not_fred
09-09-2001, 11:28 PM
Two things:
Thing 1:
I've spent the last several hours reviewing the last few months of traffic on this site. It is without a doubt the "best of class". Well done, folks. Unfortunately, there was this reason for spending the last several hours reviewing this site (and others)...and that leads me to Thing 2.
Thing 2:
My new (and first-ever bottoms-up assembly) MS-6380R doesn't get very far into POST before hanging (other details on the system are at the bottom of this post). On the first power-up, it got as far as the base 64k RAM check, then hung (that is, did not appear to complete the check). I "promoted" the RAM (leaving block 3 open). In retrospect, the stick in block 2 was HOT, although the mobo was only powered for 2 or 3 seconds.
On the second attempt, the system hung on POST 0 (all four LED's on the mobo red), with no beeping, which (per AMI BIOS standard) indicates a CPU problem. I continued tweaking RAM (although in retrospect perhaps should not have, since some sticks were hot, while others were not). About the 4th attempt, RAM block 0 spit and flared at me...
Notes: yes, I was careful to ground at all times in the assembly. No, I didn't handle (fondle?) the mobo with the ps plugged in. No, I didn't bang the mobo on installation into the case. Yes, I checked to make sure the standoffs contacted the mobo ONLY at the through-holes, and occluded no circuitry. No the installation into RAM block 0 did not seem hard (I've installed 20 - 25 SIMMS and DIMMS over the years, and have never had a problem).
Question 1
I assume, of course, that the mobo is fried. There is visible damage in RAM block 0. Can anyone give some heads up on dealing with MSI and MemoryMedia (the vendor) about returns & exchanges? Am I going to have to be a hardcase about it in order to work a replacement? If they won't, is it possible that a miracle occurred & I can run the mobo with RAM block 0 empty? (OK, OK...that's three questions...I'm only an Engineer...I don't have to count very often.)
Question 2
Is the CPU likely sunnyside up too? Should I politely, but firmly demand an exchange on the CPU? Is that a reasonable demand? (N.B. - I've already ordered a much cheaper CPU to experiment on the next time - I should have thought ahead not to put the expensive one at risk on my first attempt. Same thought for putting all 3 RAM sticks in and attaching all the drives...education is expensive, isn't it?)
Question 3
On removing the cooler from the CPU socket, I noticed some of the original (stock) conductance material oozed off the die & onto the surrounding ceramic. The pad that shipped with the Dragon Orb 3 seemed too big for the die. What is the effect of the conductance material in contact with the ceramic, if any? (I've already cleaned off both the HS and the processor with ispropyll alchohol as best I can - next time Arctic Silver II.)
Thanks in advance for any help y'all can offer.
The particulars:
1.4G Athlon
MSI MS-6380R motherboard
Dragon Orb 3 CPU cooler
2x256 MB 266 mhz RAM (Crucial)
PCI All-in-wonder RAGE Pro (graphics ain't all that important to me)
Enermax 365P-VE(FC)
2x20G Seagate Barracudas (ATA100, 7200 RPM) (bootable RAID 0 array planned)
Generic Floppy (from an old P-I Acer)
Acer 6x CD (also from the old Acer)
Blizzard 360 case (new)
------------------
I'm only the Engineer...I have no idea how it works
Thing 1:
I've spent the last several hours reviewing the last few months of traffic on this site. It is without a doubt the "best of class". Well done, folks. Unfortunately, there was this reason for spending the last several hours reviewing this site (and others)...and that leads me to Thing 2.
Thing 2:
My new (and first-ever bottoms-up assembly) MS-6380R doesn't get very far into POST before hanging (other details on the system are at the bottom of this post). On the first power-up, it got as far as the base 64k RAM check, then hung (that is, did not appear to complete the check). I "promoted" the RAM (leaving block 3 open). In retrospect, the stick in block 2 was HOT, although the mobo was only powered for 2 or 3 seconds.
On the second attempt, the system hung on POST 0 (all four LED's on the mobo red), with no beeping, which (per AMI BIOS standard) indicates a CPU problem. I continued tweaking RAM (although in retrospect perhaps should not have, since some sticks were hot, while others were not). About the 4th attempt, RAM block 0 spit and flared at me...
Notes: yes, I was careful to ground at all times in the assembly. No, I didn't handle (fondle?) the mobo with the ps plugged in. No, I didn't bang the mobo on installation into the case. Yes, I checked to make sure the standoffs contacted the mobo ONLY at the through-holes, and occluded no circuitry. No the installation into RAM block 0 did not seem hard (I've installed 20 - 25 SIMMS and DIMMS over the years, and have never had a problem).
Question 1
I assume, of course, that the mobo is fried. There is visible damage in RAM block 0. Can anyone give some heads up on dealing with MSI and MemoryMedia (the vendor) about returns & exchanges? Am I going to have to be a hardcase about it in order to work a replacement? If they won't, is it possible that a miracle occurred & I can run the mobo with RAM block 0 empty? (OK, OK...that's three questions...I'm only an Engineer...I don't have to count very often.)
Question 2
Is the CPU likely sunnyside up too? Should I politely, but firmly demand an exchange on the CPU? Is that a reasonable demand? (N.B. - I've already ordered a much cheaper CPU to experiment on the next time - I should have thought ahead not to put the expensive one at risk on my first attempt. Same thought for putting all 3 RAM sticks in and attaching all the drives...education is expensive, isn't it?)
Question 3
On removing the cooler from the CPU socket, I noticed some of the original (stock) conductance material oozed off the die & onto the surrounding ceramic. The pad that shipped with the Dragon Orb 3 seemed too big for the die. What is the effect of the conductance material in contact with the ceramic, if any? (I've already cleaned off both the HS and the processor with ispropyll alchohol as best I can - next time Arctic Silver II.)
Thanks in advance for any help y'all can offer.
The particulars:
1.4G Athlon
MSI MS-6380R motherboard
Dragon Orb 3 CPU cooler
2x256 MB 266 mhz RAM (Crucial)
PCI All-in-wonder RAGE Pro (graphics ain't all that important to me)
Enermax 365P-VE(FC)
2x20G Seagate Barracudas (ATA100, 7200 RPM) (bootable RAID 0 array planned)
Generic Floppy (from an old P-I Acer)
Acer 6x CD (also from the old Acer)
Blizzard 360 case (new)
------------------
I'm only the Engineer...I have no idea how it works