CPU voltages

[siroldvolks]

Hi Guys,

Think this is the right place for this one.....

Anyways, just a quicky question regarding CPU voltages, which I hope I have answered myself!! I recently bought myself an XP3200+, but since then, been having BSOD errors with code 0x000009C (hardware error). Anyways I have been trying to figure this one out for the past week, changing ram voltages & timings, other bios settings, installing windows & drivers I dont know how may times....

I noticed today when looking at the CPU voltage in windows (MBM), that it was reading lower than 1.65volts. (even though bios says 1.65 - varied between 1.60 - 1.63 windows). Watched it go to 1.60, then wham, another BSOD. Raised the voltage to 1.70 in the bios, and now reads 1.66 within windows. Haven't had another BSOD since.

Can a few .'s of a volt affect the stability of system like that, and is that a PSU prob? I do have a 550watt qtec PSU - but hopefully all should be ok now!!!

[JDXNC]

That could be a sign of a low 5v rail on the PSU. As cpu's get faster little voltage problems like that can make a big difference. You can leave your voltage set at 1.7 and it won't hurt anything as long as its running fine. are you running that cpu at stock speed or overclocked? If you have good enough cooling you could give that cpu some more voltage and run it even faster.

[siroldvolks]

Thanks for the reply. ATM it's running stock. :) I don't think I'll be OC'ing it anytime soon, but, I may get bored one day :D

How would I be able to tell if there is an issue of low 5v rail on the PSU? Anything I can monitor to find out? I dont wanna look at maybe getting a new PSU, until confirming that it maybe the problem!

Thanks :)

[Bon3thugz43v3r]

Looks like a power supply issue. I would definitley look into getting a new one from newegg. A Fortron 350 Watt maybe a 400 Watt. If you want to monitor your voltages on your power supply you can do that in your bios where you monitor your CPU and CASE temperatures.

[Gnufsh]

Originally posted by siroldvolks
Thanks for the reply. ATM it's running stock. :) I don't think I'll be OC'ing it anytime soon, but, I may get bored one day :D

How would I be able to tell if there is an issue of low 5v rail on the PSU? Anything I can monitor to find out? I dont wanna look at maybe getting a new PSU, until confirming that it maybe the problem!

Thanks :)

You can use MBM to monitor your voltages. (mbm.livewiredev.com)

[siroldvolks]

Hello again. well I knwo this is one from a short while ago, but I finally got a decent replacement PSU....but...still the same problem! Kinda hacked off a little that it's not the PSu fault, but hey!

This still leaves a problem with the machine, so has to be either rmemory or motherboard. As you can see from specs below, I have the NF7-S which supports 400MHZ FSb, so the XP3200 should run fine on that. The RAM is Corsair XMS3200, so really should run ok too. Any ideas on how I could if it either an MB or RAM prob?

From the orginal post, I have tried the usual of upping the voltages of the RAM, CPU etc. but still the system is very flakey, and it's not any over heating issue either. I shouldn't need too up the volateg for a stock system anyways. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :mad: :mad:

[clawhammer]

You need a PSU which is strong enough like an Antec 480W. You have lots of hardwares (3 x HDDs, maybe a few ROMs) and the 9800 takes up quite a bit of power

May I know what PSU did you get ?

[siroldvolks]

certainly, I got a Thermaltake 480w PSU - originally I did have a 550watt, but it was a cheapy make which I thought may have been the problem.

I have also done the usual of disconnect all other hardware in the machine, leaving just power to the M/B, CPU (and cooler), main HD, GPU, and thats it!

Still happens - wont even get as far as loading into windows - goes in a continuous reboot cycle when anywhere near 400MHZ FSB is set. Currently back down to 333MHZ FSB (at XP2500 speed) and it's as stable as anything

[Twister1234]

nf 7 undervolts,its no problem with cpu,or psu,its just the mobo,give your proc 1,675 and it should run fine...

[dingo]

get Memtest86 ver3 and check your ram.

[AL Romero]

sorry to tell you late but its not your PSU. my monitor reads low as well and i have a new antec true 430. but even with my other antec which was only 6 months old hardware doc reads low. i dont know what the problem is but im sure it not you PSU.

by the way:
my system isnt unstable at the lower vcores. my bios reads 1.7v but hardware doc reads 1.65v-1.68v. and she very stable.

[AL Romero]

your system doesnt need a huge freaking PSU. maximumpc rates a system as follows:

P4 or Athlon CPU .......... 70-90watts
RAM .......... 16watts per 256mb
CD/DVD drive .......... 10-20watts
HDD .......... 10-20watts
Floppy .......... 5watts
AGP ......,... 20-50watts
non video PCI .......... 5-10watts
Motherboard ........... 20-40watts
CPU/case fans............ 2-4watts

that 480 is plenty with room to upgrade.

[siroldvolks]

thanks for the info guys:)

I'll try memtest and runthat for a while.

With regards to the vcore increase, i did increase that and it does make a difference, but it doesn't solve the problem. Had it up to about 1.8v and it runs better (at least boots up into windows), but then the temps start getting a little high. Which I dont want, and shouldn't need to because I only want to run things stock!

i'll run memtest and post results! CHeers for help again.:)