ECS K7S5A Random Freeze?

[sjp]

Help!

I have used the K7S5A's before and never had this problem?

I am using:

Windows XP Professional

375 meg of Ram using a 128 & a 256 DIMM (would like DDR but got no cash!)

A 1 gig Athlon

Voodoo 3/TV AGP card - just added a fan to the heatsink.

Lan PCI card

I dunno until I restart what Bios version I have but will probably update it.

I also have the side panel off the computer case as I thought it the heat?

and an LC-A300ATX 300W power supply.

Any help would be appreciated as its becoming annoying now.

Kind regards

[mrrobotto]

Did you check event viewer to see what it had to say about any problems?

Welcome to sysopt a top notch domain

[BipolarBill]

That power supply is most likely the culprit. The ECS needs 350W of premium power at least. The average 300W PSU just can't do it.

Update that BIOS for sure. ECS lists the newest on the bottom of the page, contrary to convention.

[sjp]

Cheer both for your speedy help!

and thanks mrrobotto for the welcom to the forum!

My Bios is the latest (10/29/2002), but I can see it maybe being my PSU as it was one of those that comes with a cheap case (www.ebuyer.com)?!

The Event viewer just has one error entry with :

The Network Address Translator (NAT) was unable to request an operation of the kernel-mode translation module. This may indicate misconfiguration, insufficient resources, or an internal error. The data is the error code.

which I doubt is the cause?

So it must be my PSU? wierd though as it hasnt done this for quite a while, since taking the side panel of the case off?

but then again, we are having a heatwave in the UK at the moment.

I have just pointed a desk fan into the case to see if it helps, but I think I may get a new PSU if it persists but got no funds at the moment

Thanks again anyway!

got some more questions, but I will start a new thread.

[mrrobotto]

I was going to mention the PSU also but BpB beat me to it. I would go with a 400-watt minimum. FYI link.

http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/maxpc/cases.htm

[sjp]

Cheers again,

I will look into another PSU as soon as funds allow.

also, thanks for the link, that page is useful for when I build other PC's for people!

Regards,

Si.

[Peter M]

Check the voltages in BIOS setup. Anything suspiciously low or high?

Then, do a RAM test. www.memtest86.com
By far not all SDRAM that has apparently been working fine in an older system will do OK when pushed to its limit by an Athlon or P4 chipset.
Also, you might want to check your settings - with two DIMMs, you should set "DRAM driver slew rate" to "fast". Try easing up on the timings as well.

[sjp]

cheers for that help, Peter,

I have just viewed my Bios (and made those DRAM changes) with the voltages ok:

VCore: 1.776
Vcc 2.5v : 2.48
Vcc 3.3v: 3.248 changing to 3.232 and back
Vcc 5v : 4.945
+12: 12.736
SB 3V : 3.440
-12v: 11.967 changing to 11.885 and back
SB 5v: 5.026
VBAT: 3.440 changing to 3.456 and back
Sys Temp: 29 degrees
CPU Temp: 48 degrees

I have also downloded the Memtest App and will do that in a min.

Cheers again!

Si.