SPBHM wrote:well, it looks like your problem was not the same I'm facing with the P2B
SPBHM, I found a probable reason why the 8400GS doesn't work with Asus P2B. As per PCI specifications(2.3 & above),
Revision 2.3 is an evolutionary change to the PCI Local Bus Specification. Revision 2.3 makes a significant step in migrating the PCI bus from the original 5.0 volt signaling to a 3.3 volt signaling bus.
Asus P2B motherboard, being PCI 2.1 compliant, does not need to provide 3.3V to the onboard PCI connector as it was probably optional under 2.1 spec, which is needed by the 8400GS PCI (compliant to 2.3/3.0 spec). I found two interesting references(one is japanese for which I got some translation) to substantiate it,
Reference 1:
http://log.shipweb.jp/?mode=datview&board_nam … hread_id=169724
Translation of entry '152':
EVGA 8400 GS PCI compatibility report:
Hardware prerequisites met with no (not receiving 3.3 V PCI)
Aopen AX6BC
Tekram P6B-A4X
Tekram P6B40D-A5
EPoX EP-6BXA-M
ASUS P2B-AE
ASUS P2B-F
ECS P6BX-MS
Reference 2:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/128405-28-card-motherboard
I intend to measure the availability of 3.3 V in any one of the pins (A21, B25, A27, B31, A33, B36, A39, B41, B43, A45, A53, and B54) on my motherboards's PCI slot later tonight. If it is available in mine and not in yours, then that might be it. One thing to be noted is the possibility of the BIOS disabling the PCI slots, if unused, in which case it will be slightly difficult to measure the voltage levels.
If the above is proved and if you are feeling adventurous, a hardware hack to extend the 3.3V (say from the unused AGP ver 1.0 slot ) might be a solution and surely you will know the usual risk factor. I once did a hack in the motherboard's power connector on my ECS mainboard and it was successful.
Edit: I couldn't measure the voltages properly as I was in a hurry leaving station for another 3 days and will not have access to the P3 system. From what little I observed, there was definitely some non-zero value in those 3.3V pins. Once I go back, I will measure them properly and also check the continuity of all the 3.3V pins.
Edit2: All the pins mentioned above except A53(0.6V) & B54(4.9V) indicate 3.3V and most of them seem to be in parallel.