A7N8X-e CPU/RAM problems - Help!

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie to this site, and i'm here out of desperation....
I'm not new to bulding PC's, as this is my 6th build, but it's also the most troublesome to date. The problem is i've chosen the Asus A7N8X-e Deluxe, and hooked it up with an AMD XP 3200. To cut a very long story short, it won't run at it's 'full' capacity without glitching at post (no post at all, just black screen), or whilst installing or trying to boot up Windows (lock up, or blue screen of death for split second, just before resetting itself)?

In short, I can't get the FSB of the CPU up to 200Mhz, whilst running the RAM 'synched' or I get the above problems!! In fairness, I'm using that nasty Kingston ValueRam (2x256, DDR400, but the Cas3 version), and i'm suspecting it's a Ram problem? (Keep reading NVidia chipset is a little fussy regarding Cas3 RAM chips) hah:

This is what I've tried so far :
-Latest BIOS Flash to version 1013.
-Reducing the CPU FSB to 333, but using a x10.5 multiplier (PC runs sweet, but only as an XP3000!)
-Bumping up the RAM voltage to 2.7v (from 2.6v default)
-Running both CPU FSB + RAM at 333 (also runs sweet, but as an XP 2700)
- Tested RAM with Memtest. 10 passes, 0 Errors.
- Tested CPU with 'Hot CPU Tester Pro', 0 Errors.
- Tested CPU with a non-branded cheapo stick of DDR400 512mb, seemed slightly better, but still won't go to 200Mhz FSB, and will obviously only run in 'Single Channel Mode'.
- Sworn at it and threatened it with a hammer. :swear:

I'm at the end of my tether, has ANYONE got ANYMORE ideas, please????

Thanks a million, people.

P.S. Power Supply is a 400w included with the case.
P.P.S Asus probe shows my CPU is running at anywhere between 47-52 degrees, and Motherboard at 32 degrees?!?

 

47c is very high for your CPU. Assuming thats idle?
I'd check that the HSF is mounted properly and that core voltage is also set correctly.

 

also check on kingston's site if your RAM is fully compatible with the mobo

should be a memory guide

also about any CPU cooling problems, make sure the pad or paste is in contact with the CPU, could be hard to find that out.


Ps. threatening it with a hammer doesn't scare it, threatening to replace it with an intel makes it faint and fall into a coma :good:

 

Can you list the specific PSU in that case? As a general rule, the PSU's included in the case aren't very good, and if that's the problem, I'd hate to see you toss a solid motherboard like that because of a low-end PSU.

 

Yea my guess is the RAM. The heat wouldn't cause a crash, but it is something to be looked in to.

 

Thanks for your reply, I need all the help I can get with this build...... :good:

Are you sure this is too high for an Atlon XP 3200?

-Both my supplier and AMD reckon it's within the norm range for that model CPU.

I've since replaced the CPU fan for a 'heavy duty' model, guaranteed for 3200+ and upwards, and cleaned/re-pasted in the process. I'm still getting exactly the same temps, tho, about 40 - 43c on idle and 47-49ish under load.
I've also run 'Hot CPU Tester Pro' including 'burn-outs' for at least 1 hour, and had no errors???

As for core voltage..... now i'm getting lost......

 

Hey Big B.

Thanks for the reply.

As requested, I checked out the PSU, and it's a...... erm..... 400w PSU. -Thats all it says on it. No manufacturer/model number, nothing.

So i've replaced it, with a Q-tec 550w triple-fan PSU

-Still same old problems, tho.....Doh!

I've also replaced the CPU fan/sink with a better quality 'heavy duty' effort, and changed thermal paste in process (of course!). Still getting same temps tho, both on idle and under load. Motherboard is running cooler, apparently, but CPU no remarkable difference. What temps should I be looking at??

My supplier isn't convinced the temps i'm getting would cause any crashes, not for an XP 3200???

Hmmmmmmm? Now what, oh learn-ed one???

 

Putting it into a coma wouldn't be good... i've wasted enough time on this build already, without sitting by it's hospital bedside for days on end.......

Seriously, tho, since the start of the thread, i've replaced the CPU heatsink and fan for a 'heavy duty' one, guaranteed to be ok for my processor (changing paste in process, of course). Still getting same temps (within a degree or two).

As for RAM, I checked with Kingston via email a while ago, and they said something about my RAM being ok if it's the 2.5 Cas Latency version, but said there were known 'issues' with the 3 Cas Latency ones when used with 400Mhz FSB processors (blaming Asus and Nvidia in the process for making it 'impossible' to keep up with MOBO and Chipset revisions!!?!?!?).
- Guess what? My 2 slices of ValueRam are indeed the 3 Cas Latency ones... so I guess i'm screwed?

In fairness they offered to change them 'free of charge', but that was about 6 months ago, and as i'm stupid I never followed it up, deciding instead to run 'under-clocked' for the last 6 months instead. Doh!
:x:

 

**JUST READ A DISTRESSING FORUM ARTICLE REGARDING FAKE XP ATHLONS**

Mine has all the hallmarks of one of these (warranty sticker conveniently placed over 'tell-tale' clues, etc....

Anyone know what i'm looking for regarding 'cut bridges' on L12 etc??? -This is looking more like the REAL problem, if only I knew how to tell... ??????

 

Oh my god ADDIS, 47c is not too high for 3200+. Its not 'low' but it is definitely not two high. I have two barton based systems in the ASUS a7n8x-e that have been running at 52c idle for 2 years. Both of them used for heavy gaming. That is definitely NOT what is giving this guy his problems. 47c is not bad at all for the 3200+

 

Hrm, not sure about cut bridges but it wouldn't surprise me if you had a fake. Where did you get it.

 

......It was from a 'computer Fair'. *laffs* My local supplier is tops when it comes to supplying stuff, but he had no XP3200's in stock, so I bought the processor from another vendor at a computer fair. When I rang their helpline, when I first started having problems, oddly, they didn't answer!!!???!!! And because I didn't buy the CPU from my local vendor, he's rather reluctant to 'troubleshoot' my problem.

Anyway, i've had the processor checked and IT IS A GENUINE 3200+ Barton, with 400Mhz FSB! I'm still convinced my problems are due to cheap / incompatible RAM. Unfortunately I got that fed-up trying to solve this problem, I bought a new board (Asus K8N) and a new CPU (A64 3000). It's now all hooked up and running like a dream.......(even with my 1 Meg of cheap Kingston Value RAM!)

I'll keep my troublesome A7N8X-e and dodgy CPU as back up. :good:

Thanks to all that offered comments.

 

If I had the money to just buy new parts when mine didn't work that would be awesome. I'm stuck here with you guys trying to fix things