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#1
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System Failure - CPU Task
I have an AMD 3000 on a K8VSE deluxe and it just flickered as if the power
was going and it then started talking to me giving the message in the subject line. or I think that's what it said! Never done it before and I've had it 18 months. Seems fine now I've rebooted. Am i doomed! |
#2
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System Failure - CPU Task
Could it have been the power?
You could instal MBM5 and use its PSU voltage logging ability to see if you are getting spikes / brownouts. UPS are dead checp these days - perhaps consider getting a true - online UPS. The real cheap ups will not protect you against mains power glitches, a true online one will since they run off battery all the time. So, it could be the mains power or the PSU in your system - this is assuming the screen (?) flicker was caused by power and not the system. "JRS" wrote in message ... I have an AMD 3000 on a K8VSE deluxe and it just flickered as if the power was going and it then started talking to me giving the message in the subject line. or I think that's what it said! Never done it before and I've had it 18 months. Seems fine now I've rebooted. Am i doomed! |
#3
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System Failure - CPU Task
A power supply, properly constructed, must provide DC
voltage unaltered even when AC mains goes so low that incandescent bulbs dim to less than 40%. This even stated in Intel ATX power supply specs. Furthermore, it makes no difference whether the UPS is 'online' type or other type. Again, even Intel specs say why. And that is the point. Too many will post user myths rather than first learn how the equipment works. What could have caused the OP's original problem? Information provides is woefully too inadequate for any responsible reply. Without an exact quote of computer messages, then no one can answer the original question without doing wild speculation. Even worse is the UPS reply which is totally unjustified speculation; not based in technology knowledge. Even the MBM5 recommendation makes claims that are technically false. Again, AC mains voltage must drop as defined above and still MBM5 numbers would not change. This assumes the power supply was properly constructed; a problem with many clone computers. Spikes would never be recorded. All this obvious when one has minimal hardware and electrical knowledge. Mercury wrote: Could it have been the power? You could instal MBM5 and use its PSU voltage logging ability to see if you are getting spikes / brownouts. UPS are dead checp these days - perhaps consider getting a true - online UPS. The real cheap ups will not protect you against mains power glitches, a true online one will since they run off battery all the time. So, it could be the mains power or the PSU in your system - this is assuming the screen (?) flicker was caused by power and not the system. |
#4
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System Failure - CPU Task
The OP has given a sketchy description. However food for thought often leads to using appropriate terminology and gaining feedback that drills down to the fault. Are you unfamiliar with conversation perhaps? How do you know the PSU is correctly constructed and operating? You don't, nor do I and with the dominance in the market of marginal PSU it is a reasonable place to check. The PSU could be faulty, it could be producing diminishing voltages due to aging capacitors or have developed some other fault. The PSU may have been marginal from day 1, may never have adhered to specifications, and may not behave per specs with low mains voltage. Or, it may have been near 100% to spec originally and have developed a fault... It may not be the source of the fault at all, the mains could be, or the OP could have described things in a misleading manner, so get off your high horse and contribute something positive. The mains may be marginal: There may be power fails lasting from a few ms to longer - enough to trip the PSU even if the PSU were on spec and is supposed to handle it. Plotting voltages from MBM 5 is not always conclusive - out of tolerance voltages are however an indicator that there is something away from the ideal, and possibly of a degrading PSU. If the PSU has degraded then the likelihood of power related issues increases, so MBM 5 can be helpful, so could sung a DVM or a plotting device on the mains, or a lab... PSU's do fail. They do age. Mains can do all sorts of wonderful things. Here, the power can fail 6 times in a day - 4 out of those six times may be so brief that they are inconsequential, and other times it can go off for hours. The power is here crappy, but the true online UPS I have is good (1100va) and hooked up correctly. So excuse me for talking about reality. People don't live in testing labs, they consume made products which are sometimes marginal, and have to use them on mains that is sometimes also a problem. My responses are not intended as a conclusive answer, they can't be, but as food for thought and from that thought further information and hopefully an answer. How would you describe your answer? Helpful? **** stirring? "Furthermore, it makes no difference whether the UPS is 'online' type or other type. ". Crap. "w_tom" wrote in message ... A power supply, properly constructed, must provide DC voltage unaltered even when AC mains goes so low that incandescent bulbs dim to less than 40%. This even stated in Intel ATX power supply specs. whooppee, so you are saying all PSU's are made this well and they always work this well and never fail or become marginal? Are you also saying that the only mans issues that occur are voltage slumps? Dream on. Furthermore, it makes no difference whether the UPS is 'online' type or other type. Crap. You obvously don't work in the real world where a) some UPS have horrendously slow switching times so kill computers - this is more likely with a dicky PSU. b) we've been down this track before -UPS with spike filters and your own misinformed ideas here. So you just believe the crap you believe ok? c) computers aren't the only things thatgetplugged into UPS. Again, even Intel specs say why. And that is the point. Too many will post user myths rather than first learn how the equipment works. Are you accusing me of propagating a myth? If so what? Please give exact details and explain why a dicky PSU has nothing to do with things? What could have caused the OP's original problem? Information provides is woefully too inadequate for any responsible reply. It could be better, but the OP may not have the tools or experience to provide the evidence. Would you prefer this post to be totally ignored until the OP has provided 100% evidence? Lazy ****. Without an exact quote of computer messages, then no one can answer the original question without doing wild speculation. The OP gave 2 quite indicative details of the fault. Even worse is the UPS reply which is totally unjustified speculation; not based in technology knowledge. Really? The OP described 2 things that happened. In this case some speculation is necessary - in the understanding that the OP may reveal more info, or that testing leads down a different path. Even the MBM5 recommendation makes claims that are technically false. What false claims? If the voltages read by MBM 5 (installed correctly) indicate low / high / and fluctuatiung voltages then this does indicate a problem. If the voltages are wobbly or out of spec then does this indicate a problem? No according to you. Again, AC mains voltage must drop as defined above and still MBM5 numbers would not change. That will be the case if the PSU has no fault and the mains voltage only drops dill brain. Do you know how a switching PSU works? Do you know what a capacitor is? It appears not. This assumes the power supply was properly constructed; a problem with many clone computers. Spikes would never be recorded. Utter crap - you are lagging in the logic area. Tell me, if MBM5 said that 12v was 11.1v and was fluctuating visibly +- 0.3v, that means nothing to you? Would you get a DVM out to see if MBM5 was showinf the correct mean voltage? If you had an oscilliscope what would you do? You are the only one that has been operating from the perspective that the PSU is 100%, 100% of the time. What is a Clone PSU anyway? PP&C? Antec (made in Taiwan you know), Task? Or does it have to be IBM? Everytime I hear someone say Clone I hear "I'm a totally pig ignorant fellow that knows so little and is gullible so believe IBM advertising and that no one can make a computer better than them and that it is the only computer to get". Fortunately, for those of us in the know, that belief couldn't be further from the truth. "Clone" = "Ignorance". Spikes won't be recorded if they are short, but a marginal PS will often be apparent. All this obvious when one has minimal hardware and electrical knowledge. Mercury wrote: Could it have been the power? You could instal MBM5 and use its PSU voltage logging ability to see if you are getting spikes / brownouts. UPS are dead checp these days - perhaps consider getting a true - online UPS. The real cheap ups will not protect you against mains power glitches, a true online one will since they run off battery all the time. So, it could be the mains power or the PSU in your system - this is assuming the screen (?) flicker was caused by power and not the system. |
#5
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System Failure - CPU Task
w_tom wrote:
A power supply, properly constructed, must provide DC voltage unaltered even when AC mains goes so low that incandescent bulbs dim to less than 40%. This even stated in Intel ATX power supply specs. Furthermore, it makes no difference whether the UPS is 'online' type or other type. Again, even Intel specs say why. And that is the point. Too many will post user myths rather than first learn how the equipment works. What could have caused the OP's original problem? Information provides is woefully too inadequate for any responsible reply. Without an exact quote of computer messages, then no one can answer the original question without doing wild speculation. Even worse is the UPS reply which is totally unjustified speculation; not based in technology knowledge. Your statement about UPS systems is totally wrong. They can make a huge difference. If the power coming into the building is noisy or marginal and the UPS uses this "junk" power to recharge a group of batteries that then provide the power to the computer it can be the difference between a working system and a costly paperweight. And this is not conjecture, but experience. Even the MBM5 recommendation makes claims that are technically false. Again, AC mains voltage must drop as defined above and still MBM5 numbers would not change. This assumes the power supply was properly constructed; a problem with many clone computers. Spikes would never be recorded. All this obvious when one has minimal hardware and electrical knowledge. Mercury wrote: Could it have been the power? You could instal MBM5 and use its PSU voltage logging ability to see if you are getting spikes / brownouts. UPS are dead checp these days - perhaps consider getting a true - online UPS. The real cheap ups will not protect you against mains power glitches, a true online one will since they run off battery all the time. So, it could be the mains power or the PSU in your system - this is assuming the screen (?) flicker was caused by power and not the system. |
#6
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System Failure - CPU Task
Learn what plug-in UPSes do before recommending them. The
typical UPS connects AC power directly to computer when not in battery backup mode. Directly as in AC mains noise goes directly to computer. The noisiest power is delivered by UPS when in battery backup mode. Of course, greatest noise from UPS is not a computer problem. Computer power supply contains functions that make irrelevant this large UPS noise as well as smaller noise from AC mains. The 'junk' power is worst when a computer grade UPS is in battery backup mode. 'Junk' made totally irrelevant by how power supply is designed. 'Junk' power was irrelevant to power supply operation even 30 years ago. One should have known this, an industry standard, that old and that well understood. "Michael W. Ryder" wrote: Your statement about UPS systems is totally wrong. They can make a huge difference. If the power coming into the building is noisy or marginal and the UPS uses this "junk" power to recharge a group of batteries that then provide the power to the computer it can be the difference between a working system and a costly paperweight. And this is not conjecture, but experience. |
#7
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System Failure - CPU Task
We don't know if power supply is properly constructed which
is why a minimally sufficient supply is sold with a long list of numerical specs. No such written (numerical) claim suggests a power supply - that appears to work just fine for months - was actually defective when designed. The OP asked if he was doomed. Well, is power supply minimally sufficient? Where are the page long list of numerical specifications? No specs, then suspect the worst. But this still does not answer the OPs question. Even if the power supply was defective, MBM5 readings would tell him nothing useful ... without first having calibrated those reading with a 3.5 digit multimeter. Furthermore, MBM5 readings will not record spikes nor AC mains brownouts. It is a monitor that can report slow voltage changes. To determine proper power supply voltages, first those MBM5 readings must be calibrated with a meter. The meter could report symptoms of an 'aging' power supply (ie diminishing voltages or excessive ripple) - an upcoming weakness that is not yet caused complete computer failure. A weakness that the multimeter can identify but the MBM5 software cannot (without first using the meter). Properly noted is a clone computer market chock full of marginal supplies. So many 'computer assemblers' don't even know how electricity works. First symptom of an inferior supply is manufacturer does not even claim to provide essential functions. If manufacturer did not provide a long list of numerical specifications, then some functions are probably missing. Second symptom is a supply selling for less than $65 full retail. Computer assemblers too often only buy on two numbers - price and watts. Those other essential functions be damned. Can an AC mains loss of only a few ms cause power failure? No. That is also specifically stated in the standards. A UPS that typically takes 10+ milliseconds to switch from or too battery backup does not crash computers. Computers can tolerate short millisecond power losses. If not, even a UPS switchover would crash a computer. Just another power supply function IF power supply was built by a responsible manufacturer who provides numerical specifications. If power is crappy, then does a online UPS provide benefits that the standby UPS does not? Yes. But then it better since an online UPS costs about five times more money. Meanwhile, those on-line UPS advantages are totally lost on a computer. Computer power supply standards even 30 years ago makes those benefits irrelevant. Is the power supply insufficient? Another good indicator is the price. A power supply selling for less than $65 full retail typically is missing essential functions. It provides just enough functions so that the 'computer assembler' feels it is good - because it still works six months later. Furthermore, $65 for a power supply does not guarantee a good power supply. The reverse logic is not true. A power supply selling for less must forget essential functions. A power supply selling for more need not contain essential functions. Just another reason why those numerical specs are important. How do I describe my answer here and previous? Right on the money. MBM5 to measure a defective power supply is bogus. Obviously bogus because motherboard monitors are not sufficiently calibrated. Called a "monitor" to detect voltage changes; not measure voltage levels. To determine power supply integrity, one must measure voltage levels - the 3.5 digit multimeter. Furthermore, noisy AC mains power does not adversely affect a properly constructed computer nor is it eliminated by a typical plug-in UPS. Either computer has sufficient noisy power to keep running, or computer no longer gets a Power Good signal - shuts down. Power is fully sufficient or fully insufficient - according to computer. This another function of the power supply system. Information as posted earlier answers the OP's question. Provided earlier were even AC mains standards. Power supply must work just fine - not even indicate low voltage in MBM5 - when incandescent bulbs are at 40% intensity. MBM5 could report a defective supply that did not maintain voltage. But then the computer would crash so that MBM5 could not be read. Neither on-line UPS nor MBM5 provide useful assistance nor useful information - as was stated previously. The power tool for such analysis is a 3.5 digit multimeter. Mercury wrote: The OP has given a sketchy description. However food for thought often leads to using appropriate terminology and gaining feedback that drills down to the fault. Are you unfamiliar with conversation perhaps? How do you know the PSU is correctly constructed and operating? You don't, nor do I and with the dominance in the market of marginal PSU it is a reasonable place to check. The PSU could be faulty, it could be producing diminishing voltages due to aging capacitors or have developed some other fault. The PSU may have been marginal from day 1, may never have adhered to specifications, and may not behave per specs with low mains voltage. Or, it may have been near 100% to spec originally and have developed a fault... It may not be the source of the fault at all, the mains could be, or the OP could have described things in a misleading manner, so get off your high horse and contribute something positive. The mains may be marginal: There may be power fails lasting from a few ms to longer - enough to trip the PSU even if the PSU were on spec and is supposed to handle it. Plotting voltages from MBM 5 is not always conclusive - out of tolerance voltages are however an indicator that there is something away from the ideal, and possibly of a degrading PSU. If the PSU has degraded then the likelihood of power related issues increases, so MBM 5 can be helpful, so could sung a DVM or a plotting device on the mains, or a lab... PSU's do fail. They do age. Mains can do all sorts of wonderful things. Here, the power can fail 6 times in a day - 4 out of those six times may be so brief that they are inconsequential, and other times it can go off for hours. The power is here crappy, but the true online UPS I have is good (1100va) and hooked up correctly. So excuse me for talking about reality. People don't live in testing labs, they consume made products which are sometimes marginal, and have to use them on mains that is sometimes also a problem. ... |
#8
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System Failure - CPU Task
w_tom wrote:
Learn what plug-in UPSes do before recommending them. The typical UPS connects AC power directly to computer when not in battery backup mode. Directly as in AC mains noise goes directly to computer. The noisiest power is delivered by UPS when in battery backup mode. Of course, greatest noise from UPS is not a computer problem. Computer power supply contains functions that make irrelevant this large UPS noise as well as smaller noise from AC mains. Where in my post did I say I was talking about a "typical" UPS? The post you first responded to was about an On-line UPS, that is, one that only uses line power to recharge the batteries, and then uses the batteries to power the converters that provide the power to the equipment. The only noise output from one of these is in the conversion of the DC power to a sine wave type output, in other words, nothing compared to the noise you can get from regular mains power. The 'junk' power is worst when a computer grade UPS is in battery backup mode. 'Junk' made totally irrelevant by how power supply is designed. 'Junk' power was irrelevant to power supply operation even 30 years ago. One should have known this, an industry standard, that old and that well understood. What??? A computer grade UPS output is far cleaner than the output from the main power lines. You don't have the ups and downs of the power along with the various ripples induced by turning on and off large pieces of equipment or faulty lines. Nor do you have to worry about the power going off, then on, then off, then ... This will kill almost any equipment, including computer power supplies. Yes, a good, that is expensive, power supply may filter out most of the "junk" that comes into it, but that junk also stresses the components, lowering their life expectancy. It is much better to start with "clean" power from a good on-line UPS. "Michael W. Ryder" wrote: Your statement about UPS systems is totally wrong. They can make a huge difference. If the power coming into the building is noisy or marginal and the UPS uses this "junk" power to recharge a group of batteries that then provide the power to the computer it can be the difference between a working system and a costly paperweight. And this is not conjecture, but experience. |
#9
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System Failure - CPU Task
Michael is talking about a $500 UPS. Most are only using
$100 standby UPSes. An on-line UPS that costs five times more provides nothing useful to a computer. Meanwhile what is the THD for that UPS? Is it a modified or true sine wave? Words that mean nothing without the THD number. Some modified sine wave UPSes output so much noise as to even be destructive to some small electric motors and power strip protectors. Still that high noise UPS is completely irrelevant to a computer whose internal protection makes that noise totally irrelevant. And so it is called computer grade. No, a computer grade UPS is not cleanest because computer power supplies are so resilient. But again, I will do what Michael W Ryder does not. I will provide numbers. For example, this computer grade UPS outputs two 200 volts square waves with a spike of up to 270 volts between those square waves. That is clean 120 volts? Yep. The manufacturer calls those square waves and spike a 'modified sine wave'. And he is correct. It is a modified sine wave. Basic 60 Hz 120 volt sine wave is inside all that other noise. Electricity from a computer grade UPS not clean enough for some appliances and yet more than sufficient for a computer. Those educated in retail store rumors may believe "A computer grade UPS output is far cleaner than the output from the main power lines." If true, then Michael can cite numerical specifications. Michael makes his claims without citing important numbers such as THD. That trend underlies all my posts here. Those who post urban myths will routinely avoid the numbers and technical facts. Where are the numerical specifications from the UPS he recommends? We have yet to see any numbers in his recommendations. Exactly what propagandists do. Hype a myth. Never provide relevant numbers nor underlying 'whys'. Another myth is that "Nor do you have to worry about the power going off, then on, then off, then ...". If one has to worry about this, then one purchased defective equipment. If cycling occurs too fast or too often, a computer's power supply controller locks out the power supply. Again, no problem. But then we have myths without first learning functions inside a power supply system. Again, an example of those who just know without first learning underlying principles. This knowledge shortage among 'computer assemblers' is why so many recommend a UPS for anything other than data protection from blackouts and brownouts. That is what a plug-in UPS does - not to be confused with serious building wide UPSes that accomplish more. The plug-in UPS does not filter noise. It is for data protection from blackouts and brownouts. Many who fail to post manufacturer spec numbers will make subjective claims anyway. This is why UPSes are widely recommended for other problems such as noise - recommended without first learning facts and underlying principles. A perfect example is Michael's claim that "A computer grade UPS output is far cleaner than the output from the main power lines." If true, then power strip protectors would be OK in UPS outputs. Manufacturers quietly caution to not connect power strip protectors in a computer grade UPS. Computer grade UPS in battery backup mode is some of the dirtiest electricity. No problem because computer power supplies already contain functions that make that and other noise irrelevant. Michael, a little suggestion. I have been doing this stuff for a few generations - including a term working with and designing power supplies. IOW I have a degree or two. The typical computer grade UPS does not work as you have assumed. Yes - assumed. Consult manufacturer spec numbers if you can find that full page plus. Manufacturers don't like these numbers widely distributed. No numbers makes it easier for myth purveyors to hype unchallenged. But I am challenging - and bluntly. If you are so sure otherwise, well, let's see a URL with those manufacturer's numbers. You did first learn the numbers? Good. Let's see them. For those looking for noise protection, the topic was discussed on 28 Oct 2005 in the newsgroup aus.hi-fi entitled "UPS any use?" Provided were solutions for noise filtering. "Michael W. Ryder" wrote: Where in my post did I say I was talking about a "typical" UPS? The post you first responded to was about an On-line UPS, that is, one that only uses line power to recharge the batteries, and then uses the batteries to power the converters that provide the power to the equipment. The only noise output from one of these is in the conversion of the DC power to a sine wave type output, in other words, nothing compared to the noise you can get from regular mains power. ... What??? A computer grade UPS output is far cleaner than the output from the main power lines. You don't have the ups and downs of the power along with the various ripples induced by turning on and off large pieces of equipment or faulty lines. Nor do you have to worry about the power going off, then on, then off, then ... This will kill almost any equipment, including computer power supplies. Yes, a good, that is expensive, power supply may filter out most of the "junk" that comes into it, but that junk also stresses the components, lowering their life expectancy. It is much better to start with "clean" power from a good on-line UPS. |
#10
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System Failure - CPU Task
w_tom wrote:
Properly noted is a clone computer market chock full of marginal supplies. So many 'computer assemblers' don't even know how electricity works. First symptom of an inferior supply is manufacturer does not even claim to provide essential functions. If manufacturer did not provide a long list of numerical specifications, then some functions are probably missing. Second symptom is a supply selling for less than $65 full retail. Computer assemblers too often only buy on two numbers - price and watts. Those other essential functions be damned. This is all too true.. I've said it before - a power supply is not the place to cheap out on components when building a system. A cheap or insufficient power supply will give you no end of trouble. Stick to either major brands (Antec, Enermax, Vantec, etc.) or smaller companies which are known to produce decent products (Sparkle, etc.) -- Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada To email, remove "nospam" from Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/ |
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