Symptoms of inadequate power supply?

Xelloss

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
200
0
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I've got my 1.33 Ghz T-Bird running with an I-Will KK266. Right now, I'm using the Generic 300 Watt power supply that came with the case. (The brand on the power supply is labeled as "Turbolink".) Obviously, the things not AMD certified. Anyway, I'm getting crashes, lockups, and reboots whenever I start to install software (namely, Black & White, and Quake 3). I'm betting it's because the power supply is getting shaky, with the HD and CD-ROM and everything all doing so much stuff at once, but I'd like a second opinion.

On a side note, I actually did get Black & White installed after setting the BIOS back to Failsafes, but Quake 3 is still a no go.
 

cavemanmoron

Lifer
Mar 13, 2001
13,664
28
91
hmm i have an iwill with very few problems,
what are u running for memory too,
if u have different brands in slots, sometimes that causes minor probs,
also how many fans u got and "how bout Temps??"
if your cpu is getting warm it gets reall buggy also
try no side cover for cheap temp trial,
i found i have less problems with 1 stick good 256 /133 memory, than 3 128 "generics"
i have occasional freezups but not often at all, i am running my iwll kk266 with a 'deer' 300 watt p/s in a supermicro 750a case with like 9 fans running
hmm 2 80 mm in front botton ,2 80mm on each side one 92 exhaust, one ?[cant remember] on a bracket blowing towards the cpu [80 or 92 mm stock]
i added a 120 mm to the right side case door, blowing hot air out[ its at the top rear of the side door]
i am also using a "silverado" cpu cooler and the temps are nice on this setup
if u dont have one yet get a motherboard monitor stlye program to help u watch temps,to see if thats part of the problem...
{i do like the enermax whisper p/s in my other case}
:)
 

Killrose

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 1999
6,230
8
81
Thats exactly how my girlfriends computer acted a little while before a cap blew in the power supply, and it quit altogether. It was locking up, random crashing/reboots, ect. A new power supply cured everything. But it could be something else.
 

Xelloss

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
200
0
0
I've got 1 256 meg stick of Crucial PC133. I'm pretty sure that's not the problem. The CPU is kind of hot. Idles around 50, under load, it hits about 57. I'm gonna get a new HSF soon, I think. However, I really don't think that's the problem either. Could be, but I don't think mid 50's is that hot.

BTW, the lock-ups aren't random, the only time they've ever happened is during an install of a large game. And then they're pretty consistent.
 

BuddyHolly

Golden Member
Apr 22, 2000
1,078
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When the ps is really taxed, you can often hear a change in the pitch of the cooling fans on the cpu and in the ps when the hard drive and cd rom strain to crank up. Good canidate for a better ps. But, I have a similar setup running on a 300w ps with no problem..and I had a 112w peltier also running off the same rig..there really are good power supplies and cheap junky ones..
 

rpr

Senior member
Oct 27, 1999
576
0
0
I'm not completely up to spped on this (so please don't flame me if I'm off base), but it sounds like the VIA chipset issue regarding lockups during large file transfers.

Do a search for the thread entitled "VIA 133A Issue".
 

Xelloss

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
200
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0
Hmmm... hadn't thought of that. I was under the impression that was for really big file transfers. Like over a gig. But I could be wrong... Any other opinions?
 

nealh

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 1999
7,078
1
0
No it has been reported with file transfers of 100mg....
made worse with SB live....
 

Xelloss

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
200
0
0
Uh-oh. I have an SB Live! :) Well, I already downloaded the new BIOS, so I guess I'll try flashing it before I do anything else. Too bad about the performance hit, but it's better than crashing! Okay, I'm gonna go try it. I'll post again after I get some results.

BTW, seeing as how I've never done this before, I do have a couple of questions.

1) After the BIOS has been flashed, does resetting the CMOS with the jumper also remove the new BIOS, or does that stay unless re-flashed?

2) When I do the flash, the IWill site was talking about booting with a DOS disk to run AWDFLASH, but during POST there's a message on the monitor about pressing ALT-F2 to flash the BIOS with AWDFLASH from a floppy. I'm assuming I can do it there too, right? (Don't want to go dig up a DOS boot disk.)

3) If I use the above method, do I still need to mess with command line options for AWDFLASH, or will that be taken care of?
 

nealh

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 1999
7,078
1
0
I have an Asus A7V133...If you can get to dos without a boot disk I guess it is ok...but I would take the time get a startup disk and boot to dos mode ..place floppy with AWDFLASH.exe and make sure you know the correct name of the bios file and follow the instructions...
Hopefully someone else with an IWILL can answer you question about flashing the mainboard
 

Xelloss

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
200
0
0
Well, I have to admit I was a bit wary of trying to flash the BIOS - especially with the bad rap the 0416 BIOS has been getting. So, instead, I decided to try popping my SB Live! out and running with the onboard audio... just for grins. Quake 3 just installed like a champ. I'm gonna have to do some tinkering (re-enable UDMA and so forth) but this is a good start. Crap. I knew my SB Live's working on this mobo was too good to be true. Oh well... at least the onboard audio's not too bad.

Hopefully, this will just be until a more stable fixed BIOS comes out. Thanks for the help guys, and spread the word. The SB Live! and the VIA southbridge do not mix!