Semi-Random power off issues with IS7

[Ross (2)]

Hi,

I finished putting together my new PC:

IS7-E with GBit Ethernet
P4 2.4GHZ 800Mhz Bus with HT enabled
512MB Dual Channel Memory(Crucial)
Hercules Radeon 9700PRO
CDR, DVD
120 GB HD
400W QTec Power

and tried to install the os (XP Pro). When the installation progess indicator reached "Registering Components" and 1/4 of the way accross the bar the PC just shut down without warning. I repeated this four times with the same result at the same point of the installation, each shutdown required the power lead to be pulled out and replaced before it would turn back on again. I removed one stick of crucial memory 256MB thinking it may be a power issue and the installation was finally successful. I replaced the stick I removed so it was back up to 512MB and ran the SP1 install, towards the end of the process the PC again powered off hosing the whole install.

Does this suggest the need for more power as I had assumed 400W would have been sufficient, or does it sound typical of a duff stick of memory? The PC was fine for 3-4 hours in between but I have yet to get around to running a 3D game which may draw more power triggering a shutdown.

Cheers,
Ross.

 

[TomG]

sounds like problems that are well documented with the 865 and 875 chipset and some types of memory. try setting the ram timings to the loosest (slowest... highest numbers), Performance Acceleration (PAT) to Auto, raise the DDR voltage to 2.7 or possibly a little higher, and see if that helps and if you can get going with that, then maybe you can get set up and then start tuning from there.

 

[Ross (2)]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried the slowest settings and bumped the voltage to 2.8 but I still got premeture shutdowns. When I tried the second stick of ram in the non dual channel slot it worked fine so I'm wondering if the power requirement of the second memory controller is pushing things over the edge. Not sure now whether to risk buying a new PSU or more memory knowing I could waste my money.

Cheers.

"TomG" wrote:

sounds like problems that are well documented with the 865 and 875 chipset and some types of memory. try setting the ram timings to the loosest (slowest... highest numbers), Performance Acceleration (PAT) to Auto, raise the DDR voltage to 2.7 or possibly a little higher, and see if that helps and if you can get going with that, then maybe you can get set up and then start tuning from there.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

...

 

[Ross (2)]

I discovered after running a D3D game for 10 minutes that even with the memory in a non dual channel configuration the PC still powers off so I'm going to risk buying a new power supply.

Ross.

"TomG" wrote:

sounds like problems that are well documented with the 865 and 875 chipset and some types of memory. try setting the ram timings to the loosest (slowest... highest numbers), Performance Acceleration (PAT) to Auto, raise the DDR voltage to 2.7 or possibly a little higher, and see if that helps and if you can get going with that, then maybe you can get set up and then start tuning from there.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

...

 

[TomG]

a good PSU is never a waste of money because power demands are always going to go up. your testing definitely points towards ram as the source of your problems. it doesn't mean the ram is bad, mind you, but the combination of the ram and the board and settings most likely.

 

[TomG]

good luck.

 

[TomG]

you monitor temperatures? do you have any of the temperature settings in the bios enabled? disable all of the temperature monitoring in the bios under PC Health and see if you still get the shutdown.

 

[Ross (2)]

The temps in the case are very low, I took the temperature of the CPU manually to check I didn't have a faultly sensor and it was well within range. What was a little disappointing after finally getting the PC to run on only one stick was discovering my IS7 has the usual sound card problems so I'll have to pick a new one up.

Cheers.

"TomG" wrote:

you monitor temperatures? do you have any of the temperature settings in the bios enabled? disable all of the temperature monitoring in the bios under PC Health and see if you still get the shutdown.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

ftp://geerynet.d2g.com
ftp://68.98.180.8 Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
...

 

[Ross (2)]

Purchased an antec 550W true power PSU to be sure ;-). Now works fine with no problems, was a big relief.

"TomG" wrote:

good luck.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

ftp://geerynet.d2g.com
ftp://68.98.180.8 Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!... over 117,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^
...

 

[TomG]

great!