P4S8X-X Random Loss Of Graphics?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RJ
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R

RJ

Every so often, when doing intense gaming (although sometimes in Windows
itself) my monitor will randomly go black and the whole system will hang. No
BSOD, no nothing. Just a "No Signal" message from my monitor, almost as
though the monitor turned off.

My system is as follows:

Intel P4 3.06 Ghz HT Enabled
1024MB Corsair TwinX RAM
MSI nVidia GeForce FX 5900 XT
ASUS P4S8X-X Motherboard
420W PSU
Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2
Thermaltake Xaser III Case (with fans)
IIyama Vision Master Pro 454 19inch CRT Monitor
Win XP Home (all latest patches) and No Screensavers enabled!.

I have recently replaced the Graphics Card (Formerly Leadtek GeForce 4
4800SE), PSU (Formerly unbranded 350w) and the Corsair Memory is new too. I
have all the latest drivers installed from each of the manufacturers but
just can't seem to shake this problem.

I'm left think it's A) The Motherboard or B) A driver issue?

Any ideas?

TIA

RJ
 
"RJ" said:
Every so often, when doing intense gaming (although sometimes in Windows
itself) my monitor will randomly go black and the whole system will hang. No
BSOD, no nothing. Just a "No Signal" message from my monitor, almost as
though the monitor turned off.

My system is as follows:

Intel P4 3.06 Ghz HT Enabled
1024MB Corsair TwinX RAM
MSI nVidia GeForce FX 5900 XT
ASUS P4S8X-X Motherboard
420W PSU
Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2
Thermaltake Xaser III Case (with fans)
IIyama Vision Master Pro 454 19inch CRT Monitor
Win XP Home (all latest patches) and No Screensavers enabled!.

I have recently replaced the Graphics Card (Formerly Leadtek GeForce 4
4800SE), PSU (Formerly unbranded 350w) and the Corsair Memory is new too. I
have all the latest drivers installed from each of the manufacturers but
just can't seem to shake this problem.

I'm left think it's A) The Motherboard or B) A driver issue?

Any ideas?

TIA

RJ
Click to expand...

You have to remember the history of this board.

The original P4S8X motherboard had Vcore regulator problems. Expecially
if using top end processors, like the 3.06GHz/533. At least five
slightly different versions of that motherboard were produced, until
Asus threw in the towel and moved to P4S8X-X model. (The differences
were in the Vcore part of the circuit, different configs of
electrolytic caps and so on.)

The P4S8X-X, as near as I can tell by comparing pictures of the
motherboard, is still using the same components in the Vcore regulator.
One difference is, the new board is peppered with more plated copper
holes, which are used to provide a lower resistance path for the
large currents that flow to the processor. For many people, this
seems to have improved the motherboard, but past owners of the
P4S8X, simply wouldn't be interested in finding out whether this
design fixed their issues or not. (And Asus will not swap a P4S8X-X
for a P4S8X.)

If you search on P4S8X-X over on the Abxzone forums, you may find
people with similar symptoms to yours:

http://abxzone.com/forums/search.php

http://abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=55223

If the root of the problem is Vcore, then first try disabling
Hyperthreading, as that can cut 10 watts of power dissipation
off the processor. Underclocking is another alternative
(would work especially well if the board has an AGP/PCI lock,
otherwise you'll have to search for a frequency which doesn't
push the PCI past 37.5MHz instead of the normal 33MHz).

If the root of the problem is related to Vagp, and if the board
has an adjustment for the AGP I/O voltage, try setting it to 1.6V
or 1.7V, instead of the nominal 1.5V. You can also try dropping
the AGP speed to 4X, disable fast write, etc etc.

(You could always sell this motherboard to someone with a slower
processor, like a 2.4GHz/533, and I bet they would be very happy
with it.)

It is too bad Asus didn't do the right thing, and completely
redo the Vcore circuit - it boggles the mind as to why they
did, what they did.

Good luck,
Paul
 
Paul said:
(You could always sell this motherboard to someone with a slower
processor, like a 2.4GHz/533, and I bet they would be very happy
with it.)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input Paul. I was aware of the P4S8X problems but hoped
(after ASUS told me to walk) that there could be a solution other than
underclocking or restricting my pretty high spec system's performance.

I do have a second PC running a P4S8X-X witth a 2.8Ghz Celeron and GEF
Ti4200 which never even skips a beat.

If I were to cut my losses and ditch the P4S8X-X, what motherboard would you
recommend based on my current hardware (relisted below).

TIA

RJ
 
"RJ" said:
Thanks for the input Paul. I was aware of the P4S8X problems but hoped
(after ASUS told me to walk) that there could be a solution other than
underclocking or restricting my pretty high spec system's performance.

I do have a second PC running a P4S8X-X witth a 2.8Ghz Celeron and GEF
Ti4200 which never even skips a beat.

If I were to cut my losses and ditch the P4S8X-X, what motherboard would you
recommend based on my current hardware (relisted below).


TIA

RJ
Click to expand...

If overclocking, a P4C800 (875) board. If running at stock
speed, a P4P800 (865) based board. There is a thread over on
Abxzone about AGP video artifacts when using a high overclock
on a P4P800, which apparently don't happen on the P4C800 boards.
You can read more details here:

http://www.abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=62275

HTH,
Paul
 
I have the same motherboard and CPU as you have in the problem system
and I have no problem with it, My Main Components below.

ASUS P4S8X-X Motherboard
Intel P4 3.06 Ghz HT Enabled
ASUS V9280 GeForce 4 Ti4200-8X
King-Max DDR 512mb
Win XP Pro

I suspect that the problem may be with the FX5900 AGP card, and I
don't mean a fault with the card but rather it may not be compatible
with the motherboard.

Cheers
Keith Holzapfel

Thanks for the input Paul. I was aware of the P4S8X problems but hoped
(after ASUS told me to walk) that there could be a solution other than
underclocking or restricting my pretty high spec system's performance.

I do have a second PC running a P4S8X-X witth a 2.8Ghz Celeron and GEF
Ti4200 which never even skips a beat.

If I were to cut my losses and ditch the P4S8X-X, what motherboard would you
recommend based on my current hardware (relisted below).


TIA

RJ
Click to expand...



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Macro data file Apr 15 2004 (VMD Ver 1.6)
 
yogi said:
ASUS P4S8X-X Motherboard
Intel P4 3.06 Ghz HT Enabled
ASUS V9280 GeForce 4 Ti4200-8X
King-Max DDR 512mb
Win XP Pro

I suspect that the problem may be with the FX5900 AGP card, and I
don't mean a fault with the card but rather it may not be compatible
with the motherboard.
Click to expand...

The 5900XT is brand new (Less than a week old). I bought it to replace a
Leadtek GEForce 4 4800SE which I thought was the cause of my problems but it
appears it wasn't.

RJ
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