View Full Version : Instability!
ok i didnt know where to post this so this will have to do. i just got the system you see in my signature. everything is clocked at its factory default. temps are good. hardware seems fine. but when i play my game of choice for a few hours...(cs) my computer will start crashing!! i need to know what its common causes of this crap...or how i can thoroughly test my system so i can find out wtf is going on!
Maddman
12-22-01, 06:53 PM
Try either general hardware or games
Originally posted by Maddman
Try either general hardware or games
What do you mean?
Maddman
12-22-01, 06:57 PM
try posting the question in either general hardware or games threads.
Originally posted by Demont
What do you mean?
As far as which topic to post under. Or maybe in the AMD section.
Are you monitoring voltages? Low +5v lines on Athlon/XP systems have caused stabilty problems for quite a few people, myself included.
I have 3 AMD rigs going now, and had to replace 2 of the psus: 1 weak 300watt and a 250. Those 2 now have strong 300watt psus. The third rig has had a strong 250watt psu since I built it, and no stability issues.
This may not be the trouble, but it is something to check.
Originally posted by rogerdugans
As far as which topic to post under. Or maybe in the AMD section.
Are you monitoring voltages? Low +5v lines on Athlon/XP systems have caused stabilty problems for quite a few people, myself included.
I have 3 AMD rigs going now, and had to replace 2 of the psus: 1 weak 300watt and a 250. Those 2 now have strong 300watt psus. The third rig has had a strong 250watt psu since I built it, and no stability issues.
This may not be the trouble, but it is something to check.
if moderator cares they can move it i guess =P but i just got mbm5 to check for that and my +5 runs at 4.93-4.99 is that going to affect anything?
Nope, that should be good: my problems, and most of the others I heard about were around 4.85 and under.
2 more questions: What os and what do you consider "good" temps?
1.Windows 98SE. 2. The system runs at 35c or so idle, i dont know how much it increases under load. BUT, right now because of my problems i opened the side and im pointing a fan at it, so im doing like 31c idle...so temps are not causing it i wouldnt think...whats good way to test temps under stress?
MrOOBiLL
12-22-01, 07:21 PM
You can try re-seating the RAM, if its not in perfectly, when it gets hot it can move a bit and screw things up.
You should loop 3dmark2001 to test your gaming stability.
Originally posted by Demont
ok i didnt know where to post this so this will have to do. i just got the system you see in my signature. everything is clocked at its factory default. temps are good. hardware seems fine. but when i play my game of choice for a few hours...(cs) my computer will start crashing!! i need to know what its common causes of this crap...or how i can thoroughly test my system so i can find out wtf is going on! Demont, you had the same problem with your old computer, yes? You got an external modem? What kinda connection you got? The problem doesn,t seem to be the computer as you just replaced it. Er, ah, also I was assuming you used a new OS in your new one.:beer:
Originally posted by MrOOBiLL
You can try re-seating the RAM, if its not in perfectly, when it gets hot it can move a bit and screw things up.
Good point right there.
SETI@Home is a great way to test load temps.Folding @ Home is good too! Get more info here! (http://www.ocsetiteam.com)
But it sounds like temps are fine.
Have you tried restarting Win98 just before starting the game?
Win9x's memory management is fairly poor at best, and a lot of apps have memory leaks- slowly suck up resources and cause problems.....
reseated the ram...and im testing the heat now its only like 28c or so. mw521, you must be thinking of someone else, but i thought of that and removed everything but video card, and usb network card for modem. and it could be win98....i dont know ive never had memory problems that did anything except lag me...this is just bam lock up computer dies type stuff.
USB nic for modem.
Are you overclocking right now?
USB troubles a lot of people with fsb overclocks.......
Originally posted by rogerdugans
USB nic for modem.
Are you overclocking right now?
USB troubles a lot of people with fsb overclocks.......
no, but according to wcpuid my 133fsb actually runs at 134.32...thats all
actually my ram is running more like 30c..is that bad?
Originally posted by Demont
reseated the ram...and im testing the heat now its only like 28c or so. mw521, you must be thinking of someone else, but i thought of that and removed everything but video card, and usb network card for modem. and it could be win98....i dont know ive never had memory problems that did anything except lag me...this is just bam lock up computer dies type stuff. Yeah, we have a Demont in the [OCS} clan with the same problem.:beer:
Originally posted by mw521
Yeah, we have a Demont in the [OCS} clan with the same problem.:beer:
no, same person! i didnt have stability issues before, i had connection issues on fightingpiper's server...totally unrelated =)
hrm, i was just testing my ram temperature and i noticed my HSF is zip tied in there, not clipped on the socket....whats that about...
Originally posted by Demont
no, same person! i didnt have stability issues before, i had connection issues on fightingpiper's server...totally unrelated =) Oh, I see you tried to trick me huh? throwin' trick questions, you should be ashamed of yourself!:beer: :burn:
Originally posted by mw521
Oh, I see you tried to trick me huh? throwin' trick questions, you should be ashamed of yourself!:beer: :burn:
if you say so!...hey i noticed in your sig that you are venting in outside air...****ty minnesota cold must be good for something, how did you do it??
Originally posted by Demont
if you say so!...hey i noticed in your sig that you are venting in outside air...****ty minnesota cold must be good for something, how did you do it?? I used a 4 inch PVC coupling in the front of the case with a 130 cfm 120mm fan behind it. I used a 4 inch to 3 inch reducer coupling that a 4 inch flexible vent tubing fits on great, the other end I cut a 2 inch piece of pvc so I could join it to the 'puter. I cut a small piece of plywood and mounted a dryer vent in it that I took the louvers out of. I replaced them with a filter to keep out small animals. I can unplug it readily and put the window unit away if wanted. If you want I will send you pics. I have a pic of the case on alternative modding, case pics. Whew! a lot of typing!:beer:
Originally posted by mw521
I used a 4 inch PVC coupling in the front of the case with a 130 cfm 120mm fan behind it. I used a 4 inch to 3 inch reducer coupling that a 4 inch flexible vent tubing fits on great, the other end I cut a 2 inch piece of pvc so I could join it to the 'puter. I cut a small piece of plywood and mounted a dryer vent in it that I took the louvers out of. I replaced them with a filter to keep out small animals. I can unplug it readily and put the window unit away if wanted. If you want I will send you pics. I have a pic of the case on alternative modding, case pics. Whew! a lot of typing!:beer:
yeah pics would be cool
but uh i just tried to run 3dmark2001 and it crashed on the point sprites test...does that mean something?
the computer crashed, not 3dmark2001
Did you say that the hsf is ziptied to the cpu socket???
Originally posted by rogerdugans
Did you say that the hsf is ziptied to the cpu socket???
thats what i said
If it were me, I would run your benchmarks without oc'ing your 'puter. This way you will have a baseline to compare your oc'd results. Try everything with "as is" setup. Then, you can see if you are doing any good or screwin' up. Make sure everything is working right before you add another dimension to the troubleshooting.:beer: er ah, er ah, I will take some pics and send tomorrow. :beer:
That is the FIRST time I've heard that one! I would be VERY careful with that thing until you get an adequate retention mechanism on there: the cpu will burn up FAST if the hsf slips off- uneven contact on the cpu die may be causing something weird in the cooling- which could be the source of the stability trouble.
Fix that and take it from there.
Originally posted by mw521
If it were me, I would run your benchmarks without oc'ing your 'puter. This way you will have a baseline to compare your oc'd results. Try everything with "as is" setup. Then, you can see if you are doing any good or screwin' up. Make sure everything is working right before you add another dimension to the troubleshooting.
i have been, everything is..."as is." im going to try to reset the bios and redo everything there though, in case i set something wrong? i dont know
Originally posted by rogerdugans
That is the FIRST time I've heard that one! I would be VERY careful with that thing until you get an adequate retention mechanism on there: the cpu will burn up FAST if the hsf slips off- uneven contact on the cpu die may be causing something weird in the cooling- which could be the source of the stability trouble.
Fix that and take it from there.
good plan, but i dont have any artic silver or thermal pads or shims or any of that.... the reason i didnt notice this at first was that i assumed they had the ties on there just for transportation, so the hsf wouldnt fall off...but the clips arent on!
Originally posted by Demont
i have been, everything is..."as is." im going to try to reset the bios and redo everything there though, in case i set something wrong? i dont know Are you using the setup in your sig? That does not look "as is".:beer:
Originally posted by rogerdugans
That is the FIRST time I've heard that one! I would be VERY careful with that thing until you get an adequate retention mechanism on there: the cpu will burn up FAST if the hsf slips off- uneven contact on the cpu die may be causing something weird in the cooling- which could be the source of the stability trouble.
Fix that and take it from there. Good catch Roger!:beer:
Shadow рс
12-22-01, 08:33 PM
Originally posted by Demont
if moderator cares they can move it i guess =)
Whew...so glad we have your permission first!
If it falls in a few different areas, like this post, the General Hardware forum would be most fitting.
You only have 34 posts left before I crack down on ya.... better read
this (http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53459) thread! =)
guess who just burned their new processor
Originally posted by Shadow рс
Whew...so glad we have your permission first!
If it falls in a few different areas, like this post, the General Hardware forum would be most fitting.
You only have 34 posts left before I crack down on ya.... better read
this (http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53459) thread! =) Dang Shadow, I am sorry. It is all my fault. You know I am addicted to giving bad advice! Lizard delivery is getting close!
i cut the zip ties to take the thing off and see what was going on, and i guess i must have reset the thing just a hair off of the wad of thermal grease in there...
Originally posted by Demont
i cut the zip ties to take the thing off and see what was going on, and i guess i must have reset the thing just a hair off of the wad of thermal grease in there... Welcome to Overclockers.com! You have just learned basic overclocking 101!
Ask some questions before you fry that thing. Nothing like learning the hard way!:beer:
Dude: that really sucks.
Caution, first, last and all the time, with procs and hsfs!
Too many people have crunched a core, or set a sink on backwards (and had little contact with the core): always be very careful and double check everything before turning the power on when messing with the cpu!
Well, look at it this way: you will never, EVER make a mistake with a heatsink/cpu again:eek:
ok yeah, well at least im a newbie, i would feel more retarded if my only other computer wasnt a compaq. had to happen sometime i suppose. just like ill probably stop speeding once i finally get a ticket...heh
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.