problem with my MB? [Abit IP35 Pro]

[Daniel_X]

Greetings,

I've been having recently a little trouble with my PC setup; namely it was randomly crashing for no particular reason... at some point (most occurances were while playing graphicly challenging games or using graphic apps) screen just turned black and sound got looped. I installed latest graphic (and other) drivers, assuming it was most likely caused by my GPU. Nothing changed except this time I the sound wasn't looped, it just continued.

Moving on... so I tried to test the rig with another GPU. I borrowed an ATI Radeon 1950 Pro 256Mb and switched it for my nVidia GT 8800. The process should have gone smoothly, but instead of that the pc booted, then after approx. two seconds shut down and then again booted, but with no screen signal and there wasn't even the keyboard check light that's usually at the beginning of the boot sequence. I assumed this is only due to the fact that the GPU is somehow incompatible/not working so I switched it back to my old one. To my surprise it done the same thing as with the Radeon. So now I am thinking it was probably the MB, all along... not really sure if it is a hardware problem or just something needs to be re-set, etc.

So what do you guys think? Am I royally screwed and need to buy a new MB or this can be somehow salvaged? Help pls! I need my pc back... even now I am typing this on my friends pc. Any help is greatly appreciated... ;-]

Oh and to give you some picture here is my pc setup:
Abit IP35 Pro
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2,40GHz
2Gb RAM
GPU nVidia GT 8800 512MB
4xHDD [2xIDE, 2xSATA]
PSU Enermax 500W
OP Win7

[Rolo01]

Did you try a CMOS reset ?

Which Bios ver. are you using ?
Consider an update to the latest version ( I can send it to you ).

Last guess :
Maybe you need to change the bios chip. I have read of some motherboard from the IP35 series that were fine again after that.

[Daniel_X]

Yep, I tried the CMOS reset and it didn't work.

I considered the BIOS change, but the problem is I can't even get the screen to start up. It's just black from the moment I turn the pc on. Anyway I haven't changed the BIOS since I bought the MB so the problem might be perhaps there. Is there perhaps a way to change it withou direct access to BIOS? Maybe the BIOS chip you suggested? Never heard about that one so it might work...

[Daniel_X]

Ok, the value on the LED display on the board is "9.0" ... this is what is suggested at the Abit page.

1. Clear CMOS
2. Restore default setting for BIOS
3. Replace BIOS chip
4. Send to RMA at last

Then again I am not sure why my screen is not working...

[Daniel_X]

Hm, so the POST values go like "0.0.-> 8.3. -> 9.0" ... I guess the only possible thing is to replace the BIOS chip now. Just dunno what prompted this... seems unlikely that I just take out the GPU and suddenly the mobo screws itself.

Rolo01. Could you pls tell me how to replace the chip? Never really done that and don't wanna mess it up. :-]

[Daniel_X]

Wow! So i took out the lithium battery for BIOS and put it back there and it worked! Just like that... hopefully keeps working too... :-]

Edit: Well I don't know what's with it anymore. I booted... got to BIOS... did not change a thing... saved and exited and now it's back to the place where it was. After the save and exit it booted twice by itself and now I am back where I started.

[Rolo01]

Have a look here :
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/BIOS-Servic...d=p3286.c0.m57
You can order a new bios chip there, flashed with the bios you like.
As soon as you receive it take out the old one, insert the new one and hopefully the PC is alive again.

[Daniel_X]

So I can replace the old one with any random BIOS chip? It doesn't have to be from the same manufacturer? Which one would you recommend?

[Rolo01]

Not sure about random bios chips.
But if you go to the store I mentioned above and select your mainboard, you can be sure you get the correct bios chip.
The guy in charge there will ask you which bios version you want to be flashed on your new chip.
So all you have to do is to replace the chip as soon as it arrives.
Costs should be around 10 Euros I guess.

[Daniel_X]

Ok, thank you. Will try :] ...btw if it doesn't work what other possibilities are there? Maybe the PSU is jammed? Just read on some forums that this MB kind of "kills" PSUs...

[Rolo01]

Maybe the PSU is jammed? Just read on some forums that this MB kind of "kills" PSUs...

I hope not.
Can you test the PSU in another PC ?

[fatslag]

I had the same problem as this ... error 0.1as soon as pwer supply is connected .... i have this morning recieved a replacement bios chip ...and no change .... !

[MrBozack]

Hello! I've had my Abit IP35 (non-pro) since 2008. Recently it too has been behaving badly at boot. It's acting like the BIOS has been changed (with the black screen boot/turn off/boot succeed).

I'm just guessing, but it seems somewhat related to the issues of OP. I'm also receiving the random blue screens with 0x0000000A errors. I changed all the memory banks, problem still persists. Changed PSU, problem still persists.

I suspect the IP35 has reached the end of it's lifetime. I miss Abit. They were great.

[MrBozack]

Follow Up

My IP35 always misbehaved at boot (like the original posted described)
I replaced the motherboard with a cheap Foxconn board. Problem solved. Judging by the amounts of IP35 posts in the Hexus ABit forum, I'm guessing a component must be failing on the boards?

It may be an unpopular solution, but I think it's time to upgrade to Sandy Bridge. Worked for me!