Strange problems with upgrade to 1600XP

[Mac]

I just upgraded from a 1000/266 Tbird to a 1600XP. The system was previously rock solid but now extremely unstable, usually crashing as Win98SE is being launched or immediately thereafter. It will run in "safe mode" without problems.

Have checked my temps, voltage, everything looks OK. Believe the power is more than sufficient (300 Watt). Running a EPOX 8KHA+ with latest BIOS.

Any ideas?

 

[Eras3r]

Check your FSB and Vcore from the BIOS. Also the the AGP divider and stuff.

 

[Mac]

Everything is running at spec. Finally, I pulled the 1600XP and replaced with the original 1000MHz/266 cpu, everything went back to normal. FSB, memory, etc. should all be the same, only difference is in mulitplier and believe the vcore but allowed both to run at default.

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: Mac
I just upgraded from a 1000/266 Tbird to a 1600XP. The system was previously rock solid but now extremely unstable, usually crashing as Win98SE is being launched or immediately thereafter. It will run in "safe mode" without problems.

Have checked my temps, voltage, everything looks OK. Believe the power is more than sufficient (300 Watt). Running a EPOX 8KHA+ with latest BIOS.

Any ideas?

One idea - reinstall Windows. Sorry that's all I have to offer, but if it runs fine in safe mode, generally an OS/driver problem...

jaybee

 

[Killrose]

What are your 5+volt readings? Anything below 4.83volts momentarily will cause problems. If the reading is lower than 4.86, try lowering your vcore to 1.7volts, this will lower the stress on the 5+ line while you await the arrival of your new PSU.

I think it's a PSU problem.

 

[Mac]

Killrose,

I thought about the PSU also but why would the system run in "safe mode" without problems?


Jaybee,

I agree, it sures sound like an OS/driver issue, but what could it be? The only thing that changed was the CPU. And as mentioned earlier, once I swapped the old CPU back in, system ran like a top.

Unlikely the new 1600XP is defective because it will run in "safe mode" without problems.

I'm so confused!

 

[Killrose]

Safe Mode runs with minimum drivers and resources, less system strain/CPU usage.

Seriously, try a 1.7V cpu core setting. and set hardware monitor to 10-15sec update setting so when it crashes out of a app. you have time to check the 5+volt reading.

 

[Mac]

I'll try backing off the voltage but guess I must have understated the problem. The system usually crashes when Windows is loading the desktop. I have been unable to get it to last long enough to start an app. Think I may have gotten to the Control Panel once before it froze up. Seem to recall once I was able to cntl+alt+del and said Explorer was not responding, then completely lost control. Usually have to do a hard reboot with the reset switch.

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: Mac
Killrose,

I thought about the PSU also but why would the system run in "safe mode" without problems?


Jaybee,

I agree, it sures sound like an OS/driver issue, but what could it be? The only thing that changed was the CPU. And as mentioned earlier, once I swapped the old CPU back in, system ran like a top.

Unlikely the new 1600XP is defective because it will run in "safe mode" without problems.

I'm so confused!

The XP has 51 new SSE instructions. I think the OS has to enable support, so maybe there is some issue there.

jaybee

 

[Killrose]

With the old CPU, what does hardware monitoring report on the 5+volt line at idle? And if you overclock it does the voltage reading change and by how much? Like I say, I know for a fact, that below 4.83volts at idle is crash territory, because it drops even further in a game environment.

Also Jaybe mentioned sse instruction set. Did you enable this in the motherboard bios? because I know the 8KHA+ has an enable/dissable choice you need to make for this.

 

[Mac]

Did you enable this in the motherboard bios?

Tried it both ways. Didn't make any difference.

 

[Mac]

Installed the 1600XP on an Abit K7RA this evening. Came up OK under WinME except for some strange artifacts when viewing jpg's. The video card is a GeForce GTS 2. Different PSU on this machine but still 300W. However the 5V and 3.3V rails are rated a little higher which supports Killrose's theory. Wonder what it is about the artifacts.

BTW, the CPU is OEM, purchased from Newegg. Sent them an email this morning saying the CPU was possibly defective and didn't want to lose the warranty. Within 2 hours, received an RMA number. Good company.