Computer freezing whenever trying to load something intensitive

[gaidensensei]

Hi,

I'm having a weird problem with a system that I just built up recently..

The system is consisted of this:
Abit KV8-MAX3 with latest bios
Sempron 3100+ S 754 (130nm version)
PC2700 512MB Samsung (qualified type working for this board) memory
350W PSU

It's been locking up usually after running something that requires processing power.

I'll go from the start of a fresh XP install.

Ok, I partition the 40GB HD (also tried a 10GB known working HD, still same problems), and format it (NTFS) using Win XP SP2 version installation.

installation goes along fine. No problems with 'missing cd files' or retry abort thing, it goes smooth ALL the way up past XP installation part 2 (where it's running in XP GUI). Then, here's where the problems start.

You know when right after it tells you to reboot for the second time, after XP finishes 'start menu items' 'deleting temp files' ETC, and when it reboots, it runs the program where it asks you to make a user name and password right?

Well, each time I had re-partitioned and formatted, I can never load this screen. It always freezes, then the monitor turns off automatically due to not receiving a signal.

And once I cold reboot by pressing the button past this, it boots to the login screen and I need to login as administrator. So I type in my pass, everything is working fine. I can idle in XP for 30 minutes (haven't tried longer) without freezing or crashing.

But here's the second catch. When I try opening control panel settings such as Security Center, or Firewall settings, the PC then goes back into that freeze, then monitor shuts off. PC is still running without any changes...

I've tried reinstalling/formatting past this tons of times, and it's not fixing the problem. Installed Nvidia newest nvidia drivers thinking it may had been graphics instability somehow, it wasn't it.

I swapped the PC2700 for 1 512MB PC3200 that's working for sure without a hitch in my own PC, and it still gives me the same problem. I tried swapping the PSU with a known working 320W, a no go. I tried taking out the GF4 Ti4600 and putting in a PCI GF2 that's working, same thing.

I put the Sempron 3100 in my current system, A64 3000+ S754, Asus K8V-SE, and I ran 3dmark01 se, FFXI benchmarks with no freezing and problems.

That only leaves me to the MB, but I don't know about this for sure...

I had bought this off someone in the forums for $50 shipped last week, he said that it was RMA'd to Abit due to the original one not having the onboard special fan, and he received a replacement which he shipped to me. And now I've been continually trying to get past this problem, but nothing seems to get around it. Even loading msn.com PC freezes and craps out.

However, there's one thing I noticed about this board. The bios's default FSB for the sempron is 204mhz.. which is a slight overclock.. I installed Winxp a few times with it on 204fsb, then I manually defined and turned it down to 200fsb and installed, still same thing occured.

Also, Cpu-Z reports on my K8V-SE Deluxe that the Sempron3100's voltage is at 1.456v while on the KV8-MAX3 it reports it as 1.400v, the same 1.400 voltage is 'default' in the bios. Is it wise to turn this up to my KV8-MAX3 settings?

Desperately need help, any would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[daniel49]

your temps and fan speeds all in the green? have you installed abit uguru yet? lots of cooling?
I have this board too and its been real stable for me I'm using 3200+ cpu though.
I believe the board is supposed to use pc3200. I see you tried that with no results though.
that power supply does seem a little anemic I'm running a 420w.
How much do you trust the seller?
:camera:

 

[gaidensensei]

Nope, I haven't installed UGURU yet. I've been trying to autorun things from the CD, but apparently something is corrupt with it - getting some error like "cant read from xxxaddressxx' while in autorun, so I need to setup things manually in the CD.

I've got the stock cpu fan connected on securely and an intake fan blowing right near on top of it from the case.

The first time when it was the default bios - whatever it was at, when I had my 64 3000+ in there for bios upgrading, it was making crazy beeps. LED on the MB was going crazy as well, and I was thinking something was wrong the first time. Then I got one of the huge 16" house fans (just to be safe if it was cpu cooling) and had that blowing on the MB while I was installing the new bios, I got thru without a problem. After the new bios was flashed, the beepings stopped.

I also edited my first post to reflect this thing regarding the voltage.

edit:

installed Uguru, CPU fan seems to be between 3000 and 3420 RPM, northbridge fan is between 4140 and 5160 RPM, Otes fan between 4500 and 5580 RPM

 

[daniel49]

mine is also set at 204.3 and I haven't fiddled with it htt or fsb if you will.
my voltage is 1.5

bios is up to 24 that the one you got?
http://www.abit-usa.com/downloads/bios/bios_revision.php?categories=1&model=150

 

[gaidensensei]

Yep, bios ver 24. I was questioning to why it was being set to 204fsb default too.

 

[daniel49]

Was noticing the last 3 bios updates had to do specifically with the sempron maybe its still not fixed?

whats cpuz show for the timings on your memory?
also all that original beeping may have had to do with the temp cpu calibrations..the original bios was off on mine and beeped like crazy and showed 180 degrees till I flashed it

edit: theres a bios setting going from agp to pci did you change that and take out old drivers?

 

[gaidensensei]

it cant be.. before i bought this board, I was reading some page where they overclocked the sempron 3100+ using the same board!

just found it:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/sempron-3100-oc_4.html

 

[daniel49]

numerous edits on next to last post

 

[gaidensensei]

Memory:
166FSB

2.5-3-3-7
(Using exact one that's recommended by their website, K4H560838E-TCB3 off http://www.abit.com.tw/test_report/KV8-MAX3/index.php

 

[daniel49]

that link isn't working .
maybe I am wrong since i am not an oc'er but shouldn't your htt and dram speeds be the same so there in sync. seems like I read that let me see if i can find that again..I know many here would know that off the top of thier head but like I say I don't OC can't see the minute value tradoff vs wear on componants....another topic...brb

well from what little bit I have been reading you can run it asynchronously but you take a hit on the latency?

 

[gaidensensei]

fixed link,

i had one of my friends who works as a pc technician come over earlier, and had a look. when we were going thru the parts, we tested each other component on my current system and they were all working fine..

before he left, he concluded that the RMA process is very shady, said something about that RMA'd boards are usually replaced with other RMA'd boards where the testers at the RMA dept find no general problems with booting and loading an OS.
he believed that it could be the MB.

I'm starting to slowly lean towards this too.. all the stuff ive tried, none are working.

 

[daniel49]

have seller rma it for you again?

 

[gaidensensei]

thanks for your quick responses and help daniel49, really appreciate ya taking the time to help me troubleshoot/check out any settings.

I'm currently Pm'ing the seller regarding if this ordeal can be fixed.

 

[daniel49]

yw , hope it turns out well for you. haven't found abits email support to be much use but thier boards seem rock steady and website is usually helpful. best of luck to you.
only bad I found on this board was nb fan was piece of junk went out in 3 months so had to remove it glue on a different hs to chip and a new bb fan this time instead of a sleeve fan.

 

[mechBgon]

It might also give insights if you list out the full parts list including (drum roll) brand & model of the power supply. If the RAM is running at 2.5 volts, try some Memtest86 testing, and if it gives errors, raise the DIMM voltage to 2.6-2.7 volts and run the test again to see if that has an impact. Good luck, whatever route you end up taking!

 

[gaidensensei]

Yup, ran the Memtests for both ram. They get thru with no problems. Thanks for the heads up on that mechBgon.

I'm currently in the process of negotiating with seller.

So for those of you who made it down here..
A short lesson from this.

RMA'ing boards are like a gamble, just like buying refurbished ones. However, manufacturers in the RMA dept usually test the refurbished boards and keep those that are working for the boards that are RMA'd.. and since they most likely had not done a complete check, we have what I've got here!

 

[nitro498]

Update
I got the board back from the buyer last week. I first made sure the CMOS was cleared by changing the jumper AND removing the battery. I proceeded to laod XP Pro on it. The board has been running fine for a week now. No problems.
P.S.
I refunded the guy his money. He didn't have a good feeling about the board so i built my wife a new system out of it and bought myself a 939 chip and board. It's all good!