• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Older PC, possible vcore or freq issues

A

Akki

Member
I have a 5+ year old computer with a P3V4X MB and a 1300mhz Celeron slocket.

I've had minimal problems until recently, when it began giving me nothing but trouble. IDE devices stop responding occasionally or Windows freezes when I try to access them. This includes any of my three hard drives or two CD drives. Sometimes Windows will freeze when booting up, either on a black screen before it loads or just after I login.

Harddrives will stop working altogether until I randomly unplug another device, then they'll be fine. I'll plug the device I pulled back in later and everything will be fine. When it happens again, it's something else malfunctioning, rarely the same thing twice.

Once after a freeze, it brought me into the BIOS and gave me a message about the PCI frequency being out of spec. That only happened once and I dunno if that's a possible cause of my problems or just a symptom.

I also often get alerts when I go into the BIOS about the vcore. It's set in the BIOS as 2.05v, but the BIOS monitor has it in red as 2.11v. I have no idea what vcores are supposed to be.

Stats from BIOS:
CPU multi: 8.0x
Sytem freq: 105
PCI Freq: 35

I have a good 500W PSU, which ought to be more than enough for my machine.

Help?
 
well if your multi is at 8x and your system frequecny is 105mhz..your CPU is being underclocked. Your muli should be 13x if your CPU is 100mhz FSB(which I think it is). Not sure what the vcore is for that CPU unless you give more details, but that sounds kinda high... Also, what brand is your 500w PSU(which is a major overkill for that system by the way). 500w means nothing by itself, especialy if it's a generic brand, and I would be suspicious of the power supply if you are having those problems with your hard drives and cd drives, but could also be your motherboard. You must have a PCI IDE controller as well to have that many drives? PCI prequncy is at 35mhz, should be at 33mhz, PCI bus is very sensative to overclocks, so that could be effecting your hard drives/cd-roms as well, your FSB(system freq) should be at 100mhz, not 105.
 
My processor: link

I messed around with OC'ing it years ago, and it's been working stable for five years, so I have no idea why it'd trouble me now. I can't remember any of the OC'ing stuff. Also keep in mind that it's running through a slocket which and I believe the slocket keeps the CPU at the right FSB.

I do have an IDE controller. I thought it might be the culprit at first, but devices on either it or the MB IDE seem to fail about the same.

The PSU is a Sparkle, I believe. Yeah, definitely overkill but I figured I might as well invest in something I could keep through upgrades.
 
Akki,

Sparkle is a well respected PSU.

If, as you said, the system has been fine for 5 years what kind of heatsink paste did you use?
What are your temps running?
Perhaps you merely need to remove / replace the thermal paste on your HSF.

Let us know.
 
I'd really hate to have to do that, but I might give it a try if it continues and I run out of other ideas.

Mainly for now I'd like to know what's up with the vcore, as I don't really understand it or why my BIOS thinks there's a problem with it.
 
Well the vcore for that chip is 1.65v, so that is definatly set way too high, and your multiplier should be 13x, right now your only running the chip at 840mhz...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top