System crashes

[rich998]

Well I've been fairly happy with the build so far of my new PC. I had a problem setting the Os up on it (XP Home) before but I finally had the machine running with some stability although the Asus A7N8x-E Deluxe's recommended 2 x 512mb RAM (Kingston FSB400 ram chips as recomended on website) caused the system to only identify the system as running a Barton 2500+ when the actual CPU was a 3200+. I was happy as the system was running OK.

However, in the last 2 days the Pc has gone haywire. Here are some of the events.

I removed my old Ati 9700 board (and a Soundbalser Audigy5.1 board) in favour of a newer Galaxy glacier 6800GT 256mb (www.galaxy-hk.com ). I read that there is some way to set up the board's power supply which I really don't understand. Does it want a single strand from the 520W PSU I have installed? Presently the strand also runs the Volcano 12 CPU fan and a single UV strip. The Asus Probe does not report any voltage insability. The Asus Manual also states that the AGP must be a 1.5V card only and I don't know if the Galaxy card is this voltage.

Sometime in the last few days the CPu status has changed to the correct AMD Barton 3200+ in the system info. From this time the XP has been crashing. One such reports an error and a report crash analysis of www.microsoft.com as the BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER error was on one of those blue screens. I'm unsure what has happened but games have crashed and also something very interesing has also happened.

One of the first things to go crazy was that I could not get any file windows up in explorer.exe. When I clicked on a folder an error would generate to send to microsoft. Since then I have run Windows repair twice from the CD and almost decided to do a full system install. However, I found some instability in the Mcafee firewall and removed the McAfee Internet security alltogether which with the repair + microsoft updates SP2etc and registy mechanic I have managed to solve.

I think the software problems are now ok..... However, If anyone has any advice please can you comment and let me know your thoughts.

As for the BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER and the hardware triggered problem - This is what I am concerned about. I cannot run Battlefield Vietnam as the system will crash and restart when playing it. Is this fixable as it is?

My PC:
Superflower Real 520W PSU Quadfan & Case
Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe
AMD 3200+ Barton
KVR400X64C3A/512 Kingston RAM DDR 400Hhz Dimm CL3 (x 2)
WD Caviar SE 80gb SATA 8mb cache
WD Caviar SE 80gb 800JB ATA-100
Galaxy Glacier 6800GT 256
Sony DVD/R
Sony CD/R

 

[Big B]

Your CPU is an Athlon XP3200+? Correct. The thing here is that the XP2500+ uses the same multiplier as the XP3200+. The thing that makes the XP3200 faster is that it runs at a 200MHz FSB, while the XP2500+ only does it at 166MHz. It's also quite common to have XP2500+ easily OC to 3200+ speeds with stock voltage.

You'll want to check your CPU idle temps. If you see them running close to or above 50*C, you've got some issues there.

Ideally, you want a the 6800GT on it's own strand. If nothing else, I would have the CPU fan running on a different line than the 6800GT.

The other hardware thing is that if you're RAM is running at it's default speed.

In BIOS, set the Memory frequency to the [by SPD]. You'll get the detected values for it. The one thing that could be a problem is between the RAM and the nForce 2 chipset. The RAM is rated for CAS 3 (CL3), however, the nForce 2 chipset does not play nicely if you set it here. That could be a problem here.


The CPU External Frequency should be set at 200MHz. The CPU Frequency Multiple (Multiplier)...leave that at auto.

Now, if it's only battlefield that causing problems, check and make sure you're all patched up. Additionally, if you haven't uninstalled the ATi drivers (Catalyst) for the 9700Pro, do that, as that might be causing trouble too. Get the latest drivers for your video card over at nVidia.

 

[rich998]

Thanks for the reply Big B.

I have always checked the CPU temps using Asus Probe and they have never risen above 42 degrees Celcius. Infact they ususally level at around the 39/40 (100/105 F) degree Celcius mark with the Volcano 12 at 5400rpm.

I'll try to put the 6800GT on the single strand and get back to you. I'll also use the link provided to get the latest driver update. The Galaxy one came on CD which is probably now out of date.

With regard to RAM the Asus website Link to suggested RAM specs it states the KVR400X64 as a RAM type that the M/b supports which is why I purchased it.

I'll make the adjustments to the BIOS. Does updating the BIOS using Asus Update reset the BIOS settings that you specify at bootup?

Many, many thanks again. I owe you a beer! :good:

 

[Big B]

I wouldn't go so far as to update BIOS just yet. However, if you do, you'll want to go into BIOS, go to the Exit tab and go to Load Setup Defaults. Then save & exit BIOS. Standard procedure after flashing to a new BIOS. Afterwards, you can go back and set everything up again.

Temps look good, so I doubt they're a problem. Personally, I like Motherboard Monitor a bit better, as Asus PC Probe tends to flip out.

Basically, I'd look at the software side of things first, and wait for a week or so. If the problems continue, then look at memory timings and BIOS update.