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Solve : CPU SWAP CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEMS!?

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Quote from: contrex on May 31, 2007, 12:45:57 AM

Prime95 errors sure sound like RAM /CPU. This page, "Torture Test Your CPU With Prime 95" says that if you cannot decide whether the CPU or the RAM are causing the errors...

http://www.playtool.com/pages/prime95/prime95.html

Well worth reading through.

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It's just not that easy to completely isolate the problem which causes Prime95 to fail. It's usually the CPU but sometimes it's something else. The only way to be 100% sure is to swap in replacement components until the problem is fixed. You just have to do as many tests as you can to make your best guess about which component is responsible before deciding which one to replace or adjust.

To help you make that guess...

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When Prime95 fails in any way, the very first thing you should do is run a memory test to rule that possibility out. MemTest86 is a very thorough memory testing program. If your memory passes the tests then you're pretty much down to the CPU and the CPU/RAM interface as the most likely causes although there are some other possibilities.

And,

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If you have the kind of CPU which accesses its RAM by COMMUNICATING with a northbridge chip on the motherboard, then your CPU is probably the problem but the northbridge could ALSO be responsible. The RAM data is passed in both directions between the CPU and northbridge and if the northbridge is a little weak, it may have problems communicating with a hot CPU. If you're not sure what to blame then you can try running only the "small FFTs" test. It does very few RAM accesses while running the test. If it fails, then it's very likely to be the CPU which is at fault. Unfortunately, that's not 100% guaranteed because even the small FFTs test still accesses RAM and does other things like read and write disk files.

It also mentions as another possibilty, overheating CPU. You are happy with heatsink size, placement, thermal contact, etc? Are you monitoring temps?






Prime95 fails on both large and small FFT tests, superpi cannot complete calculations over approx 128K, failing sometimes instantly and sometimes longer.

Memtest has been run on RAM and passed at least 2 runs, I also noted, looking at the RAM i purchased: http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=MEM00092 that I was sent different RAM or a different revision of the RAM, because I distinctly remember not paying over $100, though the RAM looks more like this: http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AG00234, because it has smaller mem chips.
If someone wouldn't mind double checking my findings regarding Motherboard/CPU/RAM compatiblity here are their names:
Ram screenshot in CPU-Z


CPU Temperatures are always around 45-50celcius and in the short time PRIME95 runs it never gets above 55. I looked around in BIOS and cannot find any settings for Vcore and frequency is already at lowest. I tried turning off EIST and C1E, though no difference... Remeber I have NOT overclocked this machine AND the older celeron D 336 works just fine when downloading/installing files and archives, and performing stability tests though Pentium D 915 stuffs it up. Vcore on CPUZ jumps around from 1.248-1.256.

I have performed Prime95 and SuperPI tests with this new PSU, which has all 20+4 pin connectors.

I would try the CPU on my new machine, (in siggy) though the specifications are too different and I'm just not risking anything lol. Bad idea.

Heres a summary of what I've changed and what the problems are:
  • Problems
  • Downloading and/or installation/extraction errors with archives and moderately large .exe installers (~>5-10mB?, I know the nVidia driver never works, 35mB).
  • Fails stability tests and reportedly has crashes/reboots WITHOUT warning when playing moderate CPU intense games (HALO).
  • Remember none, to my knowledge, of these errors have ever been replicated when running a Celeron D

  • Changed
  • Swapped RAM DIMM after recommendation from CPU seller after CPU was returned and returned... with no errors reported.
  • Swapped PSU to 430W with 20+4
  • Changed HDDs and IDE cables
  • Ran Memtest68+ and Seatools/CHKDSK
  • Changed BIOS settings, disabled C1E EIST, reverted to Fail-safe defaults AND downflashed bios to previous revison.

Finally, here are some queries, why does CPUZ report 266mhz ram when the sticker clearly states 533 and the motherboard supports that. Why are these errors not replicated with Celeron D processor?

Should I send the CPU back to Intel instead of retailer and run the Celeron D for the meanwhile, if recommended?

Thanks, I hope I haven't supplied too much information and that it is easy to understand.


@someone that will help esp. contrex, any chance you can add me on MSN?: [emailprotected]BUMP lol + My dad, who is a computer data centre manager at Unisys says he doesn't mind taking the CPU to his work to test, results will be interesting, if errors are replicated on other machine with only same factor being CPU I guess I found culprit...

Anyway, help/ideas are still appreciated!!!Quote from: DeltaSlaya on May 31, 2007, 02:44:03 AM
Finally, here are some queries, why does CPUZ report 266mhz ram when the sticker clearly states 533 and the motherboard supports that.

The "DDR" in "DDR RAM" stands for Double Data Rate. The clock is doubled for the RAM. 2 x 266 = 533 near enough. Actually Googling for recommended RAM shows that 400 MHz RAM is good enough for that board.

512MB Foxconn Motherboard PC3200 DDR400 nonECC DIMM (p/n FOXCONN-512-PC3200-D) $49.98

http://www.memoryx.net/fop4modme.html

Note that's nonECC

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Why are these errors not replicated with Celeron D processor?




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contrex, any chance you can add me on MSN?: [emailprotected]

Don't do messenger stuff.
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Why are these errors not replicated with Celeron D processor?


Whats that supposed to mean?

Quote from: contrex on May 31, 2007, 03:13:56 AM
Quote from: DeltaSlaya on May 31, 2007, 02:44:03 AM
Finally, here are some queries, why does CPUZ report 266mhz ram when the sticker clearly states 533 and the motherboard supports that.

The "DDR" in "DDR RAM" stands for Double Data Rate. The clock is doubled for the RAM. 2 x 266 = 533 near enough. Actually Googling for recommended RAM shows that 400 MHz RAM is good enough for that board.

512MB Foxconn Motherboard PC3200 DDR400 nonECC DIMM (p/n FOXCONN-512-PC3200-D) $49.98

http://www.memoryx.net/fop4modme.html

Note that's nonECC
Cool, thanks for clearing that up...

Any other ideas for fixing the problem?Quote
Why are these errors not replicated with Celeron D processor?
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Whats that supposed to mean?

That's "supposed to mean" that my round yellow head has a sad expression and three question marks hovering over it, because I don't know the answer. Were you getting snippy there? If you were, I strongly ADVISE against it. On free help forums, that attitude can get interpreted as ingratitude, both by the people who have tried to help you already, and those who were thinking about doing so. It can have a very powerful reducing effect on further efforts!

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Any other ideas for fixing the problem?

That underlining could be interpreted the same way. Maybe I'm wrong, in which case I apologise.

My idea would be to return the RAM and get Foxconn recommended sticks, and if they don't work, send the mobo back. Or send the lot back and buy a Dell.
Quote from: contrex on May 31, 2007, 03:27:51 AM
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Why are these errors not replicated with Celeron D processor?
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Whats that supposed to mean?

That's "supposed to mean" that my round yellow head has a sad expression and three question marks hovering over it, because I don't know the answer. Were you getting snippy there? If you were, I strongly advise against it. On free help forums, that attitude can get interpreted as ingratitude, both by the people who have tried to help you already, and those who were thinking about doing so. It can have a very powerful reducing effect on further efforts!

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Any other ideas for fixing the problem?

That underlining could be interpreted the same way. Maybe I'm wrong, in which case I apologise.


Yea, sorry if that came out wrong, I dont mean to rush or critisize. Maybe I should have put a "" to indicate sarcasm lol?..

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... fixing ...
The help has got me through the elimination stage of the fixing, which I am grateful for, I believe the problem is now only revolving around a few vital parts, namely the CPU and its compatibility w/ other stuff, if you agree.

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Maybe I'm wrong, in which case I apologise.
Apology accepted!

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My idea would be to return the RAM and get Foxconn recommended sticks,
Yea I would generally buy new RAM except I just did and it works fine on the Celeron D unless there is a different sort of RAM required for dual cores, of which I am not aware.

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... and if they don't work, send the mobo back.
Motherboards a bit old, if its bung it's probably cheaper to buy a new one than to pay repair costs?

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... Or send the lot back and buy a Dell.
Would also like to send the 'lot' back though its a custom build, like my new PC! Also, for that same reason is why I would not buy a Dell (maybe a laptop), get it a lot cheaper custom. In my case 1/4 price. Thanks for ideas though.

Also, this computer is going to a friend if I can get it working...no worries mate!!!

I have just found that some boards actually do not support ECC DIMMs as they could potentiality exceed the current limitation of the memory voltage regulators. This could give rise to erratic memory performance. A lot of Intel boards are like that.

Your board supports

Single channel, unbuffered, 1.8V DDR2-400/533; (2) 240-pin DIMM sockets, max 2GB

- or -

single channel, unbuffered, 2.5V DDR266/333/400, (2) 184-pin DIMM sockets, max 2GB

(**use one memory type or the other, not both)

http://www.anitec.ca/product/5549/

That other memory site quoted a Foxconn part number for non-ecc RAM.

If your RAM is ECC and buffered it could be out of spec for that board.

Quote from: contrex on May 31, 2007, 03:56:02 AM
no worries mate!!!

I have just found that some boards actually do not support ECC DIMMs as they could potentiality exceed the current limitation of the memory voltage regulators. This could give rise to erratic memory performance. A lot of Intel boards are like that.

Your board supports

Single channel, unbuffered, 1.8V DDR2-400/533; (2) 240-pin DIMM sockets, max 2GB

- or -

single channel, unbuffered, 2.5V DDR266/333/400, (2) 184-pin DIMM sockets, max 2GB

(**use one memory type or the other, not both)

http://www.anitec.ca/product/5549/

That other memory site quoted a Foxconn part number for non-ecc RAM.

If your RAM is ECC and buffered it could be out of spec for that board.


So, if I've got it right the RAM is, according to specifications 100% compatible?

I'm interpreting no buffering or ECC from that and I guess 266x2 = 532 is 533MHz. Correct?
And yea it has to be single channel as there are 2 banks but 1 is DDR and the other DDR2. Dual channel has to be A1+A2 = B1+B2 if I remember correctly, as thats how I set up my pc in sig, 1gB in slot1 and slot3?Gah, just then I had 2 BSODs, I will recall as much as I can but I didn't write anything down, XP hasn't 'mentioned' them yet, if it will. I have it set up to make a full memory write to HDD.

  • An atapi.sys IRQA_DRIVER_NOT_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL or something similar
  • A win32k.sys (don't remember name exactly)

doh! What are these, they were also in quite quick succession.


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