some more hardware woes.....

[mecharmor23]

system specs:

365w Enermax PSU
ECSk7S5A Pro
Athlon XP 2200+
512k DDR @ 266mhz
fx5200 geforce /w fan and latest drivers installed.
Creative soundblaster live
50x cd installed on IDE slot 1
floppy
Maxtor 20GB masterHD on IDE slot 1 (winXP also installed here)
Seagate 40GB slaveHD on IDE slot 0 (backup HD)
CPU temperature at maximum: 59C
system temperature at maxumum: 46C
copper cpu heat sink for AMD @ 5300rpm.

Problem:
*video card suddenly stops receiving or sending signals, thus the monitor also stops receiving signals.
*black screen, freezes, music still playing in the background.
*turned all standby's, power off, idle and sleep options off. I doubt they are the cause of the problem as.....
*occurs only while playing 3d games or games that uses the graphics card.
* does not occur while using anything else, ie. internet explorer, kazaa (which is one of those resource stressing applications that just happens to be miraclously stable)
* Prime95 ran for about 24 hours. so far zero errors and warnings.
* memtest ran for 15 hours. zero errors, zero warnings.

Some people say that it is the cpu but Prime95 and memtest showed no errors and the cpu is not overclocked. But if it is the cpu that is defected would it not crash everything else too rather than just graphic intensive applications???

If I just replace the graphics card, will it be okay?? Btw is there a smaller program that 3dmark2003 that scans for hardware errors in the graphic cards?? I'm using only 56k and its 189mb???

[felinusz]

What are your motherboard chipset temperatures like? To check them if you don't have temperature reading software reset your computer and look at them in the BIOS after running prime95 for about an hour - it will give you a *rough* idea of what they're like at load. Your CPU temperatures are a little high - but well in spec for that CPU.

I also think that you should be checking how much power your system is getting - you can check this in your BIOS as well - the problems you are having could well be caused by your power supply not giving out enough juice - that isn't a very high-output PSU, and Enermax has a history of such issues.

Does 3DMark crash on you as well? What about DXDIAG? (DirectX Diagnostic - just search your computer for "DXDIAG" and run it to check - ?)

Who makes that motherboard - and are the drivers properly installed for it? I don't recognize the motherboard name. What is the chipset on that board? Is it a nForce 2 or a VIA based chipset? To check just look in your motherboard manual.

Don't buy a new video card untill you have tried everything else. If you have to go to your local computer store - they *always* have a bunch of old video cards lying around, and they will probably be fine with lending you one to test out. This will tell you if it is *your* video card, or som other system component.

Good Luck.

[mecharmor23]

The output voltages shown on the BIOS shows 12.12V for the ATX and 5.5V for HD's, fans, etc.
Is it still not enough power even though the values are higher than minimum?? Though the tech guy told me it can easily handle more hardware. Besides I didn't even use up all the PCI slots.

The motherboard seems to be made by EliteGroup.
It is a VIA chipset. I use the drivers that come with the package.

The Bios shows mainboard/system temperatures in the mid 42-45.

3dmark didn't crash. I don't even have it, I was asking if there was a smaller program than 3dmark to check for component failures in my video card. 189MB might take to long for my 56k.

[JAZ]

I had a friend with that same mobo and he was having random restarts as well (not game related though) and we never resolved it as it would run 24 hours round mine no prob then he'd take it home and it would happen again.
I dont think your problem is cpu related either, I would start by lowering the agp to 2x and if that doesnt sort it try and swap the ram out (but I dont think its that either), Im not 100% on this but doesnt it use that chipset that has loadsa problems with s-blaster live?
Try removing the sound card as well and see if it sorts the problem, theres a good forum for that mobo Im sure (cant remember it though) if you can find it try seeing if anyone else has the same issue.
You should update your chipset drivers though as that could sort it out straight away.

[GSDragoon]

Looks like it's an SIS chipset and not VIA.

Here is the EliteGroup website download section for your mobo. http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/index_driver_k7s.htm

I searched on google a bit. There are forums with others having similar problems. Installing the newest AGP drivers helped many.

[Demigod]

Well it certainly does sound like videocard issues, although it could be the mobo as well. My old Pentium 3 board used a VIA 133T chipset which was incompatible with my Radeon 9500 Pro. It would be perfectly fine in 2D apps and Windows but anything 3D and it would crash. My first recommendation would be to swap out the videocard and try another FX 5200 card. If the same things occurs then it's probably the motherboard.

[felinusz]

I hate to say it - but if it uses a SiS chipset you are almost certain to fix your problem by returning that Mothervboard and buying a new one with a VIA chipset. A VIA KT 333 ASUS A7V333 costs around $100 U.S, and a nForce 2 ASUS A7N8X-Deluxe 2.0 costs around $170.

Really - I am almost certain that that motherboard is your problem. Even if the mainboard isn't the problem you should move to a better company lke ASUS, Abit, or MSI for the better product and drivers.

Good Luck.

[GSDragoon]

I got my Kt333 mobo for $67, and that was in november. $170 for the A7N8X-Deluxe is too much too. Newegg has it for about $121.

[grahf]

Yep your motherboard is a peice of crap. I had the same model. Bought it because it was a mobo+cpu combo for 60 bucks. It ran perfectly fine for over 4 months. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere it die. No video to monitor, no post beeps, no nothing. I read several forums and it seems ALOT of people also had this problem. It seems to be the manufacture's fault for using cheap parts. There's nothing you can do except buy a better more reputable brand.

BTW I think the mobo also killed your CPU. It sure did to mine. Well as the saying goes, "you get what you paid for".

[zerocopy]

Originally Posted by GSDragoon

I got my Kt333 mobo for $67, and that was in november. $170 for the A7N8X-Deluxe is too much too. Newegg has it for about $121.

121 u.s=171 canadian just clearing things up

[GSDragoon]

costs around $100 U.S

Sorry, thought your were talking about US currency.

[felinusz]

I was *trying* to talk about U.S currency... But I wrote down the Canadian prices instead... Sorry about that! I got my A7N8X-Deluxe for about $185...

[mecharmor25]

Well my cpu didn't burn, my ram is replaced and memtest shows no problems. If i just restart my computer and do something else aside from 3d, it is okay. But it is still the mainboard correct?? I ran DxDiag also as someone suggested and and showed no problems either. So this motherboard is a completely flawed product??

Btw, if I don't run 3d games, I found out that my computer can be turned on for 24+ hours with no problems... At the same time I can download, surf net, homework, system diagnosis etc.

some details about crashes:

warcraft III - very rare, this one seems stable though....
warcraft III editor - completely different story.... crashes every 2 hours
thank god for auto save option.
C&C: generals - crashes once every 3+ hours, sometimes after first 30 min of gameplay

jediknight 2 - like warcraft, i rarely play this long enough to observe the effects.

Epsxe, Zsnes, N64 emulators - I haven't played long enough, bout 20 mins or so. not sure what would happen after an hour.

[felinusz]

It's almost *definetely* your mainboard - try out all your other components with a different board and I'll bet all your problems will dssapear. Ask at your local computer store - they will humour you if you make as if you are going to spend money - or if you already know the guys.

[mecharmor25]

Even if I buy another board, if it is a SIS chipset then it must be avoided correct?? Does SIS have a long history of making flawed hardware? And I just have to make sure my next board has to be either VIA or Intel correct?

[op3n_skill]

>>*video card suddenly stops receiving or sending signals, thus the monitor also stops receiving signals.
*black screen, freezes, music still playing in the background.
*turned all standby's, power off, idle and sleep options off. I doubt they are the cause of the problem as.....
*occurs only while playing 3d games or games that uses the graphics card.
* does not occur while using anything else, ie. internet explorer, kazaa (which is one of those resource stressing applications that just happens to be miraclously stable)
* Prime95 ran for about 24 hours. so far zero errors and warnings.
* memtest ran for 15 hours. zero errors, zero warnings.

Heat problem on the Vid card...
I've been there.. i placed a stingy amount of AS3 on the HS....
When i watch TV, my monitor goes black...

Also check the Northbridge HS, Re-apply AS-Epoxy if necessary..

[mecharmor25]

Hmm... now the plot thickens.... How do I know my graphic card's temp?? op3n_skill's idea also makes sense cause the more work the graphic card needs to do the shorter time it takes for it to black screen. Is there a program that detects temperature on video card? Can my fx5200's heatsink even be removed and replaced? Right now all I know is in order for me to crash my comp, my graphics card has gotta work hard. i.e. high detail, lotsa action, etc. because I noticed that while I designed my War3 map, the more detail I place on the map the faster it blackscreens and freezes and the graphics card refuses to send and recieve signals anymore. Once in a while the cpu and hd continues to function, i.e. music playing, downloads taking place.

[op3n_skill]

>>Can my fx5200's heatsink even be removed and replaced?

Yes, but be careful..
I scratched my old Vidcard's PCB bec. i wanted to remove the HS(Riva TNT2/M64, Passively cooled)..

you could bolt on a 80mm fan for the moment...
(screw the fan on the screw holes of the PCI)

And dont skimp on the thermal compound on the HS(if you are going to remove it)....
i did and it didnt look too good........
The GeForce 2 MX's HS isnt Flat, so the small amound didnt touch the HS COMPLETELY...

[felinusz]

*DON'T* MAKE ANY ALTERATIONs TO YOUR VIDEO CARD! DOING SO WILL LIKELY END UP WITH YOU WRECKING IT AND CAUSING YOURSELF MORE DIFFICULTIES! YOUR VIDEO CARD SHOULD WORK FINE AS IT IS - IF IT DOESN'T YOU CAN RETURN IT UNDER YOUR WARRANTY! ALTERING IT WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!

DON'T USE *ANY* SIS MOTHERBOARDS OR PRODUCTS! THEY MAKE A FAULTY AND LOW QUALITY PRODUCT!

Try to get a motherboard with a VIA chipset, or a nVidia nForce2 chipset to test all your components on - intel doesn't make motherboards for AMD processors.

Read our advice - go to your local computer store *AND GET THEM TO CHECK THE SYSTEM*.

op3n_skill - More Thermal paste means less heat transfer - goop it on and you can short ciruit something. Less Thermal Paste is better - if the GPU is concave then it is time to do some careful sanding, or just use barely enough to make contact. You shouldn't be modding anything in a system that doesn't work properly. And you shouldn't be altering anything unless you know how to, have done research, and have the appropriate equiptment to alter it correctly.

GO TO YOUR COMPUTER STORE - ASK THEM TO CHECK THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FOR YOU. ASK THEM HOW MUCH A NEW MOTHERBOARD WITH A VIA CHIPSET WILL COST YOU.

THIS WILL SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS!

[GKort]

i suppose after felinusz's post everyone ran away in fear??? lol...

i gotta ASUS a7v600 for 99 bucks at www.computerclubhouse.com (well they were at the compfest ~month ago...) and its not as good as the gigabyte (cant remember the model...) because asus has a via chipset, but ive heard this sucker is rock solid...while the gigabyte had an nforce 2...so if you looking for QUALITY get an nForce 2 chipest...but for security get VIA chipset...