KG7 That Didn't Make it

[bgavin]

I acquired a used KG7 from a client machine. The board would shutdown, but restart would hang and it would go brain dead.

I recapped the board with MCZ, and cannot get rid of this bug. I've flashed BIOS with various levels of code, no help. I ripple zeros through NVS with a program I wrote, still no help.

The bug is constant through various power supplies, wide range of processors, various memory sticks.

I have to clear CMOS with the jumper to get the machine to boot. Once botted, I enter Setup and set the various BIOS parameters. When I save and reboot, it goes brain dead again. Most odd.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

Sounds like bad BIOS chip.
As in the silicon, not the code.

[bgavin]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

Hmmm.... now that is a thought. I have multiple KG7 floating around, and the flash BIOS is socketed. I could do a swap to see how it flies. I also have a dead 8K7A board that probably uses the identical BIOS.

[bgavin]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

Nope. The 8K7A chip is different. Oh well....

[PCBONEZ]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

There are some dealers on ebay that sell replacement BIOS chips for various things.
Depends on if the board is worth the risk/$$ to you.

[kc8adu]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

a bios swap is the next step.
its easy and low risk.

[bgavin]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

The most value in this board are the MCZ I used to recap it. I have an Alpha PAL8045 HSF and Zalman NB passive sink installed, but these can be removed if the board is scrapped.

KG7 is only useful as an exact-replacement board for a server that I still have in service with a client. This is an Exchange/SQL machine that I would hate to rebuild from scratch if I had to install a different board.

The MSI K7N2 Delta boards offer a lot more bang for the Socket 462 chips. Faster AGP, much faster memory and FSB speeds. I picked up a Sempron 3300+ (oem) that runs like gang busters in the MSI board.

[bgavin]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

I had a new KG7 board that was buried in a full size Antec tower case. I dragged it out to use the case, and found the forgotten board. Just the thing to do an easy BIOS swap.

I was already to swap to the failing KG7 when I noticed... two missing caps on the failing KG7 board. Yep and yessir, I flat missed installing two near the DIMM slots. The board runs a lot better with all the caps installed...

[Bookworm]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

Been there, done that.

Just did that two weeks ago, as a matter of fact.

[kc8adu]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

since i note in my mind what goes where and strip all the old,clean holes,and then restuff i always hold the board up to the lights to spot any forgotten parts.
then i check polarity.
only then do i power it up.

[bgavin]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

Normally, I do the "count the clamps" thing... remove some caps then count out the number of new ones.

The hold-to-light sounds like a good trick. Unused cap locations on the board probably do not have open solder holes.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

It may be a bad motherboard mounting. Even more likely if you hear an alarm.

I gotten a European-like siren sound with my Asus A7N266-VM/AA after turning it on after tightening the screws and after loosening the screws, clearing the CMOS and turning it on with the motherboard lifted up from the case, it was fine again.

[arneson]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

Good thing I'm not a brain surgeon,
I also miss things and have to go back in, doh.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

when I noticed... two missing caps on the failing KG7 board. Yep and yessir, I flat missed installing two near the DIMM slots. The board runs a lot better with all the caps installed...

PCBONEZ <--- has done that!

I was all pissed because it wouldn't work with both RAM slots filled after a re-cap and then noticed 3 missing caps by the RAM slots.
I think what happened was I had to put the project down for a few days and come back to it. When I came back for some reason I thought I had finished the soldering when I hadn't.

.

[bgavin]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

I just another one of my original KG7 in for recapping. This board has probably been running 10 years. One of the HN is bulging, and the board now has the rough bootup problem.

I swapped in a recapped KG7 I keep on hand for this occasion.. works great. I'll redo this board later this week... and count the caps. My stock of 2200 Rubycons is running low...

[Logistics]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

How much of the board was recapped? I had an old BH6 that had some strange hanging symptoms that improved after I replaced the caps tied to the RAM slots. It still had funky problems afterwards; I think because I had flashed the BIOS with a Beta BIOS that ended up causing problems for the board, and I haven't tried the deal where you clear the bios completely of code and reflash it because I'm afraid of killing the BIOS, but then, again at this point what difference does it make, right?

[bgavin]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

I normally recap everything 470uF and larger.
My original problem was self-inflicted by not installing two caps I had removed.

[krazykev64]

Re: KG7 That Didn't Make it

there are 3 models in the range so make sure you use the correct one you have
KG7 LITE (2 MEMORY SLOTS)
KG7 (4 MEMORY SLOTS)
KG7R (4 MEMORY SLOTS + RAID + 4 IDE CONNECTORS)
you use the same file to flash the BIOS on all 3 as it only programmes what it needs