Help! A7N8X Deluxe motherboard shutting down during 3dMark tests

[parkbench]

Okay now the problem has become even bigger.

Let's start from scratch: I have 512MB of Kingston Value PC2700 DDR Ram on an Asus A7n8X Deluxe motherboard with an Amd Athlon XP 2000+ CPU, a Panaflo fan, and an Alpha heatsink. The motherboard has all the default settings.

1) I ghetto rigged the panaflo fan as stated in this link. It does spin.

2) I did not put thermal paste on because the newegg mofos didn't give provide any.

3) I may have put the gargantuan heatsink on wrong, there is a brownish tint on part of the bottom of it, and I couldn't quite understand which way to orient it, however, it only seemed to fit in 1 direction so I put it on that way.

4) 3dMark says that my CPU is a 1.23 Ghz machine when a 2000+ should actually be 1.67 or so. So I'm assuming I should have the motherboard set to 133mhz instead of 100mhz.

My problem is this:

I have the default CPU external frequency of 100mhz and it completes the 3dMark tests no problem. But when I set it to 133 mhz the computer shutsdown on me in the middle of the tests. I'm assuming its a heat problem.

How do I properly set up these three components into my motherboard, and optimally set up my motherboard's settings (including making sure my RAM is running Dual Channel)?

 

[OulOat]

1. Make sure the fan is spinning.
2. Make sure the fan is spinning the right direction.
3. Install mbm to monitor the temps if you don't have the Asus temp probe utility.
4. Install and run prime95's torture test, that will stress the CPU. Watch your temps go up. If your comp reboots, record and report the last temp before the reboot.

 

[mechBgon]

NO THERMAL PASTE?! :Q Mayday, maday!

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
NO THERMAL PASTE?! :Q Mayday, maday!

Hehe yah really :Q

You should leave your PC off until you do the following:

1) get some thermal paste. CompUSA sells about 10 different kinds, and even carries REAL Arctic Silver 3 for $9.99 (OEM thru PCtoys). That's about as much as you would pay online after shipping (other than SVC, but you got no time to wait). Otherwise, there is generic silicon stuffs or even Antec silver at BestBuy, even Staples.

2) MAKE SURE the heatsink is mounted correctly. The notch on the base plate should be aligned with the "step" in the CPU Socket A, it should say something like "Socket-462" on the raised portion. Align the notch in the heatsink base to that. Make sure there is solid contact. Use the extra risers for more pressure if necessary. Also make sure the standoffs are fully screwed into the mobo and the acrylic nuts are tight on the backside. Use some curved pliers to hold the nuts in place while tightening the standoffs if you aren't sure.

3) Read this thread to get rid of the 100mhz/CPU is OVERSPEED errors and BIOS anomalies.

4) Once you've done all those steps, check your CPU temps in the BIOS, don't load the CPU if they don't look right. Once in Windows, run AsusProbe (MBM won't work correctly w/out a few other steps I don't feel like typing out ) and check your temps again. If they look OK, run Prime95 with AsusProbe open so you can see your temps real time.

G'luck, and if you still have your PC on, this should be the last thing you read!!! Power down before you cook something!!!

Chiz

 

[parkbench]

I'm printing this out and taking it with me to CompUSA right now and i will follow the rest as soon as possible.. thanks so much for the detailed answers guys!!

 

[MichaelD]

...and IBMs stock also went up. In local news a young man not only burned down his home, but the 34 homes around his. Johnny B. Clueless of 3424 C-meburn Street was quoted as saying: "I didn't think I need that thermal paste stuff." Apparently, he was mistaken.

Chizow, nice instructions for him.

 

[parkbench]

Thanks Chizow... your suggestions helped a lot.

I was sick of problems so I went so far as to clean the heatsink with alcohol and apply the Arctic Silver. The Cpu temp is reading 46C / 116F right now after setting the Cpu external frequency to 133mhz and running 3dmark 2001SE at 1024x768.

Worked wonders. Thanks for all your help again guys!