Motherboard Upgrade

sweetdaddyjones · #1 08-23-2005, 02:59 PM

I currently have an Epox 8K-7A motherboard with an AMD 1700 processor and 2x512 MB PC2100 RAM. I recently swtiched from Win 2000 to XP Pro, and I've been getting some weird random crashes and errors. I have deduced that it is a problem with the board not being compatible with XP, so I'm looking to upgrade to a newer board that is XP certified. I'm hoping to find something that I can move my processor and memory to without having to upgrade everything. Any recommendations on a board that will fit my needs?

The rest of my specs:
160 MB HD
4x DVD +-RW
52x DVD-ROM
Zip drive
AGP ATI 7200 (soon to be upgraded to DVI-compatible ATI AIW)
SB Audigy

Thanks for the help

xcrunner503 · #2 08-23-2005, 03:13 PM

It may not be a hardware problem at all. it might be a software problem. Try using ccleaner (from www.ccleaner.com) and clean stuff up and then use its free registry cleaner also. Then try to get a registry mechanic of some sort and run that. The problem mayb becuz of your registry.

sweetdaddyjones · #3 08-23-2005, 04:29 PM

I'm pretty sure that's not the problem. I formatted the drive before switching to XP. During the install, I got various weird errors. Then the system started crashing with increasing frequency, and I tracked that problem to an out-of-date video driver. However, it crashed a few times since updating the drivers. My largest problem now is that, when I try to burn anything to DVD, the DVD burning s/w goes through the burn, but during verify it fails because nothing gets burned to the DVD. I've tried this at max speed and at the lowest burn speed. In addition, my system freezes up and crashes any time I try to play any type of game. This may be a residual video problem. It may not be the board's fault, but I have read that the EP-8K7A doesn't play well with XP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcrunner503

It may not be a hardware problem at all. it might be a software problem. Try using ccleaner (from www.ccleaner.com) and clean stuff up and then use its free registry cleaner also. Then try to get a registry mechanic of some sort and run that. The problem mayb becuz of your registry.

Overclocked Doc · #4 08-23-2005, 04:43 PM

Download and run "memtest" if you haven't already. You may have an issue with one of your sticks of Ram.

sweetdaddyjones · #5 08-23-2005, 05:11 PM

I have checked the RAM, swapped the RAM, etc. to no avail.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overclocked Doc

Download and run "memtest" if you haven't already. You may have an issue with one of your sticks of Ram.

gaj26 · #6 08-24-2005, 06:49 AM

Have you been to the mobo manufacturer website and flashed the mobo firmware? if it wasnt good with XP im pretty sure the manufacturer would have made an attempt to fix it...

Overclocked Doc · #7 08-24-2005, 10:15 AM

Basically anything with a "Via" chipset that supports "socket A", will work well.
The other criteria is to look for is, the ATX format, although, even ATX micro will work just fine. I personally like ASUS for replacement boards, but there are lots of brands out there that are just as good. You should even consider, sticking with "EPOX" as they have a good reputation for being a solid board.

Here's an example of an Epox, that would cover you needs and is reasonably priced for an ATX board.

EPOX Motherboard click here!

The other thing that you should give serious consideration to is, to look at buying a motherboard/cpu combo. There are some pretty amazing deals out there. You'd save money in the long run, and get your self a bigger cpu in the process. On the other hand, if money is tight, you could just buy the new board and upgrade the cpu later.

Disk_Contented · #8 08-24-2005, 10:23 PM

I had one of these boards (latest bios) and XP isn't a problem with it.
You can download and flash the bios from windows.

Did you install the Via "4 in 1" driver? (now the hyperion) Don't rely on XP's driver here. It is known to cause problems in some cases. Install the driver first.
Driver:
http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx...D=1&CatID=1070

gaj26 · #9 08-24-2005, 10:26 PM

Frankly, XP's drivers are usually pretty crap at everything. better that you install ALL the hardware manu drivers rather than let XP do ANYTHING...except possibly the keyboard. and thats only if you have a stock one.

Disk_Contented · #10 08-24-2005, 10:41 PM

I don't agree. Try finding XP drivers for some older compaq portables. They don't exist anywhere but via XP. Even win 98/ME versions are hard to find.

XP does a very good job at getting you the best driver setup right out of the box.
Supposing it came with none. How would you get on the net to download other drivers if you had no driver for your network device?
Indeed. How would you install it in the first place if you had to find drivers for all your hardware first?
Drivers is one aspect of XP that is very good.

gaj26 · #11 08-24-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disk_Contented

How would you get on the net to download other drivers if you had no driver for your network device?

Maybe. but once u get on the net the first thing most people do is update windows, then the AV, then the drivers. All i said was XP is pretty crap at doing drivers. Because it is. However i didnt say it cant support everything, its just that from experience i can say XP drivers usually have to upgraded asap.

Disk_Contented · #12 08-24-2005, 10:55 PM

Sorry, no it isn't. XP has superb driver support. Without it, many people would be stuck even at the installation stage.