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02/28/2007 12:58:50 PM · #1 |
I have a problem with my computer. I suspect a faulty component. However, I cannot see any obvious way of identifying the problematic component without having a whole other computer to switch out potentially problematic parts to eliminate them from my enquiries. Does anyone have a recommendation on how best to approach this problem?
Symptoms:
Under high load (eg recent 3d games, very large graphics files and complex filtering) the computer screen blacks out for a second (no beep, as far as I remember), and then the computer restarts. Windows then reports that it has recovered from a serious error, but otherwise works okay (no available diagnosis from the report process).
Configuration:
Windows XP Home Edition (patched to SP2)
AMD X2 3200+
Asus A8N-Premium SLI (non-SLI mode) MB
3GB RAM (2x 1GB, 2x 512MB - not dual channelling for some reason, which is something else I need to sort out)
Nvidia 6800GT 256MB x1
500W Power Supply
3 Hard Drives (WD - 1x 400GB, 2x180GB)
2 DVD writers
TV decoder card
External ADSL router etc.
Well ventilated case.
I have clean reinstalled windows, and am operating the PS on maximum power rating/cooling etc.
Could it could be the power supply - 500W is a decent size, but I am running a fair bit of kit? Is there a specific component that I should consider swapping out first? Anyone heard that one of these components is flaky? Is there any way to test individual components in software?
Thanks in advance!!
Cheers
Matthew
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02/28/2007 01:16:42 PM · #2 |
With the computer restarting under high load I would bet that your processor is overheating and the Motherboard is resetting as a precaution. The Asus motherboard should have a temperature tool available, that will show you the current core temperature. Try to find the tool (Probably have to download it or install it off the driver cd) and watch the temperature while you run one of the "crashing" programs.
You can try to open the case and blow a fan into it to increase the flow of air, but even then I have seen cases when that won't help. Most likely your processor fan is getting clogged with dust, and probably needs to be cleaned out with compressed air. Another possiblility is that the processor fan is starting to fail (bearing might be going) and the fan might simply hang for a second at high speed. Many motherboards will reset if they detect a fan failure. |
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02/28/2007 01:22:22 PM · #3 |
Here is a post I found on your motherboard:
//groups.google.com/group/alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus/browse_thread/thread/1b29b6aa2f0d5166/f059776d257b3129%23f059776d257b3129
You should disable the instant reboot in the OS, and get
the machine to blue screen instead. If I google on
"Startup and Recovery" I get:
Settings
Control Panel
System
Advanced tab
Startup and Recovery
If the computer will not stop on an error, and give a blue screen,
then it could be a power problem, or for some reason the computer
has executed a reset.
The voltages should be +3.3V, +5V, +12V and should not drop by
more than 5%. The +12V can get pretty heavily loaded, and the
acceptance value would be +11.4V . Since there can be some
measurement error in the hardware monitor, you could let it
drop a little more than that, before you begin shopping for
another power supply.
Get a copy of Prime95 (mersenne.org) and run the "Torture test"
option. It will load the CPU to 100%, and max the load on +12V.
See if the computer reboots instantly, as soon as that test
starts to run.
If it takes a while running Prime95 to kill the computer, perhaps
it is overheating ? Check the voltages and the temps with
Asus Probe. If the heatsink is not sitting flush with the
top of the processor, that might be enough to cause it to
overheat. I hope there is some kind of thermal interface
material, between the heatsink and the CPU (either paste or
pad). With Asus Probe, you can watch the temps before Prime95
starts, and then see what happens as it runs.
I doubt the PSU is actually running out of power, but it could
be defective. A 9200 won't draw a lot of power.
You should also memory test any new computer, just to see if
the DIMMs are OK and you are using stable settings for the
memory. Memtest86 is available for download from memtest.org .
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