I think Google is getting worse when it comes to looking up old, obscure computer stuff. I can't even find any information about Ask. Here's a possible way to measure the CPU voltage: Re: Checking voltage on socket 7

Never heard of "ASK" for a motherboard brand. On a quick search:
I can see the Vreg chip, is the LX1662CD. Jp30 to JP34 are connected to it. That would set the cpu Core V along with Jp35 to Jp37 which sets Single v core or dual volts core according to silkscreen. Not sure why they are not all the same....
The datasheet says VID0 thru VID4 set the voltage which would correspond to JP30 to Jp34 on Pentium boards, those were also used on Pentiums 2's which would get the VID signals from the CPU.
Currently the multiplies is set to 1.5x/3.5x JP38 to JP40. Sorry that is all I get on a quick look over....probably wrong about stuff...;p

The modern version of Wim's BIOS has a page of BIOS numbers for Ask Technology motherboards, but no download links (they are a pay site now). https://www.wimsbios.com/biosupdates/ask.jsp#gsc.tab=0

The oldest Wayback capture is from 1998, but it seems to predate your motherboard. Later captures have no mention of a TX chipset motherboard, but they appear to have been a pretty fly by night company. https://web.archive.org/web/19980515012655/ht … m.hk/index.html

Hopefully your board already has the most up to date BIOS because finding this one may be very difficult. But there's the string just in case you need it and want to try and find it.

"ASK Technology BIOS - 2A59IAT9

Manufacturer and model: ASK Technology

Chipset: Intel 430TX

Part number: 2A59IAT9

BIOS Release date: 1999-09-07"

Repo Man11 wrote on 2022-09-02, 02:00:

The oldest Wayback capture is from 1998, but it seems to predate your motherboard. Later captures have no mention of a TX chipset motherboard, but they appear to have been a pretty fly by night company. https://web.archive.org/web/19980515012655/ht … m.hk/index.html

Thanks ! Added to my Mobo archive .txt. Found this while url searching: https://web.archive.org/web/20001017184242fw_ … hk/products.htm and a few other links. Only 4 bios files, none of value for this....
Yeah URLs skip from 1998 to 2000 so the time frame of that board is not archived. "Fly by night" where you do not cover things for at least a few years is a good definition 😁
No ATX55c listed. Makes me wonder if they rebranded some boards...

Thanks all!

I’ll do manual measurement of the voltages - I was hoping not to have to ‘reinvent the wheel’ but hey 🙂

If I get anywhere I’ll make sure the settings are store on Retroweb.

Question about ‘dual voltage’ CPUs: is the second voltage fixed to 2.8V or can that be something else?

From the Datasheet for U26 LX1662CD:
Socket 7 Microprocessor Supplies (including Intel Pentium Processor, AMD-K6 And Cyrix 6x86TM, Gx86TM and M2TM Processors)
Pentium II and Deschutes Processor & L2-Cache Supplies.
"The main output is adjustable from 1.3V to 3.5V using a 5-bit code. The IC can read a VID signal set by a DIP switch (or jumper) on the motherboard, or
hardwired into the processor’s package (as in the case of Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors). The 5-bit code adjusts the output voltage between 1.30 and 2.05V in
50mV increments and between 2.0 and 3.5V in 100mV increments, conforming to the Intel Corporation specification. The device can drive dual MOSFET’s resulting in typical
efficiencies of 85 - 90% even with loads in excess of 10 amperes."
My guess is that it is wired to run from 2.0 to 3.5v for Pentiums.**

added: Ok looking at your pictures these I can easily see: JP30 goes to pin 4, Jp32 to pin 6, and JP34 to pin 8. If those jumpers were pulled it would be easier to see but those are the VID pin in order.
So JP30= VID0, Jp31=VID1, etc to JP34 =VID4
** That comes from: "VID4 (pin8) : Voltage Identification pin (MSB) input. This pin is also the range select pin — when low (CLOSED), output voltage is set to between 1.30 and 2.05V in 0.05V increments.
When high (OPEN), output is adjusted from 2.0 to 3.5V in 0.1V increments.." and JP34 - VID4 is open.
I will create a chart to help as the datasheet chart uses O for shorted, 1 for open which is typically the reverse of how a manual states things....

Here is the datasheet and a quickly made picture showing the jumpers per the way I read the datasheet and the board layout. Of course it could be wrong as the only datasheet found is for Lx1662, Lx1662A, Lx 1663 and Lx1663A.
It appears it is currently set for 3.3v core. So should work with a std pentium if you set the Multiplier proper. I would try a P133 and then use DVM to check volts. The coil via for L15 should show the CPU Vcore volts if I read the board correctly.

added: hope one of the other members checks my work to make sure I did not flip when should have flopped ;p

Ahh done with dinner and was good. The only major thing left to decode is the FSB which leaves JP38 + JP39 +JP40. Currently all 1-2 which as a guess is 66Mhz.
Being a 430TX would think 50, 55, 60, 66, would be the typical speeds though could be something else....
And Cache size: JP41 +JP42 if I read your picture correctly.

Thanks all!

Horun,
I found that the chip close to JP41 and 42 is an oscillator so I started changing them and indeed they are for setting the frequency! I will document everything and update RetroWeb.

I've got the voltage right, the right frequency but it does not boot. Diagnosis is underway! 😀 (I'm making a video so I'll share it at the end, if I ever get something out of it!)

Seems like you may already have your answer, but most of those are as follows: all off is 2.0v first one is +0.1, second +0.2, third, +0.4, fourth +0.8.

Fsb you probably have 50, 55, 60 and 66. But many came with 75 and 83.

To test your voltage go ground to middle outer notch corner pin of cpu.

There is often a p54c/p55c jumper somewhere. You want it set to p55c for dual and p54c for single.

As for figuring out fsb settings, just try them, but don’t do any weird combos like sideways jumpers ya know.

Thanks Sphere,

Indeed I have 55,60,66,75 Mhz on this board. What do you mean with "weird combos"? All my tests are without CPU and checking with oscilloscope.

Voltages are done - I matched the dip switches to the pins of the chip and I was able to have 3.3V on both VCC2 and VCC3 - the "dual Voltage" CPU jumpers are labelled thankfully.

So since I have 3.3V, Single supply, 60Mhz FSB, 1.5 Multiplier (it's a 90Mhz CPU), it should work, right? Am I missing anything else?

Horun - just realised the time you spent on editing that table for me! Very kind of you, appreciated!

Setting the two voltage rails the same and installing a single rail cpu will tie them together and should work. I’ve done this on my tyan.

Typically you set it to single rail/p54c via jumper also though.

60x1.5 should be 90 sounds like you have it set up correctly.

I don’t see mention, but I assume this is a pentium 1? Doesn’t really matter, just curious.

Indeed, a P54C pentium 1, 60FSB, 90Mhz.

Minor detail I did not disclose: the board is "spares or repair" so I am totally expecting it not to work! 😀 That is why I bought it 🤣. But sometimes those boards just come with jumpers set incorrectly so before looking into things I wanted to make sure I am not missing anything important.

One important thing would be to find the "reset CMOS" jumper - wouldn't be the first MoBo which is delivered with that jumper set to "clear" 😀

I'll start the usual diagnostic: reset line, clock, voltages etc.

A little more help please.

I managed to locate a shorted RS232 chip which I have temporarily removed, I fixed two broken traces and also a mangled jumper which was making VCORE unstable. The board now tries to boot but it's stuck in a cycle, it keeps resetting. It does not get to the point where there's a picture on screen. If I remove the RAM it makes long beeps - telling me that it's accessing the RAM somehow.

I'll replace that RS232 buffer chip - in case the BIOS is looking for it and it doesn't like when it can't find it - but I was wondering if you might think of anything else I might have overlooked. Memory incompatibility? Again, unfortunately there is basically no documentation for this board.

I need to check what is the last boot code displayed on my diagnostic board - it might shed some light on this!

PS: I'm making a video of this repair so you'll see the outcome (hopefully) soon!

Thank you!

Details of mem, pic of installed in what banks and pic of mem both sides?

Partial booting is classic memory problem symptom. Could be other things also though.

Just looked closer at your first picture. Three of those caps appear to have physical damage and should be replaced, specially the two on left they appear slightly crushed which could be an issue with stability.
what CPU are you testing with ? A standard 3.3v Pentium 100 would be best since it is single voltage.

Make sure you have a live CMOS battery, some motherboards won't POST without one.

Very useful tips as usual, thank you guys!

Battery is 3V - a bit on the weak side but well within tolerance. I shall try another one just in case.
Caps have been already replaced, I thought the same about stability - even though old caps tested perfectly fine. No change.
This is a P54C 3.3V Pentium 90Mhz single voltage indeed which works fine on other boards.

Pictures attached. I found that I must have RAM in both slots 0 or 1 - it will beep otherwise.
Last boot code is 03 (Award bios) which, according to the manual I have, is a bunch of low-level stuff which doesn't ring a bell to me! 😀

I've ordered some SDRAM - I haven't got any - so we shall see if that changes anything. I also have the replacement serial buffer chip coming.

Thank you!

more faults on this board. The transistor responsible for the 3.3V for the SDRAM (and cache) is not working. It's a D882-Y. I cannot find it on ebay, only generic D882. I see the Y has a specific HFE, do you think I need the -Y exactly or could I replace it with something else?

Thanks!