Continuing Power Problems.....

External Since: Dec 27, 2003 Posts: 5

Following on from my previous threads about blowing PSUs on my
KG7-based system, I have a new question. I've eliminated the
motherboard and video card as the culprits by buying new ones. I
still get voltages of :

5v - 4.85
3c - 3.3
12v - 12.7 (idle) to 13.2 (load)

Now I thought the problem was something on my old board due to faulty
AGP or video card.....however, last night I tried to convert an AVI
file to WMV with Media Encoder. After strting the task, I notived the
program has a 'CPU load' meter, which was showing 100% - and sure
enough after 5 seconds the PSU blew.

My question is - do these voltages above indicate a possible CPU
problem ? The CPU has been on a 6-hr flight at 33K ft, been jigged
about a bit, AND has been separated from the heatsink and reattached
without any new adhesive or paste (just can't get the stuff here).
However - these voltages were the same before I detached the heatsink.
Interestingly, there was plenty of the AMD 'sticky pad' on the
heatsink around the contact area with the CPU chip, but none actually
between the CPU and the sink. It is as if the material between the
CPU and sink has been pressed or gradually dried away (no burn marks).

There is a shop in town that has a new XP3000 Barton CPU (which my
mobo can use, after a BIOS upgrade). What do you reckon - could it be
the solution to my problems ?

Thanks

Blewyn

External Since: Sep 15, 2004 Posts: 686

blewyn wrote:
>
> Following on from my previous threads about blowing PSUs on my
> KG7-based system, I have a new question. I've eliminated the
> motherboard and video card as the culprits by buying new ones. I
> still get voltages of :
>
> 5v - 4.85
> 3c - 3.3
> 12v - 12.7 (idle) to 13.2 (load)

Huh?
??==> 12v - 12.7 (load) to 13.2 (idle)

Have you computed the 'pwr' loads(W) on all these( on 3 ) 'rails' ???

> Now I thought the problem was something on my old board due to faulty
> AGP or video card.....however, last night I tried to convert an AVI
> file to WMV with Media Encoder. After strting the task, I notived the
> program has a 'CPU load' meter, which was showing 100% - and sure
> enough after 5 seconds the PSU blew.

Sounds, yet "again", like a bummer PSU ...
possibly too,
do you have consistant, valid 'source' voltage at the "mains" ... ???

A $20USD, Ho Chi Mien 'trail', 400W PSU probably aint gonna survive
just the initial plug 'in' ... let alone the 1st gentle " un_boxing ".

> My question is - do these voltages above indicate a possible CPU
> problem ? The CPU has been on a 6-hr flight at 33K ft, been jigged
> about a bit, AND has been separated from the heatsink and reattached
> without any new adhesive or paste (just can't get the stuff here).
> However - these voltages were the same before I detached the heatsink.
> Interestingly, there was plenty of the AMD 'sticky pad' on the
> heatsink around the contact area with the CPU chip, but none actually
> between the CPU and the sink. It is as if the material between the
> CPU and sink has been pressed or gradually dried away (no burn marks).

The 'assumption' is that the new/boxed CPU+heat_sink+fan assembly "flew"
in a cargo box in the cargo bay ... shouldnt hurt a bit.
"In" your luggage is a bit 'nicer'.

The 'pad' is there to prevent rocking, upon assembly, of the HS to the
chip.
I cant 'explain' the lack of "paste" twixt chip & HS ...
dunno, the "paste" mite aughta be there.

I doubt that 'pads' dry up & totally disappear.
Nah.

> There is a shop in town that has a new XP3000 Barton CPU (which my
> mobo can use, after a BIOS upgrade). What do you reckon - could it be
> the solution to my problems ?

Solve your #1_problems 1st ... main's pwr &/or PSU ...
then ... consider swopping horses in mid stream .

Next "air" trip ...
Smile

get( ?have? separately shipped ) : ...
.. new =quality= PSU ( Enermax 450W ??? )
.. heat-sink "paste"
.. Bios Savour unit for =your= eeprom chip
optional : ...
.. quality VOM , ac/dc capable
.. a properly 'sized' APC battery BU ( if local 'mains' pwr is suspect )

My 'assumptions' are
.. that your CPU chip, mobo, adapter cards are all still good ;
.. you run in an A/C environment .

> Thanks
> Blewyn

Be thankful you're not contending with 6' of snow, like Homie.

Best of 'luck', dont dispair & give up,
Qed.