Help diagnose problem with PC/motherboard

  • Thread starter Thread starter jprugen
  • Start date Start date
J

jprugen

Ok, I'm having a problem with my computer. I have an A7N8X, Athlon XP
2700+, GeForce 4400 Ti, Audigy 2, Corsair 512MB PC3200 memory (single
stick), CD-Rom, DVD-Rom/CD-RW, and 2 hard drives. I am running Windows
XP home. I'm posting here because my current inclination is to blame
something on the motherboard.

I tend to leave my computer on 24/7. On Thursday morning, my computer
was frozen when I went to use it so I rebooted it and checked email
before going to work. That night when I got home, it was frozen again,
and when I rebooted, it would always freeze on the black "Loading
Windows XP" screen. I spent the rest of the night trying to get things
to work, including trying to reinstall XP on top of my original install.
The machine would always lock up at some point. I ended up even backing
out to an old 4MB video card and no sound card -- same problems.

Friday morning I downloaded MemTest86 and a Western digital diagnostic
program (i only had one WD hard drive at the time, btw). The memtest
program has never failed (running tests 1-7 anyway). The WD diagnostic
low-level check said there were errors but they were repaired, but the
quick check timed out, which supposedly indicates a problem with the
drive. So I bought a new hard drive. I couldn't get that one working.

So I try to replace the motherboard. The new board didn't work either
(long story), but during the process, I cleared the CMOS on my old
board. I then put my old board back in to play around more, figuring
I'd update the CMOS settings later, and what do you know, things started
to work.

It now appears that XP runs stably when I set the FSB on my board to
100MHz. It fails at 133 and 166. I was originally running it slightly
overclocked at 173 (since March). The memory test program still works
fine at 166, so I'm thinking that means the CPU and RAM are ok. It
sounds like the motherboard to me. Does this make sense? Does anyone
know any other diagnostics I could try running on this? Thanks for any
help.

Jeff
 
Sounds like you have listed and changed everything in your system, except
your power supply. What wattage @ how many amps? What brand PSU? 2 HD's,
2 CD drives, Ge4, AMD CPU, that need a lot of power especially at boot or
coming out of stand-by as the drives all power up at once. Also try running
your rig through a quality surge suppressor. Was you XP home install a
clean install or an upgrade from a previous OS?

Koop

--
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=905761
XP 2500+ @ 11.5*200
A7N8X DLX 2.0
2x256MB Corsair PC3200LL @ 2-2-2-6
ATI Radeon Pro 9800
WD Raptor 10K RPM SATA - WD 800JB SE
Eheim 1250 w/ 1/2"ID Clearflex
MCW5000+MCW50+'86 Chevette Core
CPU 27C Idle 34C Full Load w/ on-die sensor
 
I haven't actually replaced the motherboard yet (that I can verify
anyway). The power supply is an Antec True 430W supply. XP was a clean
install. I have a good surge supressor, but I'm sure there are better.

+5V 0-36A
-5V 0.0-0.5A
+12V 0.8-20A
-12V 0.0-1.0A
+3.3V 0-28A
+5VSB 0-2A

I haven't actually measured it, mainly was hoping it was living up to
its reputation (I don't know that I have the proper equipment to measure
it...)

Jeff

Well that is a puzzler. I have an Antec 430True myself, and about the same
set up as you, 2HDs, 2Optical drives, Radeon 9800 pro, and my PSU seems up
to the task. I would think MB as well except you tried a new board and
experienced the same problem. IMHO, either you got 2 bum boards or a bad
PSU.

The modern motherboard is a marvel of modern engineering and incredibly
complex, meaning the simplest way to diagnose it is to replace it with a
"known good" board, which I supposed you technically did not do trying out a
brand new, e.g. not known to be good, motherboard. It is usually a good
assumption that a second new board is good but it is just that, an
assumption. And even if you did diagnose a MB problem there is little you
could do about it that would cost less than buying a new board (unless you
are an EE major with a steady hand).

So unless you have easy access to a third "known good" A7N8X focus on the
PSU for now since it will be easier and cheaper to diagnose, and cheaper to
replace. If you do not already have a voltmeter go grab a $13 digital
multi-meter at Radio Shack or your country's equivalent, go here and test
your PSU

http://peripherals.about.com/cs/buildyourpc/ht/htpcpowerdiag.htm

If your PSU tests out then it is probably your MB. Do you have recourse to
a warranty, either from your retailer or Asus?

I'm curious to hear how it turns out.

Good Luck,

Koop
 
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