Asrock K7S41GX NEW but wont POST

For a week now I've been trying to figure what's wrong here. I'm onto my second board having taken the first one back to the man for a replacement. Plus I've bought another chip to rule out the possibility of my original being part of the problem. I know my Kingston RAM is not the issue as it's definately good and within specs for the board. I'm presently awaiting delivery of a brand new Sempron 2800+ with HS and FAN.

I spent several hours yesterday searching forums and google to find that this board has been producing my exact problem, among others for at least 3 years. Unfortunately I can't find an actual explanation of the problem or how to fix it. Someone must have come across this issue and resolved it.

The gear:
Asrock K7S41GX (Brand new in Box) now on second board with same symptoms.
Duron 1300 200 MHz FSB (My original chip from ECS K7SOM mobo system)
Sempron 2800+ 333MHz FSB (Recycled but tested as working) also see above.
Kingston 512 M 333 MHz DDR known to be good.
Wintec Win-400PE PSU tested good.
Lets not worry about drives since they're not even involved yet.

The Problem:
No POSTs.
CPU Fan spins up so mobo must be getting power of some sort.
Front Panel LEDs light up.
That's it, however the other common symptom with this problem is that you can't turn it back of by holding the Power switch. It must be mains switched to turn back off.

I have found numerous instances of this exact problem in other forum threads but no solution or explaination of the actual cause. What are others doing to fix it? Are the boards DOA?

I'm not after suggestions like:
Press in BIOS chip to re seat.
Pressure on CPU when installing.
Reset BIOS.
Try other CPU / RAM.
Assemble without drives.
Assemble out of case.
Try AGP card instead of onboard video. etc as I've already done all of the above.

Some one must know what's going on.

To be honest, I think that the board is faulty. On looking at what you have already tried, it doesn't leave much more to test.

So basically you don't want any suggestions that would help you fix your problem? You don't want to hear things that involve. WORK. You don't want suggestions that will involve you doing something. Ok, then the only suggestion we can tell you is that Asrock might not be the company for you (heck never even heard of them) go get something that works like Asus, Abit, ECS, and Gigabyte motherboards. You have a faulty board, twice, that should tell you something there. Also, the thing that strikes me strange is that you have "Sempron 2800+ 333MHz FSB (Recycled but tested as working) also see above." which I don't know why but it just doesn't add up because you have a Duron as well. Which one are you using? Sempron is AMD if I am not mistaken, Duron is a different type of AMD proc. Which one are you using? You can't be using both or does your board support dual procs?

Chad

Had you read my post properly you would know that I've already tried all of those things (actually several times and with two boards), as had the other people in threads I've found in this forum and others relating to the exact or similar problem.

See: Asrock K7S41GX Wont Boot
December 14 2004
Started by ScOrp in this forum,

or do as I did and Google "Asrock K7SGX wont Boot", or "Asrock K7S41GX wont POST", or "Asrock K7S41GX problems" and you'll find that there are several instances of this problem and similar, but no one has completed the threads with solutions.

I'm looking for the solution to the problem that doesn't involve repeating things that don't work. As for two processors, I've tried both seperately as you'd expect when trying to find faults and I have a brand new in box Sempron on its way to try it as well.

Asrock is actually an offshoot company of ASUS which was initiated to produce boards in a price range and with specifications to be competetive with companies like ECS.

FYI, and for others who might be actually interested in solutions, a more knowledgable person on another forum immediately recognised that my power supply is probably underpowered. Even though it is testing OK and was capable of driving my ECS K7SOM board the ASROCK board in question is apparently known to be power hungry. The output capabilities of my Win-400PE PSU are less than you would expect from a better PSU in the 400W range.

I've been in touch with Asrock Technical Support to confirm or refute this possibility and I would think that this information if and when it arrives will tell me whether the 2nd board is a DOA. It would be unlikely to get two boards both DEAD but you never know. It is possible that both boards were fine and it is actually and underpowered PSU causing this issue.

I'll let you know.

Ohh, I forgot. You're new. And think that you're tough SH!T.

My bad, you might want to do a little research on your own junior if you want to start to argue with someone who has a BS in Computer Engineering. Also, sport if you want to you could look at it as you never once mentioned your full system specs. I didn't see one mention to the power supply you are using.

Now, on to your wild idea that Asrock is as good as Asus you are nuts. Cool they are a sister company. Woo, now can we go buy a Acura and compare it to Honda? No? Oh, what was that? Honda makes cars that are dependable and in price range for most people, but have more problems then Acura's. Interesting.

Now, you paid $45 for this motherboard. It's broken twice. Look at it on Newegg (which you wouldn't find) and if it's not on there then there has to be a reason. Look into getting the K8NF6G (See it here). It will take care of your Sempron very nicely, and also has 22 decent reviews. Notice the part where it says that you need a rather large PSU to take care of the power needs? That's the valueable information you can find online BEFORE you buy it. I would return the one you got and put an extra $10 in this one and get it. Plus, you have the support from Newegg which hardly anyone can deny.

Good day,
Chad

You don't read or write very well for an "educated person" Chad.

My original post clearly lists full system specs bar drives as they don't matter here yet. Also I did not claim that Asrock boards are as good as Asus. I said the companies were connected in some way.

About your ability as a computer engineer; I'd like to know how an Asrock K8NF6G which is a Socket 754 board will take care of my Socket A (462 pin) Sempron chip.

Keep posting stuff like this. It's funny.

I'm still hoping there is someone who reads this forum who has answers.

As for calling me junior, I'm 46, I have two Tertiary Education Qualifications including B.Ed Computer Science and I've been working for nearly 20 years as a Computer Coordinator / Teacher in Secondary Schools in NSW Australia managing Networks of over 200 machines. I've built and repaired countless systems and constructed networks covering acres from nothing to fully operational. I was studying Fortran in 1978 as part of the Degree course in Civil Engineering at UNSW.

What about you? You forgot where you come from by your own admission in your forum details. Are you embarrased about who you are?

I still think that the board itself is faulty.

Thank you aitken.

I believe you may be correct but I'll try a higher rated PSU first to be sure. The new Sempron chip arrived late yesterday so I'll have all I need by later today to confirm either way.

Asrock Technical Support has not replied to my second email requesting actual PSU requirements for the board but I would have thought that a 400 Watt unit, albeit a weak one, would have been sufficient.

Livo

A 400W unit would have been more than sufficient to power it as you don't have any drives connected, there isn't much for it power.

Let me know how you get on with the Sempron chip though.

My thoughts as well. I've got a 400 Watt with less rating.

With no success and no further leads I've actually rung the techo who sold me the chip. He wants me to bring the whole lot to him and claims he knows what I've missed. A trick of the trade he says. I know he has experience with ASRock Boards.
He asked me if I'd visited the ASRock site and I have. I've been back and searched for some hint or clue but I just cant find any. He was actually quite smug about the whole thing so it must be something really easy and probably obvious but I can't find it. Ive examined every jumper and connection and I'm positive I've missed nothing.
This guy says he is certain he can make it go but he only might tell me what the problem is later.

Livo,

I'm 24 from Pennsylvania, USA. I graduated with a BS in Computer Engineering from DeVry University. I am a programmer at heart, and dabble in the hardware. I am not a fan of AMD, so don't know the specs well enough. You are right, (however the board says that it can handle Sempron) and guess that thinking about getting another board is just wild.


I am just too used to Intel where they release a chip and the name can't have multiple socket types.

I have no idea why the board would need more than a 400W PSU. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, I couldn't find anything online from the manufacture that would indicate that it is a PSU problem. I was just suggesting that you should think about a different model if you want to stick with ASRock. They just seem like a lot more trouble than they are worth.

I'm arguing because I am bored. So yeah you're right, that board wouldn't work. Just keep the possibilities open that you might