KV8 Deluxe reboots w/games

[BWinc]

I've been tackling this issue with my KV8 (not SE) Deluxe for about a year (purchased in 02/04). If I play any graphics intensive game, the system reboots after about 20 minutes of playing. I used to have a Sapphire 9600XT when this first occured and I attacked the problem from the point of it being a video card issue.

I lowered the AGP to 4x, turned cool'n'quiet off, then on, set bios to default, ran memtest (successfully), ran CPU Burn-in (successfully), moved memory to slots 1/2 & 1/3, swapped them around, replaced my PSU, I loaded the lastest video drivers (or back rev'd them) and checked cooling. I tried seeing if Windows logs could provide insight. I've unchecked the auto restart in Start and Recovery and didn't get a blue screen. But each crash does write to the minidump file. Unfortunately I don't know how to decypher them.

I never upgraded the bios from 1003. I don't like messing with them unless it specifically address a pertinent problem. I've "googled" around and found horror stories on bios update with this board.

I finally gave up. RMA's my vid card and bought a Leadtek 6800. Same thing.
I contacted ASUS support via the onsite tech support 2 weeks ago. No reply!

Anyone have any ideas? Thanx in advance.

CPU: AMD 64 3200+
MB: Asus KV8 Deluxe
Ram: 1 GB (512x2) Kingston DDR PC- 3200
PSU: POWMAX 450 Watts
Video: Leadtek A400 TDH
OS: Windows XP Pro SP2

 

[fbrdphreak]

If I'm not mistaken, POWMAX is a dirty word around here. Link
I would say that is your problem right there, crappy PSU's are known for random reboots and system instability.
Depending on your price range, there are many inexpensive PSU's out there that work VERY well.
Example
Example 2

I just used NewEgg to look those up real quick, look around FS/FT, Hotdeals, & pricewatch for the best price on a reasonable PSU.

 

[BWinc]

Certainly something to take into consideration. THe only thing is that this is the 2nd PSU I've used.

 

[fbrdphreak]

What was the other PSU you used? I agree its unlikely that 2 PSU's in a row wouldn't do the job.
Did you try opening your case up and blowing a fan on it or something? Heat is usually the other cause of reboots/lockups during high system load.
Lastly, I would check your memory. If your memory is damaged or something, it can certainly cause problems like that. Google for MEMTEST86, that is known as the defacto memory testing software.
Write back once you've eliminated some stuff!

 

[BWinc]

sorry double post

 

[BWinc]

The first PSU was a 350 Watt that came with my Aspire Dreamer case.

I've run both memtest86 & memtest 86+ both for mutliple passes (minimum of 7) with 0 errors. I even ran Windows Memory diagnostics for grins and giggles.
I've also ran CPU burn-in, an overclocking ultility (no I don't overclock) which runs the CPU under load and hi temps with 0 errors
For cooling I have a case intake fan which is right on top of the CPU/heastsink/fan and an exhaust fan. The Powmax has 2 fans and the Leadtek 6800 of course has its fan.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Wowsers..........
I would use a program like RivaTuner to record your temperatures during a gaming session and see what temps the video card hits. If it goes particularly high, that can be a sign of either the video card overheating or the system being too hot in general. Like I said, to eliminate it, open the case and blow a fan on it
Otherwise.............
Mobo? If I still had my old K8V SE Deluxe I'd let you try it out But alas I sold it
There is always the possibility of the CPU, but if you can run burn-in proggies then that shouldn't be it.
I would say try the BIOS flash and the RMA the board.

 

[BWinc]

Board has been updated to BIOS 1009. I plan on try running Asus probes logging feature and log the 12v and 3.3v rails, do a bit of intensive gaming to check for any signs of low rail voltage or a sudden dip, 12v powers the Cpu and video card, 3.3v powers the memory amongst other things.

I may also try to slacken off the memory timings a little or even underclock the system a bit to see if that helps. That would at least eliminate software/driver problems.

If I have to unclock, I'll RMA the board and weigh my alternatives.

 

[BWinc]

I monitored everything. I don't see anything out of the ordinary.

I decided to try the memory again. I swapped the slots on 1/3 and still got reboots. I ran memtest with both chips. It threw an error at Step 5 after the 3rd pass. I moved chip in slot 3 to 2 and got errors again on step 5 after the 3rd pass. I pulled the chip out of 2 and ran memtest on the one in slot 1 with no errors. I then ran memtest on the other chip with no errors. I put the 2nd chip back into slot 2, ran memtest with no errors. *sigh*

Has anyone RMA'd an ASUS K8V Deluxe Motherboard and how long does it take to get a replacement?

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: BWinc
I monitored everything. I don't see anything out of the ordinary.

I decided to try the memory again. I swapped the slots on 1/3 and still got reboots. I ran memtest with both chips. It threw an error at Step 5 after the 3rd pass. I moved chip in slot 3 to 2 and got errors again on step 5 after the 3rd pass. I pulled the chip out of 2 and ran memtest on the one in slot 1 with no errors. I then ran memtest on the other chip with no errors. I put the 2nd chip back into slot 2, ran memtest with no errors. *sigh*

Has anyone RMA'd an ASUS K8V Deluxe Motherboard and how long does it take to get a replacement?

Now, if you ran MEMTEST with only one stick in slot 1 & got no errors, what makes you think it isn't the RAM? I would pull that stick of RAM out and fire the comp up. Test it out with games or Sandra or 3DMark or something, see if that fixes your instability.
In regards to RMA-ing, I've never dealt with mobo RMA's. Check out Asus' site and see if they have an RMA form, that will make your life infinitely easier
But check the RAM first!

 

[NZgoon]

I have had the same problem with a via motherboard and 9600 XT video card. The solution I found was running AGP 4x, fast write on and agp driver set to DA.
The agp driver is an option in bios for setting the drive current for video cards, most video cards work in the auto mode. The option was originally for the old nvidia cards that had problems with via chipsets, the DA setting is the default and is a hexidecimal number.

I hope this helps.

 

[BWinc]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Now, if you ran MEMTEST with only one stick in slot 1 & got no errors, what makes you think it isn't the RAM? I would pull that stick of RAM out and fire the comp up. Test it out with games or Sandra or 3DMark or something, see if that fixes your instability.
In regards to RMA-ing, I've never dealt with mobo RMA's. Check out Asus' site and see if they have an RMA form, that will make your life infinitely easier
But check the RAM first!

When I initially got the errors I thought "AH HA!, It IS memory".
Then I tested each stick by itself, in slot 1, and received no errors. Then I stuck in both sticks (slot 1 & 2) with no errors. I won't deny that it's a memory issue. But I'm supposing the only way to confirm that it is the memory and not the slots/MB is to get 2 different sticks, plug them in and see what happens. I just need to find someone locally who'll let me borrow 2 stick for a night.

 

[BWinc]

Originally posted by: NZgoon
I have had the same problem with a via motherboard and 9600 XT video card. The solution I found was running AGP 4x, fast write on and agp driver set to DA.
The agp driver is an option in bios for setting the drive current for video cards, most video cards work in the auto mode. The option was originally for the old nvidia cards that had problems with via chipsets, the DA setting is the default and is a hexidecimal number.

I hope this helps.

Thats a good suggestion NZgoon. Much appreciated. But I had already tried that out when I had my Sapphire 9600XT card in this system with no go. It didn't help in this case either.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Is your Kingston memory the HyperX or the regular kind?
Regardless, kingston comes with a lifetime warranty: see if they have some kind of advance swap program like Western Digital, where they send you the new item and as long as you return the defective ones in like 30 days they don't charge you

 

[BWinc]

*spell checked after coffee kicked in*
Its the Value RAM. One on ASUS's list of certified memory for that board. I'll check and see if Kingston is cool enough to send me the Memory ahead of time. I had RMA'd 2 sticks with Geil once. I had to send it in first.

 

[BWinc]

I finally decided that I was getting no where with trying to diagnose this myself. I'm RMA'ing it all a piece at a time starting with memory. At the very least I'll have fresh new (like new?) components.

 

[fbrdphreak]

It sucks that it has come to that, but unfortunately sometimes it does.
I recently learned about something interesting that might be of use to you: you can buy a PCI diagnostic card and just boot the system with that in it. It generates error codes that you look up in a book.
Regardless, good luck with eliminating your components

 

[BWinc]

Really? Thats interesting? Who puts it out?

 

[fbrdphreak]

There's a thread in hot deals with a lot of great info on them
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