AMD AthlonXP 3200+ :: Is my PSU too small?

[n23uk]

I've been building up a new system, and ran into a few problems getting it to run properly, which I'll describe in a moment, but I should point out that I've now replaced the CPU and RAM and still have the same problem.... Do you think it could be the PSU?

My Problem System:

AMD AthlonXP 3200+ CPU
Crucial 512MB 400Mhz DDR

OP-A28K6-AL7 :: VIA KT600 DDR 400 SKT A ATX Motherboard
http://www.optronix.co.uk/acatalog/AMD.html

Antek SmartPower 350W PSU
http://www.antec-inc.com/uk/pro_details_powerSupply.php?ProdID=04351

Antek PlusView1000AMG -EU Case
http://www.antec-inc.com/uk/pro_details_enclosure.php?ProdID=01001

Gainward GeForce 4MX 440 Video Card

1 Maxtor 40Gb HD
1 Liteon CDR/RW
1 Floppy

--

System won't boot or post on [Jumper Settings for FSB] Auto Detect, or when setting board to 200MHz
Nothing happens, apart from;

Fans whirl
Drives spin up

No beeps, and no signal goes to monitor, so no bios.

--

If I set the FSB to 133MHz, the system boots and runs perfectly, but at half-speed (1100MHz)

The systems stability at this speed leads me to doubt a dodgy motherboard..

Do you think my PSU might be too small?!?

Need help here, the Mobo's tech forum has been helping up till now, but they don't post much at weekends

http://www.eqscomputers.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=de67fb2a0c0b517b905dba7bb56f6097

 

[mechBgon]

The 3200+ uses a 200MHz or DDR400 bus speed, so if this board is typical of other boards with a bus-speed jumper, you would set the bus-speed jumper to the higher setting (133MHz in your case) and then go into its BIOS menus and set its actual bus speed to 200MHz or DDR400, depending on which convention they happen to prefer. Upon saving & exiting, your 3200+ would begin running at its proper speed.

I would usually download the manual so I can give more specific suggestions on what to do in the BIOS, but I don't see where to download it from. If you can provide a link then I'll certainly do that. Welcome to the Forums, hope this helps

 

[ViRGE]

350WTs should be fine; unless it's just a generally dodgy PS, it's something else that's acting up.

 

[n23uk]

Mobo Manual:

http://www.eqscomputers.com/download/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=52

 

[n23uk]

The available jumper settings are:

100Mhz
133Mhz
166Mhz
200Mhz
Auto Detect

Other Mobo users I've spoken to have theirs running on AutoDetect...

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: n23uk
Mobo Manual:

http://www.eqscomputers.com/download/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=52

Thanks This will take me a while since I'm on 56k dial-up, so make yourself a sandwich in the meanwhile

 

[mechBgon]

All right sir, looks like the answer is to set these jumpers for the "200MHz" setting: screenshot from manual. With JP2 and JP3 capped on their 2-3 pins, it will give the 3200+ the 200MHz or DDR400 bus speed it is looking for.

Do take a careful look at the motherboard's surface to see which end of the jumper is pin 1. Sometimes the manufacturer flips the picture over (Asus A7N266-VM/AA manual comes to mind, it was upside down ). Post again if you continue to have problems. Your good-quality 350W unit should be ok unless you have a really outrageously-loaded system.

 

[n23uk]

Sorry, I should have mentioned more clearly, I've tried All the jumper settings...

The only setting that results in booting up, is 133MHz

On that setting, the system works perfectly - I'm using it to write this, but it runs at half speed.

On any of the other settings, you don't get beeps, you don't get bios, sorry

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: n23uk
Sorry, I should have mentioned more clearly, I've tried All the jumper settings...

The only setting that results in booting up, is 133MHz

On that setting, the system works perfectly - I'm using it to write this, but it runs at half speed.

On any of the other settings, you don't get beeps, you don't get bios, sorry

I see now. I'm tempted to say "return this weird motherboard and get yourself a nice Shuttle AN35N Ultra instead." Is that an option for you?

 

[n23uk]

Not sure...

I was in close contact with Mobo's manufacturers, and Ebuyer, trying to sort this out...

Everyone I spoke to before reckoned the problem was with the RAM or CPU, so I requested Refunds on them and ordered replacements, the replacements have arrived before I've had the opportunity to send back the old one's, so now I reckon I'm going to have problems getting the Refund

So I now have a spare stick of DRAM and an extra Athlon 3200+... I could contact them about the Mobo, but they're gonna think I'm taking the P*ss....

I need a pc you see, I can't feasibly send back the Mobo without having a replacement on-hand...

Was kinda hoping it was the PSU...

 

[mechBgon]

I can personally recommend the AN35N Ultra, since I have one that works very nicely and they generally get great remarks from their owners. They are cooperative, they will outperform any KT600 board, they happen to overclock well, and I won't chew your ear off with their other attributes but I suggest you order one if you can afford it.

Tangentially... if you used a heatsink that had a square of gummy phase-change thermal material on the bottom, be aware that those are one-use-only items (the phase-change material, I mean... it 'melts to fit' the microgap between the CPU and heatsink base one time). If you remove your heatsink and the pad has been used up, get some high-quality thermal grease, scrape off all traces of the burnt-out pad, and use a thin coat of thermal grease on the CPU core henceforth.

 

[n23uk]

Thanks,

Guess I'll have to speak with Ebuyer about returning the Board now... Don't know what they'll say about the spare CPU and RAM.... Although, I wouldn't mind keeping the RAM.

It's ok about the thermal grease, I use Antec Silver Thermal Compound, with a Coolermaster Jet 7+

 

[gaigebacca]

Hey, it may be the KT600 chipset, I too also have the 3200+ and KT600 in a Soyo board and am having problems with the FSB speeds, the best I can get it to run is 195 or so, stable after that, it crashes programs or restarts, refer to my post http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=28&threadid=1375071&highlight_key=y&keyword1=XP%203200%2B to see what all I mean.