Nightmare scenario: DFI NF4 mobo hell

[Phil Stanbridge]

hehe I'm having a shocker of a day today guys, am working on a "special" project for Custom PC (cant divulge too much at this time - these walls have ears..) Anyway I need some advice.

I'm using the top spec DFI mobo - for starters it will only post with 1 stick of memory in the first orange slot. Anything else is a non-starter. I know its not the memory at fault. I have researched this and the trick is to flash the firmware, however read on. I cant install XP - everytime it attempts to recognise the hard drives it will hang and switch off. I cant boot into dos - two floppy drives will not read my floppy disks correctly. I have spent all afternoon on this and have come to a full stop. I'm guessing this board is FUBAR but I cant be sure. Any recommendations? I know these boards are quirky but really, what a nightmare.

Edit: I will attempt a different psu tomorrow, its the only thing I havent tried yet.

 

[HARRY]

i think you need to hotflash the bois matey

 

[fatty]

Have you got a non winny cpu or maybe even try some ****ty memory like 2100 thats what I used to flash my mobo I got an old stick kicking about here if needs be

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

using a 55 mate (newcastle) and yes tried generic 2100 in 1 slot. Same problem.

 

[williamc303]

clawhammer u mean?

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

clawhammer u mean?

oh yes

 

[Rockindaveuk]

What PSU have you been using? Have you tried another? Cos that lot will draw quite a bit of power

 

[Firelord]

Has to be a 24 pin PSU with all the connectors to get all the correct workings with the DFI boards...

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

cant get it past the DFI main screen now, even though it posts. Most bizarre!

 

[SAS91]

maybe contact DFI and see if they will be of any service ?

 

[Cashman]

Phil me old mukka, what Revision of board do you have?

I know its a DFI SLI-DR but on the side of the bottom PCI slot there will be a sticker. Saying rev AA02 or summat like that. What you got?

Also what PSU?

 

[maverik-sg1]

Seems to be a strange one, Phil I know you know your stuff but perhaps a back to basics:

Reset CMOS and take battery out?

Make sure all PSU connections to the MOBO are connected.

Try a different PSU

Try one VGA card if using SLI

Try not pluggin Power into VGA

Try a different CPU (tricky I know)

Try different RAM, the best stuff to use I found was crappy 2700 not 2100.

Ultimately, check out the red lights on the bottom left of the board and see what the diagnostics are in the manual for where it stalls.

Of course, one last thing to try:

Checking the board for damaged or burnt out components or tracks it could just be faulty.

Let us know how you get on and what the solution is.

Good luck and cheers

Mav

 

[[E-PCs]]

Sounds more like a faulty board to me.

 

[Animal]

Its the Bios..

I know ive had the same prob..

What bios u running???

Is ur mem TCCD..? if so use this.. http://www.lejabeach.com/DFI/dfinf4ultra/N4D414-3.zip

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

Well an update :- It was definitely the bios, in one way or another. Even though flashing the bios to two later revisions didnt fix the problem, I have eventually resolved it. I am using OCZ VX, which worked perfectly in one board and not at all in the other - both boards were the same model/same revision. I flashed the bios on them both, and one worked one didnt - but the one that didnt isnt DOA, it works with generic memory - so what gives? How weird is that. Anyway, for now that one is boxed up and I'm working with the other one. I wont be beaten by this problem and when I get time I will resolve it.

 

[grungeisdead]

i had major problems with my dfi board in the past, i was using it fine for about 3 days then it refused to post unless the graphics card was in the bottom pci-e slot...

i was a really nice pc as well but i sold it to make way for a venice