WinXP Pro crashing

[Randomaxess]

Ok, i'm going nuts, i've been struggling with this machine for a week, and i finally got Win XP Pro on it.

So now what happens is that it creashes and reboots the computer every time i either
1)Try running anything graphical
2) Try INSTALLING certain software.

I say certain software, because, for instance, AIM, Service Packs, even some video games install, but 3dMark2001 for instance, DOES NOT. It causes the computer to reboot

I'm out of ideas, here's my specs, and anything important i think you guys should know:

M7NCD PRO Motherboard using Nforce 2
1 gig Viking PC2700 Ram
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ @ 333mhz fsb
Radeon 9700 Pro
120 GB Maxtor HD UATA 133
16X DVD ROM
TDK VeloCD CDRW
400 W Antec Power Supply

There are 3 fans, one on the side wall, one in front, one in back

Any BIOS settings and whetever you guys want, let me know.

[Randomaxess]

also, a couple of other things:
1)what is the temp of the Athlon chip supposed to reach?
min was at 82 deg. Cel right after it crashed.

2)I have enabled something called CPU Thermal Throttling at 50%. What is that, and would that affect it?

3)Could it be my video card overheating? I don't think it is, but anyone think its possible?

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Randomaxess also, a couple of other things: 1)what is the temp of the Athlon chip supposed to reach? min was at 82 deg. Cel right after it crashed.

82C is 180F...that's way too hot. Check that your heatsink is installed properly...it should be sitting flat and level on the CPU die, the metal clip should contact the heatsink directly over the CPU die, the recessed portion of the heatsink should be over the raised part of the socket, make sure nothing around the socket is touching the heatsink. Did you see if there was any plastic covering over the thermal pad on the bottom of the heatsink? Or did you use thermal compound?

Originally posted by Randomaxess 2)I have enabled something called CPU Thermal Throttling at 50%. What is that, and would that affect it?

What that does is slow the CPU down when the CPU temp reaches a certain point. I think you have to set the upper temp limit that you want the thermal throttling to occur in BIOS...set it to 70C.

Originally posted by Randomaxess 3)Could it be my video card overheating? I don't think it is, but anyone think its possible?

It's possible if your case has a poor cooling set up.

In WinXP there is a feature that will cause the system to restart on errors (sorry, I forget where it is). You need to disable this so you can see if an error message is popping up...the message can help you pin point the problems.

Do you have spare parts to swap in to test the system with?

Cricket

[Randomaxess]

well, i have another case which i know has excellent cooling, an Antec Server case. I can try switching it into that and seeing what happens.

THe Radeon was in an older comp that was actually in that case, and it ran perfect.

There was a thermal tape on the bottom of the heat sink.

[Randomaxess]

also, if i wanted to switch to thermal grease, what is it i have to do?
I know that some of the thermal tape gets stuck on the Die, so how do i remove it? do i just scrape it off the heatsink, as well?

FYI, its a boxed chip + heatsink, guaranteed by AMD and what not

And, you say that i should set the throttling to 70c, but it only does it in percentages. So, for example, default is 50%.

I still haven't tried moving to a new case, i'm giving it a rest...i've probably cooked it enough for a little while

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Randomaxess also, if i wanted to switch to thermal grease, what is it i have to do? I know that some of the thermal tape gets stuck on the Die, so how do i remove it? do i just scrape it off the heatsink, as well?

You have to remove every bit of the old thermal tape from the CPU die and the bottom of the heatsink. You can use a non-metallic scrapper to remove the bigger chunks and follow with alcohol and a clean rag for whatever is left. Just keep at it with the alcohol until the surfaces are totally clean.

Originally posted by Randomaxess And, you say that i should set the throttling to 70c, but it only does it in percentages. So, for example, default is 50%.

Sorry, but all my computers are Intel based and I really don't have experience with the clock throttling used in AMD systems.

Did you check that the heatsink is installed correctly on the CPU? From the temps you're getting, it really seems to me that the heatsink isn't making good contact with the CPU die.

Are you using a CPU shim? If you are, remove it and throw it away...those things are useless.

Cricket

[Randomaxess]

a "shim"?
no, i don't think so, but i'm not sure what that is...its the "tape" that was at the bottom of the heatsink. like i said, this was a boxed cpu + heatsink straight from AMD, the heatsink had the thermal tape on the bottom, just remove the seal and stick it on.

[Randomaxess]

OK, I think i got the problem nailed down. Thank you sooo much Cricket for your help and support!

Anyway, it turns out that in my haste, i put the heat sink on the wrong direction....figures i would do something that retarded. Once i flip it, it should be ok.

The chip is still working, not fried, thanks to the auto-shut down feature on AMD chips that will fail it if its past a certain temp.

[raftero]

if you took it off i think it would be best to remove the pad,be sure to clean well,and apply artic silver.sometimes the thermal pad will not work properly if removed and reseated.others may have more information on this.

[sleepypost]

Sounds like a graphics driver problem to me.

[Randomaxess]

graphic driver problem seems unlikely sleepypost, because i know i was using the latest Catalyst drivers.
Like i said, the computer was allowing certain installs and software to run.

However, a CPU at 80 degrees C doesn't seem like a vid card problem anyway.

And i assure you, the heat sink /was/ on wrong.

[bailey]

if you had a bad time getting xp-pro installed, then you got a serious hardware problem

[sleepypost]

just because you have the latest drivers doesn't mean they're installed properly. i am not trying to be cynical i am just trying to help. it may be a HDD problem...

[Confused]

Originally posted by Randomaxess The chip is still working, not fried, thanks to the auto-shut down feature on AMD chips that will fail it if its past a certain temp.

For information that statement isn't exactly true. That is a function of the mobo. You set warning and shutdown limits in BIOS.

Intel CPU's will throttle themselves down if they get too hot but not AMD's. You have to use the mobo BIOS for temp control.
Chas

[Randomaxess]

bailey:
XP actually installed correctly, its just that when i ran CPU intensive things, it would crash

Sleepy:
I don't mean to sound like i'm mad at you, if that's how it came out. Anyway, I thought it might be a HDD problem too, and i actually checked it out with some diagnostics tools, it came back negative