Help, my system reboots by itself... [Archive]

giancarlo_n

01-01-2002, 04:01 AM

Originally posted by cjthibs
My system just started doing this today...it takes it about 5 or 6 hours, and it just reboots...
strangest thing, I've ever seen, temps are low, around 24 to 26 degrees Celsius

Anyone have any ideas?

Well, here it goes...:o

Is this a recent even? Is this PC new? My bros rig started doing that last night, turned out it was some registry backup which fudged up the windows config....it restarted everytime....I just used the System Information Utility and disabled all the programs starting up...until I found the culprit....which was NOTHING!!:eek:

Weird, ain't it....:confused:

Hope you find your solution...

cjthibs

01-01-2002, 01:05 PM

Its a system I threw together to be my fileserver...

Celeron 333 on a Aopen AX63 Mobo (VIA Apollo Pro Chipset)
I've had it clocked as high as 515 Mhz without any overheating or problems... then it started rebooting, I reset everything to default, and it still does it....

Also this system fried my sound card the other day...

I think this is hardware related...but I'm unsure what would cause this...

giancarlo_n

01-01-2002, 02:48 PM

I had a friend with an E-machines Celeron 300 based PC. His PC locked up and restarted a lot. When I opened up his PC, I noticed that his Celerey didn't have a HS fan....just a big *** HS, like my voodoo3 3000 AGP. I touched it, AND I GOT MY FINGER BURNED!!! VERY HOT to the touch. I told him to leave the case open at least. My suggestion would be to use more case fans to have more air circulating in it, and don't overclock it so much. Remember that by overclockin your system, you are running EVERY component over specs. CPU and RAM are ok, as long as you have good cooling, and faster RAM (my board is 100FSB based, so I bought PC133 RAM to overclock it to 133MHz). Those PCI devices don't take it too well...:D

Maybe those are the lock-ups your are experiencing; devices that are already fried or something. If you really want to check it out, start out from scratch, removing all the PCI components, and putting them back on by one, running system for about 5-6 hours then, if your don't get locked-up, proceed with the next item.:)

cjthibs

01-01-2002, 04:12 PM

I think I might know what the problem is...

I know it isn't the CPU, it runs at around 24 C idle and about 27 C full load...many fans...

Ever since I first overclocked it my old soundcard is very distorted... (Its an old Creative AWE64 ISA...I've been wanting to upgrade it, but just never did...)

Is it possible that when I overclocked it fried it and its hanging the machine?

Kurylo

01-01-2002, 07:31 PM

I have such problem too. It begun after the RAM upgrade (I've added a new stick). Very nervous, 'cause it's not an overheating problem, and my RAM (2 sticks) is good. ****.

cjthibs

01-01-2002, 07:41 PM

Alright guys, it gets more interesting...

I swapped out the Geforce2 MX 200 in the system for a Geforce2 MX 400, the sound problem ceased...but the system still reboots...

I was looking through the manual for the mobo...and I saw a blurb on how the particular chipset I have can sustain damage at FSB's over 100... (mine had been set to 103 for some time...)

Is it likely that I've fried this mobo?

giancarlo_n

01-01-2002, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by cjthibs
Is it likely that I've fried this mobo?

Well, could be...But if your still using it ok for some time, maybe its just getting hot, and its tolerance grown smaller as time flew by at 103MHz...Do you have ANY type of HS, HS/Fan combo on your motherboard chipset?

giancarlo_n

01-01-2002, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by Kurylo
I have such problem too. It begun after the RAM upgrade (I've added a new stick). Very nervous, 'cause it's not an overheating problem, and my RAM (2 sticks) is good. ****.

What RAM are u using? Maybe you are running RAM at highperformance settings, and RAM being affected. IF you just bought some RAM, it could be that the RAM you were previously using was a tad better quality. Anyway, sometimes it is best to underclock the RAM (i.e., use more conservative settings) when seriously overclocking your system.

There are some RAM modules that achieve very high speeds, but settings like CAS are comprimised. My PC133 can run up to 133MHz at 2-2-2, but I did have to change a setting called Leadoff Command Timing to 4(slower), from the 3 (faster) when running system at 100MHz FSB. When going past 133MHz (140MHz is the next item for me), I have to detune the RAM to 3-3-3 settings...the info on the Crucial DIMMs showed it supports up to 143MHz using CAS3 settings, but leaving at 3-2-2 caused lockups in my PC.

P.S. Remember that I'm overclockin a PIII 500 Coppermine that runs on the 100MHz bus...

Laterz:D

Happy New Year felllas!

cjthibs

01-01-2002, 09:55 PM

It has a very small HS on it... (the chipset)

And my processor is Slot 1, so I can't get a fan on it...

LilCorzempa65

01-01-2002, 09:59 PM

Originally posted by cjthibs
Is it likely that I've fried this mobo?

Yes, it is very possible that you fried it. Hell, like some other people said the chipset tolerance might be...as I would like to say...running low. I might be that slowly, but surely, you are frying it. Like once I tried to overclock a Packard Bell Legend 115 (1992, old sh*t,) and the processor (50MHz,) would overclock fine, but the problem was that the FSB or voltage for the mobo was too high and as a safety feature, what ever the company who made the mobo, made it so it would lock up. I mean, well it would overclock to a certain degree, but then if I set the FSB too high, bam, it would lock up at start-up. But yes, I do think you are frying it so... Just try lowering everything, or if it comes to it, I think you will have to buy a new mobo.

-LilCorzempa65

giancarlo_n

01-02-2002, 02:22 AM

He just said it all in a few words. Anyway, just put a small fan on that HS... and some transfer agent, if you are really wanna keep it overclocked...Although, I wouldn't recommend it...
:p

Kurylo

01-02-2002, 08:05 AM

To giancarlo_n:
I've used 256MB Hyundai, and after buying another 256MB stick (PQI), my system was very unstable. So, I've exchanged my Hyundai to another PQI stick, and it became much more stablier.
Now I use then at 166MHz FSB, and CAS2-3-2. And each of them separately work just fine at these settings. But when I put them together, my system becomes more unstable.

giancarlo_n

01-02-2002, 12:52 PM

OK...Its not the first time I've heard of those PQI RAM sticks...First of all, I need to know more about your system:

- FSB speed you are running (you said its 166MHz)

- Memory Speed (taking into account the -33MHz, or +33MHz setting)

- Rated Speed of the RAM

- What processor are you running...(stock speed, and O'clocked speed)

I wanted to mention that maybe running your RAM at 2-3-2 isn't doing much for system stability. I had to run mine at 3-2-2 (CAS setting is the first number) to make it stable at 140MHz. I just checked the PQI website, and yes...they make PC166 RAM...It does say its CAS2 compatible...but then again, I had to slow mine down to 3-3-3 for maximum stability over 133MHz.

You are not mixing those old and new RAM sticks, are you...I also forgot to mention: In my ABIT BE6 motherboard, I can't achieve the same results with my 2x256MB PC133 CAS2 sticks (can't get em to run at 2-2-2, for which they are rated at 133MHz) in memory slots 1, and 2 (3 total DIMM slots).....I have to use 1 and 3, else I can't even overclock. MAYBE, just MAYBE something like this is happening to you too....

Hope these help...:cool:

Kurylo

01-02-2002, 05:42 PM

The answer:
- FSB is 133MHz @ 166MHz;
- RAM is 133MHz @ 166MHz too;
- CAS333 @ CAS232;
- P3 800EB MHz @ 1.0GHz;

I didn't mention (I didn't said there is not) a big increase of a stability by downgrading to 133MHz and CAS333. It seems to me that it's the problem of more than 1 RAM stick.
I have a MSI-6337LE5 mobo based on the i815EPT chipset. The quantity of slots is 3.
I've also noticed that the stability of my system differs when my RAM sticks are in different slots. I have 3 slots too, and the most stable variant is when I put them to the 2-nd and 3-rd slot.

giancarlo_n

01-02-2002, 06:40 PM

Thanks for replying...

I am not sure if that is your problem, but if 3-3-3 settings are more stable, then let it be then....cost of performance is not that high...I run mine at CAS2 cause its very much stable in PC133, running at 140MHz, puts my PC overspec...The AGP slot is already running at 89MHz 'cause of the lack for a 1/2 FSB divider, PCI holds true at 33MHz, 1/4 FSB divider. I was going to mention that most PC166 or PC170 DIMMs have difficulty remaining stable at CAS2 settings...Try using ur RAM in 3-2-2, maybe then performance hit will be less.

BTw, what type of HS/Fan combo are you using on yer motherboards? I saw a very nice increase in stability when I exchanged my old stock PIII HS/4500rpm fan (allowed me to go to 700MHz from 500MHz) to my new Thermalright SK6/ Delta 6500rpm (loud) 38cfm fan... I believe this is particularly because the new combo also sends cool air to the 440BX heatsink. Good cooling is crucial....so whats the deal with yours?

Rugor

01-02-2002, 07:31 PM

Kurylo part of your problem might be a timing issue when multiple RAM slots are populated, especially since you are running at such high bus speeds.

A number of boards are significantly more stable with only one slot populated. I know it would be expensive to try but you would probably have more stability with a single 512mb stick.

As I recall 512 is the limit for any 815 based board.

Hope this helps

giancarlo_n

01-03-2002, 02:21 AM

Sucks just to know that fact, even more to discover it! In your CUSL T version, it might not hurt performance that much, but in some motherboards that use Via chipsets, which can enable 2x and 4x memory interleaving on several banks for better performance, YES it will hurt!!!

I remember reading something about capacitance and using multiple DIMMS, apparently some weird electrical phenomena goes to work when multiple DIMMs are used. Some motherboards are affected more than others...

Took me a whole bachelor's degree to learn zip, and 1 min on the internet to know that...:confused:

Rugor

01-03-2002, 02:48 AM

Giancarlo, the situation with Via based boards is not as bleak as you think. The bank interleaving works with logical banks on the same DIMM and can be enabled with only a single DIMM slot populated.

giancarlo_n

01-03-2002, 01:13 PM

Yeah, you're right, but you can only enable 2x interleaving with only one double sided DIMM (correct me if i'm wrong). Regarding the capacitance issue, i think some ABIT motherboards had some adjustments on memory that counteract those effects.:D

Rugor

01-03-2002, 03:06 PM

You can enabe 4-way interleaving with a single DIMM.

This is because the bank interleaving refers to the logical arrangement of memory cells on the chips themselves, not to the one or two logical banks addressed by the motherboard and associated with each DIMM slot.

I believe realworldtech had a good article on the subject some time ago.

giancarlo_n

01-03-2002, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by Rugor
I believe realworldtech had a good article on the subject some time ago.

Goodie, a new webiste to munch on....

Laterz:p

Kurylo

01-05-2002, 02:57 PM

YEAH !!! I've got it !!!
At the 2-nd and 3-rd slots my RAM is stable as a stone. The true hell was a Graphics Accelerator, It has only HS on the chip, and nothing else. While the case was open, It was heating to 60C, and nothing was bad. But recently I've got a Top Tech III sensor (I could not use a multimeter to monitor my AGP temps while my case was closed, 'cause I had not any hole to inser a wire), it showed 66C and even more!!!
Do you know how did I cool down my chip without a noisy fan? I simply opened a slot on my case directly below my AGP card (GF2MX400 with 64MB RAM OC'ed to 220/420). The weak airflow, caused by my CPU cooler and Power fan decreased my GPU temps to 52-53C (~minus 11-14C), and my PC became stable again !!! After a few hours playing Vampire, which was suddenly quitting to Windows, nothing unusual was not noticed. I can sleep again !!!

Kurylo

01-05-2002, 03:00 PM

BTW, 1x512MB stick is not supported by i815EPT (it was written so in the manual, and may be a manufacturer's issue). The only combination which is allowed to reach the maximum of 512MB as I see is a combination of (1) 2x128+1x256 or (2) 2x256. The second (my) choice seems to be optimal.