If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
CPU or Motherboard problem? Or both?
I bought a systemax system about a year ago. Model# SYXS-DB-989150.
I think the specs a CPU: PENTIUM P4 3.06 (probably celeron) MB: P4M800-M7A RAM: 1GB Anyway, after receiving my product, I attached two extra hard drives immediately afterwards, and my troubles started a few weeks afterwards. The hard drive which was attached as a slave to the C drive would not show up from time to time when I booted my computer. However, if I restarted it, it would appear, so I just lived with it. Then sometime in January, my house had a blackout. After that, whenever I did something that required a lot of data transfer from one hard drive to another, the computer would just restart without warning. I don't do games, but I do use a lot of video related software such as AutoGK or DVD Shrink, and those are the only times when the computer would restart. When using Office programs or Firefox, the computer would run fine. I do however, have a suspicion that Winamp caused the computer to crash quite a few times. Looking around, I found that you could configure a setting in "My Computer Advanced" where you could have a blue screen of death appear instead of the computer simply resurrecting itself. I did that, and no BSOD. Then, I downloaded memtest and tested the ram with 5 passes. It passed with flying colors. I also downloaded SpeedFan to see whether the temperature ever went ballistic while I was running DVD Shrink. I never managed to catch the moment when the computer crashed but the temperature was always below the 60 degree mark and only exceeded 50 sporadically. Finally, I downloaded "CPU Burn-in" and let it rip. This managed to crash my machine everytime, and I'm quite sure this fouled up my computer for good. Now, it randomly reboots anytime it feels like it. So my question is: Is this a problem with my CPU, motherboard, or both? I'll just buy the parts and replace them myself, but I'd like to salvage what I can rather than buying both parts (which would be a surefire remedy but I might be throwing away a perfectly good CPU or motherboard). |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
CPU or Motherboard problem? Or both?
ekdysiast wrote:
I bought a systemax system about a year ago. Model# SYXS-DB-989150. I think the specs a CPU: PENTIUM P4 3.06 (probably celeron) MB: P4M800-M7A RAM: 1GB Anyway, after receiving my product, I attached two extra hard drives immediately afterwards, and my troubles started a few weeks afterwards. The hard drive which was attached as a slave to the C drive would not show up from time to time when I booted my computer. However, if I restarted it, it would appear, so I just lived with it. Then sometime in January, my house had a blackout. After that, whenever I did something that required a lot of data transfer from one hard drive to another, the computer would just restart without warning. I don't do games, but I do use a lot of video related software such as AutoGK or DVD Shrink, and those are the only times when the computer would restart. When using Office programs or Firefox, the computer would run fine. I do however, have a suspicion that Winamp caused the computer to crash quite a few times. Looking around, I found that you could configure a setting in "My Computer Advanced" where you could have a blue screen of death appear instead of the computer simply resurrecting itself. I did that, and no BSOD. Then, I downloaded memtest and tested the ram with 5 passes. It passed with flying colors. I also downloaded SpeedFan to see whether the temperature ever went ballistic while I was running DVD Shrink. I never managed to catch the moment when the computer crashed but the temperature was always below the 60 degree mark and only exceeded 50 sporadically. Finally, I downloaded "CPU Burn-in" and let it rip. This managed to crash my machine everytime, and I'm quite sure this fouled up my computer for good. Now, it randomly reboots anytime it feels like it. So my question is: Is this a problem with my CPU, motherboard, or both? I'll just buy the parts and replace them myself, but I'd like to salvage what I can rather than buying both parts (which would be a surefire remedy but I might be throwing away a perfectly good CPU or motherboard). I'd suspect the motherboard, based on your description so far. It could also be the power supply, but you don't say what you're using for that. You can find the Biostar P4M800-M7A for $43 and up, so it isn't an expensive board. It looks to have three phase power and is socket LGA775. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Custra...82E16813138263 On this page, you can see some boards that might replace it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ubcategory=280 The Gigabyte GA-8I865GME-775-RH looks to have OK reviews, and there are the Intel BOXD865GSAL LGA 775 Intel 865G Micro ATX entries as well. You'd have to do a Repair Install of Windows, as one way to account for the use of a different chipset and its different drivers. That is the quickest way to get running again. If the Biostar board has a hardware monitor that shows the power supply voltages, you might use that to see whether the power supply has issues or not. A multimeter would do a more accurate job of checking, than a hardware monitor, but not everyone has one of those to work with. You would be looking for a voltage that is lower than normal, implying the supply is weak and is close to overload. Speaking in terms of the odds of any one item having problems, power supplies would have the highest odds of failure or weakness, the motherboard would be second, and CPUs are much more reliable than both. So take your pick as to which you try swapping first. (I think on my first build, I bought duplicates of just about everything :-) ) Paul |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
CPU or Motherboard problem? Or both?
"ekdysiast" wrote in message ... I bought a systemax system about a year ago. Model# SYXS-DB-989150. I think the specs a CPU: PENTIUM P4 3.06 (probably celeron) MB: P4M800-M7A RAM: 1GB Anyway, after receiving my product, I attached two extra hard drives immediately afterwards, and my troubles started a few weeks afterwards. The hard drive which was attached as a slave to the C drive would not show up from time to time when I booted my computer. However, if I restarted it, it would appear, so I just lived with it. Then sometime in January, my house had a blackout. After that, whenever I did something that required a lot of data transfer from one hard drive to another, the computer would just restart without warning. (snip) So my question is: Is this a problem with my CPU, motherboard, or both? I'll just buy the parts and replace them myself, but I'd like to salvage what I can rather than buying both parts (which would be a surefire remedy but I might be throwing away a perfectly good CPU or motherboard). Based on what you wrote, I am 99.99% certain that your power supply is bad. It was probably borderline when new. What gives this away is that you had a hard drive not show up on cold boot, but show up on restart. That right there tells me that the power supply wasn't able to supply enough current to spin up ALL the drives at the same time, but after one was going, it could spin up another (on reboot). Another telling symptom is that you are restarting when using more than one physical drive simultaneously. This is no doubt caused by a low voltage condition caused by increased current draw. (weak power supply) My prescription is: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817101111 I'd suggest that you use that EXACT power supply. It's very high quality. You won't want to spend less on a power supply, though you definitely ould. -Dave |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
CPU or Motherboard problem? Or both?
I would suspect your power supply unit and/or your motherboard as having
been damaged by the past blackout. The voltage spikes that can occur then are tremendous. -- -------- DaveW "ekdysiast" wrote in message ... I bought a systemax system about a year ago. Model# SYXS-DB-989150. I think the specs a CPU: PENTIUM P4 3.06 (probably celeron) MB: P4M800-M7A RAM: 1GB Anyway, after receiving my product, I attached two extra hard drives immediately afterwards, and my troubles started a few weeks afterwards. The hard drive which was attached as a slave to the C drive would not show up from time to time when I booted my computer. However, if I restarted it, it would appear, so I just lived with it. Then sometime in January, my house had a blackout. After that, whenever I did something that required a lot of data transfer from one hard drive to another, the computer would just restart without warning. I don't do games, but I do use a lot of video related software such as AutoGK or DVD Shrink, and those are the only times when the computer would restart. When using Office programs or Firefox, the computer would run fine. I do however, have a suspicion that Winamp caused the computer to crash quite a few times. Looking around, I found that you could configure a setting in "My Computer Advanced" where you could have a blue screen of death appear instead of the computer simply resurrecting itself. I did that, and no BSOD. Then, I downloaded memtest and tested the ram with 5 passes. It passed with flying colors. I also downloaded SpeedFan to see whether the temperature ever went ballistic while I was running DVD Shrink. I never managed to catch the moment when the computer crashed but the temperature was always below the 60 degree mark and only exceeded 50 sporadically. Finally, I downloaded "CPU Burn-in" and let it rip. This managed to crash my machine everytime, and I'm quite sure this fouled up my computer for good. Now, it randomly reboots anytime it feels like it. So my question is: Is this a problem with my CPU, motherboard, or both? I'll just buy the parts and replace them myself, but I'd like to salvage what I can rather than buying both parts (which would be a surefire remedy but I might be throwing away a perfectly good CPU or motherboard). |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
motherboard problem | Michael | Intel | 3 | July 14th 05 01:37 PM |
ATX MOTHERBOARD PROBLEM | manueldap | Homebuilt PC's | 0 | March 31st 05 12:22 AM |
motherboard problem | JJK | General | 2 | March 30th 05 03:56 PM |
Old motherboard problem | RJW Craggs | Homebuilt PC's | 4 | September 1st 04 02:29 AM |
Can anybody help with this? A motherboard problem, a memory problem or what | eddwnn | Asus Motherboards | 3 | July 18th 03 05:44 PM |