P4c800 Dx + P4 3.4 Freeze Problem

I live in Brazil - here once you make a purchase you can usually only return it if the product is defective - so I would need to be sure the problem is caused by the power suppky before purchasing one (good psu's are expensive here).

In general, I am getting very high temperatures on the CPU (i'm using asus probe to measure it). I am obtaining a low of 56 celsius and a high of 74 (!) with high processing, and my first though was that this would be the causes for these momentary freezes I am finding. I've made some tests and the computer has not freezed at all when working at the top 74o temperature for 10 minutes, but then it froze later for 10 seconds when the temperature was at 58 for some time already - so i'm almost ruling out the temperature as the cause for these (although I am aware that I need to deal urgently with this high temperature to do not loose performance or risk burning the processor).

What I find strange is that the freezes are only for some seconds (up to 20 sec until now) . I would expect that once the system froze, I would need a reset for it to come back. Although I am used to computers for years, this is the first time I've seen something like it.

I was thinking to take out the modem, network and audio boards I have to see if it is some kind of conflict (or driver issue) that is causing these freezes. WOuld it be worth the try:

Any help or ideas you can provide on this issue will be very welcomed.

I just spent several hours trying to identify the reason of the problem . First I re-installed the processor , took off the original thermal paste on it, applied a different one I gained when purchasing the processor (no brand, white colored). No difference in temps. Re-arranged fans in the case (I have 3), Got a one / two degree improvement. Suspecting bad flow of air inside the case, as suggested , I opened the case and started working with the case opened. Opening the case, I got a low temp of 55 and a high of 69 -still way too high and random freezes continued.

To see if I was having a power shortage, I took out all boards but the video (one by one) , plugged out all drives but the one with the os. Temps have not lowered, ramdon freezes continued.

Then I begun turining off all optional on-board devices in the bios . No improvements.

Then the last change I made apparently eliminated the freezes - I turned off hyper-threading.

Well at least it is identified that HT was the cause of the freezes. Now I am in doubt if it is the combination of HT + high temps that caused them, it is any kind of incompatiblity / corruption from the OS /drivers with HT, I just purchased a faulty processor or the gods of technology are just punising me for not going on with an Athlon 64-FX. :smile:

..... Any suggestions ... ?

@ rzotti
IMHO, I think turning off your HyperThreading proves that your CPU and HeatSinkFan connection is poor. Did you thoroughly clean off the old paste using denatured alcohol? Did you apply just a thin consistent layer of the new paste to the CPU? It is possible that the interface between the HSF and CPU is defective and unable to connect properly. I had one happen recently to me. :sad:

The poor-cpu/hsf-connection scenario is even more apparent to me when you have your case side open and you are still seeing extremely high CPU temps. Turning off HT has the effect of using only half your processor, therefore, when you stress the processor with no HT, it is only developing 50-75% of the heat it would under HT conditions. I think that is why your system works w/o HT. No PSU problem, no virus problem. I bet your system still runs quite hot w/o HT :3-sqhot: . The P4 3.4C processor is a very hot one. The standard HSF that comes with it is really not up to the task, but you should not see the high temps you are seeing even with the poor stock cooler. You might want to try an aftermarket HSF, like the Zalman 7000 or 7700. The ArcticCooling Freezer 4, Scythe SCNJ-1000 Ninja, Thermalright XP-90, XP-120 and SP-94 are also excellent choices.

After you resolve your heat issues, you may also have PSU or software/driver issues. Have you run a spyware/antivirus program to make sure you don't have a virus that takes over your machine, as Barry_R has suggested? You could open 'task manager' (ctrl-alt-del) and monitor your CPU usage at idle. It should be 0% to 5%. If there is a virus running, your CPU Usage may be running 100%! Maybe that is what is happening during your 10-20 second 'freezes', your CPU is at 100% usage...I have seen THAT before. :3-nuts:

Still, even with a virus, you should not see the CPU temps you are seeing. With a proper aftermarket HSF, stressing your CPU for 24 hours using 2 instances(for HT) of CPUBurn, you should see maximum CPU temps of 45C to 50C temps and 55C to 60+C with the stock cooler.

Thanks for your feedback so far. Keep us posted on your progress :sayyes:

@whosdat: latest bios, 1021.004. I checked the voltages from the PSU, 12v oscilating between 11.5 and 11.8, all others with almost no variance to their reference values. (+/-1%).

Good news. Looks like I solved the freezes I was having I took out the realtek , modem board and the audigy sound cards AND unistalled the audigy drivers. I am just completing my first hour without a single freeze.

Temps are still high, I got to 67 this afternoon. but on low usage the cpu is usually at 53. I still can try to work with the case open, or otimize internal air flow - but in my experience it would improve my temp on a couple of degrees only. I am out of ideas regarding decreasing the temp now .... hmmm .. may be a liquid nitrogen cooling system ?

BUt not everything is good news ... My wife commented to me as soon as I arrived home that the computer was turning off alone almost everytime she was working ... hmm .. playing ( )on it. At that time the computer was in horizontal poistion. Could it be the the weight of the new cpu cooler ? After I put it in vertical position up to now no shutdowns happened.

Anyways, thanks for the help all of you provided. You guys created a great community here - please be proud of that !

Regards,

Raul

I agree 100% / get a bigger and BETTER PSU

Disabling the HT is the equilivant of removing 100lbs of a horse thats about to fall down !!

Not enough voltage (low voltage resisitance) builds heat / the sporadic mini freezes you are seeing is the CPU throttling down to save itself !!

If you continue to run the system in the current configuration you WILL burn something then that PSU replacement is going to be worth just alittle more !!

I suggest you re-install the P 1.8 until you get a better PSU or your going to smoke that cpu.


regards

joe