Cpu aging -- Is my Athlon getting old, fat, and tired?

[grunjee]

Got a problem.

I've had my Athlon (see sig) for about 3 months now. Haven't been disappointed with my OC results. It has always run rock stable at a 150-155 fsb. Never gotten it past 1600 stable though with any combination of fsb/multi.

So I got a new Lian-Li case last week, and my system was down (cpu not running) for about 2 days while I cut a blowhole and re-configured my H2O setup.

Ever since I got it back up and running, my cpu won't OC for crap. Nothing has changed here -- same hardware config, etc. And my temps are even a bit lower. But the highest I can go with any stability is about 140 fsb. Any higher and the thing crashes, won't boot, etc.

I thought to myself, maybe the thing needs another burn-in? So I've been burning it in mainly with cpuburn (I think that's the name -- it seems to stress the cpu like no other). Hasn't helped much.

So I ask for your input. If you take a cpu down for 2 days, will it 'lose confidence' in OC'ing?... or 'forget' that it can OC? Is this normal behavior? I'm just starting to wonder, as the title suggests, if my cpu is just getting old and lazy.

Thanks!

[The Coolest]

What PSU did u have in ur old case and what PSU do u have now? Do u get the same O/C but lower FSB or just lower O/C generaly... It could be the new PSU...

[grunjee]

I'm using the same PSU as in the other case. It's a CompUSA (don't laugh) 500W. It has a better 5V rail than my old Enermax 431.

[PsYko420]

Just take it all apart and put it together again. Something may be a little loose or just being plain stuborn. Try this and it should work. A cpu won't get old fat and tired in 3 months hell I'm using a p133 and it runs like a beauty (well...).

[grunjee]

Hmmmm... <thinks>

Guess that's an option. I'd rather not take it apart at the moment, since I'm feeling lazy :)

But I'll keep that in mind, and try it eventually after I see what some other people have to say.

[killem1x1]

I have built and serviced a ton of systems in my time, but never heard of this. It's got to be a freak of nature if you are sure that the only new component is a new case. I mean are you certain you didn't clear cmos?

[grunjee]

Hmmm, funny you should mention the cmos.

I didn't intentionally clear it, but two nights ago, I got a freak 'bios/cmos (not sure which) checksum error'... after rebooting, it had set some of the bios values back to default; others appeared to be the same.

Curious... what would clearing the cmos have to do with my OC?

[Kendle666]

When ya reset the CMOS/bios ..........all your bios setting that ya tweaked are reset to factory "stable" settings. So It might affect your OC'ing

[Oni]

Smells like case cooling to me. Try cooling your green meenie more and see if it increases stability.

[Dieni]

You didn't move your ram to another slot by chance?