Tiny Computers 5-3500 (OEM FIC P4M-915G/PD1)

JEWilson · Chip off the ol' block Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 87

This board does not want to start!

This appears to be a Tiny 5-3500 which is, so I understand,
an OEM FIC P4M-915G/PD1. A silk screen decal on the board
denotes it to be so. I believe it to be Intel Grantsdale Dynasty
P4M-915G/PD1 based.

There are further labels which detail,

LAN MAC - 00 40 CA 87 2F EA
1394 MAC - 00 40 CA 07 01 0A A6 4E
S/N - C194900064 P4M-915PD1

I do not have a website to retrieve Tiny Computer manuals, drivers and BIOS.
Does any know where these can be sourced?

The FIC website does have a webpage for a P4M-915GD1 not a P4M-915G/PD1 per silk screen note above.
I understand the G designation denotes on board graphics and this mobo has none.
see http://www.fic.com.tw/support/motherboard/mothe...aspx?model_id=155
There is no BIOS or manual but you can get drivers.

The FIC site also has a page for a P4M-915PD1 as with the suspected serial number label as above.
see http://www.fic.com.tw/support/motherboard/mothe...aspx?model_id=159
There is no BIOS or manual but you can get drivers.
The driver are the same for both of these FIC boards.

The BIOS device is a PMC PM49FL004. As I read this with a Willem, it appeared to be ok.
I saved a copy of the image and found it be to be an Tiny OEM BIOS.

I am testing the board and am using;
Checked and resweated capacitors - there was a 10V 1000uF swollen and replaced,
Does not appear to be any components amiss as with SMT devices
Used SL7Z9 3.0 GHz 2MB/800 FSB,
Used Intel stock ALU HSF to 3.2GHz,
Used 512MB PC3200 DDR400 Elixir SDRAM,
Used PowerColor R37L-SC3B Graphics PCI-E 16x 128MB DDR,
Magna 600W ATX PSU.

As the board is out of a case, I jumper the pwr button and my
POST card reports;
+12V - good
-12V - good
-5V/3.3V - good
+5V - good

But I am getting strange behaviour with the POST Card LEDS
Sys Led - continuously flashing on/off
Clk Led - continuously flashing on/off, sometimes stays on for a second or two
IOW Led - off
Osc Frame - on
Rst - stays on
Bios Rdy - off
Data - continuously flashing on/off

The flashing behaviour is replicated on the Keyboard LEDS so far as;
1. The NUM lock;
2. The CAPS lock and;
3. The Scroll lock
keys flash in tandem with those flasing on/off LEDs on the POST card

Also, the POST Code 7-segment display reports 9, 1 P, 8 and then flashes one of the seven segment display
as if testing each segment and reiterates this last test in a loop fashion, before randomly displaying a code number
as in the former case.

I did notice the plcc device when reinstalling same was comparatively loose fit with the socket.
Would this explain the problem or is it, with the POST Card reported status a problems with clock synthesis and/or Super I/O?

Any other insight and problem areas I should look at?

Perhaps I could change the PSU as the pwr button front panel does
not switch off the board at all and I have to use the on/off switch for the PSU.

edwin · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject:

just one swollen cap can mean a whole host of other problems, it could mean the voltage across it got too high, damaging everything near it. Where was it located?
_________________
edwin/evasive

Do not assume anything

System error, strike any user to continue...

JEWilson · Chip off the ol' block Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 87

Hi

It was located beside the PCI-E video slot
On the underside of the mobo it was located beside a test
point for the FWH clock. At this stage, I suspect I have
a clock synthesis issue. No clock gen - dead board.
Of course, I concur a bad cap may suggest a number
of subsequent problems.

Any views or opinions?

I will try to check what I can with my multi-meter but
suspect I will require a logic probe to test clock gen
correctly. I don't have a scope.

After I have eliminated this, move on to super I/O,
test KB and so on.

JEWilson · Chip off the ol' block Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 87

Hi

I have further tested this mobo with;
XPower ATX-500TD PSU, rail ouput follows;
+3.3V : 36A, +5V : 36A, +12V : 20A, -12V : 1.0A, -5V : 1.0A, +5VSB : 2.0A
see http://www.xcase.co.uk/p/289103/x-power-500-wat...-pci-e-sata-.html

The read out from the post card this time is;
+12V - good
-12V - good
-5V/3.3V - good (but see below)
+5V - good

Sys Led - continuously flashing on/off
Clk Led - continuously flashing on/off, sometimes stays on for a second or two
IOW Led - flashing
Osc Frame - on
Rst - stays on (but see below)
Bios Rdy - off
Data - continuously flashing on/off

The flashing behaviour is replicated on the Keyboard LEDS as before so far as;
1. The NUM lock;
2. The CAPS lock and;
3. The Scroll lock
keys flash in tandem with those flasing on/off LEDs on the POST card

Also, the POST Code 7-segment display reports 9, 1 P, 8 and then flashes one of the seven segment display
as if testing each segment and reiterates this last test in a loop fashion, before randomly displaying a code number
as in the former case.

This time I have a better look at the POST card O/P and
find;
the 3.3V and RST flash but only imperceptibly - you would hardly notice unless paying keen attention.