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
|
|||
|
|||
Help diagnose problem with PC/motherboard
Ok, I'm having a problem with my computer. I have an A7N8X, Athlon XP
2700+, GeForce 4400 Ti, Audigy 2, Corsair 512MB PC3200 memory (single stick), CD-Rom, DVD-Rom/CD-RW, and 2 hard drives. I am running Windows XP home. I'm posting here because my current inclination is to blame something on the motherboard. I tend to leave my computer on 24/7. On Thursday morning, my computer was frozen when I went to use it so I rebooted it and checked email before going to work. That night when I got home, it was frozen again, and when I rebooted, it would always freeze on the black "Loading Windows XP" screen. I spent the rest of the night trying to get things to work, including trying to reinstall XP on top of my original install. The machine would always lock up at some point. I ended up even backing out to an old 4MB video card and no sound card -- same problems. Friday morning I downloaded MemTest86 and a Western digital diagnostic program (i only had one WD hard drive at the time, btw). The memtest program has never failed (running tests 1-7 anyway). The WD diagnostic low-level check said there were errors but they were repaired, but the quick check timed out, which supposedly indicates a problem with the drive. So I bought a new hard drive. I couldn't get that one working. So I try to replace the motherboard. The new board didn't work either (long story), but during the process, I cleared the CMOS on my old board. I then put my old board back in to play around more, figuring I'd update the CMOS settings later, and what do you know, things started to work. It now appears that XP runs stably when I set the FSB on my board to 100MHz. It fails at 133 and 166. I was originally running it slightly overclocked at 173 (since March). The memory test program still works fine at 166, so I'm thinking that means the CPU and RAM are ok. It sounds like the motherboard to me. Does this make sense? Does anyone know any other diagnostics I could try running on this? Thanks for any help. Jeff |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Sounds like you have listed and changed everything in your system, except
your power supply. What wattage @ how many amps? What brand PSU? 2 HD's, 2 CD drives, Ge4, AMD CPU, that need a lot of power especially at boot or coming out of stand-by as the drives all power up at once. Also try running your rig through a quality surge suppressor. Was you XP home install a clean install or an upgrade from a previous OS? Koop -- http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=905761 XP 2500+ @ 11.5*200 A7N8X DLX 2.0 2x256MB Corsair PC3200LL @ 2-2-2-6 ATI Radeon Pro 9800 WD Raptor 10K RPM SATA - WD 800JB SE Eheim 1250 w/ 1/2"ID Clearflex MCW5000+MCW50+'86 Chevette Core CPU 27C Idle 34C Full Load w/ on-die sensor wrote in message ... Ok, I'm having a problem with my computer. I have an A7N8X, Athlon XP 2700+, GeForce 4400 Ti, Audigy 2, Corsair 512MB PC3200 memory (single stick), CD-Rom, DVD-Rom/CD-RW, and 2 hard drives. I am running Windows XP home. I'm posting here because my current inclination is to blame something on the motherboard. I tend to leave my computer on 24/7. On Thursday morning, my computer was frozen when I went to use it so I rebooted it and checked email before going to work. That night when I got home, it was frozen again, and when I rebooted, it would always freeze on the black "Loading Windows XP" screen. I spent the rest of the night trying to get things to work, including trying to reinstall XP on top of my original install. The machine would always lock up at some point. I ended up even backing out to an old 4MB video card and no sound card -- same problems. Friday morning I downloaded MemTest86 and a Western digital diagnostic program (i only had one WD hard drive at the time, btw). The memtest program has never failed (running tests 1-7 anyway). The WD diagnostic low-level check said there were errors but they were repaired, but the quick check timed out, which supposedly indicates a problem with the drive. So I bought a new hard drive. I couldn't get that one working. So I try to replace the motherboard. The new board didn't work either (long story), but during the process, I cleared the CMOS on my old board. I then put my old board back in to play around more, figuring I'd update the CMOS settings later, and what do you know, things started to work. It now appears that XP runs stably when I set the FSB on my board to 100MHz. It fails at 133 and 166. I was originally running it slightly overclocked at 173 (since March). The memory test program still works fine at 166, so I'm thinking that means the CPU and RAM are ok. It sounds like the motherboard to me. Does this make sense? Does anyone know any other diagnostics I could try running on this? Thanks for any help. Jeff |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message
... koop wrote: Sounds like you have listed and changed everything in your system, except your power supply. What wattage @ how many amps? What brand PSU? 2 HD's, 2 CD drives, Ge4, AMD CPU, that need a lot of power especially at boot or coming out of stand-by as the drives all power up at once. Also try running your rig through a quality surge suppressor. Was you XP home install a clean install or an upgrade from a previous OS? I haven't actually replaced the motherboard yet (that I can verify anyway). The power supply is an Antec True 430W supply. XP was a clean install. I have a good surge supressor, but I'm sure there are better. +5V 0-36A -5V 0.0-0.5A +12V 0.8-20A -12V 0.0-1.0A +3.3V 0-28A +5VSB 0-2A I haven't actually measured it, mainly was hoping it was living up to its reputation (I don't know that I have the proper equipment to measure it...) Jeff Well that is a puzzler. I have an Antec 430True myself, and about the same set up as you, 2HDs, 2Optical drives, Radeon 9800 pro, and my PSU seems up to the task. I would think MB as well except you tried a new board and experienced the same problem. IMHO, either you got 2 bum boards or a bad PSU. The modern motherboard is a marvel of modern engineering and incredibly complex, meaning the simplest way to diagnose it is to replace it with a "known good" board, which I supposed you technically did not do trying out a brand new, e.g. not known to be good, motherboard. It is usually a good assumption that a second new board is good but it is just that, an assumption. And even if you did diagnose a MB problem there is little you could do about it that would cost less than buying a new board (unless you are an EE major with a steady hand). So unless you have easy access to a third "known good" A7N8X focus on the PSU for now since it will be easier and cheaper to diagnose, and cheaper to replace. If you do not already have a voltmeter go grab a $13 digital multi-meter at Radio Shack or your country's equivalent, go here and test your PSU http://peripherals.about.com/cs/buil...cpowerdiag.htm If your PSU tests out then it is probably your MB. Do you have recourse to a warranty, either from your retailer or Asus? I'm curious to hear how it turns out. Good Luck, Koop |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Shortcut problem (southbridge burn) | Ian | Homebuilt PC's | 4 | December 14th 04 10:33 PM |
Help needed with unidentified problem | ^MisterJingo^ | General | 3 | November 23rd 04 05:45 AM |
Mouse Problem | Jeff | Homebuilt PC's | 0 | October 1st 04 06:44 AM |
help with possible video card problem diagnostic | mark497 | Homebuilt PC's | 1 | September 16th 04 09:59 AM |
Boot Problem with Win2000 AMD 2500 XP - A-Bit KD7A system | TMgo | Homebuilt PC's | 2 | August 17th 04 10:03 AM |