All is well with bios F9 and the top performance setting on my board. I assume the board is picky with memory timing settings as when I added an additional 256 mb samsung DDR333 module the machine wouldn't boot unless I changed the bios setting to PC2100. With my first 256 mb PNY DDR333 chip top performance works fine!

With my ATI All in Wonder 8500DV I cannot set the Catalyst driver to AGP fast write even though the F9 bios says it is enabled.

Thanks for the tip to press Ctrl-F1 to see additional BIOS settings!

I'm having a spot of trouble with this board myself, although my issue sounds somewhat different from the others. I'm not entirely sure this is a motherboard problem, but I'm totally at a loss. Relevant Stats:

Gigabyte GA-7VAXP (not sure what rev)
Onboard sound
MSI Geforce 4 MX 440 (8x AGP)
Windows XP

Two symptoms exhibit themselves: (1) 3D video is choppy, even if it's just a screensaver and (2) as the graphics displayed on the screen change, screeches, pops, and generally nasty sounds play out of the sound card.

I'm about to flash the Bios, but I hold out little hope that it will fix much.

I have seen this problem before. Screensaver locks for a few second,
I have changed the mem and problem solved

yet again... I have posted problems with having giga-byte s**t. I currently have a:

GA-7VAXP motherboard rev. 1.1 BIOS F9 (I think, I have to restart to find out for sure, Otherwise it's F11)
Athlon XP 2000 XP
kingston RAM PC2700
Giga-byte 9700 PRO

If anything is wrong it should be one of these four things(I have an antec 350 watt PS, so it's not that and have tested it with other PS's) I'm having problems with.
Luckly I'm pawning off 3 of these thing to someone that just want a decent running computer (keyword decent).

but what I'm replacing it with is:
Asus A7N8X-DX motherboard
OCZ EL (2x512) PC2700 RAM
Athlon Barton core 2500+ XP (overclocked hopefully without a problem by changing the multipier only) CPU

But I'm stuck with the giga-byte 9700 pro video card until I hopefully find someone who want's a ATI 9700, then I will be going with the Tyan, Tachyon 9700 Pro ATI VC, that they support overclocking (hopefully no problems with that).

Once I have it running (except the VC for now) I'll post the difference.
I'm sure (hoping) there will be a differnce.

But for sure I will never buy a giga-byte product ever again.

I bought the video card because they support over clocking and I bought the motherboard considering it's made by the same manufactor so they should run perfectly together, but all I have had is problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I've said before ,this s**t runs fine if you don't try to overclocking anything. BUT if you do... good luck.
And I've tried everthing from changing voltage, BIOS, top performance, etc.

But one thing is for sure...

I would have saved myself some troulbe if I did a search in google "giga-byte sucks GA-7VAXP"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another thing is a emailed them with my problem a few weeks ago and I have yet to get a reply.


So that just reinforces me that GIGA-BYTE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't get any better does it!

An update on my experiences (see above): I have now RMAd my board to dabs.com. I too would have liked to change it for an Asus A7N8X Deluxe* but dabs considered that I had had it too long (6 weeks) and would only consider a warranty repair. This is really a little less than helpful given i) the evolving nature of the problems I encountered with the board and, ii) the time required to test different hardware configurations in an attempt to solve these problems. Whether I will face the same or similar problems with a replacement board remains to be seen. In the meantime the cost to me of the mobo is rising since dabs (unlike Aria for example) will not refund postage costs if an item is found to be faulty.


*another leap into the unknown but at least this board has so far received generally good reviews and generated few complaints in fora such as this.

GA7-VAXP rev1.1 F11 Bios ....Via Hyperion4in1 4.45 drivers
512 Winbond Pc3200
XP2700 CPU standard 166 on fsb setting
Connect3D Radeon 8700 PRO Catalyst 3.1 drivers
2 80gig hard drives Seagate & Maxtor
CD drive & Cd Writer
56k modem & speed touch usb modem
300watt power
BIOS:- Top Performance OFF, AGP 8x Apature 128, DDR 400 only runs at 333mhz,



I too have had trouble with this board and have had some questions answered in this forum.
I have spoken to ATI AND Gigabyte ATI said to swap Card so i did that but made no difference also upgraded power from 350 watt to a 450watt still no difference..At this point i was cracking up spoke to Gigabyte and they said no worries not heard of any conflicts with MOBO & Graphics but they would test the board...


Having bem told by Gigabyte that ddr 400 with a 333fsb chip will never work at 400 only 333 i tried my mates 333 in machine BUT it just stopped booting and went into a MAJOR LOOP . DISGUSTED i put my ddr 400 mem back in and ran a 3d mark 2001 to my total surprise and delight it completed the test and gave a mega score 13079 so i then tried 3d Mark 2003 and that to completed witha score of 4382.

Having rang them back they said it is possible that a thread was stuck in ram causing all graphic problems even thought my old graphics card worked GIVE IT A TRY IT MAY JUST WORK i have read about memory doing odd stuff before just wish i had removed & replaced it sooner.

FEBruary now...I have the same problem as another member, (citt in OCT) -his later post was (reset Bios with a screwdriver...)) hrrm, I geuss someone slipped him a private message..anyone figure this one out yet? (other than dumping)
GA-7VAXP rev 1.1
PROBLEM: System won't boot (blank screen - no video). At boot I hear 1 long (3 seconds) beep, power/message light strobes rapidly during beep.
I have installed:
XP2000, mx400 Vidcard, and a WD12000JB HD, 512 PC2700 DDR (aproved list OK)
L&C 350W P.S.
No OS yet, as not able to pass POST.
mommy, my wallet hurts.
Have tried different memory, powersupply, dancing in rain, staring at it intently, asking qustions, emailed Gigabyte (no response)
I don't have another proc. to swap.
I wonder, are other MOBO forums this long?!

LOL, welcome to my hell with giga-bytell!!!!!

Hi nick hall

I too had that same problem i found the problem i had was that the FSB dip switches were not set correctly. I think your CPU is a 133 FSB (not sure as i am new to this game myself as you can see from prev messages) Check that they are set correctly . Also another thing was i have both cd drives set to slave or master and when i altered that the machine then bBooted and worked but just had other probs that i had to sort. Hope this may help as i say not an expert myself really but i have F**ked about enough with this board to get to know it.


Re: Anyone got a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP?
GA7-VAXP rev1.1 F11 Bios ....Via Hyperion4in1 4.45 drivers
512 Winbond Pc3200
XP2700 CPU standard 166 on fsb setting
Connect3D Radeon 9700PRO Catalyst 3.1 drivers
2 80gig hard drives Seagate & Maxtor
CD drive & Cd Writer
56k modem & speed touch usb modem
300watt power Now run 450watt
BIOS:- Top Performance OFF, AGP 8x Apature 128, DDR 400 only runs at 333mhz,

Sorry should have said HAD both cd set to slave or master.Now they are set one slave other master.

Yeah,i have this board and its nothing but problems!!!!

my specs:

630w enermax psu
windows xp sp1 plus every update off update site
directx9
asus geforce4mx460 4x
-tried every detonators availiable
-tried asus drivers
1gb pci2700 ddr
perf. raid 2x40gb
amd athlon xp 2400
soundblaster audigy plat
via hyperion drivers
bios flashed to vf10
plextor 12/10/32a writer
panasonic 16xdvd reader
thermaltake heatsink and fan on amd chip

system can give me a bsod immediatly or anywhere upto 6 hours later, sitting idle or running any application or game.

ive spent the last month trying to fix this and im ready to bin the motherboard. ive not overclocked any of it as i couldnt find a way of doing it. peed off is far from discribing my heartache at spending £600 on a new system to watch mostly bsod (blue screen of death).

Ive even asked wandy in pczone magazine to help - waiting reply.

any ideas ? email me at kevinjgrant@tiscali.co.uk or discuss with me on msn : KevGrant129@msn.com

god i hate problems like this - im supposed to be studying an mcse in windows technical, but how can i when the bloody machine keeps the bsod alive?

HELP!!!!!!!!

cheers

I have been following review and also had some problems that a RMA took care of......Refund instead of replacement. Now to the point...Is anyone having these same problem with the GA-7VAXP ultra or is it with the Rev 1.1 only ?
I 've written to Gigabyte also and no reply. Also to the vendor to see if the same problem is with the ultra version...no reply.
So I guess I'll see what replys come from this forum....

Like I said above:

Rev 1.1
bios F9 Top Performance enabled
PNY 256 Mb DDR333
XP 2400+
ATI AIW 8500DV w /latest Catalyst drivers
onboard sound
Maxtor Diamond Max 9 80 Gb
XP Pro SP1

Solid as a rock from day 1. Only issue was when I tried to add Samsung 256 Mb DDR 333 because it wouldn't boot unless I set BIOS to PC2100 (I didn't try disabling Top Performance) Great board!

I just got this mobo about 1 week and Half rev 1.1 and Not a problem in the world. Yeah when I bought this mobo I worried it was going to have a problem but NO worries for me because it has been perfect. Click on my name to see system specs. Thought I would post this to show I like them and have had Real good luck. Hm good luck to the rest of people with this mobo.

NO, AND I DON'T WANT ONE! ;-)

well I didn't get a reply back from Citt, (oct) and setting the FSB jumpers is not at issue, so I will be taking this board back, and if I have too I'll get another one, we'll see what Fry's return policy is like won't we ( I paid xtra, so I can take it back after 15 dauys (buyer beware) -

The board really looks loaded, and it's well layed out, but all that means diddly if it's gonna flail at bootr or random times.
Anyone writing to Gigabyte have the email they wrote too? please post it here, or if you're gonna write again, send em this URL? or would that lead to Giga's law-yers strongarming this all away, I mean, it can't be good buisness for potential buyers to read this can it? I WOULD NOT have got the darn thing if I had read these problems. Rave reviews at TOMS HARDWARE or not.
best'oluck
Nick

BEWARE - i got my board in late november from an online company, who are saying they will test it and repair it but not refund it !!!!!! ive had the problem since day 1 but because ive tried and tried to get the board working instead of doing what i shouldve done and sent the hunk of junk back, they wont refund it!!!!

what u think of that for customer service eh?

Kevi-G

I've sent two emails to Gigabyte and haven't received a reply.

I sent along the URL of this thread too.

The board is good but is plagued with problems that seem more related to hardware compatability than the board itself.

It seems the biggest issues it has is with RAM.

I've got my board rock solid stable now, but I can't run it in "Top Performance" mode.
I think I know why - I've only got DDR266 Ram and I can bet if I put
DDR333 Ram in the board, it would run in "Top Performance" no problems.

When I first installed the board, I had problems with it booting up like other people have had - I simply disconnected and reconnected everything and it booted fine (my guess is the RAM wasn't making contact for some reason)

If you read further up the forum, you'll see I had a hard time with stability at first, but once I'd tweaked the BIOS and done a lot of reading up I was running fine.

I'm now happy with the board.

So, I think the bottom line is this board is very picky when it comes to RAM

Hopefully someone can me on this rather strange problem. I have just bought a GA-VAXP with the digital sound add-on card and I have a set of Kinyo D-560 Speakers that I have connected them to.

The problem is there is almost no sound. Windows doesn't play any sounds, nor do my games. But Winamp does play, and the speaker test plays through the front 2 speakers only! I have checked every setting I can think of.

The problem is that my decoder auto detects the digital input between PCM and AC-3 and it detects the input as PCM, but the motherboard manual says the output is AC-3. I think this is the crux of the problem but I have no idea how to fix it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

btw I'm running XP SP 1

Thanks in Advance.
-I-