JPG

[Per Hansson]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Sanyo WX for 12v side and Teapo for VCore side
The Teapo caps have most likely dried up and stopped filtering without bulging...

I've got that same mobo and it's actually good still to this day, using GSC on 12v side and Teapo on secondary side, but those two brands of caps on VCore filtering should make anyone shiver in fear...
You could try swapping out the Teapos and see if it gets better, no promises of course (especilly since there are no outwards signs...)

[lucky13]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Yup, like Hansson said, those Teapo might be bad just no sign on the outside yet. You should replace those 3.

Did you try to leave side panel open to increase air flow and see if the crashing is delayed or eliminated?

[Per Hansson]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Just to clarify it's the 6x capacitors that are the Teapo brand, not the 3x green ones (those are Sanyo, a good brand...)

[lmacmil]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Did you try to leave side panel open to increase air flow and see if the crashing is delayed or eliminated?

Not lately but previous experience trying to reduce CPU temps (runs 50C+ at any ambient over 70F) indicated little if any CPU temp reduction with the side off. I will try again to see what happens.

A year ago, the CPU would max out about 60C running Prime95 and the board was solid when I stopped the program after 11 min. Last time it crashed, the CPU temp was only 53C and I was running a spyware scan which never reaches more than 50% CPU utilization.

Maybe time to move into the 21st century with a dual core chip and newer mobo

[lucky13]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Just to clarify it's the 6x capacitors that are the Teapo brand, not the 3x green ones (those are Sanyo, a good brand...)

Well, I thought that was the case but didn't want to raise the issue.

So, definitely a recap is in order if this board is to be salvaged.

[lucky13]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Maybe time to move into the 21st century with a dual core chip and newer mobo

So you are not going to recap? Are you selling this?

[lmacmil]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

So you are not going to recap? Are you selling this?

If I decide to get a new mobo then I will definitely sell it. Would be you interested in the processor (Athlon 2800+) and memory (1 GB DDR400) also?

[lucky13]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

If I decide to get a new mobo then I will definitely sell it. Would be you interested in the processor (Athlon 2800+) and memory (1 GB DDR400) also?

Not sure yet. What's your location?

If you do, please post in the For Sale section.

[lmacmil]

Re: Epox 8RDA3+ has started crashing

Not sure yet. What's your location?

If you do, please post in the For Sale section.

Indiana.