Aaaaarghhhhh......hardware problems!
Discussion
Sorry to post O/T, but it seems there are a lot of people with hardware experience around.
I have a desktop PC, which I built myself, and which worked fine for 8 weeks, until last week, where it started to shutdown suddenly; without reproduceable action.
I guess it's a hardware problem, because this happens while using Win2K, Linux or just being in the BIOS menue.
The hardware monitoring shows 44°C-ish for CPU temp, and 34°C-ish, so no probs there.
I've removed all unnecessary hardware in order to isolate the problem;
remaining hardware is:
2x Maxtor 60GB hdd
1x Elsa Gloria3 graphics
1x Samsung 512MB DDR333
1x AMD Athlon 2000+ CPU
1x Gigabyte Via KT400 M/B
1x 420W power supply
When the system shuts down, there is still power on the mainboard (which could be seen on a RAM-LED), but to start it again, I have to switch off the power supply till the LED gets dark, and the switch on again, and press the mainboard's power button.
What causes a system to shutdown without notice?
I haven't felt any overheated areas on the mainboard, when I've made a 'finger-test'. All fans are working.
I am totally
, as I don't know where to look for the cause anymore.
Anyone got an idea?
cheers,
Bodo
I have a desktop PC, which I built myself, and which worked fine for 8 weeks, until last week, where it started to shutdown suddenly; without reproduceable action.
I guess it's a hardware problem, because this happens while using Win2K, Linux or just being in the BIOS menue.
The hardware monitoring shows 44°C-ish for CPU temp, and 34°C-ish, so no probs there.
I've removed all unnecessary hardware in order to isolate the problem;
remaining hardware is:
2x Maxtor 60GB hdd
1x Elsa Gloria3 graphics
1x Samsung 512MB DDR333
1x AMD Athlon 2000+ CPU
1x Gigabyte Via KT400 M/B
1x 420W power supply
When the system shuts down, there is still power on the mainboard (which could be seen on a RAM-LED), but to start it again, I have to switch off the power supply till the LED gets dark, and the switch on again, and press the mainboard's power button.
What causes a system to shutdown without notice?
I haven't felt any overheated areas on the mainboard, when I've made a 'finger-test'. All fans are working.
I am totally
, as I don't know where to look for the cause anymore. Anyone got an idea?
cheers,
Bodo
Bodo:
Are you using an "autoconfiguration" scheme in the BIOS. If so, try configuring your processor via jumpers instead.
See if there is a BIOS update
Last piece of advice is to try shutting of power management in the BIOS
I also build computers (for fun - not my main job) and I have found that one of these three items usually solves the problem (I use ASUS/Intel boards almost exclusively but have had luck with Gigabyte in the past)
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Sunday 26th January 19:47
Are you using an "autoconfiguration" scheme in the BIOS. If so, try configuring your processor via jumpers instead.
See if there is a BIOS update
Last piece of advice is to try shutting of power management in the BIOS
I also build computers (for fun - not my main job) and I have found that one of these three items usually solves the problem (I use ASUS/Intel boards almost exclusively but have had luck with Gigabyte in the past)
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Sunday 26th January 19:47
Was going to suggest the same thing as Ernest regarding the power management. I built my own pc too and it kept switching off, and needing a complete disengagement from power supply for a couple of seconds before trying to start again. Thing is, you say its a sudden switch off, whereas my problem was when it was left unused for a couple of minutes. I don't think the power management would become active if the computer is in use. I changed the bios settings to stop it from happening. Its working fine now
Good luck.
Good luck.
Cheers, Alan, Ernest and Ninja! 
I've checked all p/s connections before. Had the latest BIOS installed already before problems came up.
Last try I did, was pulling out the RAM and back in and checking all connections again.
I had W2k running for over an hour (it even started itself to go into 'suspend' mode; which went fine), rebooted it, and now I'm running Linux.
Will see what happens by the time. If it halts again unintentionally, I'll have a look at the BIOS's ACPI settings and keep you reported!
Bodo
I've checked all p/s connections before. Had the latest BIOS installed already before problems came up.
Last try I did, was pulling out the RAM and back in and checking all connections again.
I had W2k running for over an hour (it even started itself to go into 'suspend' mode; which went fine), rebooted it, and now I'm running Linux.
Will see what happens by the time. If it halts again unintentionally, I'll have a look at the BIOS's ACPI settings and keep you reported!
Bodo
jvaughan said: are you sure its hardware ?
is the O/S giving any clues ? what O/S are you running ?
if you have win2k or XP check
control panel > admin tools > event viewer
this might give you idead such as problems with memory etc?
Bodo:
this happens while using Win2K, Linux or just being in the BIOS menue.
Must be hardware.
>> Edited by alan_driver on Sunday 26th January 23:05
Only a thought....but the temp monitoring software I had installed, was set to reboot upon reaching a predefined temp. Became frustrating when playing 3D games...installed extra cooling fans, but the noise was pretty severe....so turned off the temp monitoring s/w, and let it run and run. No more auto reboots.
The Athlons run extremely hot, even at idle, and unfortunately the temperature monitoring s/w can be hit and miss, and is affected by the bios version.
Just a thought....good luck.
LB
The Athlons run extremely hot, even at idle, and unfortunately the temperature monitoring s/w can be hit and miss, and is affected by the bios version.
Just a thought....good luck.
LB
I know this isn't your problem, Bodo, as 44 deg C is perfectly reasonable. Thought it worth mentioning, though, that it is possible to mount an Athlon heatsink on back to front. If you manage to do this, the thermal pad doesn't make proper contact with the chip core, and the temperature rockets very quickly.
[idiot mode]
Found this out after spending hours fiddling with a misbehaving machine at work! Moral: check the simple stuff first...
[/idot mode]
[idiot mode]
Found this out after spending hours fiddling with a misbehaving machine at work! Moral: check the simple stuff first...
[/idot mode]
This is my second attempt to reply, because 30min. ago the system buggered off again. 
Had a look at the manufacturer's website, and I still have the latest BIOS version F9.
I've disabled 'auto shutdown when CPU overheat', which is set to 110°C, and set 'power off' to soft button, which should be pressed for 4sec., just to make sure it's not an impulse, which causes the problem.
As the system has to graphics adaptors (PCI & AGP), I've pulled each one out after another; but it still stops with no obvious reason
What makes me curious is, that I haven't changed the configuration, and the system went well for many weeks before.
What causes the hardware to shut down immediately?
PS. I'm watching the CPU temperature for 30min now, but it only changed from 42 to 45°C. Is this normal?
Had a look at the manufacturer's website, and I still have the latest BIOS version F9.
I've disabled 'auto shutdown when CPU overheat', which is set to 110°C, and set 'power off' to soft button, which should be pressed for 4sec., just to make sure it's not an impulse, which causes the problem.
As the system has to graphics adaptors (PCI & AGP), I've pulled each one out after another; but it still stops with no obvious reason
What makes me curious is, that I haven't changed the configuration, and the system went well for many weeks before.
What causes the hardware to shut down immediately?
PS. I'm watching the CPU temperature for 30min now, but it only changed from 42 to 45°C. Is this normal?
The clue is in the question... what changed within the 8 weeks?
try to think back to what changed... (RE: pdv6: idiot mode) New software/hardware. The smallest of things can do it. I cant believe that suddenly after 8 weeks things go tits up, unless its an exterior viri source...
oli
>> Edited by essexboyracer on Monday 27th January 23:13
>> Edited by essexboyracer on Monday 27th January 23:17
>> Edited by essexboyracer on Monday 27th January 23:19
try to think back to what changed... (RE: pdv6: idiot mode) New software/hardware. The smallest of things can do it. I cant believe that suddenly after 8 weeks things go tits up, unless its an exterior viri source...
oli
>> Edited by essexboyracer on Monday 27th January 23:13
>> Edited by essexboyracer on Monday 27th January 23:17
>> Edited by essexboyracer on Monday 27th January 23:19
Okay Bodo -
I just had a rummage online in an effort to be more help towit:
1. Is the Elsa Gloria iii a 4x/8x (1.5 volt) card? If not, that may contribute to your woes because the chipset that you are running is for that type card only.
2. The default setting for your board is for the board to "autoconfigure" your processor. I can't stress this enough - autoconfigure for processors is problematic at best (regardless of processor or chipset type). You are better off setting the dip switches to the appropriate processor clk_ratio and bus frequency. Your manual should have the table(s) for this.
If all else fails, don't forget to muck about with the ACPI settings... Good luck
ErnestM
I just had a rummage online in an effort to be more help towit:
1. Is the Elsa Gloria iii a 4x/8x (1.5 volt) card? If not, that may contribute to your woes because the chipset that you are running is for that type card only.
2. The default setting for your board is for the board to "autoconfigure" your processor. I can't stress this enough - autoconfigure for processors is problematic at best (regardless of processor or chipset type). You are better off setting the dip switches to the appropriate processor clk_ratio and bus frequency. Your manual should have the table(s) for this.
If all else fails, don't forget to muck about with the ACPI settings... Good luck
ErnestM
Just had a thought. Its do do with cooling. My PSU (power supply unit), the fan stopped working, it got very very hot, and shut down. But, you mention a light on the mobo is still on, could be stored, or could still have power from else were.
worth checking, dont know how hot there ment to be, but if it burns your hand, its too hot.
worth checking, dont know how hot there ment to be, but if it burns your hand, its too hot.
The first thing to look at would be the PSU. Strange buggers those things.
I sorted a computer about a month ago by changing the PSU to one I had lying around. Nothing wrong with the one I took out. It just had an 'Allergic Reaction' to the PC and they rejected each other. Computer just kept shutting down for no apparent reason. That PSU I took out is in my PC now, and it works like a treat!
Oh, and on the Subject of Athlons - 4 words, Cooling, Cooling, Backup Cooling.
I fried my 850 about 4 months ago, I am currently using a Small 'Non AMD Approved' case, with the back off it, the PSU sitting on top, and a few humugous fans, they are 2 banks, one draws in, one blows out, and, at the time, no back up, the drawing in bank failed and the CPU Fan couldn't keep the Temp low enough
You can never have too much cold air!
I sorted a computer about a month ago by changing the PSU to one I had lying around. Nothing wrong with the one I took out. It just had an 'Allergic Reaction' to the PC and they rejected each other. Computer just kept shutting down for no apparent reason. That PSU I took out is in my PC now, and it works like a treat!
Oh, and on the Subject of Athlons - 4 words, Cooling, Cooling, Backup Cooling.
I fried my 850 about 4 months ago, I am currently using a Small 'Non AMD Approved' case, with the back off it, the PSU sitting on top, and a few humugous fans, they are 2 banks, one draws in, one blows out, and, at the time, no back up, the drawing in bank failed and the CPU Fan couldn't keep the Temp low enough
You can never have too much cold air!
ErnestM said:1. Is the Elsa Gloria iii a 4x/8x (1.5 volt) card? If not, that may contribute to your woes because the chipset that you are running is for that type card only.
Most modern Athlon boards can cope with (i.e. auto-sense) 1.5V or 3V AGP cards in the slot.
Other (Pentium) boards ought to have a blanking plate in the AGP slot to prevent the wrong kind of card being installed.
pdv6 said:
ErnestM said:1. Is the Elsa Gloria iii a 4x/8x (1.5 volt) card? If not, that may contribute to your woes because the chipset that you are running is for that type card only.
Most modern Athlon boards can cope with (i.e. auto-sense) 1.5V or 3V AGP cards in the slot.
Other (Pentium) boards ought to have a blanking plate in the AGP slot to prevent the wrong kind of card being installed.
Yes, I agree, but specifically, for the chipset/board combination that Bodo is running the manual says
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Tuesday 28th January 12:25
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