Epox EP-8RDA+

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 02:44 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Well the motherboard is still good. I just got it to post 6 times in a row which is a new record for this board. its hanging mostly on FF on the Port 80 display now which is a nice change from C1.

**davmax** · 01-23-2006, 03:29 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

First where in the world are you? Please place in profile, then those near you can help better.

1. Taking caps from another board is not likely to be a good idea. The heat of removal will make old caps even worse.
2. Not a good idea to replace the 2200u caps with lower values this is absolutely required for CPU power supply. GSC are typically bad.
If you replace a capacitor more than once you greatly increase the risk of wrecking a good motherboard.

Prepare properly with the correct replacement caps. I have a feeling you need advice where to obtain the correct caps.

I have successfully recaps several 8RDA+ boards they are a good board, so take care. Are you experienced at repairing boards?

We can help.

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 04:15 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

This is my first shot working on a board but I've been in the computer field for about 10 years now so its high time I learn. Also, this board was dead whether I left it sitting on a shelf or broke it by trying to fix it, so the only place to go from here is up

I'm treating this more like a learning project rather than getting a machine up that I'm desperate for.

Is there any way to test a cap to see whether it is operating properly?

**davmax** · 01-23-2006, 05:28 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

It really is not worth the effort to try and test the low ESR caps that are most prone to failure in the bad cap manufacturers category of caps. GCS need to be replaced and also Teapo on the 8RDA+. It is a good board with Nvidia dual memory controller and up to XP 3200+.

The advice on this forum is practice on dud board. I suspect the K6 board you took the caps off is the best for this.Is it too late for the 8RDA+ ?

You need good unused low ESR caps. Do you know how to get them? The real gain is going to be succeeding with a good recap. There is plenty of good advice under FAQ section, hopefully you have seen that.

Right your in Florida. So Topcat can help you with caps. If this is the path, send him a private message.

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 05:33 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Yeah I've done quite a bit of looking around on the site. The 8RDA+ is still operational, not saying that it's posting right now, just that I have not destroyed anything since the last good post. =)

Currently I am working on getting a BIOS flash disk together for the next time the board does post so that I'll be ready and maybe cut down on all these failed post attempts.

It's just weird how it would post 6 times in a row and now every time its hanging on a C1 post code.

**Rainbow** · 01-23-2006, 05:35 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Don't flash BIOS with bad caps as it may crash in the middle of flashing.

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 05:36 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Ill talk to Topcat to see what a set of those might cost. After going through all this, if I can get a different brand mobo for around the same price I'll just do that. I dont ever want to use an Epox board again. I would like to get this one working again though.

Doc

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 05:37 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Originally posted by Rainbow

Don't flash BIOS with bad caps as it may crash in the middle of flashing.

It seemed like once it posted it was pretty stable, I think if I had harddrives and a mouse, etc hooked up to it I may have never turned it off. But good advice nonetheless.

**davmax** · 01-23-2006, 06:07 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

I hope you succeed. It is not hard if you prepare well, you gain heaps of experience and if you come out well it can be very satisfying. My two 8RDA+ recaps went really well, they have good performance and are stable.

C1h post code is memory detect. Check memory and caps around memory. The caps around my memory needed replacing with 8mm dia 1000u 6.3V low ESR caps.

Apart from caps did you find anything else wrong with the Epox board?

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 06:34 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

I have replaced all the caps around the memory, those were the first 4 i replaced actually. Still got the C1 code in the test afterwards.

The weirdest thing about this C1 code is, why would it post sometimes and hang at C1 others. The only thing I can think of is a capacitor working sometimes and failing other times. I'm not electronics expert and I'm only beginning to understand what the capacitors are actually doing, but as of now thats my best guess.

This board I'm working with used to be my sisters. Last summer her air conditioning went out and she started to have overheating issues with the computer and finally it stopped posting. I couldnt figure out what was wrong with it and presumed it dead and its sat on a shelf for the past 6 months until I deemed it a project a few days ago.

**davmax** · 01-23-2006, 07:10 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Overheating would impact on many things, it is likely the bad caps would go first due to gas pressure buildup at elevated temps. If the memory caps were the first you replaced. Are they the ones you took from the other board? If they are, that could be a problem, they would overheat in the process of extraction. Only good caps inserted and soldered for about 5 seconds can be relied upon.

Unfortunately I believe that if you have bad caps still in the VRM (CPU and memory power) you may not solve the problem until all replaced in that area.

Expanding on testing. The test gear cost is too high. It will generally not be able to tell you how good modern caps are, only how bad. The equipment generally available cannot measure the low ESR of new caps.

**Chris1992** · 01-23-2006, 07:19 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Yes, and in your first post you said that you robbed from the K6 board SI and IQ capacitors. Both are crap brands.

**davmax** · 01-23-2006, 07:22 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Good comment Chris. Doc has gone offline right now

**linuxguru** · 01-23-2006, 09:07 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

I.Q. is crap, but in some way related to OST - perhaps their value range. Go figure - there's market segmentation even among crap caps.

**Per Hansson** · 01-23-2006, 10:47 AM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Doc; here is a pic of my 8RDA+ before recap, all 19 GSC caps where bad...

It's imperative that you stop using the board, as you saw the resistance of the cap decrease; when it reaches zero you will have a short and the board will be dead for good.

The reason it could post 5 times in a row and then later not at all is because when the caps become warmer they actually work better... This is common with powersupplies also. Note that this only refers to bad caps, good caps should be kept at an as low temp as possible to preserve their life.

Attached Files

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 03:20 PM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

wow. looks alot like my board when I started off. I cant believe Epox would release such a product.

**Doc** · 01-23-2006, 04:53 PM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

I'm trying to make a list up of what caps I need to recap this board and wanted to post it here so you guys could double check it to make sure I didnt miss something.

6x 3300uf 6.3v Teapos (not really sure these need replaced but I guess I should.)
4x 2200uf 10v GSCs
5x 1500uf 6.3v GSCs (one of these is 1/4" shorter than the other 4, why?)
9x 1000uf 6.3v GSCs

**Rainbow** · 01-23-2006, 05:10 PM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

Originally posted by Doc

5x 1500uf 6.3v GSCs (one of these is 1/4" shorter than the other 4, why?)

Because the other are "pushed up" because of bulge on the bottom? Some caps do this instead of bulging on the top.
The Teapos might be OK, although it's bad brand too.

**davmax** · 01-23-2006, 05:35 PM

Re: Epox EP-8RDA+

My experience with the the Teapo 3300u is that they are OK. Mine were dark blue and gold, I did replace them seperately and there was no apparent benefit. Green Teapos are often a problem. All those GSCs need to be replaced and also check the power supply caps. Many manufacturers got caught by this one it is not just an Epox problem. So many motherboards, power supplies and other appliances have bad caps, their every where. This Epox board has a good three phase VRM supply with excellent layout, not a skimped VRM like some other brands eg MSI were they go two phase on a board with three phase layout.

Epox EP-8RDA+

Epox EP-8RDA+

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