CPU overheating problem???

[Vejita-sama]

I just upgraded from a AMD 2200XP to an AMD 2600XP (266FBS). My MB (ECS K7VZA v3) is suppose to support this CPU with a BIOS upgrade (which I correctly installed). Everything seems ok but after a few minutes the computer will freeze (mouse can't move, frozen screen, not BSOD).

I don't 'think' it's over heating because my heatsink doesn't really feel hot to the touch, but is there any more 'scientific way' to test this out? Thanks guys.

[BJ_M]

if the heat sink doesnt feel warm - it may BE a sign of overheating as the cpu may be frying but not passing the heat to the heat sink .. sign of poor thermal paste application or none at all or to much ..

or you may just have a bad cpu / motherboard / memory / vid card / sound card hardware or driver issue ..

[flaninacupboard]

grab this program

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/

it allows temperature monitoring on ecs mobos. your CPU should be running somewhere under 60 degrees C.

other possibility is a bad/failing PSU.

[MOVIEGEEK]

It sounds like a HDD or PSU problem.Make sure your powersupply is functioning properly and has at least 350w.
Check your mobo/chipset website for a monitoring program that checks voltage.If your BIOS/HDD supports S.M.A.R.T check for a failing HDD.

[rallynavvie]

If your heatsink isn't making good contact with your AMD CPU than you would notice smoke in addition to the computer crashing. Sounds more like something to do with the PS like previously noted or the BIOS upgrade didn't take very well. Is the RAM still compatable?

[Ducatti20]

Thermal paste will make a lot of difference. Back when I began building higher end machines I miss applied paste, and saw temps soar above 90C. I quickly shutdown and reapplied. Temps dropped 40C.

[indolikaa]

if the heat sink doesn't feel warm - it may BE a sign of overheating as the cpu may be frying but not passing the heat to the heat sink .. sign of poor thermal paste application or none at all or to much ..

With an Athlon 2600XP, I don't think he'd get a few minutes. More like a few seconds.

Arctic Silver. Good for you, good for CPU!

[Will Hay]

I just upgraded from a AMD 2200XP to an AMD 2600XP (266FBS). My MB (ECS K7VZA v3) is suppose to support this CPU with a BIOS upgrade (which I correctly installed). Everything seems ok but after a few minutes the computer will freeze (mouse can't move, frozen screen, not BSOD).

I don't 'think' it's over heating because my heatsink doesn't really feel hot to the touch, but is there any more 'scientific way' to test this out? Thanks guys.

When I bought my Athlon XP2000+ I seem to remember something about anything over 2200 needing a 'larger' size PSU (larger than 350w I mean).
What is your PSU size?
Might be worth checking out the AMD website.
I'd also suggest checking out the memory, I replaced a strip of 512PC133 in a pal's machine that suffered the same problems as you - went away after new memory.
Will

[gmatov]

Vejita-sam,
I think you better look more into a re-install than worrying about failing components. Your BIOS flash may have made some changes in how the IDEs are controlled or something else.
I don't know your system, but all the OSs since 98 have just installed over the installed programs, no overwrite, so none of your programs should be crippled.
Don't invite trouble.

[Vejita-sama]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I found the problem/s.

First my power supply up and died on me (I have no idea why) replaced it with a 420W, which seems to be a good thing anyway because as I do more reading online it seems that the 2600+ CPU want > 300W power supply anyway.

Second one of my 512MB SDRAM modules died (again no real idea why). I'm beginning to suspect I fried/killed something.

Third I got a MUCH better heatsink (Coolmaster Aero 7). My old cpu fan was keeping Temps around 42-50 (which really wasn't ideal but should have been 'ok') but this guy keeps temps in 35-42 (normally seems to be around 39).

As often happens in upgrades something went wrong somewhere along the line and took out a lot of other stuff, but I'm not sure what or when

[Ducatti20]

Third I got a MUCH better heatsink (Coolmaster Aero 7). My old cpu fan was keeping Temps around 42-50 (which really wasn't ideal but should have been 'ok') but this guy keeps temps in 35-42 (normally seems to be around 39).

That fan/heatsink is great isn't it? I'm running it on my server... Saw 15C drop in temps.

[Jukka]

Ok, things to try:

1) Strip your pc down to bare bones, e.g. unnecessary CD drives, memory, expansion cards, etc restart and see how you go. If all is ok keep adding new parts until you find a problem. This is lengthy, but you may find that you nudged a part when you put the new CPU in + check heatsink - CPU connection;

2) Do a fresh Win install (you may find that doing this after 1 is necessary / useful);

3) Check windows update, there may be updates for your CPU (yes really they do exist!);

[Jukka]

Also check your FSB settings (these may automatic or manual) - if you get these wrong things will not work, however this normally prevents the system from booting up.

[Vejita-sama]

Thanks for the info, but I got everything working now. I suspect the heatsink (even thou temps were within normal range they were high) and maybe my power supply (since it up and died) were the problems.

I should re-install winXP but I've got the system way to configured/personalize at this point

[pyrate83]

Jukka...you said there are updates for your CPU that do exist. What kind of updates can you get for a CPU?? I thought once it was in all was said and done and nothing with the CPU could be updated. Just wondering. And would you visit the manufacturer's website(CPU mftr.) to find CPU updates?

[gmatov]

It's possible there are some more now, but the only CPU DL I ever heard of was one that MS admitted was their fault. Either 95 or 98 had an issue with AMDs over 350 mhz, and there was a patch on the MS site. NOT specifically a CPU update, but an OS update.
As CPUs are "hardwired", e.g., they're solid state, I don't really think it is to do with the CPU itself.
You don't update a CPU by burning new electron paths in the silicon, and making new connections.
If you did, we'd all just DL our next CPU.

edit: Jukka, just re-read your update. You said the same thing, I think, check the OS distributor for an OS update, not a CPU, per se, update.

All yunz other guys; pay more attention than I did .

[Jukka]

I've only ever had one on my system. I think it was because my computer started life as a P3 450Mhz, and then I replaced the motherboard and CPU for a 1.3Ghz Duron - I didn't reinstall Win XP though. When I ran Windows Update it gave me an update for Win XP specifically for the AMD chip.

However last month I did a full re-install and when I visited Windows Update there was no such update available so maybe this time it was handled in the re-install. Who knows what goes on inside XP!