Remove the BIOS chip, clean the socket and put it back on. Also, the voltage on the regulator.

dominusprog wrote on 2025-06-10, 22:23:

Remove the BIOS chip, clean the socket and put it back on. Also, the voltage on the regulator.

Thanks - hmm - Bios-Chip was already in-out several times to reflash - else I did wash the complete board - looks like "new" - nothing remarkable to see, besides one single scratch - very flat, low, short and in an area where nothing is.

Voltage on the regulator - good question - but I do get 3.91 on the out-side - 4v is the named voltage for the Nexgen.
On the input side - 8V - no idea if that is the named input it should be getting.
The 2x capacitators next to it charge both with 4v.

Seems to working - at least not dead

Well, you should try an ISA or VLB graphics card instead of that adapter.

freekymachine wrote on 2025-06-10, 20:36:

GPU - Geforce Titan XP with adapter to 16-Bit ISA (ofc...^^ - no ,3x ISA 16 Bit VGA)

WHAT???!!!

Babasha wrote on 2025-06-11, 14:50:

WHAT???!!!

dominusprog wrote on 2025-06-11, 14:06:

Well, you should try an ISA or VLB graphics card instead of that adapter.

Yes - so use this PCI-E Adapter to PCI 32 Bit - which I then put onto another PCI to ISA Adapter - with a Geforce TitanXP on it...

Djeeze -NOO ofc not - joke aside 😜
I do have 3x ISA Graphiccards - they are all 3 fine and do work instant on any other mainboard.
But I dont have a VLB GPU - that would be ofc nice - but cant imagine, that that would do it ?!

Do Nexgen must-have VLB graphiccards ?
Didnt try anything new today, instead just sitting there and watching it do nothing - I might try to de-assmble the CPU slot - but bit afraid i crush there something

The cracked CPU would be very suspect - I'm assuming you have indeed
switch it out...

I'd start with a very simple video card - You don't need much for BIOS to come
up... I keep a few of the old "ATI VGA Wonder"s - simple 16-bit ISA (only)..
This is what I start with when trying to bring up an unknown mainboard.

Connect a speaker... some BIOS will produce a beep fairly early on.
also - try with NO RAM --- some BIOS are "smart enough" to test very basic
system functionality (like RAM) before actually needing RAM and produce a
simple beep code if it doesn't think it has enough to go further.
(The idea being to see if the processor/BIOS is functioning at all)

If you are unable to get any beep ... do you have a scope? I'd look to see
if the BIOS is being accessed (in a way that looks like instructions being
fetched).

Oh... I don't know this board, but I did come across a mainboard once that
relied on the IDE reset (had to manual reset if no drive)... To insure the
system is getting reset properly, hook up a reset button.

I have the actual NexGen version of same board, last booted 2019 or 2020 just fine, now in storage.
IIRC You need the coin cell battery and use FPM 72pin ram and prefers Parity, EDO does not work.

DaveDDS wrote on 2025-06-11, 19:31:

The cracked CPU would be very suspect - I'm assuming you have indeed
switch it out...

Yes - sadly that cpu is cracked - can show you some nightmare-picture how the corner really looks - yet - its still in one piece, seems to hold and wouldnt be surprised if the CPU actually still could work.
But as mentioned - gosbless i do have a 2nd one - back from the days - just kept it, cause it looked so nice - only collected dust and over time a few pins minimal bend.
Story seems ; Some typical platine-trashers where already on it, removing the aluminium from the chips - and that one was glued on - so ofc take a screwdriver and lever, till it comes off = cpu-ceramic not so thick and ofc cracked.

The 3x ISA VGA I have are all 16-Bit ISA - all 3 do work - my fav one is a Trident 9000 - never let me down anywhere.
I tend to use her aswell on problematic cases, unknown ones - where i always know "she is booting always"

Speaker is connected - Actually didnt try it without Ram - but no change, just tried.

Scope ?! oscilloscope ? Sadly no.
Still thinking the same - is the Bios rly well ?! Maybe i try another Chip, if i find one somewhere.
Yet, when put into other Mainboard and read out with uniflash - all seemed fine - dump - and multible reflash - tried the other 2 variants from retroweb and then put back on the orig one i read from it.

And interesting with the system needing an reset-switch - good idea - did try - also no change + Board does have a "Switch" - like Powerswitch ?!
Did use also an older orig. AT PSU which has one of these "switches"

Damn-damn - well i might try again with other bios-chip
Post card still in mail - i do have an PCI one, but not for ISA - should have gotten one many years ago 😀

Horun wrote on 2025-06-11, 20:07:

I have the actual NexGen version of same board, last booted 2019 or 2020 just fine, now in storage.
IIRC You need the coin cell battery and use FPM 72pin ram and prefers Parity, EDO does not work.

I did put on 2x CR2032 - but...
hmm FPM 72pin Ram and parity ?!

ouha...ok

itneresting - THANKS !!..hopefully its just this ?!
Cause - i guess every other ram i have might just be EDO - besides 2 Modules i have somewhere, i go search 😀

Horun wrote on 2025-06-11, 20:07:

..and use FPM 72pin ram and prefers Parity..

I did find those 2 modules I put aside - cause they are "tms44400dj 70" - FPM - but not parity - also no change in start..
At least I get more the feeling for what we are dealing with here.

Thank you so much already - feels good - even if we cant manage to start it - either my cpu is dead, the bios is dead - or some more parts on the Board too - who knows.

I am lacking equipment for deeper search - knowledge in general there, but for e.g. "is the volatage-regulator rly fine?" = I do measure 4vb out and 8v in - but where do the 8v come from and are those correct? - I do not know.

Some of these BIOS ROMs are very picky about the KB controller, have you flashed the right version.

freekymachine wrote on 2025-06-11, 20:14:

Yes - sadly that cpu is cracked - can show you some nightmare-picture how the corner really looks - yet - its still in one piece, seems to hold and wouldnt be surprised if the CPU actually still could work.

Depending on how bad the crack is - if it didn't bend/break the internal wafers/contacts... it *might* still work,
but you could never trust it - with the ceramic cracked -- corrosion will happen, and the chip will die ...
(not to mention a sight "wrong way" flex could break it - you might never take it out, but thermals can do the job for you)

dominusprog wrote on 2025-06-11, 20:58:

Some of these BIOS ROMs are very picky about the KB controller, have you flashed the right version.

I was thinking the same thing ... are you sure the BIOS flash is right for this board?

Someone else did say they had the exact same board, perhaps they could send him a dump of the BIOS.
(unfortunately they also said it was in storage - might be an unrealistic job to get that BIOS dump)

I will try to get it out of storage, maybe tomorrow after work. I have a Xgeku Pro so should be able to get a good bios image...
Here is a picture with out the ram and a HS. Same board and exact KBC and IPC chips. The BIOS serial #'s are within 2000 of each other (AA0028138 versus AA0026317) so should be a match

Ok got the board, and read the bios. Matches exactly (hex compared) to one on TRW: 51-0100-000000-00101111-101094-NXVL 101094 V06C033V
One thing I had forgotten is the coin cell thing: it uses two 2325 stacked (that is how my board came) or j22 near keyboard port for external use a 6v battery.

Horun wrote on 2025-06-12, 23:53:

Ok got the board, and read the bios. Matches exactly (hex compared) to one on TRW: 51-0100-000000-00101111-101094-NXVL 101094 V06C033V
One thing I had forgotten is the coin cell thing: it uses two 2325 stacked (that is how my board came) or j22 near keyboard port for external use a 6v battery.

Oooh Nice - Thank you so much !!

Ok, will try use that Bios then and also try another Bios-Chip.

CR2325 i know - there were actually the orig ones still plugged on, but ofc empty - else 2x CR2032 works too, since they are also 3v.

I will try later in the day what i can manage.

Thanks!

dominusprog wrote on 2025-06-11, 20:58:

Some of these BIOS ROMs are very picky about the KB controller, have you flashed the right version.

Cant be 100% sure - but seems so.

DaveDDS wrote on 2025-06-11, 21:11:

I was thinking the same thing ... are you sure the BIOS flash is right for this board?
...

"no" ^^ - but : -> see reply @Horun

DaveDDS wrote on 2025-06-11, 21:07:

Depending on how bad the crack is ...

Here - have some Nightmare-Pictures 🙁
(see below)
And yes, ofc the CPU "could-maybe-might" still be alive...i somehow doubt it myself.

Horun wrote on 2025-06-12, 23:53:

51-0100-000000-00101111-101094-NXVL 101094 V06C033V

A. I got the dump from my own Bios-Chip - which seems fine - forgot now to match with other one, but will redo.
B. Now that we know thx to @Horun that a V06C033V is one possibility and should work ?!
C. I did now :
-> Took another Bios-Chip - put the 51-0100-000000-00101111-101094-NXVL 101094 V06C033 on it - worked fine, no errors - But board doesnt do anything different from before.
-> Put back the orig Bios which was on that Chip before to re-stock the Board I "borrowed it from" - flash/reflash worked - Uniflash - not the first time I use it - all worked, so I rly do believe the V06C033V for the Nexgen did flash succesful on it and does work - but the Board dont 🙁
-> Did take my own Bios-dump from the first read-out and put it on the orig Chip - Board doesnt do anything different.

I think/fear its not a Bios-Issue - Both Chips, all flashes seemed flawless/succesful, nor is the orig Bios-Chip or file corrupted, does have any flaws/errors/problems.

Still waiting for ISA Post-card, still asked around for a VLB GPU - but dont think its needed ?!
Also searched a bit for Parity FPM Modules, found 2, but sellers are a bit... "no - give me all your money-style" 😀
-> Also, if Board doenst do anything different with or without Ram - seems something before that ?!

Here btw better quali-pic of board - did many more Pictures - nothing to see, all is there, nothing scratched, broken off - ofc if every component works as intended ?!
+ I still cant confirm if my Nexgen CPU is fine - it looks perfect.

I would not trust the broken cpu to work, there are micro traces from core to pins that could be broken/damaged....Also do not run it without a heatsink, even if you just sit it on top of cpu is better than nothing...

Horun wrote on 2025-06-14, 04:02:

I would not trust the broken cpu to work, there are micro traces from core to pins that could be broken/damaged....Also do not run it without a heatsink, even if you just sit it on top of cpu is better than nothing...

Ocf not - that cpu feels like 90% dead - yet - it does behave like my 2nd CPU - same temperatur, no boot

Heatsink i just place some old Socket A copper Cooler on it.

How does your system btw "behave" ?

AT-PSU + bios-batterie - what Rams and gpu do you use ?
And that should be it ?! ..to get a picture out of system - I assume fast-boot, like any other old pentium 1 board ?
"Power on = 5sec later there should be already a picture?"