A7N8X Deluxe problem...Help!!!

[groth2757]

I've built a system for a friend and I'm having problems. Here is the system...

Mobo-Asus A7N8X Deluxe
Proc-Athlon XP 1800+ Thoroughbred
Shim-Copper
HSF-Antec HSF Aluminum base (bought at CompUSA..had to get something in a pinch)
RAM-256MB Corsair 3200 C2 XMS Series
HDD-WD 60GB 72000
DVD-ROM-Lite On 16x
CD-RW-Lite On 48x24x48
Case-Chieftec DH-01W
PSU-450w Foxconn (came with case)

Everything was detected fine with the motherboard. I set the FSB to 133 and memory to optimal to start off with. What is very wierd is that my CPU temps are jumping around in the BIOS. It can go from 35C and quickly jump to 90c which is insane!! I read in some of the other posts that some of the temp readings with this board are faulty and as long as the cpu area isn't warm to the touch you shouldn't worry. Also, the BIOS is saying that the CPU fan is spinning at 7300+ RPM's when I know it isn't!! When I try to install WinXP Pro everything goes well until I get to the formatting stage. When I get to anywhere from 6% to 9% done the PC shuts off completely. It's probably not a formatting issue at all since it seems that it happens within a certain amount of time into the setup. Also I hear the system's fans decrease in speed just a little right before the PC shuts off. It seems like the PC is trying to go to suspend but instead shuts off. I don't know what could be causing this. I don't think it's the temp because I've held my hand down near the bottom of the HSF and it feels cool. Is there a setting in the BIOS that may be interupting the format? Any help would be greatly appreciated.




Top Processor=$799
Mobo=$150
RAM=$300
Video Card=$500
HDD=$120
Case=$180
DVD-ROM=$50
DVD-RW=$300
Putting it all together and hearing several loud pops=Priceless

 

[fiask0]

I have your answer as the EXACT same thing happened to me. Try removing the heatsink and putting it back on, make sure it snugly fits the processor. I think what is happening is that bios is reading a faulty temperature and its shutting down the system to protect itself. It took me like 4-5 times to through the computer shutting off before i realized what was going on. If that doesn't work, try reversing the heatsink, but be careful with the resistors next to the cpu. As for the faulty temperature guage, mine also read 90C at one point, which is insane. I had another box that the heatsink fan failed and the cpu was really at about 87C or so.. It melted the ide cable for the cdrom drive and i burned the s*#@* outta my finger accidently touching it. I'm sure that if the heatsink isn't hot, you're probably ok. Oh.. make sure you use thermal grease also =) If ya have anymore problems, ya can email me. stone@elp.rr.com .. Good luck!

 

[Dreadnaught]

yeah for sure make sure you apply new grease before reseating your heatsink! im guessing you are gonna have to goto the store since you got the cheap thing to start out... might as well just go get something good while your out.

 

[groth2757]

Thank you very much for the replies. I'm going to try to reset the heatsink and see if that works. I didn't know that the board would read faulty temps if the heatsink were not seated correctly. I thought for sure that I put it on snug but you never know. I did put thermal grease on also, but it was the cheap kind. This time around I'm putting some Arctic Silver 3 on. What temps should an Athlon XP thoroughbred core be running at? I'll get back to you when I try everything. Thanks again!

Top Processor=$799
Mobo=$150
RAM=$300
Video Card=$500
HDD=$120
Case=$180
DVD-ROM=$50
DVD-RW=$300
Putting it all together and hearing several loud pops=Priceless

 

[ineedhelpbadly]

did u have any trouble getting the corsair XMS cas 2 256 ddr 400 to work? i ordered that MOBO and was about to order that memory but I hear people saying that it won't post... is that for all of them or a few bad boards?

 

[gregp]

ineedhelpbadly,
I've got 2 sticks of 256MB Corsair XMS3200-C2 (400 MHz CAS 2) and am running with no problem. Booted up fine the first time at 400MHz. I've heard some people having problems too but by no means is it universal.

 

[fiask0]

Ya know, one other thing you might try is removing the copper shim, I'm not using a shim on mine.

 

[groth2757]

Well guess what? My dumb ass put the damn heatsink on backwards. I must have been really tired to do that. I also did away with the shim. Now I got his cpu running at a cool 35C. I gotta tell ya that the board is sweet. Nvidia really put together a nice chipset. The memory is working great also. Although in the bios the memory speed reads 200, but that's being double pumped right??

Top Processor=$799
Mobo=$150
RAM=$300
Video Card=$500
HDD=$120
Case=$180
DVD-ROM=$50
DVD-RW=$300
Putting it all together and hearing several loud pops=Priceless

 

[fiask0]

Did you put the part where you use a screwdriver towards the top of the board by the power supply.. or the bottom of the processor closest to the agp card, out of curiosity

 

[groth2757]

Well the way this HSF is situated I had to use a screwdriver at both ends. It has clips that slip over the aluminum posts that have springs on the heatsink. These clips attach directly to the socket. I simply put it on wrong by 180 degrees. I wasn't thinking and being that is was midnight didn't help either.

Top Processor=$799
Mobo=$150
RAM=$300
Video Card=$500
HDD=$120
Case=$180
DVD-ROM=$50
DVD-RW=$300
Putting it all together and hearing several loud pops=Priceless

 

[Makaveli]

Don't leave the memory running @ 200mhz and the Front side bus @ 133. That is causing major latency. I suggest u go to 133/133 for best performance or 133/166 if you really need the memory higher.

 

[halkebul]

Although in the bios the memory speed reads 200, but that's being double pumped right??

Hello. It may be the case that your processor is underclocked. Make sure your FSB is at 133MHz and memory speed is "sync".

You could also obtain a very impressive overclock by setting the AGP bus to 66MHz and increasing the FSB. Probably something around 1.8GHz.

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[groth2757]

Don't leave the memory running @ 200mhz and the Front side bus @ 133. That is causing major latency. I suggest u go to 133/133 for best performance or 133/166 if you really need the memory higher.

But wouldn't I be running the memory below the proper speed if I decrease to 133 or 166? I have a Corsair XMS3200 256MB module on the board.

Hello. It may be the case that your processor is underclocked. Make sure your FSB is at 133MHz and memory speed is "sync".

I do have the FSB set to 133. I'm not looking to overclock because it is not my pc. I built it for a friend who had a 3 year old HP so you can imagine going to 1.5GHz is a dream come true.

Top Processor=$799
Mobo=$150
RAM=$300
Video Card=$500
HDD=$120
Case=$180
DVD-ROM=$50
DVD-RW=$300
Putting it all together and hearing several loud pops=Priceless

 

[halkebul]

do have the FSB set to 133. I'm not looking to overclock because it is not my pc. I built it for a friend who had a 3 year old HP so you can imagine going to 1.5GHz is a dream come true.

Very well then. BTW, excellent component choices. Cheers!

<i>It's your world kid!!!</i>

 

[groth2757]

Thanks. I got some help from the good folks here!!!

Top Processor=$799
Mobo=$150
RAM=$300
Video Card=$500
HDD=$120
Case=$180
DVD-ROM=$50
DVD-RW=$300
Putting it all together and hearing several loud pops=Priceless