MSI KT3 Ultra auto-shutdown woes

[LeCramp]

This is my first so-called nightmare when it comes to installing new hardware. Have done it for years and seldom have had any problems with it. This weekend ruined an almost flawless record

Here's, the story/problem: I went and bought an ASUS mobo (A7V333), an Athlon XP2100+ and 2x256MB PQI PC-2100 RAM. Never got it working (computer shut down 2 seconds after power on, or claimed "cpu failed system test" (so igot the dealer to try and give me a new cpu, then it just shut down)). So after reading this was a not uncommon problem with the asus board, i got myself an MSI KT3 Ultra. Dealer claimed this board had a rock-stable reputation.

Well, i get home, install the mobo, cpu and ram, and weeeee.. Computer boots, everything looks perfect. Well, until windows XP had installed the new hardware (not a fresh WinXP install), rebooted a few times and are ready to run for real for the first time. Then at the exact same point at every boot (as its loading the task-bar apps) it shuts down/powers off. Hmm, thought it may have been some conflict, so i decide to reinstall WinXP, and i plug in the CD to let it boot from there. Everytime it gets to "Starting Windows" (after it has loaded the the SCSI/IDE drivers and all) and i'm about go on and select if i want to repair/install/exit the computer shuts down again. At the excact same place. If i remove everything (only leaving cpu, one ram module, gfx card and floppy drive) and let the system hang and asking for a system disk it will also shut down within 5 seconds of that.

Not only that, it only recognizes my CPU as an Athlon 1500+, and if i force any other setting manually the computer will never reboot until i reset the CMOS. It does set the FSB to 266 as it should with this type of RAM.

I'm at a loss as to what it can be. I've tried removing all periphials, the RAM (it DID complain sometimes after a shut-down with 3 long beeps, and i removed one of the RAM modules, other times it said nothing, but i removed one of the modules and it hasnt complained since), i've tried most configuration options in BIOS that i might think of. Nothing, it still powers off at the same point give or take a few seconds.

Anyone have any idea what the problem may be? After 2 days of nothing but problems i'm really anxious to get this badboy started, and quick. Been 2 years since my last computer upgrade and i'm hankering for some speed

Can it be the RAM? (I did read that the A7V333 use a too high voltge setting for the RAM, can that have fried it in a way that could cause these errors?) The CPU? A faulty Mobo? Any ideas/suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks in advance,
LC

 

[ax57]

I wouldn't rule out the power supply as a potential source of the problem. I think that it's unlikely that you would have kept getting DOA hardware new in the box. (Both motherboards and/or a CPU.) I also think that it's unlikely that the Asus fried your RAM. The power supply was common to every configuration that you tried and a bad or intermittent power supply can cause the problems that you described.

 

[LeCramp]

Good suggestion, i just tried another PSU (300W same as mine), and same deal. Still auto-power off :-\

So unless 300W is too little to run the mobo alone along with a cpu-fan it's not that.. Thanks for the suggestion, i'm willing to try out anything right now, so plz keep them coming

/LC

 

[ax57]

Do you have access to a digital volt meter? You'd want to check the 5V rail from the power supply while it's under load. (During that brief interval before it shuts off.) I'm betting that it's going to be low. If it's low all is not lost, as your power supply may have a potentiometer that you could adjust to bring it back up to 5 volts. (Opening up a power supply can be dangerous, do so at your own risk.) Before opening the power supply you'd want to remove the power cord and turn on the power switch, hopefully this will discharge the capacitors inside the power supply.

Having said all of that, I think that your going to find that a 300W power supply is inadequate for an XP2100+. AMD CPUs are picky enough about their voltage, and you don't want to hobble your system with a PSU that's barely up to the task.

 

[LeCramp]

Ok, that sounds like pretty plausible. I've read other places also that this might be the problem. I do not have a volt-meter, and I'm not gonna go inside the PSU. I've learned the hard way to not tuch stuff in there, or inside a TV for that matter

I'm gonna go try buy a 450W PSU tomorrow, and i see my local dealer has this one for sale: http://www.aashima.com/products/product.htm?artnr=12898

It's worth a shot anyway, and i could probably use a better PSU with all the crap i usually have inside my cabinet anyway...

Appriciate the help Thanks. Gonna let you know if it worked..

/LC

 

[Bish]

On the CPU speed, you will need to go into bios and change the FSB from 100mhz to 133mhz. I noticed the same thing on my KT3Ultra until I found that screen (Frequency) in the Bios. Once I changed it, saved and reset, the CPU speed was correct.

Bish