[exorcism]

My complete and detailed system specs are below.

I recently upgraded from an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.8GHz 512KB Winchester CPU to my current AMD Athlon X2 4800+. I have never had any problems with my computer until this upgrade.

However, my computer is crashing all the time now! If I enable Cool'n'Quiet in the bios the computer frequently halts with "Machine Check Exception" and always halts during games. However, with CnQ disabled the computer frequently halts with "Bad Pool Caller" (at any given time, regardless of what I'm doing.)

This is happening all the time now and it is very frustrating! Like I said, I’ve never had problems until this upgrade.

I’m not over clocking, or doing anything unusual (that I’m aware of.)

I’m a bit concerned the power supply isn’t powerful enough to handle this CPU. I can’t seem to find any AMD certifications or recommendations for power supplies. I don’t want to buy anything I don’t absolutely need, and I only have about $100 to spend if I do. However, I really need to get this fixed ASAP.

I also remember in the old days there was a danger of chipping or cracking the core when installing the heatsync. Is that still a problem and should I be concerned that I installed it wrong?

What do you think is wrong with my system, and how can I fix it?

Thanks


OS:
Fresh Install Windows XP Pro SP2, all patches


CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2.4GHz 1MB L2/ea.
Stock heatsync (heatpipe version) runs at ~40-45C
Driver:
AMD Processor Driver 1.2.2.2 (actual file version 1.2.2.0)
Windows XP hotfix (files+registry)

Motherboard:
Asus A8V-Deluxe Via K8T800Pro + VT8237 Bios 1017
Driver:
VIA Hyperion Pro 5.07A

Memory:
Corsair VS1GBKIT400 1GB Kit (2x 512MB) DDR400 PC3200 CAS2.5 Value Select Memory Dual Channel Configuration @ 400MHz


Power Supply:
EnerMax Noisetaker 370W EG375P-VE
+3.3V: 27A (89.1w) +5V: 27A (135w) 2x +12V: 18A (216w)/ea.


Video Card:
PNY Verto GeForce 6800GT 256MB GDDR3 AGP 8x idles at ~61c
Driver:
nVidia 81.98

Sound Card:
Creative Labs Sound Blaster 2 ZS
Driver:
Creative Labs 02.08.0004

Wireless Card:
Asus WiFi-G RALink RT2500 PCI
Driver:
RALink 2500 3.1.0.0


Hard Drive:
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6B300S0 300GB Serial ATA (1.5Gb/s) 7200RPM Hard Drive w/16MB Buffer

DVD-RW:
Pioneer DVR-A08XL Firmware 1.20-B

Floppy Drive:
Standard 1.44MB 3.25"

[ivanolo]

Backup, format, reinstall? If that doesn't work, get a new PSU?

[exorcism]

Couple of quick responses to a lot of questions I've been asked:

-All the drivers are the latest stable available.

-The bios is the latest available. The CMOS has been cleared and have tried using my bios settings and the defaults. Doesn't make a difference (except the C&Q option above.)

-Temps/Volts:
(With case fully assembled, sides on, etc.)

Idle:
200.26x5.00 1001.28mhz 1.1v
Processor temp: 30C (86F)
"Temp1": 18C (64.4F)
"Temp3": 16C (60.8F)
Vcore: 1.09v
+12v: 11.43v
3.3v: 3.30v
Vcc: 5.01v
5vsb: 4.96v

Load:
(running dnetc on both cores)
200.26x12.00 2403.07mhz 1.4v
Processor temp: 49C (120.2F)
"Temp1": 18C (64.4F)
"Temp3": 31C (87.8F)
Vcore: 1.36v
+12v: 11.31v
3.3v: 3.30v
Vcc: 5.01v
5vsb: 4.93v

According to AMD's tech sheets, the processor is designed to run at 49-65C.

-Most of the parts in this system are not very old.
Video card: Got it when Doom3 came out (little over a year.)
Motherboard/RAM/Old proc: Got when Everquest2 came out (around a year.)
Powersupply: Got when the video card killed my old power supply (was a 250w), around a year.

-The video card has always ran at this temp since I got it. It's actually running a bit hotter now, but I have to clean the dust out of its tiny heatsync every couple of months. (Time to do it again, starting to buzz a lot too.)

-I upgraded to this processor mostly for working in Adobe Premiere and encoding. These programs and more use the dual-core feature and it helps a lot. Every OpenGL game I have and several Direct3D games do as well.

-I have been looking at and considering the Enermax Liberty 500w which is about $105 at zipzoomfly.

-I let Prime95, dnetc, and Hot CPU Test Pro 4 run overnight. None reported errors and there were no crashes.

[Cartman]

"and always halts during games"
First: Run memtest. make sure your ram is a-ok

second:
Use older drivers for the video card... www.guru3d.com will have them... and sometimes i like to fun AGP 4x and turn fastwrite off if i'm having video card problems... make sure the AGP voltage is high enough...


NOTE: u will nto need a 100 dollar psu... you'll need a 45 dollar psu and that's a decent one

[Jamsan]

Your 12v rail is WAY too weak.... I flip a shit when my 12v rail hits 11.80v -- The spec on rails is usually +/- 5%, and your rail is very close to out of spec even at idle. I'd definately get a new powersupply. There are great PSU's that cost less than the one you posted. I actually have one for sale as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103512

That's the one i have for sale -- pm me if your interested in buying it. we can talk price there

[msgwtco]

11.31 Volts on your +12V rail is way too low according to this chart. you probaly need a new PSU

[Binman]

Dosent Nvidia recommend at least 450W psu for that card, I know my 6800GS needs it!