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Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatible processor "



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 7th 07, 03:26 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatible processor "

Original post at http://tinyurl.com/2auzb7

Here is update on my desktop:

I think I mentioned about the two case fans whose wire were cut - my
guess was that my nephew got annoyed with the noise (this was his PC)
and cut it instead of pulling the electrical connection. I tried to
fix the connect but my razor cut through the wire and so I left it
alone.

Then, I stopped by at Fry's yesterday and talked with one of the guys
who worked in the area where people bring their PC and get it checked.
(I know him well as over the past 1-1 1/2 year; he is the best there.)
He didn't think I should replace the thermal. So I asked him whether
he could check it if I bring in and he was cool about it and there was
no customer either - lucky me. Since I live really close to Fry's, I
took it there and this is what he did:

He did the memory test but he replaced the heatsink fan first cus the
fan's bearings were lose. I did notice the noise when it started
happening a while back and in fact posted about it in a ng. People
acted like no big deal and so I just ear plug most of the time. He
also reconnected the wires that were cut for the 2 case fans. He's
got the right tool to saw off the case of the wire.

I have had the desktop on since this morning around 9 am, I think.
First I left the case open but then closed it around 12. It's 7:22 PM
and no problem so far.

He did say if it shuts down, motherboard could be going bad.

I hope this desktop lasts another year or so cus I put some money for
the memory last year buying it at Fry's paying expensive price. I
wanted to be able to return easily and hence didn't buy it online.

I have always left my desktop on in the past; Should I leave the
desktop off at night when going to bed except on the night that I have
anti-virus check scheduled? How much energy does it consume?

  #2  
Old September 7th 07, 07:22 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 13,364
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatibleprocessor "

wrote:
Original post at
http://tinyurl.com/2auzb7

Here is update on my desktop:

I think I mentioned about the two case fans whose wire were cut - my
guess was that my nephew got annoyed with the noise (this was his PC)
and cut it instead of pulling the electrical connection. I tried to
fix the connect but my razor cut through the wire and so I left it
alone.

Then, I stopped by at Fry's yesterday and talked with one of the guys
who worked in the area where people bring their PC and get it checked.
(I know him well as over the past 1-1 1/2 year; he is the best there.)
He didn't think I should replace the thermal. So I asked him whether
he could check it if I bring in and he was cool about it and there was
no customer either - lucky me. Since I live really close to Fry's, I
took it there and this is what he did:

He did the memory test but he replaced the heatsink fan first cus the
fan's bearings were lose. I did notice the noise when it started
happening a while back and in fact posted about it in a ng. People
acted like no big deal and so I just ear plug most of the time. He
also reconnected the wires that were cut for the 2 case fans. He's
got the right tool to saw off the case of the wire.

I have had the desktop on since this morning around 9 am, I think.
First I left the case open but then closed it around 12. It's 7:22 PM
and no problem so far.

He did say if it shuts down, motherboard could be going bad.

I hope this desktop lasts another year or so cus I put some money for
the memory last year buying it at Fry's paying expensive price. I
wanted to be able to return easily and hence didn't buy it online.

I have always left my desktop on in the past; Should I leave the
desktop off at night when going to bed except on the night that I have
anti-virus check scheduled? How much energy does it consume?


The computer could draw 150W. It really depends on how fancy the computer
is. If you want a real answer, there is a device called a "Kill-A-Watt"
meter, that can measure power consumption for you. If you had a gaming
rig, with a couple high end video cards, the idle power will go up
from that estimate. (And if you use a CRT monitor, that is also a large
consumer. My old Trinitron used to use 200W, before replacing it with a
36W max, 17" LCD monitor. Bigger LCDs can be quite greedy, because of
all the extra backlights inside them.)

http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...574457-5203620

So say, for the purpose of using round numbers, that the thing drew 200W.
Say your electricity is $0.08 per KWH. It would take 5 hours at 200W,
to use one Kilowatt*Hour. So 5 hours costs $0.08, a day is roughly $0.40,
and a year is say $140.00 . And depending on the external temperature
outside your dwelling, you may be paying air conditioning fees as well,
to get rid of that heat. In winter, the extra heat is a bonus.

By the way, your test technique needs a small tweak. To test thermal
problems, you want the computer to be "computing like crazy". Programs
like CPUBurn or Prime95 or Orthos, push the CPU to 100%, and make it
operate as hot as possible. That is the test condition you want, to
guarantee stability. If the CPU is stable when running at 100% load, then
it will also be stable at idle. But not vice-versa. Some computer have
relatively low power consumption in the idle state (like an Athlon64
when its core frequency drops, when the OS notices that the CPU is not
being used). Other processors don't save quite as much, when they are
idle. But if you are trying to verify whether your cooling problems
are solved, then use a test program to load up the CPU.

My experience with my rather mediocre hardware, is that 3DMark benchmark
didn't draw any more power than using Prime95. It seems, when you run a
3D benchmark, the extra power the video card uses is compensated by the
fact that the CPU doesn't absolutely run at 100%. So while you might
have suspected a game would have a higher thermal load, it really depends
on whether you have a kick-ass video card or not. There are some video
cards now at the 130W level, while at the same time, the processors
that feed them only draw 65W max. So video is really becoming a significant
component to power consumption, especially for those people who use two
of those video cards. My video card is a bit tamer than that.

You can download Prime95 (use torture test option) here. See "Step 1".
You don't have to "join", to use the torture test option.

http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

Programs like MBM5, Speedfan, or Asus Probe (I or II), can be used
to measure motherboard and CPU temperatures. I even have a sensor
connected in my computer, that pokes out the front grill, and measures
room temperature. That makes it easy for me to get room_temp,
case_air_temp, and CPU_temp, for comparison purposes. Right now
my room is 23C, case is 27C, and CPU is 40C.

So, what does leaving a computer running do to it ?

1) Wears the fans. A fan might be good for three years of usage,
and 24 hour operation would have an impact on how long you'd
expect it to last. It will become noisy, before it quits
altogether.

2) Disk drives are, for the most part, frictionless. The latest
drives use FDB bearings (fluid dynamic). Once up to speed,
a layer of oil between the parts, prevents mechanical contact.
This ideal state lasts, until the oil evaporates or is forced
out of the sealed bearing. High operating temperature, such as
an improperly cooled hard drive, accelerates this potential
failure. As long as the bearing is of good design, there is
no wear to speak of. With the older drives, they used ball
bearings, and those did wear and become noisy.

You can set drives to spin down after a couple hours of inactivity.
Most drives are specified to be able to withstand 50,000 start-stop
cycles, so you can do the math for yourself, as to how spinning
down the drive, would affect its life.

3) Heat inside the PSU, affects the life of the components. Continuous
usage of a really cheap PSU, might result in an early failure. For
a quality PSU, maybe wearing out the fan would be the next biggest
exposure.

I place my computer in "S3 Standby - Suspend to RAM" when not being used.
In that state, the RAM is alive and holds all of its contents. All
other hardware is shut off. That drops the computer to 20W consumption
or so, at the wall plug, and the computer needs about 10 seconds before
it recovers when it wakes up. So that would be costing me about $14.00
per year :-)

If you use Hibernate, that copies the contents of RAM, onto your hard
drive. Once that is completed, you can even shut off the power at the
back of the computer. When you start the computer up, it is supposed
to return to the state it was in yesterday. That takes a bit longer
than the 10 seconds of S3 Standby, but the power cost in the off state
is zero.

Paul
  #3  
Old September 7th 07, 03:42 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatible processor "

On Sep 6, 11:22 pm, Paul wrote:
wrote:
Original post athttp://tinyurl.com/2auzb7


Here is update on my desktop:


I think I mentioned about the two case fans whose wire were cut - my
guess was that my nephew got annoyed with the noise (this was his PC)
and cut it instead of pulling the electrical connection. I tried to
fix the connect but my razor cut through the wire and so I left it
alone.


Then, I stopped by at Fry's yesterday and talked with one of the guys
who worked in the area where people bring their PC and get it checked.
(I know him well as over the past 1-1 1/2 year; he is the best there.)
He didn't think I should replace the thermal. So I asked him whether
he could check it if I bring in and he was cool about it and there was
no customer either - lucky me. Since I live really close to Fry's, I
took it there and this is what he did:


He did the memory test but he replaced the heatsink fan first cus the
fan's bearings were lose. I did notice the noise when it started
happening a while back and in fact posted about it in a ng. People
acted like no big deal and so I just ear plug most of the time. He
also reconnected the wires that were cut for the 2 case fans. He's
got the right tool to saw off the case of the wire.


I have had the desktop on since this morning around 9 am, I think.
First I left the case open but then closed it around 12. It's 7:22 PM
and no problem so far.


He did say if it shuts down, motherboard could be going bad.


I hope this desktop lasts another year or so cus I put some money for
the memory last year buying it at Fry's paying expensive price. I
wanted to be able to return easily and hence didn't buy it online.


I have always left my desktop on in the past; Should I leave the
desktop off at night when going to bed except on the night that I have
anti-virus check scheduled? How much energy does it consume?


The computer could draw 150W. It really depends on how fancy the computer
is. If you want a real answer, there is a device called a "Kill-A-Watt"
meter, that can measure power consumption for you.


Usually, when I am done using it, I close all application. I am not
into gaming at all. And my monitor is 19 " LCD Dell 1905 FP; I had a
17 " Trinitron till 2 1/2 years ago that I bought with Dell system in
2001. I don't use that system but let others use it. When not in use,
it is hut down.

If you had a gaming
rig, with a couple high end video cards, the idle power will go up
from that estimate. (And if you use a CRT monitor, that is also a large
consumer. My old Trinitron used to use 200W, before replacing it with a
36W max, 17" LCD monitor. Bigger LCDs can be quite greedy, because of
all the extra backlights inside them.)

http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...-Monitor/dp/B0...


I look at it last night. Will try using that later.

So say, for the purpose of using round numbers, that the thing drew 200W.
Say your electricity is $0.08 per KWH. It would take 5 hours at 200W,
to use one Kilowatt*Hour. So 5 hours costs $0.08, a day is roughly $0.40,
and a year is say $140.00 . And depending on the external temperature
outside your dwelling, you may be paying air conditioning fees as well,
to get rid of that heat. In winter, the extra heat is a bonus.


Good info. I'll soon be moving to live with a roommate and my pc will
be in my bed room in coming winter.

By the way, your test technique needs a small tweak. To test thermal
problems, you want the computer to be "computing like crazy". Programs
like CPUBurn or Prime95 or Orthos, push the CPU to 100%, and make it
operate as hot as possible. That is the test condition you want, to
guarantee stability.

I downloaded Prime95 - version 24.14 - and installed it last night. A
while ago, when I came to look at at, the moment I hit a key to
activate the screen, the computer went blank shwoing windows
screensvaer background after shwoing the icosn for a slipt second. I
waited but nothing happned and so I shut it down cold. As the shutting
down process started, I clicked on the icon for Prime95 in systray and
opened it. I saw Prime95 window. Under Option menu, Torture test was
deactivated. I chose CPU. As I was going to copy the info, the shut
down process interrupted it.

I restarted the computer and am running Prime95 again. So far it shows

Mersenne number primarity test program version 24.14.
Resuming primality test of M19626973 at iteration 118307 [0.06%]
[Sep 07 06:15] Ietration:120000 / 19626973 [0.61%]. Per iteration
time: 0.194 sec.
[Sep 07 06:15] Ietration:120000 / 19626973 [0.66%]. Per iteration
time: 0.126 sec.

Under Option, I couldn't select "Torture test" cus it's deactivated/
deactiavted (don't know what the right term is).
Here is CPU setting info - all this are default:
Hours per day this program will run: 24
Daytime available memory setting (in MB):8
Nihgttime available memory setting (in MB):8
Daytime begins: 7:30 AM ends: 11:30PM

My memory is 1GB. After reading the read me file just now, I re-
installed Prime95 joining GMIP (I think) and I set Day time memory to
256 and Night time to 512. Is this advisable?

It's 7:24 AM now.

If the CPU is stable when running at 100% load, then
it will also be stable at idle. But not vice-versa.


Did the fact that the screen went blank when I came to use the desktop
mean that CPU was too loaded? It was only 8MB for both day and ngith
setting. Last night, after I installed/ran Prime85, I did nothing.
Just went to bed.

I just opened a Firefox browser and will send an email to myself ..;
it went fine (7:27 AM)
I am openign Word..; went fine (7:28AM)

It;s 7:30am - day tiem starts
I now see
Merse...
Updating user information on the srever
Updating compueter information on the srever ..
...
..
...
...
Test1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using 1024 FFT length
Test2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using 1024 FFT length



Some computer have
relatively low power consumption in the idle state (like an Athlon64
when its core frequency drops, when the OS notices that the CPU is not
being used). Other processors don't save quite as much, when they are
idle. But if you are trying to verify whether your cooling problems
are solved, then use a test program to load up the CPU.


I am using Prime95.


My experience with my rather mediocre hardware, is that 3DMark benchmark
didn't draw any more power than using Prime95. It seems, when you run a
3D benchmark, the extra power the video card uses is compensated by the
fact that the CPU doesn't absolutely run at 100%. So while you might
have suspected a game would have a higher thermal load, it really depends
on whether you have a kick-ass video card or not.


I see.

There are some video
cards now at the 130W level, while at the same time, the processors
that feed them only draw 65W max. So video is really becoming a significant
component to power consumption, especially for those people who use two
of those video cards. My video card is a bit tamer than that.


I won't be getting into gaming. My use will mainly be for studying for
certs and practising some tools but I am planning to use the laptop
(thinkpad) I just ordrered the other day more so than the desktop.

You can download Prime95 (use torture test option) here.

Well, after I installed Prime95 last night it just starts running. I
didn't get to choose a test option. In fact, if I click on Prime95
icon, it asked me whether I want to un-install it. This morning, I
unsinstalled an dreintalled it after reading the readme file.

See "Step 1".
You don't have to "join", to use the torture test option.


I could not select torture test option . Help!

http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

Programs like MBM5, Speedfan, or Asus Probe (I or II), can be used
to measure motherboard and CPU temperatures. I even have a sensor
connected in my computer, that pokes out the front grill, and measures
room temperature. That makes it easy for me to get room_temp,
case_air_temp, and CPU_temp, for comparison purposes. Right now
my room is 23C, case is 27C, and CPU is 40C.


Great, I will l get to those testing .... in time.

So, what does leaving a computer running do to it ?

1) Wears the fans. A fan might be good for three years of usage,
and 24 hour operation would have an impact on how long you'd
expect it to last. It will become noisy, before it quits
altogether.


I see. I should leave it off at night when I am asleep.


2) Disk drives are, for the most part, frictionless. The latest
drives use FDB bearings (fluid dynamic). Once up to speed,
a layer of oil between the parts, prevents mechanical contact.
This ideal state lasts, until the oil evaporates or is forced
out of the sealed bearing.

I see. Primary HD is 1 year old, secondary in this PC is 1 1/2 year
old)

High operating temperature, such as
an improperly cooled hard drive, accelerates this potential
failure. As long as the bearing is of good design, there is
no wear to speak of. With the older drives, they used ball
bearings, and those did wear and become noisy.


What would be an exmple of improperly cooled hard drive?

You can set drives to spin down after a couple hours of inactivity.
Most drives are specified to be able to withstand 50,000 start-stop
cycles, so you can do the math for yourself, as to how spinning
down the drive, would affect its life.

3) Heat inside the PSU, affects the life of the components. Continuous
usage of a really cheap PSU, might result in an early failure. For
a quality PSU, maybe wearing out the fan would be the next biggest
exposure.


I see. I am going to keep my PC turned off at night and when not suing
it for long hours like when I go out, after this Prime95 tersting is
done.


I place my computer in "S3 Standby - Suspend to RAM" when not being used.

How do you do that, placing at S3 Standyby? Bios setting?

In that state, the RAM is alive and holds all of its contents. All
other hardware is shut off. That drops the computer to 20W consumption
or so, at the wall plug, and the computer needs about 10 seconds before
it recovers when it wakes up. So that would be costing me about $14.00
per year :-)

If you use Hibernate, that copies the contents of RAM, onto your hard
drive. Once that is completed, you can even shut off the power at the
back of the computer. When you start the computer up, it is supposed
to return to the state it was in yesterday. That takes a bit longer
than the 10 seconds of S3 Standby, but the power cost in the off state
is zero.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -



  #4  
Old September 7th 07, 06:06 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatible processor "

Why is "torture test" option in gray color? I can't select it.


  #5  
Old September 7th 07, 06:23 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 13,364
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatibleprocessor "

wrote:
On Sep 6, 11:22 pm, Paul wrote:
wrote:
Original post athttp://tinyurl.com/2auzb7
Here is update on my desktop:
I think I mentioned about the two case fans whose wire were cut - my
guess was that my nephew got annoyed with the noise (this was his PC)
and cut it instead of pulling the electrical connection. I tried to
fix the connect but my razor cut through the wire and so I left it
alone.
Then, I stopped by at Fry's yesterday and talked with one of the guys
who worked in the area where people bring their PC and get it checked.
(I know him well as over the past 1-1 1/2 year; he is the best there.)
He didn't think I should replace the thermal. So I asked him whether
he could check it if I bring in and he was cool about it and there was
no customer either - lucky me. Since I live really close to Fry's, I
took it there and this is what he did:
He did the memory test but he replaced the heatsink fan first cus the
fan's bearings were lose. I did notice the noise when it started
happening a while back and in fact posted about it in a ng. People
acted like no big deal and so I just ear plug most of the time. He
also reconnected the wires that were cut for the 2 case fans. He's
got the right tool to saw off the case of the wire.
I have had the desktop on since this morning around 9 am, I think.
First I left the case open but then closed it around 12. It's 7:22 PM
and no problem so far.
He did say if it shuts down, motherboard could be going bad.
I hope this desktop lasts another year or so cus I put some money for
the memory last year buying it at Fry's paying expensive price. I
wanted to be able to return easily and hence didn't buy it online.
I have always left my desktop on in the past; Should I leave the
desktop off at night when going to bed except on the night that I have
anti-virus check scheduled? How much energy does it consume?

The computer could draw 150W. It really depends on how fancy the computer
is. If you want a real answer, there is a device called a "Kill-A-Watt"
meter, that can measure power consumption for you.


Usually, when I am done using it, I close all application. I am not
into gaming at all. And my monitor is 19 " LCD Dell 1905 FP; I had a
17 " Trinitron till 2 1/2 years ago that I bought with Dell system in
2001. I don't use that system but let others use it. When not in use,
it is hut down.

If you had a gaming
rig, with a couple high end video cards, the idle power will go up
from that estimate. (And if you use a CRT monitor, that is also a large
consumer. My old Trinitron used to use 200W, before replacing it with a
36W max, 17" LCD monitor. Bigger LCDs can be quite greedy, because of
all the extra backlights inside them.)

http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...-Monitor/dp/B0...

I look at it last night. Will try using that later.
So say, for the purpose of using round numbers, that the thing drew 200W.
Say your electricity is $0.08 per KWH. It would take 5 hours at 200W,
to use one Kilowatt*Hour. So 5 hours costs $0.08, a day is roughly $0.40,
and a year is say $140.00 . And depending on the external temperature
outside your dwelling, you may be paying air conditioning fees as well,
to get rid of that heat. In winter, the extra heat is a bonus.


Good info. I'll soon be moving to live with a roommate and my pc will
be in my bed room in coming winter.
By the way, your test technique needs a small tweak. To test thermal
problems, you want the computer to be "computing like crazy". Programs
like CPUBurn or Prime95 or Orthos, push the CPU to 100%, and make it
operate as hot as possible. That is the test condition you want, to
guarantee stability.

I downloaded Prime95 - version 24.14 - and installed it last night. A
while ago, when I came to look at at, the moment I hit a key to
activate the screen, the computer went blank shwoing windows
screensvaer background after shwoing the icosn for a slipt second. I
waited but nothing happned and so I shut it down cold. As the shutting
down process started, I clicked on the icon for Prime95 in systray and
opened it. I saw Prime95 window. Under Option menu, Torture test was
deactivated. I chose CPU. As I was going to copy the info, the shut
down process interrupted it.

I restarted the computer and am running Prime95 again. So far it shows

Mersenne number primarity test program version 24.14.
Resuming primality test of M19626973 at iteration 118307 [0.06%]
[Sep 07 06:15] Ietration:120000 / 19626973 [0.61%]. Per iteration
time: 0.194 sec.
[Sep 07 06:15] Ietration:120000 / 19626973 [0.66%]. Per iteration
time: 0.126 sec.

Under Option, I couldn't select "Torture test" cus it's deactivated/
deactiavted (don't know what the right term is).
Here is CPU setting info - all this are default:
Hours per day this program will run: 24
Daytime available memory setting (in MB):8
Nihgttime available memory setting (in MB):8
Daytime begins: 7:30 AM ends: 11:30PM

My memory is 1GB. After reading the read me file just now, I re-
installed Prime95 joining GMIP (I think) and I set Day time memory to
256 and Night time to 512. Is this advisable?

It's 7:24 AM now.

If the CPU is stable when running at 100% load, then
it will also be stable at idle. But not vice-versa.


Did the fact that the screen went blank when I came to use the desktop
mean that CPU was too loaded? It was only 8MB for both day and ngith
setting. Last night, after I installed/ran Prime85, I did nothing.
Just went to bed.

I just opened a Firefox browser and will send an email to myself ..;
it went fine (7:27 AM)
I am openign Word..; went fine (7:28AM)

It;s 7:30am - day tiem starts
I now see
Merse...
Updating user information on the srever
Updating compueter information on the srever ..
..
.
..
..
Test1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using 1024 FFT length
Test2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using 1024 FFT length



Some computer have
relatively low power consumption in the idle state (like an Athlon64
when its core frequency drops, when the OS notices that the CPU is not
being used). Other processors don't save quite as much, when they are
idle. But if you are trying to verify whether your cooling problems
are solved, then use a test program to load up the CPU.


I am using Prime95.

My experience with my rather mediocre hardware, is that 3DMark benchmark
didn't draw any more power than using Prime95. It seems, when you run a
3D benchmark, the extra power the video card uses is compensated by the
fact that the CPU doesn't absolutely run at 100%. So while you might
have suspected a game would have a higher thermal load, it really depends
on whether you have a kick-ass video card or not.


I see.

There are some video
cards now at the 130W level, while at the same time, the processors
that feed them only draw 65W max. So video is really becoming a significant
component to power consumption, especially for those people who use two
of those video cards. My video card is a bit tamer than that.


I won't be getting into gaming. My use will mainly be for studying for
certs and practising some tools but I am planning to use the laptop
(thinkpad) I just ordrered the other day more so than the desktop.
You can download Prime95 (use torture test option) here.

Well, after I installed Prime95 last night it just starts running. I
didn't get to choose a test option. In fact, if I click on Prime95
icon, it asked me whether I want to un-install it. This morning, I
unsinstalled an dreintalled it after reading the readme file.

See "Step 1".
You don't have to "join", to use the torture test option.


I could not select torture test option . Help!

http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

Programs like MBM5, Speedfan, or Asus Probe (I or II), can be used
to measure motherboard and CPU temperatures. I even have a sensor
connected in my computer, that pokes out the front grill, and measures
room temperature. That makes it easy for me to get room_temp,
case_air_temp, and CPU_temp, for comparison purposes. Right now
my room is 23C, case is 27C, and CPU is 40C.


Great, I will l get to those testing .... in time.
So, what does leaving a computer running do to it ?

1) Wears the fans. A fan might be good for three years of usage,
and 24 hour operation would have an impact on how long you'd
expect it to last. It will become noisy, before it quits
altogether.


I see. I should leave it off at night when I am asleep.

2) Disk drives are, for the most part, frictionless. The latest
drives use FDB bearings (fluid dynamic). Once up to speed,
a layer of oil between the parts, prevents mechanical contact.
This ideal state lasts, until the oil evaporates or is forced
out of the sealed bearing.

I see. Primary HD is 1 year old, secondary in this PC is 1 1/2 year
old)

High operating temperature, such as
an improperly cooled hard drive, accelerates this potential
failure. As long as the bearing is of good design, there is
no wear to speak of. With the older drives, they used ball
bearings, and those did wear and become noisy.


What would be an exmple of improperly cooled hard drive?
You can set drives to spin down after a couple hours of inactivity.
Most drives are specified to be able to withstand 50,000 start-stop
cycles, so you can do the math for yourself, as to how spinning
down the drive, would affect its life.

3) Heat inside the PSU, affects the life of the components. Continuous
usage of a really cheap PSU, might result in an early failure. For
a quality PSU, maybe wearing out the fan would be the next biggest
exposure.


I see. I am going to keep my PC turned off at night and when not suing
it for long hours like when I go out, after this Prime95 tersting is
done.

I place my computer in "S3 Standby - Suspend to RAM" when not being used.

How do you do that, placing at S3 Standyby? Bios setting?

In that state, the RAM is alive and holds all of its contents. All
other hardware is shut off. That drops the computer to 20W consumption
or so, at the wall plug, and the computer needs about 10 seconds before
it recovers when it wakes up. So that would be costing me about $14.00
per year :-)

If you use Hibernate, that copies the contents of RAM, onto your hard
drive. Once that is completed, you can even shut off the power at the
back of the computer. When you start the computer up, it is supposed
to return to the state it was in yesterday. That takes a bit longer
than the 10 seconds of S3 Standby, but the power cost in the off state
is zero.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


On my computer, I try to arrange the hard drive, next to an intake vent
on the front of the computer. A couple of my computers have intake vents
in the lower front of the case, and if I stick the hard drive down low,
cool air blows over it, as the cool air is pulled into the case. A large
fan on the back, which is exhausting hot air, is what causes the cool air
to come into the front of the case. You could also consider removing a
plastic cover from a drive bay, to encourage cool air to enter there.
(That works, as long as the exhaust fan on the back of the machine, is
a strong one.) I even have one computer, where I mounted a large fan
in front of the drive bays, and the fan blows cool air into the computer,
over the drive area. I did that, because the computer case is an older
one, without a very large fan on the back. Those are examples of ways
to keep the drive cool. Programs like Speedfan can read drive temperature,
as can some SMART utilities.

For you to be in your current mess with Prime95, you must have "joined". By
joining, the program will download a work unit to work on. It will be testing
the primality of a large number, like thousands of other computers. Some
of these "cycle stealing" programs will operate a screen saver, to protect
the screen from burnin because the machine is always left running.

When I start Prime95, my "user information" dialog contains blanks, because
I never gave any identifying information. Under "status", it says
"You have no work queued up". I expect your dialog boxes show something
different, because you've joined Mersenne. You can try uninstalling it,
then reinstalling, but I expect there could be a registry key that
stores your account information. Maybe that needs to be deleted, to
remove all memory of having signed up.

Rather than messing around, I have a second alternative. Uninstall Prime95.
Download Orthos here, and try it. It has an easy Start button in the upper
right of the dialog. It also incorporates some MBM code, and will print the CPU
temperature into the log area of the window (once a minute). If it
starts beeping and flashing red, it has detected an error, so the CPU
is not stable. (I just tried it, and my machine is acting up. Looks like
I have some testing to do...)

http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm

Paul
  #7  
Old September 8th 07, 04:21 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatible processor "

On Sep 7, 10:23 am, Paul wrote:
wrote:
On Sep 6, 11:22 pm, Paul wrote:
wrote:
Original post athttp://tinyurl.com/2auzb7
Here is update on my desktop:
I think I mentioned about the two case fans whose wire were cut - my
guess was that my nephew got annoyed with the noise (this was his PC)
and cut it instead of pulling the electrical connection. I tried to
fix the connect but my razor cut through the wire and so I left it
alone.
Then, I stopped by at Fry's yesterday and talked with one of the guys
who worked in the area where people bring their PC and get it checked.
(I know him well as over the past 1-1 1/2 year; he is the best there.)
He didn't think I should replace the thermal. So I asked him whether
he could check it if I bring in and he was cool about it and there was
no customer either - lucky me. Since I live really close to Fry's, I
took it there and this is what he did:
He did the memory test but he replaced the heatsink fan first cus the
fan's bearings were lose. I did notice the noise when it started
happening a while back and in fact posted about it in a ng. People
acted like no big deal and so I just ear plug most of the time. He
also reconnected the wires that were cut for the 2 case fans. He's
got the right tool to saw off the case of the wire.
I have had the desktop on since this morning around 9 am, I think.
First I left the case open but then closed it around 12. It's 7:22 PM
and no problem so far.
He did say if it shuts down, motherboard could be going bad.
I hope this desktop lasts another year or so cus I put some money for
the memory last year buying it at Fry's paying expensive price. I
wanted to be able to return easily and hence didn't buy it online.
I have always left my desktop on in the past; Should I leave the
desktop off at night when going to bed except on the night that I have
anti-virus check scheduled? How much energy does it consume?
The computer could draw 150W. It really depends on how fancy the computer
is. If you want a real answer, there is a device called a "Kill-A-Watt"
meter, that can measure power consumption for you.


Usually, when I am done using it, I close all application. I am not
into gaming at all. And my monitor is 19 " LCD Dell 1905 FP; I had a
17 " Trinitron till 2 1/2 years ago that I bought with Dell system in
2001. I don't use that system but let others use it. When not in use,
it is hut down.


If you had a gaming
rig, with a couple high end video cards, the idle power will go up
from that estimate. (And if you use a CRT monitor, that is also a large
consumer. My old Trinitron used to use 200W, before replacing it with a
36W max, 17" LCD monitor. Bigger LCDs can be quite greedy, because of
all the extra backlights inside them.)


http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...-Monitor/dp/B0...


I look at it last night. Will try using that later.
So say, for the purpose of using round numbers, that the thing drew 200W.
Say your electricity is $0.08 per KWH. It would take 5 hours at 200W,
to use one Kilowatt*Hour. So 5 hours costs $0.08, a day is roughly $0.40,
and a year is say $140.00 . And depending on the external temperature
outside your dwelling, you may be paying air conditioning fees as well,
to get rid of that heat. In winter, the extra heat is a bonus.


Good info. I'll soon be moving to live with a roommate and my pc will
be in my bed room in coming winter.
By the way, your test technique needs a small tweak. To test thermal
problems, you want the computer to be "computing like crazy". Programs
like CPUBurn or Prime95 or Orthos, push the CPU to 100%, and make it
operate as hot as possible. That is the test condition you want, to
guarantee stability.

I downloaded Prime95 - version 24.14 - and installed it last night. A
while ago, when I came to look at at, the moment I hit a key to
activate the screen, the computer went blank shwoing windows
screensvaer background after shwoing the icosn for a slipt second. I
waited but nothing happned and so I shut it down cold. As the shutting
down process started, I clicked on the icon for Prime95 in systray and
opened it. I saw Prime95 window. Under Option menu, Torture test was
deactivated. I chose CPU. As I was going to copy the info, the shut
down process interrupted it.


I restarted the computer and am running Prime95 again. So far it shows


Mersenne number primarity test program version 24.14.
Resuming primality test of M19626973 at iteration 118307 [0.06%]
[Sep 07 06:15] Ietration:120000 / 19626973 [0.61%]. Per iteration
time: 0.194 sec.
[Sep 07 06:15] Ietration:120000 / 19626973 [0.66%]. Per iteration
time: 0.126 sec.


Under Option, I couldn't select "Torture test" cus it's deactivated/
deactiavted (don't know what the right term is).
Here is CPU setting info - all this are default:
Hours per day this program will run: 24
Daytime available memory setting (in MB):8
Nihgttime available memory setting (in MB):8
Daytime begins: 7:30 AM ends: 11:30PM


My memory is 1GB. After reading the read me file just now, I re-
installed Prime95 joining GMIP (I think) and I set Day time memory to
256 and Night time to 512. Is this advisable?


It's 7:24 AM now.


If the CPU is stable when running at 100% load, then
it will also be stable at idle. But not vice-versa.


Did the fact that the screen went blank when I came to use the desktop
mean that CPU was too loaded? It was only 8MB for both day and ngith
setting. Last night, after I installed/ran Prime85, I did nothing.
Just went to bed.


I just opened a Firefox browser and will send an email to myself ..;
it went fine (7:27 AM)
I am openign Word..; went fine (7:28AM)


It;s 7:30am - day tiem starts
I now see
Merse...
Updating user information on the srever
Updating compueter information on the srever ..
..
.
..
..
Test1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using 1024 FFT length
Test2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using 1024 FFT length


Some computer have
relatively low power consumption in the idle state (like an Athlon64
when its core frequency drops, when the OS notices that the CPU is not
being used). Other processors don't save quite as much, when they are
idle. But if you are trying to verify whether your cooling problems
are solved, then use a test program to load up the CPU.


I am using Prime95.


My experience with my rather mediocre hardware, is that 3DMark benchmark
didn't draw any more power than using Prime95. It seems, when you run a
3D benchmark, the extra power the video card uses is compensated by the
fact that the CPU doesn't absolutely run at 100%. So while you might
have suspected a game would have a higher thermal load, it really depends
on whether you have a kick-ass video card or not.


I see.


There are some video
cards now at the 130W level, while at the same time, the processors
that feed them only draw 65W max. So video is really becoming a significant
component to power consumption, especially for those people who use two
of those video cards. My video card is a bit tamer than that.


I won't be getting into gaming. My use will mainly be for studying for
certs and practising some tools but I am planning to use the laptop
(thinkpad) I just ordrered the other day more so than the desktop.
You can download Prime95 (use torture test option) here.

Well, after I installed Prime95 last night it just starts running. I
didn't get to choose a test option. In fact, if I click on Prime95
icon, it asked me whether I want to un-install it. This morning, I
unsinstalled an dreintalled it after reading the readme file.


See "Step 1".
You don't have to "join", to use the torture test option.


I could not select torture test option . Help!


http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm


Programs like MBM5, Speedfan, or Asus Probe (I or II), can be used
to measure motherboard and CPU temperatures. I even have a sensor
connected in my computer, that pokes out the front grill, and measures
room temperature. That makes it easy for me to get room_temp,
case_air_temp, and CPU_temp, for comparison purposes. Right now
my room is 23C, case is 27C, and CPU is 40C.


Great, I will l get to those testing .... in time.
So, what does leaving a computer running do to it ?


1) Wears the fans. A fan might be good for three years of usage,
and 24 hour operation would have an impact on how long you'd
expect it to last. It will become noisy, before it quits
altogether.


I see. I should leave it off at night when I am asleep.


2) Disk drives are, for the most part, frictionless. The latest
drives use FDB bearings (fluid dynamic). Once up to speed,
a layer of oil between the parts, prevents mechanical contact.
This ideal state lasts, until the oil evaporates or is forced
out of the sealed bearing.

I see. Primary HD is 1 year old, secondary in this PC is 1 1/2 year
old)


High operating temperature, such as
an improperly cooled hard drive, accelerates this potential
failure. As long as the bearing is of good design, there is
no wear to speak of. With the older drives, they used ball
bearings, and those did wear and become noisy.


What would be an exmple of improperly cooled hard drive?
You can set drives to spin down after a couple hours of inactivity.
Most drives are specified to be able to withstand 50,000 start-stop
cycles, so you can do the math for yourself, as to how spinning
down the drive, would affect its life.


3) Heat inside the PSU, affects the life of the components. Continuous
usage of a really cheap PSU, might result in an early failure. For
a quality PSU, maybe wearing out the fan would be the next biggest
exposure.


I see. I am going to keep my PC turned off at night and when not suing
it for long hours like when I go out, after this Prime95 tersting is
done.


I place my computer in "S3 Standby - Suspend to RAM" when not being used.

How do you do that, placing at S3 Standyby? Bios setting?


In that state, the RAM is alive and holds all of its contents. All
other hardware is shut off. That drops the computer to 20W consumption
or so, at the wall plug, and the computer needs about 10 seconds before
it recovers when it wakes up. So that would be costing me about $14.00
per year :-)


If you use Hibernate, that copies the contents of RAM, onto your hard
drive. Once that is completed, you can even shut off the power at the
back of the computer. When you start the computer up, it is supposed
to return to the state it was in yesterday. That takes a bit longer
than the 10 seconds of S3 Standby, but the power cost in the off state
is zero.


Paul- Hide quoted text -


- Show quoted text -


On my computer, I try to arrange the hard drive, next to an intake vent
on the front of the computer. A couple of my computers have intake vents
in the lower front of the case, and if I stick the hard drive down low,
cool air blows over it, as the cool air is pulled into the case. A large
fan on the back, which is exhausting hot air, is what causes the cool air
to come into the front of the case.


Fromt he design of it, the case of my desktop seems to have intake
ventsthe lower front of the case as well. In fact, I can see the a fan
just below the area for the secondary HD and SAT drive (I don't have
power connected to it.)

You could also consider removing a
plastic cover from a drive bay, to encourage cool air to enter there.


Well, a plastic cover is missing at the top; I don't know whether it
got removed accaidentally when I took it to Fry's last year.

(That works, as long as the exhaust fan on the back of the machine, is
a strong one.)

This case has two exhaust fan on the back whose wire were cut and are
now connected.

I even have one computer, where I mounted a large fan
in front of the drive bays,


I should do that. Would a normal size table - I have one - fan work? I
have one.

and the fan blows cool air into the computer,
over the drive area. I did that, because the computer case is an older
one, without a very large fan on the back. Those are examples of ways
to keep the drive cool. Programs like Speedfan can read drive temperature,
as can some SMART utilities.

For you to be in your current mess with Prime95, you must have "joined".


No, I didn't join last night. I opted not to join. Today I joined
hoping that I'd get that option.

By
joining, the program will download a work unit to work on. It will be testing
the primality of a large number, like thousands of other computers. Some
of these "cycle stealing" programs will operate a screen saver, to protect
the screen from burnin because the machine is always left running.

When I start Prime95, my "user information" dialog contains blanks, because
I never gave any identifying information. Under "status", it says
"You have no work queued up".


That's what mine was like initially but not anymore.

I expect your dialog boxes show something
different, because you've joined Mersenne.


You can try uninstalling it,
then reinstalling, but I expect there could be a registry key that
stores your account information. Maybe that needs to be deleted, to
remove all memory of having signed up.


I wouldn't know which registry key to delete.


Rather than messing around, I have a second alternative. Uninstall Prime95.
Download Orthos here, and try it. It has an easy Start button in the upper
right of the dialog. It also incorporates some MBM code, and will print the CPU
temperature into the log area of the window (once a minute). If it
starts beeping and flashing red, it has detected an error, so the CPU
is not stable. (I just tried it, and my machine is acting up. Looks like
I have some testing to do...)

http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm


Will do..in the morning since I have to get up early to go to an
appoitnment.

Thanks.



Paul



  #8  
Old September 8th 07, 01:46 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatible processor "

On Sep 7, 4:10 pm, Paul wrote:
wrote:
Why is "torture test" option in gray color? I can't select it.


I believe the reason is, you are processing work units. When
you "join" mersenne.org , their server gives a potential prime number
to test and that is your "work queue". As long as there is work to
do, that would be a reason for disabling the Torture Test. You
are supposed to use the Torture Test to prove the machine is
worthy of accepting work. So the best time to do that, would be
before "joining".

Paul



Just re-informing that the first time I installed it, I didn't join.
Then when I saw your post, I looked for "Torture test" but couldn't
select it.

I am about to install ortho using the link you give.


  #9  
Old September 8th 07, 01:56 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatible processor "

On Sep 7, 10:23 am, Paul wrote:
wrote:

[ ]

Rather than messing around, I have a second alternative. Uninstall Prime95.
Download Orthos here, and try it. It has an easy Start button in the upper
right of the dialog. It also incorporates some MBM code, and will print the CPU
temperature into the log area of the window (once a minute). If it
starts beeping and flashing red, it has detected an error, so the CPU
is not stable. (I just tried it, and my machine is acting up. Looks like
I have some testing to do...)

http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm

Paul


I just started testing with Ortho. Mine is flashing too though not
continuously. But no sound. So I checked the volume and it was mute;
so I un-mute it but still no sound. I'll wait to hear from you what
to do next.



  #10  
Old September 8th 07, 07:01 PM posted to alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 13,364
Default Update on "Question on ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and compatibleprocessor "

wrote:
On Sep 7, 10:23 am, Paul wrote:
wrote:

[ ]
Rather than messing around, I have a second alternative. Uninstall Prime95.
Download Orthos here, and try it. It has an easy Start button in the upper
right of the dialog. It also incorporates some MBM code, and will print the CPU
temperature into the log area of the window (once a minute). If it
starts beeping and flashing red, it has detected an error, so the CPU
is not stable. (I just tried it, and my machine is acting up. Looks like
I have some testing to do...)

http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm

Paul


I just started testing with Ortho. Mine is flashing too though not
continuously. But no sound. So I checked the volume and it was mute;
so I un-mute it but still no sound. I'll wait to hear from you what
to do next.


Orthos does two things for you. It should make the CPU get hot. If you are
having problems with a CPU overheating and shutting off, a program like
Orthos proves whether or not your computer has enough cooling or not.

When you run Orthos, you should see "GO" in the display. The log area
in the bottom of the screen, will show the same progress messages as
you'd get with Prime95. If your processor has more than one core,
Orthos will run more than one copy of Prime95.

The second thing Orthos does for you, is determine whether your CPU
and memory work error free or not. If a computing error is detected,
you'll see "STOPPED" in the upper part of the screen, "FATAL ERROR"
and details in the lower part of the screen, and the "computer case
speaker" will beep once every six seconds or so. The "Scroll Lock"
LED on my keyboard is also flashing.

Clicking Exit will stop all that.

Orthos also contains a copy of MBM (Motherboard Monitor), a program
which is no longer supported by its author. MBM accesses the hardware
monitor chip and reads temperatures from the chip. As long as MBM can
figure out what kind of motherboard is involved, the readout should
be as accurate as running MBM version 5 by itself. For example, just
before I got a FATAL ERROR by starting Orthos, my CPU was reading
about 46C, which is not very hot. (The temperature is printed into the
log window, if MBM can figure out the motherboard type.) If I turn the
frequency of my CPU down just a little bit, Orthos will stay in the
"GO" state. So while I don't have an overheat problem, it appears my
overclock is a little too aggressive. The input clock to my CPU is 230MHz,
and if I turn it down to 225MHz (via ClockGen, while I'm sitting in Windows),
that is enough to make it stable again. The normal input clock is 200MHz.

Paul
 




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