hardware problems

[acebldr]

I have just upgraded my a7n8x deluxe motherboard with a 2500+ amd cpu and my problems have begun. (Previously running 1800+ cpu which I have now given to my son).  The board defaults to a 166mz fsb with this chip, but my system is unstable. Lots of corrupted files. Have repaired Windows XP twice.  Memory is Kingston pc2700 DDR (2 512mb sticks).  I have no clue as to the problems or solution. I have throttled down to 133mz fsb, but now my system is slower than before the upgrade!. Thanks for any assistance.

[GunnerCAF]

Acebldr,

I an no expert, but I don't see any replies.  I would first check you memory.  Swap it out if possible, or find a program that checks it for memory errors.  If your mememory isn't bad, you may have a problem with your motherboard.

I have had the same problem twice, on different PCs.  The first time it happened, new memory did the trick.  The last time it happened, I tried everthing.   After a frustrating several months of reinstalling Windows, I upgraded the MB and processor.

I have an Asus A7V8X-X, AMD 2500+ and it has been working great.  Good luck.

Gunner

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

Did you install the VIA 4in1 driver package after Windows XP was installed and done configuring itself?

If not, you should do that.

http://www.asus.com.tw/support/download/selectftp.aspx?l1_id=1&l2_id=10&l3_id=21&m_id=2&f_name=4in1_449.zip~zaqwedc
-SW

[DAVENRINO]

Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Did you install the VIA 4in1 driver package after Windows XP was installed and done configuring itself?

If not, you should do that.

http://www.asus.com.tw/support/download/selectftp.aspx?l1_id=1&l2_id=10&l3_id=21&m_id=2&f_name=4in1_449.zip~zaqwedc
-SW

It is not a VIA chipset.   Did you try installing the new Nforce drivers.  I am using the 3.13 with that series board.  Checking memory with Memtest is also a great idea.  You need to install SP1 before the newer Nforce drivers.  I would also reinstall vid drivers ( what card?) and DirectX.

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

Strange that Asus has the 4in1 drivers listed as downloads for the A7V8X board then.
-SW

[jonnyb]

Wulfe, he's driving on an A7N8X Deluxe.  It's an n-force2 based board with nvidia north and southbridges.  VIA 4n1 drivers will be useless.  I think you might have read Gunner's specs and confused the two posts.

Ace, as to your original post, if you installed the 2500+ with barton core, you should do a complete format/re-install of XP.  After that, run memtest (you can find it at http://www.memtest86.com) to diagnose any problems with your memory.

[band]

Have you tried looking to see if there is a newer bios out for the A7N8X to use for the Barton? If you have had the board for awhile they may have changed some things to make it run with the newer cpu's. I just looked the earliest version of bios for your board that supports the barton 2500 is 1002.

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

You're absolutely right Jonny, I should pay more attention to who posts what.

Sorry for any confusion I caused.
-SW

[bloom25]

It's almost certainly (99.9% sure) to be either bad ram, bad powersupply, or an overheating CPU.

The RAM is by far the most likely culprit.  Try downloading memtest86 3.0 from http://www.memtest86.com.

It will make a bootable floppy.  Boot from this floppy and let it run until all tests finish.  You will see the pass column and errors column.  If you see any errors, suspect the ram as being faulty.  Pull one stick, re run the tests to try to isolate the module that is bad.  If the tests run through 2 or 3 pass cycles, the ram is probably ok.

[acebldr]

Thanks to all for the replies and help.
I am downloading memtest86 and trying it.  
I neglected to say that I am running bios rev 1007 for the A7n8x deluxe (pcb 1.xxx).  Have installed new Catalyst drivers for Radeon 9500.
I didn't think right away about the memory because it ran fine with the previous cpu at the lower bus speed.
I will respond with the results in a day or so.
Power supply is Antec (trupower?) that came with Sonata case.
(Learning more than I wanted to, I think)  
If new memory will try Corsair twinx1024 which they recommend for the board on their website.
Can anyone explain memory timing issues.  All I see on the mobo is optimal or agressive.  If I go user defined, I can change these and there was info on the Corsair site that indicated timing is important for twinx.  I don't understand this yet.

[maddog]

had same problem and had to update the bios to 1.07..... But I see you did that....... That being the case I have no clue.....  Am still having same prob with AN&X2?-e deluxe.... Put old ram in old A7nx? Deluxe and runs fine...... Ordered new ram from Corsair that says its tested in Dual DDR A7N8x......

[WhiteHawk]

I wonder if you could be undervolting with the larger cpu?  I have a completely different setup, but the symptoms u described sound just like what mine did before I upped the vcore voltage to 1.6V.  It is funny that your RAM goes bad just as you change your CPU?

[acebldr]

OK  Here are results of memtest86.  FSB set at 133mz, memtest runs with no errors.  FSB set at 166mz, memtest full of errors.  No errors at 133 even if mem timings are set at agressive.  Upping voltage at 166 does not improve errors.  I wonder if the Kingston PC2700 ram I purchased is not 2700?  Shouldn't this be able to run at 166 fsb?  I have not isolated modules yet.

One quick question...Memtest reports L2 cache "unknown".  Should this be the case with 2500 Barton cpu?

Tried upping vcore voltage--no difference

Thanks again to all for help.  Looks like I will be memory shopping tonite.

Antec Sonata case and power supply
A7N8x deluxe mobo (bios rev 1007)
2500+ AMD Barton cpu
1024 (2x512) Kingston PC2700 ram
Direct X 9.0x
Radeon 9500 128 mb

[av8or]

just got through that on my computer but the memory wasn't bad it just wasn't working on my MB switched brands of memory all fixed. I know this because the store i bought it from put my memory in one of their shop computers and it worked fine.

[bloom25]

Memtest86 does not properly identify Athlon XPs L2 cache, but it doesn't matter.  (I think there is a new version of it that was released about a week ago - it may identify the L2 cache correctly.)

Obviously, RAM is your culprit.  PC2700 is rated for operation at 166 MHz.  I wonder if you somehow got PC2100 by mistake?

Edit:  Looks like I missed responding to this by about 2 weeks.