AMD Athlon 64 4800+ X2 problem possibly?

[spooky617]

Hello
I am hoping someone can shine some light on this.
I have recently upgraded a CPU on my PC, went from AMD Athlon 4000+ to AMD Athlon 64 4800+ Dual Core. I had to update bios on my Motherboard (Abit AN8) in order for it to recognize the CPU correctly. I have not reinstalled Windows yet since it recognizes the processor correctly. However here is what I am having trouble with, there are times I get up in the morning & the PC is frozen, the screen is dark (since it goes to sleep, the monitor is going to sleep not the entire PC) & I can not wake it up - I have to cold reboot the PC. At the same time I had the PC lock up on me twice during a normal computer use, working on Word and the other time I was playing Call of Duty 2, when it feezes Audio studders & I have to cold reboot the system.
I am not finding anything in the Event Viewer that would explain this.
My question is, could this be related to the fact that I have not reinstalled the OS? or could it be that the proc (or anything else) is having some trouble & causes the system to become unstable.

Here are my spects:
Abit AN8 Motherboard
AMD Athlon64 4800+ Dual Core CPU
2GB of Corsair Memory (2 sticks)
2 WD 160GB SATA drives (configured as RAID 0)
XFX Geforce 7800GT 256MB
NEC DRD-RW DL
LiteOn DVD/CDRW
Audigy 2 ZS
ThermalRight XP-90C heatsinc
Thermaltake Whisper 90mm fan

All this is sitting in a Thermaltake Tsunami case.

ANy help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[GuitarDaddy]

The only change was you swapped the CPU?

Did you clean and reapply thermal paste? Properly seat the HSF?

Everything at stock speed?

What are your CPU temps under load?

I suggest checking system stability by running Prime95 or Orthos at stock speeds.

 

[myocardia]

You need to reinstall Windows, then load the AMD X2 cpu driver, then load the AMD X2 optimizer, both available here: link. If wanting to use Cool n Quiet (only if you have SP2), you have to get Micro$oft to send you the XP Cool n Quiet fix: link. The file that Micro$oft will send you is named WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-ENU.exe, in case you want to see if you can find it for download, without calling Micro$oft for it.

 

[spooky617]

Hello and thank you for your response.
Here is the info you asked
The only thing i swapped was the CPU
I have cleaned the heatsinc with Electrosolve Contact Cleaner which took ALL the thermal paste off the base of the heatsinc very nicely.
I have applied Arctic Silver 5 onto the CPU & reinstalled the heatsinc, it appears to have installed correctly

I never Overclock.

My CPUs temperature under heavy load( Photoshop open & running Call Of Duty 2 turned up ALL the way) is about 112-114F (my room where the PC is located is a little warmer then most, i have alot of electronics in that room). CPU Ambient is normally about 97-99F

Hope this answers few things, thank you again for your reply

 

[simonfarrell]

Hi,

I have the same motherboard and have also upgraded to an AMD 4800+.

Guess what, I've exactly the same problem.

When under load the audio repeats then eventually the system hangs. If not under load it lasts about 20 mins before hanging.

I have the latest BIOS
All the 64 bit drivers loaded
Temps are good 38c load

I've heard that you don't need to reinstall windows. I'm saving that as a last resort.

I thought it may be a duff CPU and have returned it but after reading this think it may be an issue with the Mobo. The retailer I sent my CPU back to is going to test it and let me know. I'll let you know what happens.

Simon Farrell

 

[JBDan]

Are your temps ok? Bios set to defaults? Vcore set to 1.35? Run ORTHOS for atleast 5 hours IMO and test for stability. I did the same upgrade (3500+ to a 3800X2). I do not believe you MUST reinstall WinXP, but at the same time I think its optimal if you do. I started with this thread -> http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81429 minus the WinXP reinstall. I still had issues after the optimizer & driver from AMD, but they were few and far between. Only issues were with video games. Low & behold, after much reading, I found out that it was my fastwrites. Fastwrites are now off and I have zero issues. Might not be your problem, but thought I'd tell.

EDIT: Temps are fine. Sorry but I am a PCI-E n00b. I'm still on AGP so I'm not sure if PCI-E even has fastwrites.

 

[CCityInstaller]

Originally posted by: myocardia
You need to reinstall Windows, then load the AMD X2 cpu driver, then load the AMD X2 optimizer, both available here: link. If wanting to use Cool n Quiet (only if you have SP2), you have to get Micro$oft to send you the XP Cool n Quiet fix: link. The file that Micro$oft will send you is named WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-ENU.exe, in case you want to see if you can find it for download, without calling Micro$oft for it.

Why do you insist on stating something that isn't true? It is not required that you reinstall Win XP when moving to a dual core. I do agree that he needs to install both the AMD X2 Driver and Dual Core Optimizer, however a full reinstall is not required. I would suggest trying the AMD drivers. If that doesn't solve the problem, then maybe I would try a repair. I think it's more of an issue with the motherboard personally.

 

[Nagisaki]

If you have not already done this, clear your CMOS. I had some issues when I upgraded to a 4400+, but then I cleared my CMOS, and boom, worked fine.

On a side note, I have never installed any AMD drivers XD. I should probrably do that when I get home.

 

[videopho]

There is no need to reinstall window. I knew I didn't have to when going from 3500 to x2 3800+ recently.
OP-
You should have run prime95 & memtest86 for stability as a minimum. Always do these steps first before doing anything else with your newly installed cpu system.

 

[spooky617]

Here is what I did, I have reinstalled WIndows, installed the AMD Drivers, installed the AMD Optimizer, DID NOT install Cool 'N' Quiet & my system has been running now for 9 days straight with out any issues.
Before that I have cleaned things up in WIndows, my temperatures were normal, for the most port everything seemed normal,
The only thing I didnt do is reinstall windows, i was thinking the same, "it is the same CPU type, not like PII going to PIII even though they look the same it would not work, system was always hanging.
For me reinstalling worked.
Good luck.

 

[simonfarrell]

Reading through Abit's forum it looks like it may be the NForce 4 drivers that are causing the problem.

Updating to the latest version should fix the problem.

I guess when you reinstalled Windows you probobly got the latest NForce 4 drivers as well ?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: CCityInstaller

Originally posted by: myocardia
You need to reinstall Windows, then load the AMD X2 cpu driver, then load the AMD X2 optimizer, both available here: link. If wanting to use Cool n Quiet (only if you have SP2), you have to get Micro$oft to send you the XP Cool n Quiet fix: link. The file that Micro$oft will send you is named WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-ENU.exe, in case you want to see if you can find it for download, without calling Micro$oft for it.

Why do you insist on stating something that isn't true? It is not required that you reinstall Win XP when moving to a dual core. I do agree that he needs to install both the AMD X2 Driver and Dual Core Optimizer, however a full reinstall is not required. I would suggest trying the AMD drivers. If that doesn't solve the problem, then maybe I would try a repair. I think it's more of an issue with the motherboard personally.

Never did I say that he had to reinstall Windows. I said he needed to reinstall Windows. Sometimes, not reinstalling Windows works just fine, for people who know enough about computers to answer questions about them. For the average joe sixpack, it's by far the easiest way around most problems. See the difference?

 

[fluffmonster]

I just installed an x2 4400 89W, replacing a 3700 San Diego. Stuck it in, installed the x2 driver and dual core optimizer, rebooted and everything works just as it did before.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: fluffmonster
I just installed an x2 4400 89W, replacing a 3700 San Diego. Stuck it in, installed the x2 driver and dual core optimizer, rebooted and everything works just as it did before.

That makes you lucky, not an expert, newbie.

edit: BTW, I'm willing to bet money that you're running on one core. Windows only checks to see how many cores you have in your processor when it installs.

 

[ndoggfromhell]

Then why does Device Manager show 2 physical cores? I didn't reinstall windows and my system has been fine. I upgraded from a 3800+ to a 4800+ X2. Are you 100% certain that windows only looks at the number of cores when it installs?

 

[Dravic]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: fluffmonster
I just installed an x2 4400 89W, replacing a 3700 San Diego. Stuck it in, installed the x2 driver and dual core optimizer, rebooted and everything works just as it did before.

That makes you lucky, not an expert, newbie.

edit: BTW, I'm willing to bet money that you're running on one core. Windows only checks to see how many cores you have in your processor when it installs.

no true, after my upgrade from a 3200+ to an x2 3800+ (@2.75ghz) they only thing required was a reboot after i loaded windows the first time. this was on winxp pro 64bit

I have only installed AMD's dual core optimizer as its related to gaming.

 

[spooky617]

Hello again.
I have replaced the motherboard. I am now using ASUS A8N-SLI Premium. Still using the X2 4800+ and the same ram, same sound card, same video card. And I still get lockups, not as often, so far (in last 3 weeks) it has happened to me twice, both times while playing a video game. I am wondering if the damn Creative could have something to do with it.
By the way, this is the "updated" A8N motherboard, with new heat pipe for the Chipset cooling as opposed to the Fan.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: spooky617
Hello again.
I have replaced the motherboard. I am now using ASUS A8N-SLI Premium. Still using the X2 4800+ and the same ram, same sound card, same video card. And I still get lockups, not as often, so far (in last 3 weeks) it has happened to me twice, both times while playing a video game. I am wondering if the damn Creative could have something to do with it.
By the way, this is the "updated" A8N motherboard, with new heat pipe for the Chipset cooling as opposed to the Fan.

What Vid card Drivers are you Using ?? and Platform Drivers ?? What Game did it happen in ? and when it happens does it knock off your 20 db gain on your Mic ??

 

[spooky617]

Hello
The video card drivers are the latest from Nvidias website (91.xx),the platform drivers? Windows XP 32bit?
The games I had it happen on is World of Warcraft & Call Of Duty 2
I am not using a mic, so I would not know of the 20db gain.

Thanx

 

[lopri]

What is your screensaver? Power management setting in BIOS?

 

[spooky617]

My screensaver? I have it set to simply display photos I have in "My Pictures"
As for the power management in BIOS, I am not sure, however it is default to whatever ASUS has as default, I have not change a thing (other then turning off 'Cool'N'Quiet)

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: spooky617
Hello
The video card drivers are the latest from Nvidias website (91.xx),the platform drivers? Windows XP 32bit?
The games I had it happen on is World of Warcraft & Call Of Duty 2
I am not using a mic, so I would not know of the 20db gain.

Thanx

Bingo......Try the 80 series drivers, and it should take care of the Issue... The Latest and Greatest Nvidia Drivers cause issues with 7800 series cards it the way that you are describing. Nvidia Forgot about the universal drivers, to assist isssues that they are having with some of their Current Cards.

I was having the same issue with a pair of 7800GTX's and that was the cure...

You Might also want to update the Sound Card Drivers... there should be newer out there.

 

[Mr Fox]

 

[spooky617]

Fantastic
I will be changing drivers the moment I get home.

I wonder, why would they "not hear people complain" about this and fix the problem.
Oh well, if this will work I will stay with those drivers until I hear otherwise.

Thank you again
Will keep up on the updates to this forum

Thanx again

 

[pkme2]

I installed my 4800+ on my ASUS and retired my 3500+ last week. I did all the necessary updates and voila!, everything works. Faster booting, and the real reason for updating, faster rendering on my video. I found new drivers for my card and everything works fine too.