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Post by AvengersWraith on Apr 19, 2004 2:23:56 GMT
Hello everyone,
My main PC is on the fritz, the video on this PC is insufficient to run NWN.
Will try and fix my PC as soon as possible, as soon as I know what part needs to be fixed.
I'll keep in contact via these boards until my PC is fixed again.
Hope to see you soon.
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Post by addicted2rpg on Apr 19, 2004 15:42:47 GMT
If it makes you feel any better, mine is too.
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Post by Phoenix on Apr 19, 2004 15:48:39 GMT
If you need any help, it's my day job to fix crap like this.  There are also some other PC savvy types around here so feel welcome to post your errors/problems if you need help. |
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Post by AvengersWraith on Apr 19, 2004 19:38:12 GMT
After getting frustrated I gave up for a little while, during which time I remembered the CMOS erase jumper. I now have my PC back, but the CPU is set for 1.5 GiG instead of the 2.0 which I paid for, it don't seem fair, but at least I have my PC up and running again. I've e-mailed the company I bought the CPU, motherboard, video card, case and case fan from to see what they think is wrong with my system and why my CPU over heats when set to the speed I paid for. I've enticed their help by telling them a few things I will be needing in July when I get a check from the school clearing out my balance of student loans and grants. The main thing is the better part of my brain is up and working again, even if only at 75% of the improved capacity I paid for  |
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Post by Spathic on Apr 19, 2004 21:09:57 GMT
hmmm this is not the first time i heard of this problem... you wouldn't happen to be using an ECS brand Motherboard by any chance?
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Post by Preedy1978 on Apr 19, 2004 21:22:05 GMT
Ok Avenger...you need to go to the BIOS screen and INCREASE the Processor frequency to a higher range. The CMOS erase function has reset EVERYTHING back to their original factory settings.
Example: If the frequency is running at 100, set it to 133.
The problem with the overheating is probably either a faulty fan, the fan isnt connected properly, or maybe even the fan isnt up to the job, and you need a larger one.
If you need more help, just IM me and I'll sort ya out.
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Post by AvengersWraith on Apr 20, 2004 0:07:59 GMT
The motherboard is an EliteGroup K7S5A Pro, and I am keeping the processor at the reduced function for now, I'ld rather have 1.5 GiG CPU than a burnt out and ruined CPU. My other PC will nolonger support NWN because I sold the 32MB video card on it and put the 4 MB factory video card back in.
I am sure that if the electronics store I had ship me these components wants my business in July when I upgrade again they will help me, if not, I will just find another electronics store to give my business to.
Now that I have my chronic pain issues manageable I hope to be able to work from home or maybe even someday have my own non-profit neighborhood computer education center, which is what I would like to do if I had the money. Increase my knowledge and share it with others.
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Post by Spathic on Apr 20, 2004 1:02:31 GMT
Elitegroup... thats what i thought.... Never buy that brand... they are total garbage... I made that mistake as wel (same board actually)l... do a little searching for that and you will find your problem is very common...
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Post by AvengersWraith on Apr 20, 2004 3:29:54 GMT
I upgraded in pieces and it had 1 feature that was really decisive in my choice, allowing either 2 Dimms or 2 DDRs, that way I didn't have to upgrade my CPU, motherboard and RAM at the same time.
What would be a good motherboard, I have the following items:
2.0 GiG 2400+ AMD Athlon Socket A CPU
EDGE 512 MB PC2100 DDR DIMM, 184-Pin
GeForce4 Titanium 4200-8X nVidia video card
Sound Blaster Live audio card
2 hard drives 30 and a 80
2 CD-Roms, 1 DVD-RW and 1 CD-RW
Haugpauge TV/Stereo Card (older one, will probably replace with a new card for video input because Windows XP doesn't support it or my digital camera and I haven't been very successful in consistantly making mpeg videos with it)
It's a couple months til July, but I would like to know what to be pricing.
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Post by Spathic on Apr 20, 2004 11:17:18 GMT
I really like the A-Bit board I have now... I think you can't go wrong with a a good known brand... but basically when choosing a board search on google for people having issues with it... If the same problems pop up over and over look for another brand/Model...
Also i think that mother board is one of the areas of a PC where you definately should nopt try to cheap out, especially when the prices of a good name brand board is not that much more than a cheapie...
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Post by Preedy1978 on Apr 20, 2004 11:26:34 GMT
Indeed, I agree. I have a DFI Pro 875, it rocks, and it also glows in the dark...goes great with my luminous blue light and see-through case ;D Seriously, a good motherboard is a good base for the rest of the computer...and yeah, Ive used an Elite brand board before, cheap and NOT cheerful.  |
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Post by Spathic on Apr 20, 2004 11:37:12 GMT
glows or has LEDs? my nf7 has an errie red glow from the LEDs on the board...
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Post by Phoenix on Apr 20, 2004 14:26:41 GMT
ECS, they do make low quality boards, but hey at least are cheap... I'll go one step further and say you got it at Fry's.  OK, so the boards have numeous problems, one of which is overheating. I built 2/4 systems of these for Kline and Cain. I say 2/4 becuase I only built 2 systems, but used 4 boards. One had a dead audio header, so no sound. The other... dum, dum, dum, was overheating the proc. The board needs to be RMAed/replaced at the store if possible, depending on how old it is. What you have right now is an underclocked system, which is actually good. The lower clock speeds will produce less heat, and may be the difference between a working system and one that won't boot. Preedy1978 is right about the 100 mhz setting on the FSB. The default setting for most mobos is 100 because they don't want to assume what proc. your putting on, it may be a 100 mhz based proc. So setting that to 133 will get the correct CPU speed. I would wait to hear back from ECS on that RMA for a new mobo until you change that setting back. |
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Post by Preedy1978 on Apr 20, 2004 15:38:15 GMT
Hmmm....looking at what Phoenix has just posted...perhaps they have sold you a board that is *overclocking* your processor? Worth a look.
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Post by Phoenix on Apr 20, 2004 16:55:18 GMT
Not likely. The way you calculate the speed of the CPU is the front side bus (FSB) x the multiplier of the chip. There are two ways to overclock (OC), uncrease the FSB, or increase the multiplier.
The mulitplier his chip is clock locked,unless you unlock your processorot impossible, but not easy. Assuming he didn't do that, he can only OC my changing his FSB. ECS doesn't make 'overclocking' boards. The BIOS only allows set FSB speeds of 100, 133, and 166.
His CPU, a 2ghz part, is calculated by 133*15 (15 is the set mulitplier on his CPU)=1995mhz, or ~2ghz. Currently he's running at 100*15=1500mhz, that's an underclock. If he tried the other setting, 166x15=2490, a VERY large OC. It's possible, but not with that mobo, the chipset just isn't good enough, and you would need VERY good cooling, probably water cooled.
At any rate, there is little to no way that mobo would overclock w/o unlocking the processor.
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