Got my new Core 2 Duo 3ghz, Having some problems

[ctal]

Originally Posted by plainman007

Ctal > Yes initially the system worked ok. But then after i was setting the Nvidia profiles something went awry. Then performance was erratic. Screen half out etc. So i decided to update bios. Since i updated bios it hasnt booted properly. I said the system is quirky from start because ive seen it working without problems for only a day. I thought that qualifies as troublesome from start. Ive only had this rig up for 3 to 4 days now. How do i flash back to the original bios. The original bios was 2006. I upgraded to vers 2007 which is given as the latest on the intel site. The problem now is there is only one more update listed below and thats way back to 2004. Where can i see the entire list of updates ever released for a board ?


Zman > No im sure i did the jumper thing correctly. If i did it wrong im sure the tech guy would have found out. In fact he tried the same pattern of recovery that i did and failed too.

Yeah, it looks like they only have the latest version plus an ancient version available for download. The "Release Notes" link has a 24 page document listing all of the revisions and what they did; you certainly don't want to go back to the 2005 (not 2004) version because there were a zillion updates in between, probably many of them important:

Download Search Results

So I'm not sure what to suggest re the bios.

What is the answer to the question about whether or not the cpu and/or heatsink/fan have been removed or disturbed at any point? If it has been, you certainly should download and install a program to check cpu temperature, and maybe you should do that in any case.

-- Al

[plainman007]

Ctal > Last eve another service guy took a look. His judgement was that windows was corrupt. Is it possible that corrupt windows can cause the system to stall at the intel logo. Also the system was hanging only at the particular point when EB is displayed on the bottom right corner of the intel logo. He somehow managed to reinstall wndows and the system seemed ok. But again gave some problems booting up. So i asked him to take the entire system apart and put it back together. He did so. Cleaning the heatsink and also told me that the cooling paste (yes i finally saw the cooling/thermal paste and now understand it) was a little less in quantity. Evaporated ?. Bugs ate it ?. God only knows. We then commenced to put it back together and the system booted without an issue except for warning us that the system memory in channel A was not equal to that in channel B. That we knew. But it never gave such a notice in the former cabinet. Still baffled. Anyway system boots. Now it seems to run fine. I can see no difference or problems. Except im a little wary that he did a quick format when loading the os. I always prefer a long/full format. Now im scared to reinstall the os fearing the same old problems. But on the other hand im thinking. If the problem has been solved then it should breeze thru another os reinstall. And if it cant do so. Then im still dealing with a frail machine that i cannot trust on the field cause something essentially is still wrong. Im tempted to test an OS reinstall. For if its a hardware based problem and weve rectified it then why should we worry. If the probem reccurs then im not willing to take a chance and would either have to send the board to intel or scrap it and get another board (if im lucky to still get a board that would run the dual core 3.4 Pentium D). Also was wondering if i should get the tech guy to put in some fresh thermal paste. Please let me know what you think.

Regardng the new rig. (Core 2 duo 3ghz) Ive been able to sort out the problem trying various power options in the BIOS menu. It seems there was an S1 option instead of S3 which should be selected. Now the system does standby without a problem. The only fragment left unsloved is that every time the power socket or ups is switched on the system hums to life for a sec and then goes silent. Sorta like acknowledging that power is now available. The front leds glow, the fans runs and the DVD drive led blinks. All this for just a sec or 2. The the system is normal and off. Prssing the power button brings it to normal working condition. But whats that powering on for a sec

[zman88]

Didn't he clean and use fresh paste when he took it apart and you saw it didn't have much?

[ctal]

You should definitely download and run one of the cpu temperature monitoring programs I referred to. Also, as Zman implies, when the hsf was removed from the cpu, the old thermal stuff should have been cleaned off (with high purity alcohol and a lint free cloth, such as a lens cloth) and new compound applied. The Pentium D's were known to run hot, and any marginality in the thermal compound will likely cause a problem.

I don't know what EB in the bios screen refers to, but until Windows starts to load following the initial screen(s) that are created by the bios, it would not matter whether Windows was corrupt or not, or even whether or not it was installed, or if the hard drive on which it would be installed was not present.

Not sure what to say about the other system's behavior when ac is applied, but it does not sound worrisome. Perhaps it's characteristic of the new bios.

Regards,
-- Al

[plainman007]

Zman > You should see the damn tech guys here. They should probably be mowing lawns. Not assemblng computers. Let me share something with you. In my side of the world. In fact i had to insist that the thermal paste shoudl be checked out. He said theres nothing to check there. And theres absolutely no paste of anykind. He looked very flustered that i was insisting. Then he opens it up and says he didnt realize i was reffering to 'this sticky thing' and that it doesnt matter at all wether its there or not. The processor will just run. Probably even without the heat sink and fan. Ok i made up that last one, but they are close enough to being that morinic. Then he scraped what little was left off and tried dumping it from his finger nail onto the center. And the closed up the whole thing. He again says theres no use in that paste and that the folks at intel dont know what they are doing and just put something there. Now this was the only one who agreed to open the heatsink. The remaining 5 or so assembling engineers believed we would be exposed to death rays if we opened it up. When i tried to locate more people some say the paste that is available on the market turns watery after sometime and it might hurt the system. I will download one of these programs and let you know. However the instability is back. And im planning to give it one last try at the thermal paste. If it doesnt work. Then im planning to replace it with a new board. I heard the 945GNT isnt available now. Only 945GCL and some others. But it should run my existing processor Pentium D, 3.4Ghz dual core.

Heres a comparision sheet of the few models im considering.
Intel® Product Comparison Chart

Which of these might be a good option ? Main purpose is to playback and capture HDV footage. The system will be only doing one of these tasks at anytime and will have only 3 progs or so installed. Which means its a dedicated machine only for this sole purpose and nothing else. Not a family computer for sure. Plz advice me accordingly. Thanks.

[ctal]

Yes, you are right that they should be doing lawns. Everything they said is utter nonsense, including the bit about the paste turning watery (assuming a reputable compound is used). I am now virtually convinced that incorrect application of the heatsink and the thermal compound is the reason for your problems, and that getting a new mobo would accomplish nothing (if the cpu and hsf are installed by those people in a similar manner).

The cpu temperature monitoring program will allow you to confirm this, by revealing what are no doubt extremely high temperatures.

The majority of knowledgeable people use Arctic Silver 5:

Arctic Silver Incorporated - Arctic Silver 5

Be sure to follow the link to the "thermal compound instructions" page.

As I indicated in my prior post, you will also need high purity alcohol and a lint-free lens cloth (or something similar), to clean the residual thermal compound from the cpu and the heat sink surface that mates with it.

If you do want to select a new mobo, I'd advise starting a new thread on it. I am not particularly knowledgeable about Intel mobos. But as I said, getting a new mobo will accomplish nothing if the cpu and hsf are not installed properly.

Regards,
-- Al

[plainman007]

Ctal > Hi, Arctic silver etc are brands we dont get here in my country. They are all popular in the USA. Assuming your from America. Ill try to find out what brands are available here and keep you posted on the same. Any links to free temperature monitoring progys plz ? Also on the Mobo is it wise to go with a micro atx or the full atx size boards are more professional. Some people say dont buy the micro atx mobos because they are too cramped and limited in features. Any ideas ? Thanks a ton.

[zman88]

At this point even cheap paste, " applied correctly" (per link ctal provided) would be better than nothing! This way atleast that can be scratched as a problem.

[zman88]

BTW, you cab try this program to check the temp. Download - OCCT Website english

[ctal]

Originally Posted by plainman007

Ctal > Hi, Arctic silver etc are brands we dont get here in my country. They are all popular in the USA. Assuming your from America. Ill try to find out what brands are available here and keep you posted on the same. Any links to free temperature monitoring progys plz ? Also on the Mobo is it wise to go with a micro atx or the full atx size boards are more professional. Some people say dont buy the micro atx mobos because they are too cramped and limited in features. Any ideas ? Thanks a ton.

Try Realtemp. It is simple to use and will tell you what you need to know:

Real Temp - CPU temperature monitoring

SpeedFan is also excellent, and provides much more information, but needs to be configured and is more complex:

SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

A lot of people use Coretemp, but I have no experience with it:

Core Temp

I don't understand why you are so limited in being able to obtain good thermal paste, if you are able to readily buy all the other computer parts that you recently purchased. The same vendor should be able to supply a good paste as well.

I don't have any particular knowledge of micro-ATX boards, but I would strongly suspect that you should not go with one. As you know, video editing (especially hdv and similar formats) requires computer horsepower more so than just about any other application, and I would think that the design compromises that go into making the board smaller would work in the opposite direction.

Let us know how the temperatures measure. I feel virtually certain that is your problem. All CPU's require careful installation of the hsf with thermal compound, and even more so the Pentium D, which was one of the hottest running CPU's ever made (and quite possibly THE hottest).

Regards,
-- Al

[plainman007]

Ctal > I totally agree. Thats why i was way about smaller boards. They are very limited in their upgrades. I think some of them dont even have more than 2 ram slots. And i would prefer to have 4 x 1 gb slots than 2 x 2 gb slots. Something most video editors need. You are dead right about the Petium D being THE hottest product on the market. Pardon the pun. When i hit render on the pentium D system it will howl as if a jet was taking off. And i can tell the render is over when i hear the sound go down. .

Will try the temp proggy and keep you posted, Thanks.

Zman > Thanks , will try your download link and let you know too.

[ctal]

One more thought about the thermal paste. Even if you use something other than AS5, I'd recommend carefully following the guidelines for applying the paste that Arctic Silver provides (at the "instructions" link on the page I linked to above). Note that the instructions are different for different kinds of cpu's.

If you apply too little you lose effectiveness, but applying too much, or applying it in the wrong place, is also no good. And if you apply too much, or apply it in the wrong place, when the hsf is installed the pressure can force the paste out the sides, onto adjacent circuit points where its capacitance can affect operation (it is not conductive, but has significant capacitance).

Regards,
-- Al

[plainman007]

Ctal > Thanks. Much appreciated. Will read the instructions there before proceeding.

[plainman007]

Ctal > We tried as specified and used new paste etc after cleaning with pure ip. System gives same problem. Hangs at intel boot screen. Even F2 doesnt work. Same symptoms. Had to get the board taken to the dealer. They checked it and confirmed the board is messed. May be a corrupt bios or something else they say. So i will have to wait it out. They have sent the board out to intel under warranty replacement. But ive heard some odd stories in that intel is not easy to convince and that they simply keep asking questions to prove the customer wrong and will sometimes just try to refurbish or replace with a refurbished board. I dont know if i can confidently take this system out on the field as explained.

[ctal]

Originally Posted by plainman007

Ctal > We tried as specified and used new paste etc after cleaning with pure ip. System gives same problem. Hangs at intel boot screen. Even F2 doesnt work. Same symptoms. Had to get the board taken to the dealer. They checked it and confirmed the board is messed. May be a corrupt bios or something else they say. So i will have to wait it out. They have sent the board out to intel under warranty replacement. But ive heard some odd stories in that intel is not easy to convince and that they simply keep asking questions to prove the customer wrong and will sometimes just try to refurbish or replace with a refurbished board. I dont know if i can confidently take this system out on the field as explained.

Had you measured the temps? Also, what is "pure ip"?

Regards,
-- Al