Soyo 5EHM Motherboard - Trouble Getting It To Come Up! Flashed BIOS? Can Anyone Help?

[Helly Hansen]

Hello,
I just purchased a new Soyo 5EHM (ETEQ Chipset & 1MB Cache) motherboard for myself. I can't take it back because I lost the purchase form. I can't get the motherboard to come up no matter what! I am trying to use a known good AMD K6-2/450 3D CPU and I downloaded the latest jumper setting information for using this CPU and set the jumpers properly. The CMOS clear jumper is not enabled! My AGP video card and memory are both known good. Is there any additional information that I should know about this board? What is the warranty on these boards if there is one? For some reason I have a feeling that the board was previously used or sold and someone incorrectly flashed the BIOS. I would like to try replacing the BIOS. Who can I get a cheap up to date Awards BIOS for this board? Please Help Me!

Thank You!
Brandon Sandifer
Sandifer Peripherals
bsand@gowiththebest.com
www.gowiththebest.com

[Susan]

You've cleared the BIOS? Any beeps or power to it?

[800XL]

With an Award bios, you may be able to get into a boot block recovery mode by using an ISA video card. There is some great info on this under the "Technical Support" section of this forum. I believe the thread was called "Help recovering BIOS". If you can get into boot block mode, it will let you boot from a floppy and run the flash utility from Soyo to get a good bios into it. Soyo can be found at:
http://www.soyousa.com/

If you do much troubleshooting or working with motherboard issues, invest in a POST card. This ISA card will give you codes based on what part of the bios Power On Self Test is happening. If you get codes on the LEDs on the POST card, there is at least something of a bios left in there. I don't know how many times mine has saved me time and effort chasing ghosts.

I would also try clocking things back a bit in this case. Drop your bus to 66Mhz, or the multiplier down to 3x or so. It could be something obscure keeping it from running. At least at a lower speed you'll be able to eliminate BIOS probs which can be worse if you try to fix them. Your 450 chip will run at slower speeds and it may be just the thing to help pin down your problem.

[Ed_S]

You may have too early of bios revision. Only the latest (Rev.# EH-1BA1) includes support for the 450. Try a slower CPU (or maybe slower setting) & see if it posts. If so, you'll need to update bios.

[This message has been edited by Ed_S (edited 05-09-99).]

[Helly Hansen]

Hey Guys, Thanks For The Replys!
Update - I still can't get this processor to work with this board no matter what! It seems like every time I go to 100MHz Bus speed it won't come up! Everything comes up fine when I set the bus to 66MHz. I have tried the latest BIOS update from SOYO for this board 5EH1BE1.BIN and the problems I described still exist, no difference whatsover! I have also downloaded the latest jumper setting information and set the jumpers accordingly for this processor. (2.4V, 100MHz x 4.5). The BIOS update listed specificly that supports the AMD K6-2 400 & 450 was the one I first wanted to dowload but it was not available. The message I recieved was (Could Not Be Found On Server) I have a feeling that this problem does not have anything to do with the BIOS version because nothing seems to power up at a 100MHz Bus speed. I am using 100MHz PC100 SDRAM, 1 128MB & 1 64MB. I know about the CMOS Clear jumper and that is not the problem. Can someone send me an updated Awards BIOS chip that will support my CPU or tell me where I can purchase on cheap for the SY-5EHM Motherboard. I got it to get up to 300MHz, It first came up as 308MHz then after the BIOS update it came up as 300MHz. I know about the external (Level 2 1MB Cache) and it's not the problem. I would say it's the internal but I've disabled it. The board also boots just fine from a floppy and will go into programs and stuff. I purchased the board for the ultra fast ETEQ chipset and the reliability that SOYO boards normally give but this one really sucks!! I should of just went with the VIA MVP3 w/1MB Cache & AGP. I will definatly get a post code tester for the future, should of got one along time ago. I just haven't worked with much but new motherboards latley. I should of just purchased the VIA MVP3. This board is brand new and I never have got to use it!! Please Help Me!


Thank You!
Brandon Sandifer

[Ed_S]

Ok, I checked Soyo's site, the rev. you flashed is newer than one I recommended, sorry. It should include support. I have same board, currently using P233 on it @3X 95, have had it at 100 before with no problems. Friend also has it with K6/2-350, no problem. Have manual & CD for it. CD has extensive info not in book, have looked for answers, nothing so far. Have you tried the 100 mhz CPU / 66 mhz ram setting? Please keep me posted as I am planning to get the 450 very soon, possibly this week.

BTW, according to both Tom's HW and Anandtech, the Eteq chipset is "re-labeled VIA MVP3" so you already have it!
See review at
http://www.anandtech.com/html/review_display.cfm?document=232

[MickMitani]

Have you tried it with just one DIMM in at a time or always with both DIMMs in? A co-worker had a SOYO MB that wouldn't boot with 2 DIMMs on board, even though either one would do okay by itself.

[Helly Hansen]

Thanks Guys,

Figured it out! The board is defective! I had a feeling but was just hoping there was a solution! SOYO's tech support really sucked, didn't get any resonable help. Big dissapointment! I'm going to get me a VIA Apollo MVP4 w/2MB Pipelined Burst Cache. I will also be buying a post code tester!



Thanks!

Brandon Sandifer