Still overheating?

[markgo]

Hey Guys,
I'm still having random lock ups and reboots when playing Direct3D games that I thought was down to compatibility between my vid card and mobo.

Having tried every combination of driver etc, and fitting a quality PSU, I have come to the conclusion that it may be my CPU overheating. (See my posts about amounts of thermal paste.)

I am getting idle temps of around 50c which I think may be getting too high under load. I've reapplied my HSF twice with differing amounts of paste and I generally get the same performance.

What else can I do to calm this animal down?

[Cricket]

Are you sure it's not the generic RAM causing the problems?

Maybe the video card is overheating. Have you tried running the system with the case sides off to see if the problem goes away?

Cricket

[markgo]

No. Not sure at all. I have tried using 1 stick at a time though in case one was faulty.

I'll take the sides off and point a big room fan at it tonight.

thanks Cricket

Mark.

[Tin]

im going with cricket on this one, it may be your ram. most generic PC3200 is just overclocked ZPC2700 and is very unstable. if it is your high temps causing you trouble, break out the dremel and add yourself some ventilation.

[markgo]

Well,
I tried some trusted old PC2100 in my new board, and it crashed after about the same time.

After that I reattached my cooler, this time using a bit *more* thermal paste. i.e too much. And hey - now it idles down on 40 - 44c !

I guess all materials differ.

Still doesn't help the crashing though. I think I've just about exhausted everything now, I'm going to have to ditch the Gigabyte Mobo.

thanks for your help.
Mark.

[markgo]

Well, I'm totally confused.
I now have 2x Corsair XMS Pro in my mobo and have been running the system with the case open and watching temps.

The bloody thing still freezes or cuts to a black screen after 30 mins or so of playtime on intensive games.

*if* I happened to have a faulty CPU - surely it would not work at all? Is it possible I have a defective one that malfunctions, say, down on 45-50 degrees C?

[Designer]

The running temp of your CPU is fairly normal, mine runs at around 50 degrees on a warm day under load, I've even resorted fo fitting a Jet 7 cooler and channeling air from an intake case fan directly in front of it, with the stock heatsink I was getting temps around 55 to 60 degrees, but that wasnt causing crashing.

I'm agreeing with Cricket and Tin on the RAM issue, all my crashing problems were from RAM, the RAM from my PC worked OK on another but not on mine, swapped it for 2 Dimm's exactly the same as the ones that didnt work and all the problems went away, must have been the motherboard was a "bit fussy".

[Cricket]

Possible causes for your problems...the video card or the motherboard.

Have you tried another video card yet?

Can you try your video card in another computer?

Try a different power supply in your system (just to rule the power supply out).

Cricket