Socket 7 Kit: Why Won't It Boot with an ATX Power Supply?
Posted by Hot_Frosting_2096@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 9 comments
Hello. I recently bought a Socket 7 (Acorp 5tx52) kit that includes a Pentium I, a sound card, a video card, and memory. My problem is that I don't have an AT power supply, but this motherboard is apparently a combination of AT/ATX. I tried using an ATX power supply, but there’s no display output. The power supply starts automatically when I switch it on, yet there’s no picture. I trust the seller’s claim that he tested everything with an AT power supply. I also don't see any pins for a power button on the motherboard. Can anyone tell me what I’m doing wrong? Perhaps there is a jumper I need to set? I'm new to retro computers.
gcc-O2@reddit
Nice; have you picked an OS to run yet?
Hot_Frosting_2096@reddit (OP)
I was thinking about making this into a Windows 98 SE machine.
stejoo@reddit
The manual for that board mentions a 3 pin jumper J5 to select between AT and ATX power supply. Perhaps that is causing your issue. Seems to be located near the ATX power connector. Between the USB and PS/2 header.
JP5, might also be called PANEL, seems to be your soft power on switch. Look for that to connect your case power button to.
I do suggest reading the manual of the board. I'm getting this info right out of there. It can be found here: https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/sandd-sd-p5ta#docs
Hot_Frosting_2096@reddit (OP)
I moved the jumpers as you said, and it seems that my power supply doesn't even turn on anymore. I tested three different power supplies. Did I damage my board?
stejoo@reddit
No, I do not think so. After you moved the J5 jumper. Did you try turning it on with the JP5 power button connector?
Because I would expect moving J5 to turn the soft power on feature on. Now you would turn on the board with a button (connected to J5) like you would any other machine.
If you get no POST there are a couple of things you can do. Try to systematically diagnose the components. Do you have a PC speaker by any chance? Because if the basics (CPU, RAM and motherboard) work I would expect the speaker to "show" sign of life. It should beep. And the amount of beeps, and sometimes their rythem, mean something.
So take out every card. Leave the CPU in. Take out and reseat the RAM. Ensure it is fully inserted. Connect the PC speaker and a known good PSU and test. Any beeps?
A big plus would be having a POST Test card. If the speaker does not make a sound a test card is useful.? (Btw I don't have one either, so
Hot_Frosting_2096@reddit (OP)
Yes, I tried that, but nothing happened. Another thing: before I moved the J5 jumper from pins 1-2 to 2-3 for ATX, the power supply started up, but there was no activity from the board. Now, after restoring the previous configuration (AT), the power supply doesn't even turn on as it did before.
stejoo@reddit
Hmm, that is odd. Would indeed have expected to exhibit the old behavior again.
Were this an older board I would suspect a short somewhere. That would make a power supply not turn on or just for half a second. Could be worth making sure. You would need a multimeter and probe the power input against one of the ground pins.
Your power button is good? To exclude simple things first (that I have run into before...).
Is there anybody in your circle that has similar hardware of the period? To test components.
Hot_Frosting_2096@reddit (OP)
Hell yeah! It worked. I reseated the RAM and changed the power supply. Apparently, my ATX port has a little issue, apparently you don't have to plug it all the way in or some pins don't make contact. Also my power button was faulty. So I used some wire, and it started up and booted! Thank you so much, man. You are the best!
stejoo@reddit
Very nice! Glad to hear it.
The contacts in the ATX port might have some oxidation on them. Previous owner might have never used it. Some contact cleaner on those and taking the connector out and putting it back in a few times could clear that up further.
And a faulty power button. Ha! Good so see that happens to not just me.
Enjoy your system! And thank you for the kind words.