Upgraded Dell C521 locking up

ljwcmw

Distinguished
May 5, 2009
2
0
18,510
My son and I play Call of Duty World at War Zombie Level with 2 of my brother-in-laws. M sons computer is a Dell C521 with an AMD Sempron 3400+ CPU. I had to install a better video card in his PC to get the game to play.

Orig Config. of Dell C521
CPU: AMD Sempron 3400
Graphics Card : Galaxy Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS (Low Profile)
RAM:2 GB
OS: Windows XP
Power Supply: 280 Watts
BIOS version: 1.1.11

Since the CPU was just barely able to play the game it played sluggish and really bogged down in the higher levels to where he was getting a 300+ ping on our home Lan and would eventually drop out of the game.

After looking around on the web I saw that some people were able to upgrade the C512 with an AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core chip. I got an AMD Athlon 5600+ CPU and replaced the Sempron with it.

I bought Arctic Silver 5 Thermal compound and the special cleaner. I cleaned the 5600+ then applied the Thermal compound to the top of the CPU as per the instructions. I put the original heatsink back on and re-started the computer. It came up great and much faster. I tried playing COD WaW again but it would lock up after a few minutes.

The computer works great outside the game. The only time I would see the lockup was when playing COD WaW. Everything would freeze with a buzzing sound coming from the speakers and I would have to reset via the power button

I became concerned that because of the higher CPU usage and graphics the CPU was overheating. I downloaded a program called core temp and monitored the temperature of both CPUs. They would stay in the 30's with normal use but when playing COD WaW they would move up to the high 40's low 50's. The highest I think I ever saw them read was maybe 58 for a second.

I've tried adding updated drivers for the new CPU:
AMD Processor Driver Version 1.3.2.0053 for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 (x86 and x64)
AMD Dual-Core Optimizer Version 1.1.4

I've tried playing the game with the case open and a fan blowing directly in the case. The fan seemed to help but the game ran sluggish (and I died on level 4)

So, is this a heat issue, a driver issue, a power issue or something else?

Because the C521 is a low-profile case I'm kinda limited on what I can do. The 5600+ is a 65w CPU. I could downgrade to a AMD Athlon X2 5050e which is a 45W chip and might produce less heat.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
LJW
 

AKM880

Distinguished
Apr 16, 2009
2,330
0
19,810
Haha, my system specs are almost the same! Anyways, it might be the video card, the 8400GS is difinitely not a gaming card. Have you tried updating the BIOS? I had to do this when installing my Athlon X2.
 

AKM880

Distinguished
Apr 16, 2009
2,330
0
19,810
EDIT: Sorry Double post. Also members have upgraded the PSU just to be safe, I think many members chose the Thermaltake 430 becuase of its long wires.
 

ljwcmw

Distinguished
May 5, 2009
2
0
18,510
So is the thought I'm not overheating the CPU but it's the graphics card causing the freezing? The PC didn't lock up before the CPU upgrade. I do agree the card leaves a lot to be desired.

Can anyone shed some light on my overheating concerns?

As for the PSU upgrade suggestion, the "long wires" is because the PSU has to be kept outside the case?

Thanks for your comments,

LJW
 

AKM880

Distinguished
Apr 16, 2009
2,330
0
19,810
Yes you are correct, the PSU has to be run externally or I remember one guy made a custom bracket for his. Do you have a passive 8400GS? (fanless) I do and I have modded a special fan that cools it 20c less.