Can untested AGP card damage a 478 motherboard? \ VOGONS

Can untested AGP card damage a 478 motherboard?

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First post, by ft1000923

Posted on 2024-10-18, 13:48

ft1000923 Offline

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So i'm in the middle of upgrading my childhood computer, which is a AcerPower Ft100 with a ECS Sf2/661fx motherboard, Celeron D 340, AGP Geforce 6200. Was planning on upgrading it as a retro build to play period accurate games, so i bought a Pentium 4 531 and a AGP Geforce 7600 GS (GV-N76G256D). GPU arrived today. However, after installation, the pc doesn't post anymore when a AGP card is installed (nor with the old 6200). Oddly, the 3 pin case fan also doesn't seem to work anymore. The computer still boots with just the onboard graphics though. Problem is, i don't have another AGP system to test it out, and tbh, I'm not sure i wana risk picking up another board just to also fry it if it's the new GPUs problem. Took a look at all the traces on the board and i can't seem to find any burn marks that might indicate a short of some kind. I'm kinda lacking in experience with socket 478 and older, but seem to recall some kind of issue with newer power supplies and weaker +5v rails. The one I'm using a BeQuiet 400w that can do 15a through the +5v rail. Any advice on whats going on, or am i screwed and need a new mobo?

Reply 1 of 9, by MikeSG

Posted on 2024-10-18, 16:17

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When you mean install, what point did you get to before it stopped working?

Does the motherboard look ok? Caps?

If you take photos of both motherboard & gpu we can be another set of eyes ....

I think these cards are 75-100w draw, but should have a performance limit if the power is not there IIRC.

Reply 2 of 9, by stamasd

Posted on 2024-10-18, 16:30

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Boot without AGP card using the onboard video, go to BIOS settings and look for an entry called "initialize video first" or something similar. Change that from "on-board" (or "integrated") to "AGP". Save and power off, insert AGP card and see if it boots now.

I/O, I/O,
It's off to disk I go,
With a bit and a byte
And a read and a write,
I/O, I/O

Reply 3 of 9, by ft1000923

Posted on 2024-10-18, 16:37

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Didn't check to see if it was ok today before installing the 7600 GS today, as it was working perfectly on Monday. Even played a bit of GTA SA, no problem. I guess something could have happened between Monday and today, but it was just left unplugged and sitting in the corner. Here are some pictures

Reply 4 of 9, by rasz_pl

Posted on 2024-10-18, 16:52

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P4 board from 2004 always screams bad capacitors to me, but all the AGP power lanes should go straight from PSU.

>3 pin case fan also doesn't seem to work anymore

is the PSU fan running? a short on the AGP card would not let PSU even start

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ecs-sf2-661fx "Warning! Models with Universal AGP actually only support 1.5V-only cards. Using a 3.3V card may damage the motherboard, the card or both." your card is definitely the right type (1.5V only). Its possible someone else plugged universal card before and blew the AGP port 🙁

https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module for AT&T Globalyst
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 memory board
https://github.com/raszpl/440BX Reference Design adapted to Kicad
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Reply 5 of 9, by ft1000923

Posted on 2024-10-18, 17:03

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PSU fan is running ok. Ive tested on 3 different power supplies now, including on one with 20a on +5v rail. System posts without a agp card installed. The fan header thing is weird, because im pretty sure it was ok before. Fan works on another header too. Never had this happen to me an anything newer, so im pretty perplexed.

Reply 6 of 9, by PcBytes

Posted on 2024-10-18, 20:20

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I bet those Panasonic caps used on that board are fake. I've seen ECS use what looked like Panasonics on their boards, only to desolder them and find the same bung used by OST. They're cheap OSTs in disguise.

"Enter at your own peril, past the bolted door..."
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Reply 7 of 9, by MikeSG

Posted on 2024-10-19, 09:29

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The only things I can think of is

Oxidised AGP port (clean with alcohol + toothbrush)
BIOS AGP setting not correct
4-pin molex power connect on video card not connected
Too many devices plugged into the PSU
Reseat RAM, or RAM settings
The long 48 pin IC underneath the gold northbidge heatsink appears to have some golden legs - does this get IC get hot when the PC is running?

Reply 8 of 9, by ratfink

Posted on 2024-10-19, 10:13

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MikeSG wrote on 2024-10-19, 09:29:

The long 48 pin IC underneath the gold northbidge heatsink appears to have some golden legs - does this get IC get hot when the PC is running?

Seems to be the clock generator according to the link above.

Reply 9 of 9, by ft1000923

Posted on 2024-10-19, 12:57

ft1000923 Offline

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MikeSG wrote on 2024-10-19, 09:29:
The only things I can think of is […]
Show full quote

The only things I can think of is

Oxidised AGP port (clean with alcohol + toothbrush)
BIOS AGP setting not correct
4-pin molex power connect on video card not connected
Too many devices plugged into the PSU
Reseat RAM, or RAM settings
The long 48 pin IC underneath the gold northbidge heatsink appears to have some golden legs - does this get IC get hot when the PC is running?

Got it! Gonna try cleaning the slot. GPUs (both 6200&7600GS) do seem to get warm when I have them installed and PC on, so I'm guessing it is at least providing power through the slot.

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