justin1985 wrote on 2023-01-20, 20:57:

I managed to buy a VIA EPIA-800 ITX motherboard, which seems like the "perfect" board for a minimal size retro build - one of th […]
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I managed to buy a VIA EPIA-800 ITX motherboard, which seems like the "perfect" board for a minimal size retro build - one of the only ones with the VT8231 south bridge which should allow SB Pro emulation. It was an eBay sale described as "untested" ...

Unfortunately, when it turned up today, I've not been able to get much life from it. The PSU and CPU fans spin up when the front panel power switch is switched, and the keyboard lock lights cycle on and off. But no video output at all, and no POST beeps or anything at all. The front panel power switch doesn't then function to switch off.

Ive tried some known-good PC100 DIMMs (from my Compaq PIII system), with exactly the same results (but the 256Mb module that came with the EPIA stops the Compaq from booting when I tried it there).

I've tried replacing the CMOS battery, and switching the CMOS jumper between both positions - no change.

I tried two different PSUs - no change.

Obviously the CPU is soldered on with these motherboards, so not much scope to alter anything there. Interestingly though, the CPU fan was missing from the heatsink when it arrived - but there was a build up of dust in a pattern showing there clearly had been a fan running for some time - so I fitted a new 40mm fan.

I can't see any obvious swollen capacitors or damaged components, or damaged traces etc.

Are there any other things to try to revive this board? Or is it simply dead? Seems a shame, as these first generation EPIAs don't seem to come up that often ...

Does this look like your board?

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2023-01-20, 22:47:

Does this look like your board?

Yup that's the one - and that's an interesting document - different from the one I'd previously found online. It looks like that document describes a few more of the jumpers than the other manual.

I guess it might be worth trying other combinations of some of those? Like adjusting CPU host frequency? (To match memory module spec? Or just to minimum?)

Any idea what DOC BIOS might mean? Related to the Disk on Chip feature? (which is unpopulated on my board) Or something else?

justin1985 wrote on 2023-01-21, 08:08:

Yup that's the one - and that's an interesting document - different from the one I'd previously found online. It looks like that […]
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PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2023-01-20, 22:47:

Does this look like your board?

Yup that's the one - and that's an interesting document - different from the one I'd previously found online. It looks like that document describes a few more of the jumpers than the other manual.

I guess it might be worth trying other combinations of some of those? Like adjusting CPU host frequency? (To match memory module spec? Or just to minimum?)

Any idea what DOC BIOS might mean? Related to the Disk on Chip feature? (which is unpopulated on my board) Or something else?

Yes its Disk on Chip BIOS - was a manufacturing option, but the vast majority of boards don't have it.

Think I see the listing in question, but maybe if you add a good rez pic of your board (front & back) someone might spot a component issue causing the no video / POST problem

PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2023-01-21, 18:14:

Think I see the listing in question, but maybe if you add a good rez pic of your board (front & back) someone might spot a component issue causing the no video / POST problem

I think this is the best I'm going to be able to do in terms of photos of the board

I've studied the board pretty closely, and can't seem to see any obvious damaged or ripped off components. Unless the capacitors to the left of the gold CPU heatsink are actually looking swollen on top? I could equally believe the K shape in the top was just stamped a bit more heavily on these, rather than it being a problem? The back of the board does seem to feel like it has some kind of ... very slight residue ... or it just a protective lacquer or something? Worth a clean with IPA?

I've also reset all the jumpers to the default locations shown in the linked document above - they were all set in the opposite positions (someone had had a fiddle previously?). But still no joy.

I guess the other likely possibilities are a dead BIOS. Is it worth trying a replacement chip from here: https://biosmaster.co.uk ?

Otherwise, I imagine it's likely a key component like the CPU is fried? (which the missing CPU fan might make more likely?)

I know this thread ist old but i want to give a possible solution because i Had the Same Problems. Seems silly,but did you connect a PS/2 Keyboard? If there ist No Keyboard connected i also do not get a POST, Not a single beep and also nothing on my PCI Diagnostic Card.

TM30 wrote on 2025-06-16, 19:32:

I know this thread ist old but i want to give a possible solution because i Had the Same Problems. Seems silly,but did you connect a PS/2 Keyboard? If there ist No Keyboard connected i also do not get a POST, Not a single beep and also nothing on my PCI Diagnostic Card.

Thanks for the reply! I did get it working (might have posted more on another Epia thread?) - from memory though, I think it was down to the jumpers being set incorrectly!