Self Made Computer Not Working. CPU may be problem?

[chrsiservice]

Last Christmas I built a computer from:

Sempron 2800+ and included heatsink/fan
512mb PC3200 RAM (forget brand if needed can find out)
K7N2GM2/K7N2M2 Series Motherboard
Western Digital 200 Gig SATA 7.2k hard drive (WDJ2000JB or something again I can find out if needed)
Some big monster case with a generic 400 watt power supply
ATI Saphire Radeon 9600 Pro

First off had a lot of trouble attempting to install Windows. Used a IDE hard drive, successfully installed but with error messages. Would boot up into Windows XP Home and then randomly restart after totally random amounts of time (though always pretty short) and totally unrelated to program. Reinstalled with Debian Linux. Didn't restart as much, but still same problem. I have tried replacing the video card and hard drive. Neither had any effect on system stability. I ordered a new motherboard, the MB nFORCE3-250GB EP-8KDA3J EPOX RTL, or the EPOX motherboard suggested in the most recent "Budget System Guide" on Anandtech.com. I will be installing this new motherboard soon, and will post about the effects. Until then I would like to get your advice on these shots I took of the CPU. These show the way the coolant and processor interact. I want to make sure that I didnt do something wrong there. Such as forget to remove those rubber spacers...? Any help greatly appreciated, Anandtech.com rocks.

 

[stevty2889]

If your CPU was bad..you wouldn't even be able to boot up, let alone install windows, so the problem is elsewhere. First of all a generic 400w power supply is a bad idea..the power supply powers everything in your system, I had a generic 400w PSU, it blew and took my motherboard with it..

I would run memtest on the ram, to make sure that isn't the problem. Since you are having trouble installing windows, I would do it with the bare minimums. 1 Stick of ram, video card, cpu/heatsink, and only the hard drive you want to install on. Remove any other PCI cards such as sound card, modem, etc., and any other hard drive. Be sure that after removing the heatsink, that you clean off the rest of the thermal pad, clean off the CPU, and then apply a fresh coat of thermal paste.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: chrsiservice
Some big monster case with a generic 400 watt power supply

There would be my guess...

 

[Furen]

The nforce3 motherboard is for socket 754 CPUs, you have a socket A one. The reason why you messed up is because freaking AMD made semprons for both socket A and socket 754...

EDIT: can you post a pic of the spec label on your powersupply? I'd blame that as well...

 

[CheesePoofs]

Either your PSU or your memory. If the chip is bad it wouldnt' post, as others have said. Run memtest 86 for a few hours and see if you get any errors on your memory. Are you running one stick of ram or two?

 

[Fern]

Hi chrsiservice and Welcome to the Forums!

Sounds like ram is the problem

AS mentioned above, download and run (free) program called Memtest86

I suggest letting it run overnight (it has no "end", just loops continuosly).

If you get ANY errors, that is a problem. Should be none.

If you do get errors, may need to up the vdimm (voltage to ram) or relax the timings.

Fern

 

[chrsiservice]

Thank you all for the timely help. I have one stick of Mushkin 512 MB PC 3200 RAM. My powersupply is a CaseEdge brand Model NO: F400-A. It came preinstalled with the case Diabolic "Minotaur" Mid ATX Gaming Tower. Here is some information about the powersupply qouted from this website:

The power supply included is a 400-watter private labeled for CasEdge by a Taiwanese manufacturer called SPI. The Diabolic series can be had with any of the 300w, 350w or 400w power supplies. The particular unit I received had the following published specifications:
CasEdge 400w Model F400-A Standard ATX compatible
? AC INPUT:
115V/230V~, 10/5A, 60/50Hz
? DC OUTPUT:
+3.3V === 20.0A, +5V === 32.0A, +12V === 16.0A
+5sb === 2.0A, -5V === 0.3A, -12V === 0.8A
? Fuse Rating: 8A, 250V~ (+3.3V & +5V=210W Max) (+3.3V & +12V=330W Max)

The website goes on to run diagnostics on the powersupply which may or may not be accurate. I will install the new EPOX motherboard once I receive some supplies that I need in the next few days. I have question for stevty2889, when you say

Be sure that after removing the heatsink, that you clean off the rest of the thermal pad, clean off the CPU, and then apply a fresh coat of thermal paste.

How do I apply a fresh coat of thermal paste? Do I need to buy thermal paste now that I'm reinstalling?

Thanks very much again for the assistance.

 

[the cobbler]

power supply only has 16amps on the 12v rail
A64 requires a bare minimum of 18amps
so that is definitely the problem

you need a new psu

 

[stevty2889]

I would definatly suspect that power supply. 16a on the 12v rail is weak for a 350w let alone a 400w. My 350w enermax had 26a on the 12v rail in comparison. A weak PSU can cause all kinds of problems..it powers everything in your system, and modern ones rely heavily on the 12v rail..I would replace it with a PSU from a reliable company, enermax, antec, OCZ, Fortron, Sparkle, Seasonic, and some others make good PSU's.

If you don't have any thermal paste then yes you need to get some. Use 90% or higher alcohol to clean the old paste off of the CPU and heatsink, and then apply a fresh coat. Artic Silver 5 is the best paste to use. Put a blob about the size of a grain of rice on the CPU, then let the heatink squish it out when you put it on.

 

[chrsiservice]

Great I will order the thermal paste tonight. For removing the old paste, should I dab a cotten swab in 90% or higher alcohol to clean the paste off or what? Use a dishcloth dabbed in alchohol? What object should I use with the alchohol? Also I do not have a A64, if that refres to Athlon 64 bit or something. I have a Sempron 2800+. If you think that I should still replace the powersupply then I will buy one from Antec I have liked them in the past. Do I need a 400 watt one or is 350 okay? For the nicer ones the price starts to add up. Cheaptest 350 watt Antec on Newegg.com is $52.00. Again thanks a lot for the help.

EDIT: For thermal paste is ther any significant difference between the $8 and $17 Artic 5 Thermal Paste's? I imagine not but if it's any big deal I'd appreciate your expertise.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100008
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007

 

[stevty2889]

Cotton would be fine, I usualy just use a paper towel. The only differance between the $8 and the $17 AS5 is the $17 comes in a bigger tube. I would just go with the $8 tube, even that will last quite a long time. A 350-380w antec will be plenty for your system, don't need to go to a 400w. I ran a power hungry overclocked prescott, with a 6800GT and 2 raptors with a 350w enermax. My Pentium-M SFF system is using a 300w Antec.

 

[CheesePoofs]

The 350w Antec should be fine, just before you buy it run memtest86 on the memory so you can be sure it is not whats causing all of your problems. All you have to do is download it and run the exe, which will put it onto a floppy (erasing the floppy). You boot off of the floppy and it immediately starts running, so just let it run for a few hours (although overnight would be even better) and see if it says you get any errors.

 

[BigBadBiologist]

Report back what your CPU temps are (you can do this by going into the BIOS and telling us what it says under hardware monitor/system health section).