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Can't OC after adding new HDDs - PSU???

J

JeffS

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 5, 2003
Messages
200
Ok, I've posted in a couple of areas and gotten some good suggestions to narrow down
what is actually causing the problem. Here is the quick summary.

2500+ @2.2 for about a year
A7N8X Deluxe
2x512 Giel Value
9500np

The above config was running stable and fairly cool for close to a year.
In june I added two new HDDs to the system and setup the onboard raid.
After reloading my OS (not onto the raid drives) I started experiencing intermint crashes.
No BSOD, just a hard crash/restart.

Because my screen froze, I kept thinking video card. I enabled VPU recover in the ati drivers
and instead of restarting it would just freeze for a couple of seconds, the screens would go black,and then come back. When they came back maximized windows were restored (don't know if that means anything or not)

On the suggestions of the group here I undid all OCs, vidcard, FSB, vcore, everything is back to stock. It's now totally stable.

So my question is, am I just underpowered since I added the new drives? did my system just burn out from being OCed for a year. (max cpu temp was around 43-45)

So, here is the ultimate question:
(please don't scream 42 back at me)

Is it possible my rig just can't be OC'd anymore?
Is it likely that it's my PSU at fault?
Is it more likely that it's my video card overheating?


Thanks for any advice
-Jeff
 
What do you mean SATA mobo locks aren't good? you mean the connection that the sata cables use?

The drives are actually PATA drives, with a highpoint rockethead adapter so I can run them from the SATA controller. (yeah, not sexy, but it works)

I haven't had a problem with loose cables, at least not yet.

thanks
-Jeff
 
JeffS said:
What do you mean SATA mobo locks aren't good? you mean the connection that the sata cables use?

The drives are actually PATA drives, with a highpoint rockethead adapter so I can run them from the SATA controller. (yeah, not sexy, but it works)

I haven't had a problem with loose cables, at least not yet.

thanks
-Jeff
Click to expand...

it means that if your PCI / AGP locks arent working perfectly, your busses will run out of spec. sata drives (controllers, whatever) HATE being run out of spec, and this is the very first thing i htought of when i saw that title...

edit: however, after reading through that again, im less inclined to think this. if your proc is running at 400fsb, which im guessing it is, the sata (read:pci) bus will be running at the spec 33mhz. also, i have that same board and have had no problems with the sata drive.

whats the spec on your psu?
 
could it be possible that those two hard drives are generating enough heat to raise the temp in your case and overheat your system? Try taking the side cover off and putting a fan right next to it while running the OC settings for a day or two. Its not the safest/smartest idea, but it'll help narrow down if the issue is a heat one. You may also try removing those two drives and again running it for a day or two to view the temps. Start record the temps at regular intervals so that you can get a comparison. I doubt you system just "ran out of juice" and can't OC any more, typically when this happens its just done for. My guess is something is either conflicting or overheating.
 
You ask if its your powersuppy, and then give no details on it. What brand is it, and how many watts does it have? IF you have motherboard monitor 5 and can get it loaded before you crash, open the voltage meters and check and see if your voltages are dropping or spiking
 
Sorry for lack of details on the powersupply. It's the generic that came with the chieftec case that I bought from NewEgg. It's 500W, and had a decent weight to it when I pulled it out to sleeve it. Other than that, I don't know much about it. I've checked the voltages with a multimeter durring both idle and load. The DMM shows them to be well within spec. The lowest voltage I've logged is 4.8 on the 5v rail. The rest were at their specific voltage or a tenth above.

-Jeff
 
JeffS said:
Sorry for lack of details on the powersupply. It's the generic that came with the chieftec case that I bought from NewEgg. It's 500W, and had a decent weight to it when I pulled it out to sleeve it. Other than that, I don't know much about it. I've checked the voltages with a multimeter durring both idle and load. The DMM shows them to be well within spec. The lowest voltage I've logged is 4.8 on the 5v rail. The rest were at their specific voltage or a tenth above.

-Jeff
Click to expand...


EWE....generic case power supplies suck. Doesnt matter if its 10000W with 5000amps on the 12+ rail....still sucks. Any friend you know with high end PSU's that you could test with? IM putting my money on that..
 
Sadly I have no friends....
with PSU's to spare :p

I'm about the only person around my area that seems to know
anything about computers. Most people around here find a computer problem, go to
bestbuy and buy a new computer problem.

I've got a couple of spare 350s but they are cheaper case generics as well...

Guess I'm off to the PSU forum to check out what to buy next.

-Jeff
 
no need...I can help you there. I know a shitload on PSU's.

Any of the following are safe brands... Fortron, Sparkle, Antec, Ernamax, PC Power and Cooling. I woudlnt ever use anythign thats not by them. Get something atleast 400W...but i woudl reccoment 450W plus. Your best bet, Best Buy will probably have Antec, get like a 450W TruePower and if it fixes it you got a great PSU, if it doesnt you still have a great PSU and you can keep it or return it

IM me on aim (MonotoneV) and ill answer any PSU question you could possably come up with
 
UPDATE:

on of my Raid harddrives started clicking like the dreaded COD. I shut down and rearranged them so that they are infront of one of the intake fans. I have also left the cover off the machine. I'm back to fully stable. I'm not OCing right now, I figured onced it passed the weekend without issues, I'd bring the FSB back up to 200 from 166.

Thanks for the PSU reccomendations.
Any thoughts on the X-Connect modular one?
I was thinking about recabling all my leads to custom lengths for what I need.
With the modular that might be even better, but I haven't heard any good reviews from
a technical stand point. Only that it works and seems cool. I'd hate to start chopping a brand new PSU but if custom cables will bennefit for airflow I don't think it would be that bad of an idea. thoughts?

I'll post more in a day or so once I bring the FSB back up to 200.


Again, thanks to all for the advice
and help

-Jeff
 
Hopefully your problem has been solved, if not i can offer some advice.

The power supply you are looking at is very good although pricey. I use an Antec 380w that I salvaged from my sonata case, I recently went with a fanless in that case. I have a chieftec case with pretty much the same setup you have. The 500w powersupply according to my measurements actually puts out around 320 to 350w at 80f. So it is definitely a powersupply issue. My system now works great with a 2500+ @ 3200+ with 2 200g Maxtor PATA, 2 200g Seagate Sata, 1 tdk DVD+_r/rw and a tdk 48x cdrw. Before changing the PS I had to remove 2 drives.
 
Thanks for the info Johnny. I guess new PSU is definitely on my shopping list then...

UPDATE:
I upped the FSB to 200 this morning, and started crashing again.
I finally got stable by upping the vcore a little, and dropping the FSB to
198. Now things seem to be pretty stable.
I haven't put the case door back on yet, I'll give it a few days
at this speed to see how it goes...

I think a PSU is about a month away from being purchased. Once the budget comes round
I'll drop in a better power supply.

thank all
-Jeff
 
Something else to think about. You could always try running the HDDs on one of those spare PSUs you have so you reduce the PSU load back to pre-SATA levels. This would tell you if the PSU is your problem for certain.
 
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