Please help: Random rebooting with A7N8X-X

  • Thread starter Thread starter pir8buster
  • Start date Start date
P

pir8buster

My system:

Amd 3200+ 400FSB not oc
Connect 3d Radeon 128mb 9800 Pro
512 DDR 333 Ram
Asus A7N8X-x mobo
Maxtor 200gb IDE HDD main drive
Akasa Carnival HSF
SWEEX 400w PSU


After initial PSU problems, I managed to get this PC working like a
dream for a week. At that time, I decided to change the fan because my
cheapo fan was letting my CPU temp go up to 56c load, and 48 idle.

NOw, I am getting about 46 idle and 52 load. The diode temp goes from
55 - 65.

This is now when the problems started occurring... the PC would restart
randomly for no reason. Sometimes, it would restart soon (about 2 or 3
mins) after I had cold booted the PC. It even restarted once when I was
in the BIOS, so its not a Win problem. What's worse, when it restarted,
I could not see the display. I can hear that was booting up as normal,
but the screen is mostly black and I can only see silhouttes of the
icons on the desktop. Only a hard reset would get the PC back to normal
display.

I tried a System Restore, but the problem still occurs. Event logs dont
even mention anything about this abrupt reset. Reseated CPU, recleaned
HSF, replaced old HSF, reseated GFX card, reseated RAM. Still have same
problems. Even ran MEMTEST. Passed 100%.
Help much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
 
My system:

Amd 3200+ 400FSB not oc
Connect 3d Radeon 128mb 9800 Pro
512 DDR 333 Ram
Asus A7N8X-x mobo
Maxtor 200gb IDE HDD main drive
Akasa Carnival HSF
SWEEX 400w PSU


After initial PSU problems, I managed to get this PC working like a
dream for a week. At that time, I decided to change the fan because my
cheapo fan was letting my CPU temp go up to 56c load, and 48 idle.

NOw, I am getting about 46 idle and 52 load. The diode temp goes from
55 - 65.

This is now when the problems started occurring... the PC would restart
randomly for no reason. Sometimes, it would restart soon (about 2 or 3
mins) after I had cold booted the PC. It even restarted once when I was
in the BIOS, so its not a Win problem. What's worse, when it restarted,
I could not see the display. I can hear that was booting up as normal,
but the screen is mostly black and I can only see silhouttes of the
icons on the desktop. Only a hard reset would get the PC back to normal
display.

I tried a System Restore, but the problem still occurs. Event logs dont
even mention anything about this abrupt reset. Reseated CPU, recleaned
HSF, replaced old HSF, reseated GFX card, reseated RAM. Still have same
problems. Even ran MEMTEST. Passed 100%.
Help much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I hate to say it, but it could be the power supply.

I visited the Sweex site, and the supplies remind me a bit
of rebadged Q-tec supplies.

Power Voltage--> 3.3 5.0 12.0 -5 -12 +5VSB
350W 14A 30A 12A 0.5 0.8 2
400W 14A 40A 12A 0.5 0.8 2
450W 14A 40A 15A 0.5 0.8 2
650W 28A 45A 25A 0.5 0.8 2

The A7N8X-X is probably drawing most of its current from +5V.
What worries me, is the 3.3V has a pretty low output rating, and
due to the problem of calculating exactly what the current draw
is on 3.3V, I cannot guarantee the PSU is overloaded. There could
be a limit on the combined 3.3 and 5V power consumption, which isn't
stated on the Sweex site that is causing the problem. (Check the
label, as it could be stated what the combined limit is there.)

I'd try another power supply - another brand would be a good idea.
While the 650W looks like it could do the job, it is hard to say
whether those specs are honest or not. After all, that unit only
has one fan on it that I can see!

Here are some Antec Truepower numbers, for comparison. These
Antec supplies are made by ChannelWell Technologies (CWT), so
are rebadged as well.

VOLTAGE +12V +5V +3.3V -5V -12V +5VSB

TRUE330 17A 30A 28A 0.5A 1.0A 2.0A
TRUE380 18A 35A 28A 0.5A 1.0A 2.0A
TRUE430 20A 36A 28A 0.5A 1.0A 2.0A
TRUE480 22A 38A 30A 1.5A 1.0A 2.0A
TRUE550 24A 40A 32A 0.5A 1.0A 2.0A

How these, and some other supplies work, is they have a total
power limit (like 330W for the first one), and the heaviest
drawing rail can get the power it needs. Notice how the sum
total of the powers (V*I) is greater than the supply rating.
Not all rails can go to the limit at the same time, but if
one rail is heavily loaded and not the others, there is no
problem. The Sweex supplies only meet their power rating,
when all rails go to the wall (an unlikely situation). Thus,
the Sweex 650W is worth as much to you, as an Antec 380W or so.

Look for a brand name, like Antec, Enermax, PCPowerAndCooling
etc. If you are searching for a bargain, check the track
record of the company and their supplies in Google first.
Due to the habit of rebadging, the same dodgy designs show
up again and again.

HTH,
Paul
 
My system:

Amd 3200+ 400FSB not oc
Connect 3d Radeon 128mb 9800 Pro
512 DDR 333 Ram
Asus A7N8X-x mobo
Maxtor 200gb IDE HDD main drive
Akasa Carnival HSF
SWEEX 400w PSU


After initial PSU problems, I managed to get this PC working like a
dream for a week. At that time, I decided to change the fan because my
cheapo fan was letting my CPU temp go up to 56c load, and 48 idle.

NOw, I am getting about 46 idle and 52 load. The diode temp goes from
55 - 65.

This is now when the problems started occurring... the PC would restart
randomly for no reason. Sometimes, it would restart soon (about 2 or 3
mins) after I had cold booted the PC. It even restarted once when I was
in the BIOS, so its not a Win problem. What's worse, when it restarted,
I could not see the display. I can hear that was booting up as normal,
but the screen is mostly black and I can only see silhouttes of the
icons on the desktop. Only a hard reset would get the PC back to normal
display.

I tried a System Restore, but the problem still occurs. Event logs dont
even mention anything about this abrupt reset. Reseated CPU, recleaned
HSF, replaced old HSF, reseated GFX card, reseated RAM. Still have same
problems. Even ran MEMTEST. Passed 100%.
Help much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

SWEEX 400w PSU only has 12A on the 12V line, seems a bit low for that
CPU and setup.

Ed
 
Look for a brand name, like Antec, Enermax, PCPowerAndCooling
etc. If you are searching for a bargain, check the track
record of the company and their supplies in Google first.
Due to the habit of rebadging, the same dodgy designs show
up again and again.

HTH,
Paul
Click to expand...


Thanks Paul. I always appreciate when someone takes time to look at
another's problem. I must mention here that the SWEEX is my 3rd psu in
this system. The first 2 blew up after 20 mins. So, maybe there is
something inherently wrong in the circuitry of the mobo. On the other
hand, I did disassemble and then reassembled the whole PC before using
the SWEEX psu, which has 2 fans in it, by the way. It was trouble free
for a week.

At the moment, I am running at 333FSB (= 2500+) to see if there is a
possibly a problem with my DDR 333 ram (cheap memory)or maybe CPU.

If that does not resolve it, I guess I will have to get a new PSU or
maybe mobo.
 
Back
Top