OC Athlon Lockups... Any ideas?

[Blundar]

Here is the system in question:

Genuine Athlon 1200, purple core (unlocked with graphite)
Abit KT7A With factory bios
2 - 256Mb 6ns Kingmax PC150 Memory Modules (2 Way interleave set in bios)

Jaton 3dForce Gforce2MX 32 Meg AGP (don't flame - GForce3 ordered already)

Adaptec AAA-UDMA Raid Controller w/ 4 - 45Gig IBM Deskstar 75GXPs RAID5

SB Live OEM


The problem seems to happen most often ironically when browsing the web.
I have tried 3 netcards:
3Com 3c905B Rev A (Immediately locked up the machine following network access)
Linksys LNE100TX Rev4 (Admtek Comet Tulip Clone) (Worked ok, but still locked every 10min or so)
Samsung SC1200 (Best card of the three stability wise, but drivers SUCKED)

Problem:
If the PCI bus is running at anything other than 33Mhz, then the system locks repeatedly and badly on network access. I ran the intro to Dark Realms 2 a couple times and no lockups with any cards, but all cards locked solid after 10 min of checking email. I tried bumping the PCI voltage from 3.4 to 3.5 and 3.6 volts.... 3.5 volts seemed to make it a little more stable, system didn't wan't to post at 3.6
I'm running out of ideas as to what to try to keep the system stable. I really don't want to have to run a 33Mhz PCI bus because it will limit my overclocking options severely.
Speeds I have tried:
1200 - 12x100 proc, PC133cas2 mem, 33mhz PCI bus - fairly stable
1200 - 9x133 proc, PC133cas2 mem, 33mhz PCI bus - fairly stable
1275 - 8.5x150 proc, PC150cas2 mem, 37mhz PCI bus - Stable in games, unstable in network
1233 - 9x137 proc, PC137cas2 mem, 34mhz PCI bus - Stable in games, unstable in network

CPU temperature does not get above 48C - Globalwin FOP32

Running Windows 2000 SP1 with updates
DirectX 7 as shipped with windows 2000 (Side note - is DX8.0a more stable?)

VIA AGP 4x and MB Drivers are installed
VIA 4in1 IDE drivers are NOT installed, as the version I have are very unstable (I don't use the MB ide except for a DVD anyways)

NVidia Detonator Drivers from Website

The only other nasty thing I can see in software is that there appears to be a lot of IRQ sharing... Like ALL of the PCI cards appear to be sharing IRQ11. Will this cause things to crash?

I'm really at a loss as to why this system is being such a beast. Maybe cause it is named S8N?

 

[MichaelD]

Hello. I have almost the same setup. I have the KT7Raid, which is essentially the same board. I was having some probs until I assigned IRQs for both AGP and USB in the bios. There are two options specifically labeled "assign IRQ for AGP" and "assign IRQ for AGP" Assign both. Note that this isn't the same thing as manually assigning an IRQ to each PCI slot, which is also an option that's there, but I don't use. You have good RAM. Set the interleave options to 4-way. I find my system more stable in 4-way than 2-way or interleaving disabled. This may help.

I have a 1 Gig TBird, that's currently OC'd to 1155. If I go above a 35MHz PCI bus, the system locks at the desktop on bootup. I don't have a NIC card like you, (I'm stuck in the prehistoric dial-up period ) but I'd imagine that maybe NIC cards are just over-sensitvive to bus speed.

I'd also go and get the latest Via 4-1's, the 4.29 version. They are essential to your mobo being stable. Your board probably came with the 4.28 version, which I had upgraded to prior to the 4.29. The 4.28 was excellent and I had no probs.

One other thing that you may or may not already know the KT7 FAQ is an excellent source of info for this board. It's helped me out with quite a few probs. Specifically memory timings. Check it out. Good luck to you.

 

[Blundar]

thanks for all the help... I think my VIA drivers are the 2.6 version!!!! It is a very old version, that is for sure.

Is the fix you described by assigning a IRQ to USB and AGP a bios option or is it done in Win2k?

Thanks... Any other ideas people?

 

[billyjak]

Do you have the Microsoft AGP patch installed, they also have a large page minimum patch for win 2000. I would install these patches or you will have problems
Also Diectx 8a is good to go, especially if your getting the GF3

 

[MichaelD]

I think the 2.6 version of the 4-1's is the one that comes on the CDRom you get with the mobo. The 4.28 or 4.29 are much better, and fix a lot of bugs.

I overlooked the fact that you were running W2K. I run 98 and I'm not real smart on W2K. You definitely need to take a look at the KT7 FAQ (link in my earlier response) for W2K specific info. Also check Via's page, as well as Microsoft for that AGP patch.

Assigning IRQ's is done in the bios. I think it's the "Advanced Chipset" area...can't remember; I'm at work (guess I should be working, huh? ) and not on my personal pc. Go looking in the BIOS, you'll find it, as it's out in the open and not hidden in some sub-sub menu. Just "enable" an IRQ for both AGP slot and USB.

Again, there are some probs that are specific to W2K...I'll have to defer to others about those. Definitely install the VIA's first, then see what/if you still have probs. I'm guessing that they'll solve at least some of your probs. Good luck.

 

[Blundar]

thanks again everyone, I'll post back tomorrow with results.
so far
-Bios update
-enable IRQ for AGP + USB
-Microsoft AGP stuff
-VIA drivers
-DirectX 8.0a

Will report results later... any further ideas appreciated.