Athlon Power supply problem???

[robisc]

I just got an Athlon 700 on an Aus K7M MB, now I am trying to install Windows and I am having various crashes during and after install. My question is I know that my generic 235w power supply isn't recommended but could these crashes be because of this, I am going ot at lunch today and getting and Antec 300 but I wonder if this is the sort of problems that happen when you use an underpowered supply?

 

[Shudder]

If you overclock a chip and it doesn't get enough juice, you have problems like this.

If you have a system that entirely isn't getting enough juice, certain parts may not get powered up when you need them, not enough volts, etc, and with 235 no name PS, I wouldn't be surprised if your problems went away after getting the antec 300.

 

[stockjock]

It could be your power supply...but I'm guessing its probably a RAM problem....the Athlon is very picky when it comes to ram..what kind are you using??? give more specifics about what you have...

 

[robisc]

Stockjock my system specs are:

Asus K7M MB
Athlon 700
256mb total RAM 2 64mb PC100 RAM sticks, 1 128 mb Siemens RAM stick
Hercules Geforce2 MX
Aureal Vortex SQ2500
Imation 40x CDROM
Maxtor 15GB 7200RPM HDD
D-Link NIC card
USR 56k Winmodem
generic case w 235w power supply

 

[DaddyG]

The K7M is a mobo from hell (at least as far as power supplies go) In their 'wisdom' ASUS decided to use only the +5v from the supply and not use the 3.3v at all (just like old AT style) Needless to say, the 5v line take a real beating. You gonna need a 300 watt supply. Check out AMD recommended list.

 

[Mem]

Get the new PSU first like Sparkle,Antec 300w(Athlon approved) first ,since this is cheaper then replacing the ram,if you still get problems then start looking elsewhere like ram etc.

 

[frank828]

if any of you need a PSU, i have SPARKLE 300watt PSU for 52 shipped Priority

i also have 300 and 400watt seventeam PSUs
300watt review
400watt review

i personally have one of the 400watt supplies.

here is what i have running on it

Classic Athlon 650@800 1.85 GFD
2 x 128MB Mushkin Rev.2 PC133
Geforce2 GTS 32MB
CL SB Live MP3+
Promise Ultra66 Card
40GB Maxtor UDMA66 7200RPM
27.2GB Maxtor UDMA66 7200RPM
48x Toshiba CDROM(ide)
12x Toshiba DVDROM(ide)
8x4x32 Sony 140e CDRW(ide)
2 120mm YS Tech 131cfm fans (intake/exhaust)
1 120mm Delta as a Card Cooler
2 60mm Delta Black Label
15" Blue Neon Light
3.5" Floppy

big load, my old 300 couldnt take it, i had lots of instability like Bad CD burns, and crashing in games.

my new 400 has no probs with all of it.

frank

 

[Fish54]

I agree that the problem could be related to the p/s, but the most common problem i see with inadequate p/s' is spontaneous reboots, not BSOD's or freezing. Give us a bit more information, and maybe we can help a bir more. -Fish54

 

[frustrated2]

I had some siemens ram in my athlon rig and it wouldn't run worth a $hit. I would try only the 2 64 meg sticks or the 1 128 meg stick and see if this is the problem. I would also upgrade my powersupply to at least a 300 watt athlons have some serious current problems. These classic athlons produce a tremendous amount of heat and anything putting out that kind of heat has to be using a lot of power. I have a friend that had a k7m and never got it to work right so he junked it (not to rain on your parade)