Unreliable A4000D

[graz]

I have this A4000D which I bought a while back. It was cosmetically a bit beat up, but the innards looked good and I've since fixed it up shiny and new looking. It's been working fine since then. I recently acquired a Warp Engine which needed a little TLC. I fixed that up too, plopped it in the machine and it booted just fine. However, it wasn't recognizing memory in all the slots, so I took it out and worked on it some more. On reinserting it back into the machine, it would no longer boot. I assumed that I'd screwed the Warp Engine, tried a few things without luck and so put my 3640 back in. To my horror, it still wouldn't boot. So, I stripped it down, moved a few pieces around and eventually, it booted. So, I put the Warp Engine back in; no boot. Back to the 3640, no boot. Back to Warp Engine... boots! Put all the hardware back (HDD, CD, etc.)... no boot.

When it doesn't boot, it just sits there - black screen. No disk activity, nothing.

I'm suspecting that I have a broken trace or dry joint on the motherboard that's getting jiggled around (and probably being made worse) by all my experimenting.

Is it time to start hunting for a new mobo, or is this a problem that can be fixed?

 

[stefan_st]

Nearly everything can be fixed ...especially on these very expensive A4000 or A3000 boards , there are some experts outside , may ask for one in the threads ,

this would be much cheaper than searching another one !

 

[dw0ntU5m3]

Well if you're swapping boards back and forth and getting intermittent boots, the first thing to suspect is the lousy A4000 Accelerator slot. Get some 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and dab the corner of a folded a few times, piece of a paper towel in it and swab the inside of the connector, if it comes out gray after a few swipes, it's dirty. Alternately please sell or trade me your Warpengine, I have a great need for one .

 

[hese]

Most likely the problem is with a dirty CPU slot connector. As dw0ntU5m3 said, clean the connectors (both the motherboard and accelerators) with cleaning alcohol. If it still doesn't work, the CPU connector may be getting old and needs to be replaced. A dry joint on the connector can also be the culprit.. Anyway, all these can be fixed.

 

[limboy777]

Have to agree with the first two replies. I had a similiar problem. The connectors of the A4000 cpu slots are very small. Get a new tootbrush and IPA and brush it a few times with it.

 

[hese]

Have to agree with the first two replies.

You don't agree with the third reply?

 

[graz]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I've stripped the whole machine down and removed the motherboard. I cleaned the CPU socket on the motherboard and the processor boards using the edge of a credit card, some kimwipes and acetone (tested first on a corner of the socket to make sure it wouldn't damage it - it's good). Contacts all look shiny. Next, I reflowed all the joints on the bottom of the processor socket. There were a couple that looked a little dull.

I've reassembled the machine with just the motherboard, CPU and chip ram installed. It still won't boot with either CPU card. I've tried booting without chip ram to see if I get the green screen, but it's still black. If I leave it on for a minute or two, some of the chips get slightly warm to the touch, but only what I'd normally expect. The caps lock key works and is responsive, although I don't know if that means anything other than the keyboard is getting power.

At this point, I think I might need expert help. Anyone have specific people in mind that I might contact?

 

[-Acid-]

At this point, I think I might need expert help. Anyone have specific people in mind that I might contact?

Hikey is very good for one

 

[mjnurney]

Drop Adrian a PM (Hikey) he is a wizard with a4000 ,he's saved a couple of mine.

great guy.

 

[limboy777]

Have to agree with the first two replies.

You don't agree with the third reply?

LOL I cant count!. I was counting your reply as well!

 

[dw0ntU5m3]

What about the INT/EXT jumpers? They should be set to INT for the Warpengine and EXT for the A3640. Also the crystals on the motherboard at U104 and U154 those little sockets can also get dirty and cause problems, you might want to remove those, clean the pins and reinsert them?

 

[graz]

What about the INT/EXT jumpers? They should be set to INT for the Warpengine and EXT for the A3640. Also the crystals on the motherboard at U104 and U154 those little sockets can also get dirty and cause problems, you might want to remove those, clean the pins and reinsert them?

Jumpers are set for EXT, which is correct for 3640. With Warp Engine, that's correct too - you can set it to either, according to the manual. I've never changed mine and it has, as various times booted with both the 3640 and the Warp Engine. It no longer boots at all. I haven't checked those crystals. I'll do that when I get a chance. At this point, though, I'm quite certain that the problem is more serious than that. I've sent a PM to Hikey. Let's see what he says.

 

[ej2095]

DAft one this but would the extra load have poped something in the psu?