mobo or CPU?

[xxdermeisterxx]

hey, Ive got an AMD Athlon 800mhz slot-a, VIA chipset..256mb ram...windows xp..Recently it's been crashing/rebooting whenever it wants..I've replaced everything in my system (including trying 3 other power supplies) with backups except the mobo and cpu...nothing fixes it ...but one thing that makes it stable is disabling "CPU Internal Cache" in the BIOS...then it runs like it's 50mhz...but no crashing...now, would i need to buy a new CPU or Motherboard to fix this?

 

[shathal]

Well, you *can* try to test the CPU Cache - there are programs that do that. If disabling the CPU fixed the issues, I'd say that the silicon part that contains the cache has gone a little corrupt. That usually has ECC as well, but if you get a double-bit error that's that.

There a chance you can test the CPU on a friends system, or get a friend to check his CPU in your board? Tends to make things easier, if you've got a "definitive" proof .

 

[xxdermeisterxx]

Hm. . . I just saw this on some webpage . . .

Internal Cache Memory
This is the on processor cache on 486 and newer CPUs. 486 CPUs, up to the DX2-66 model, came with 8K of onboard cache. Newer 486s and Pentiums come with 16K of onboard cache. The cache memory is actually the single greatest use of real estate on the chip. When a system is taken out of turbo mode, along with a reduction in clock speed, the internal cache is temporarily disabled. This effectively slows the system down to something like the old IBM PC-AT speed. If the internal cache needs to be disabled for the system to function, it's time to get a new CPU, because the performance will be terrible. Accidentally disabled internal cache is the most common problem with PCs that have been upgraded, yet perform worse than the old motherboard/CPU combination.


"If the internal cache needs to be disabled for the system to function, it's time to get a new CPU, because the performance will be terrible"

Ya think I should just buy a new CPU?