Dead CPU or bad mobo? How to tell?

[Foomanchu]

I recently decided to put together a 2nd system and am having problems with it. It is:
1GHz Athlon
MSI K7T PRO2A
IBM 75GXP HD
Crucial 128MB pc133 cas 2 RAM
Elsa Gladiac GF2 GTS 32MB

Well, the main problem is that the system crashes whenever any CPU intensive applications are run. I first noticed it when I tried to run Mad Onions 3dmark2000, and I checked the forums and noticed that others have been having problems with it too, so I decided to let it pass. Then, I noticed that all of the games i play would crash it too after only a few minutes of gameplay. This made me feel that it was my video card. So i switched it out (after a reformat) and installed my trusty old voodoo 3 3000 (that came from my old system where it performed flawlessly). The problems STILL persisted. For kicks i tried to run some cpu "intensive" applications like prime95, rc5, or hot cpu tester, it STILL crashes. Throughout all of this the CPU runs at 50 - 58 degrees, with the super orb/arctic silver combo. I have reformatted countless times and tried numerous different ways or drivers, just in case something would work. I also have replaced EVERYTHING in the system with my components from my "tried and true" main system (short of the cpu/mobo). For this reason, i feel that it is either the cpu or the mobo. How can i be sure, or narrow it down to one or the other?

Thanks in advance-

P.S. I also noticed that when installing the OS (tried win2k and 98) every time, it would say that it could not find/install one of the files (it did this for NUMEROUS files, and never the same files for all of the reformats/installs). So i would hit retry and it would then install it. It did this for about half of the files! (could this be related?, i havent ever had that problem before with any of my other rigs)

This is my first AMD computer and i hope this all isnt just an AMD thing!!!!

 

[Kaama]

I'm quite new to this but it sounds kinda heat related to me.
58c seems a little high especially as I heard that readings with orbs can be quite a way off.
What's your case cooling/temp like ?

K

 

[Mem]

This sounds like a heat problem as Kaama as said,check it`s seated properly,try a different heatsink/fan,I`ve never trusted the Orbs on T-bird systems. Go here for recommended

fans/heatsinks. you will see it`s not even listed.

 

[Techie333]

I had THIS SAME PROBLEM!!!!!
It was the most annoying thing in the world.
A while back, I was building a 700mhz athlon classic for a friend and it kept freezing in games and intensive cpu programs........
I replaced the power supply to a 300watt from 250, put in a new geforce card instead of diamond viper II...
nope....IT STILL KEPT FREEZING....
Then I moved and don't know what he did........o well

 

[paulip88]

Seems like it could one or more of several things (already mentioned I guess):

Power Supply: If you do not have a 300W quality PSU, get one.

Cooling: Yout temperatures are pretty hot. If you case temps are hot (above 33-35C), get some more case fans. If your case is cool, get a better HSF. I wouldn't trust an orb with a TBird 1GHz.

 

[Hanky]

Your CPU temps are way too high! You have a K7T Pro2 which underreads CPU temp heavily because it only uses a little SMD resistor way below the CPU to measure the temp and adds no compensation (afaik). Then you use an Orb HS which is known for leading to even more serious underreads (according to Mikewarrior). So your real CPU temp is probably already in the 80's when your board says 58°C!

 

[Foomanchu]

Thanks guys! I guess you nailed it. It was the HSF. Upon your recommendations, i went out and bought a new one (global win fop38). Now everything is stable and the temp has yet to go above 36!!! Usually hovers around 28-30 when idling! I really wonder what could have been the problem with the super orb, because both fans were working.......wierd. Anyways, thanks for the advice and my thunderbird greatly appreciates your help (as do i ) Thanks again......