New Problems with Gateway desktop 700XL

[doubledragon5]

Well here is a new problem that just started.. While my father inlaw was working on the pc the pc just started to ramdomly reboot without any warning.. Everytime he tries to log in it just keep on rebooting even while trying to log in under safemode... Now I opened up the case and noticed the ram war very very hot to the touch.. So I removed the two sticks of 512MB RDRAM and put back in the two stick of 256MB RDRAM.. While booting up the system again all it shows is the Gateway logo and goes no further.... Specs below with the power supply added this time.


Systems specs.. Lexington MB for Intel with 3.06GHZ P4 with HT.
2GB 4x512MB Samsung RDRAM.
Stock heatsink fan
ATI 9700 Pro VC.
2x200GB 7200RPM Maxtor HD
Soundblaster Audigy sound card.
Newton Power supply..

[doubledragon5]

Well after letting the pc cool down for a while it started up again ok.. I have a feeling it is going to be a power supply problem.. Gateway told him to wait a couple more days to see if the problems continues, before getting back to them... Also is the hot RAM normal, I ask because I never had RAM get that hot in anymachine I ran Or is it because of the type.

[glc]

RDRAM does get hot, especially PC1066. Is the ram specifically compatible with that board running at 533 bus speed? If it's PC800, it needs to be 40ns, standard 45ns won't be stable.

Running 4 sticks of that stuff, along with a 9700 Pro, is gonna bring the stock power supply to its knees. That 3.06 processor may need better than the stock Gateway cooling too.

[doubledragon5]

I'm not sue if the ram is 40n or 45ns how do you tell? The ram was shipped from gateway btw.. He originally had pc1066, but they had none in stock so they shipped him the pc800.... At the thime the machine was runing hot it only had 1GB in stead of the two because one stick was found to be bad and they are going to ship him another one... I will talk to him about upgrading the power supply and cpu cooling to

[doubledragon5]

I found out the RAM is compatable with his board... His current psu is a 300WAtt Newton power supply... He is going to upgrade to a 400.. Question where do I find a review for the brand of PSU.. He is going to stick with one from Gateway so he doesn't void his warranty....

[glc]

A 300 watt Newton should actually be sufficient. I was thinking the 9700 was added later, but I see that Gateway sold that as a gaming machine. I'm used to seeing 160 watt Newtons in Gateways. Can you give me the exact model number of the Newton so I can cross reference it - to see if a generic will work?

I'm concerned about the PC800, compatible with the board or not. That board was used with both 400 and 533 FSB processors. If it shipped with PC1066, then that's what you need. That's an Intel-manufactured board, so generic ram will work fine, it just has to meet specs.

[doubledragon5]

I have the part number for the power supply. It is a 250 watt not 300 watt as mentioned earlier. (NPS-250CBB/ATX250-3505-1412B Rev 01). Also he went a purchased a new 400 watt psu from Gateway the brand thou is not a quality one it is a Startech which is listed here as bad.... I asked Gateway if he bought a after market one, how would that effect his warranty. They said it would void his warranty...

Again on the ram they claim the PC800 is compatible, I know what you mean they should have sold him the PC1066 since the machine was built with the higher ram installed... But again they said they were out, and he didn't want to purchase anything used for fear of again voiding out his warranty

[glc]

Oh well - if Gateway says the PSU and PC800 are good - they are the ones who will have to fix it when it goes spastic again.

[doubledragon5]

I agree and he does to... That is why I won't buy a company made pc again... Thanks anyway glc...

[doubledragon5]

Today In stalled the new MB, CPU Heatsink and fan. BTW heatsink has a copper core. The machine is up and runing fine, but when you first power it on it brings up the XP logo, but before it gets to the desktop the power saver mode on the monitor shows then the desktop. This is minor, but curious to know why? it did not do this before.. BTW this machine doeesn't even have an exhaust fan go figure.. I do plan on putting one in for the inlaw tommorow....

[glc]

That's the switchover from the unaccelerated standard VGA mode to the accelerated mode using the video driver. Very common with ATI cards.

[doubledragon5]

Thanks again glc....