Help with cpu errors

[batorok]

hi,
I've had a heck of a time with stability and error problems. My question is, is there any way to try to sort out a bad cpu from a bad motherboard? I built this myself, and I'm sure it's way past it's returnable time point.

My system:
amd64x2 3800+ retail, retail cooler, artic silver paste (the original, had it for years)
MSI mobo nforce 6150 ( MSI K8NGM2-FID)
ocz value ddr400 ram 512x2
antec truepower 380 20 pin ps (came with my antec sonata case)
western dig caviar se 120gb pata
2x 320gb seagate 7200.10
onboard everything (sound, vid, firewire, ethernet)
intel pci modem
winxp home sp2


Couldn't get sata raid to install, when I finally did it degraded quickly, so I installed non-raid to a pata drive, seemed to go fine, but virus scanning the whole pc (had 5 hdds, pulled down to 3 hdds and still happened) caused crashes no matter if it was norton, mcaffee, or several online freebies, now I can't go into standby without crashing, so I realized something was fundamentally wrong.

Troubleshooting so far the hard drives pass scandisk and manufacturer quick tests (I can't delete everything to do complete tests), I've used the universal boot cd, passed memtest and memtest+, but failed prime95 in dos quite quickly. I'm not overclocking. I haven't had a chance to check cpu temps yet.

I know I need to run the dual cpu stress test from windows, and will do that after I load a temp monitoring program.

thanks in advance

 

[myocardia]

You'll need a power supply to run two A64's, plus 5 hard drives. What you have at the top rear of your case is not even close, in terms of the 12v power needed to run what you have in your box.

 

[batorok]

it's a dual core single cpu... I did pare down to 3 hdds, I did some calculations and it looked like it should be adequate...
I'm open to suggestions, how much power should I look for? any quiet recommendations?
thanks

 

[myocardia]

No, you have two cpu's. They might be on one core, but you're still running two cpu's, no matter how you look at it. And your psu doesn't have the power to run them with more than one hard drive, I would be willing to bet (assumng you have at least one optical drive, and a few fans, etc).

 

[AstroGuardian]

Friend, you should obtain a PSU with AT LEAST 25 Amps od your +12Volt connector. The one PSU you currently have should have arround 14-18 amps. It is not even close. If you read your mobo manual you will find out that the board must receive AT LEAST 18 Amps on 12Volt connector in order to run with SINGLE CORE CPU.
My recomendatin is to buy new PSU because it will give you stable computer in the months to come and will protect you componenrts from undervoltage.

Also viruses can be quite a trublemakers.
About the RAID don't bother. The NVRAID controller sucks when you pair disks in MIRROR mode. It degrades all the time. If you need a RAID controller in order to run the disks in mirror, you will need hardware raid option. I recomend you purchase PCI RAID controller.

 

[batorok]

I hope that's all it is, is there a good place to research power supplies before I upgrade? Or do you recommend any brands over others (besides the usual very expensive antec, enermax, pcpower and cooling, seasonic) that are of good quality, quiet, and more moderately priced?

 

[AstroGuardian]

You can also try Thermaltake, Colors-IT, Sharkoon, Chieftec........

 

[AstroGuardian]

I forgot to mention tha brand TAGAN. That is the best PSU money can buy.....

 

[batorok]

Originally posted by: AstroGuardian
Friend, you should obtain a PSU with AT LEAST 25 Amps od your +12Volt connector. The one PSU you currently have should have arround 14-18 amps. It is not even close. If you read your mobo manual you will find out that the board must receive AT LEAST 18 Amps on 12Volt connector in order to run with SINGLE CORE CPU.
My recomendatin is to buy new PSU because it will give you stable computer in the months to come and will protect you componenrts from undervoltage.

Also viruses can be quite a trublemakers.
About the RAID don't bother. The NVRAID controller sucks when you pair disks in MIRROR mode. It degrades all the time. If you need a RAID controller in order to run the disks in mirror, you will need hardware raid option. I recomend you purchase PCI RAID controller.

it's actually 24 amps on the 12 volt rail, the truepower used to be pretty decent supplies

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: batorok
it's actually 24 amps on the 12 volt rail, the truepower used to be pretty decent supplies

Okay, so you've got the new one; we thought you had the old True Power, which were horrible, as far as their 12v rails. Now, Antec isn't one of the best psu manufacturers. As a matter of fact, Antec has never manufactured any psu's. You always have to take their output numbers with a grain of salt. Your psu is putting out ~20-21A RMS. That should definitely be enough for a non-overclocked X2 3800, and no video card.

And since you're passing MemTest, that leaves you with either your motherboard, or your cpu. Now, you have, of course, changed your vcore in the BIOS to what it should be, right? Change your vcore to 1.375v, since all boards undervolt. I'm willing to bet that's your only problem right now. The majority of motherboards will set the vcore to 1.30v. With the undervolting that they all do, it's amazing any will even boot. That would have also been causing the problems you described in your first post.

 

[batorok]

I borrowed a 650 watt supply, that didn't help, and it's not overheating. I still get prime95 errors.

There is no vcore adjustment on this board. speedfan shows I'm getting 1.33. to 1.35 volts to the cpu.

now what?

 

[batorok]

anyone in the triange area, nc with a socket 939 amd cpu I could borrow?