Asus PI-P55SP4 not booting at all \ VOGONS

Asus PI-P55SP4 not booting at all

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First post, by d00mo

Posted on 2024-11-24, 19:29

d00mo Offline

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I am trying to get this motherboard to work, but about to give up... but before doing that I want to reach out here (again) for any additional ideas.

This motherboard started before, but failed during startup (normally during memory test). One of the things that was pointed out previously by helpful members here was that one of the cache chip socket was empty, and also that the ones there were installed were a mix of brands and different speeds. So I decided to change them all and ordered a bunch of W2457AK-15 chips from AliExpress. I tested them all with my T48 programmed and kept only those that passed the test in Xgpro.

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However, it is not booting at all. The PSU fan is turned on, and I can feel the CPU is getting hot, but I get no picture or POST/beep signal.

I have consulted the manual and installed both RAM (one single-sided 8MB in SIMM 1) and Cache memory accordingly.

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Any ideas what can be wrong?

Reply 1 of 10, by analog_programmer

Posted on 2024-11-24, 21:47

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Install a second SIMM module just to be sure that thee problem is not in "the exception".

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Reply 2 of 10, by Ydee

Posted on 2024-11-25, 11:33

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It didn't work for me either with just a single SIMM module. I had to plant 2.

Reply 3 of 10, by auron

Posted on 2024-11-25, 14:24

auron Offline

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d00mo wrote on 2024-11-24, 19:29:

I have consulted the manual and installed both RAM (one single-sided 8MB in SIMM 1) and Cache memory accordingly.

in the image you put right below that, 8 mb single-sided is not listed as supported.

Reply 4 of 10, by d00mo

Posted on 2024-11-25, 19:44

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analog_programmer wrote on 2024-11-24, 21:47:

Install a second SIMM module just to be sure that thee problem is not in "the exception".

Ydee wrote on 2024-11-25, 11:33:

It didn't work for me either with just a single SIMM module. I had to plant 2.

auron wrote on 2024-11-25, 14:24:
d00mo wrote on 2024-11-24, 19:29:

I have consulted the manual and installed both RAM (one single-sided 8MB in SIMM 1) and Cache memory accordingly.

in the image you put right below that, 8 mb single-sided is not listed as supported.

I have tried with 16 MB EDO modules as well (both one and two). Same result...

Reply 5 of 10, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2024-11-25, 20:32

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Do you have a POST diagnostics card? If not, getting one could help with figuring out what the issue might be.

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Reply 6 of 10, by soggi

Posted on 2024-11-26, 07:19

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The BIOS of the board (0303, see Re: Motherboard for retro build) seems to be a very early one - ASUS doesn't mention it, only 0307 t0 0312 (changelog and BIOS image below). I would flash/program it to the latest version first and then have a further look - shouldn't be a problem as you have a programmer.

----- PCI/I-P55SP4 ----- […]
Show full quote
----- PCI/I-P55SP4 -----

ss5i0307.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0307. 02/08/96
1. This BIOS only support PCI/I-P55SP4 Rev. 1.4 motherboard.
2. Fix randomly fail on system boot up when rebooting the system.
3. Fix 166Mhz CPU detection error.(Fixed by BIOS 0305)
4. Fix warm boot hang problem if enable memory hole.(Fixed by BIOS 0305)
5. Add PCI/VGA Palette Snoop in BIOS features setup.
6. Modify OS/2 > 64MB support algorithm.
7. Add support memory > 64MB for OS/2.

ss5i0308.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0308. 03/13/96
1. This BIOS only support PCI/I-P55SP4 Rev. 1.4 motherboard.
2. Fix WDC Caviar 31600 cold boot fails when HDD type not set to AUTO.
3. Fix WDC Caviar 31600 cold boot failure problem.
4. Fix Crystal PnP sound card hang up when UMC I/O in use.
5. Fix can not write SST Flash ROM when operating in protected mode
problem.

ss5i0310.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0310. 12/06/96
1. Change PCI memory allocation method for Matrox Millennium > 6M VGA.
2. Fix some memory size report error under DOS/Win95 when > 16MB.

ss5i0312.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0312. 11/25/1998
1. NSTL Hardware Tested Year 2000 Compliant.

kind regards
soggi

Vintage BIOSes, firmware, drivers, tools, manuals and (3dfx) game patches -> soggi's BIOS & Firmware Page

soggi.org on Twitter - inactive at the moment

Reply 7 of 10, by d00mo

Posted on 2024-11-27, 09:05

d00mo Offline

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soggi wrote on 2024-11-26, 07:19:
The BIOS of the board (0303, see Re: Motherboard for retro build) seems to be a very early one - ASUS doesn't mention it, only 0 […]
Show full quote

The BIOS of the board (0303, see Re: Motherboard for retro build) seems to be a very early one - ASUS doesn't mention it, only 0307 t0 0312 (changelog and BIOS image below). I would flash/program it to the latest version first and then have a further look - shouldn't be a problem as you have a programmer.

----- PCI/I-P55SP4 ----- […]
Show full quote
----- PCI/I-P55SP4 -----

ss5i0307.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0307. 02/08/96
1. This BIOS only support PCI/I-P55SP4 Rev. 1.4 motherboard.
2. Fix randomly fail on system boot up when rebooting the system.
3. Fix 166Mhz CPU detection error.(Fixed by BIOS 0305)
4. Fix warm boot hang problem if enable memory hole.(Fixed by BIOS 0305)
5. Add PCI/VGA Palette Snoop in BIOS features setup.
6. Modify OS/2 > 64MB support algorithm.
7. Add support memory > 64MB for OS/2.

ss5i0308.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0308. 03/13/96
1. This BIOS only support PCI/I-P55SP4 Rev. 1.4 motherboard.
2. Fix WDC Caviar 31600 cold boot fails when HDD type not set to AUTO.
3. Fix WDC Caviar 31600 cold boot failure problem.
4. Fix Crystal PnP sound card hang up when UMC I/O in use.
5. Fix can not write SST Flash ROM when operating in protected mode
problem.

ss5i0310.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0310. 12/06/96
1. Change PCI memory allocation method for Matrox Millennium > 6M VGA.
2. Fix some memory size report error under DOS/Win95 when > 16MB.

ss5i0312.zip PCI/I-P55SP4 (SiS 5511 chipset) M/B (Rev. 1.4) , PnP BIOS ver. 0312. 11/25/1998
1. NSTL Hardware Tested Year 2000 Compliant.

kind regards
soggi

Thanks!
I did the same reflection and are waiting for an empty 128 kb eprom to arrive. Hopefully an update of that will solve the issues..

Reply 8 of 10, by soggi

Posted on 2024-11-28, 03:38

soggi Offline

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Location: Pogotopia

Good to hear, I keep fingers crossed for you!

kind regards
soggi

Vintage BIOSes, firmware, drivers, tools, manuals and (3dfx) game patches -> soggi's BIOS & Firmware Page

soggi.org on Twitter - inactive at the moment

Reply 9 of 10, by d00mo

Posted on 2024-12-05, 18:33

d00mo Offline

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Rank: Newbie
Posts: 78
Joined: 2024-01-24, 22:23

I tried updating the bios to the latest available (0312) but with no luck.
I’m now trying with a POST diagnostics card, it seems to get stuck directly…

The attachment IMG_4043.jpeg is no longer available

I do get a bit further a few times and get codes, picture on monitor and then stuck on the memory check, but in the vast majority of the times I get stuck here, with no codes at all.

Should not 3,3V in the lower left corner bit lit?
The POST card is connected to PCI slot.

Reply 10 of 10, by soggi

Posted on 2024-12-05, 23:15

soggi Offline

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Posts: 488
Joined: 2021-04-26, 17:51
Location: Pogotopia

Hm... 🙁

I would test the POST card in an ISA Slot, it should be initialized earlier than PCI. I guess the board, the SiS 5511 chipset, doesn't support 3.3 V PCI and that's why the LED doesn't light up...couldn't find anything on a short search which PCI version it supports.

Throwing out all cache chips could be another option to start from scratch!?

kind regard
soggi

Vintage BIOSes, firmware, drivers, tools, manuals and (3dfx) game patches -> soggi's BIOS & Firmware Page

soggi.org on Twitter - inactive at the moment

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