Northbridge/Southbridge fried? V5 dead?

[UCLAPat]

Hi, y'all... Wrote to say I had to prematurely retire my Voodoo5. And temporarily switched sides... I got that GF4Ti4200 deal at Best Buy.

I had a fully stable AMD Thunderbird 800 system Abit KT7-RAID MB with V5, SB Live Value, 384 MB, etc. A couple months back, my system started becoming really unstable. My system would randomly reboot, dump me back to the desktop during intense cpu activity (i.e., gaming, encoding), and display very odd error messages. Even copying files or pulling Ghost images produced weird CRC type errors.

Immediately, I thought the following could be problems:

- video card
- memory
- virus
- motherboard

As far as viruses, my system seemed clean. I only had Norton AV v5.0 with the latest definitions though.

I replaced the memory. Same instability.

I then noticed that the little fan over the MB chip was not spinning anymore. In fact, it was very difficult to spin with my fingers and was practically locked. I replaced it with a new fan. However, I didn't know at which point the fan stopped working so maybe the chip overheated and was damaged.

So lastly, I replaced the Voodoo5. And alas, still the same instability problems. Heck! I can't even install WinXP or WinME because errors would occur during file copying from the CD in DOS (autoboot from CD with extremely minor scratching) and display a STOP 0x0000004E PFN_LIST_CORRUPT" Error Message.

So my thinking now is either a virus that damaged my hard drive (neither ScanDisk or NAV can detect a problem) or my MB was damaged by the dead fan.

Any clues anyone? This is a smart board so I thought someone could give me some insights. Otherwise, I plan on replacing the cpu and MB.

So anyway, sorry, V5, for prematurely thinking you were the culprit. You may still find a home in a backup system. If only you had TV out, you could've replaced my V3 in my PIII 650 system...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

It may just be a faulty IDE cable so try a different one first, if that checks out then download the diagnostic software from the HDD's manufacturer's website and run it on your drive, BTW it's highly improbable that the northbridge was damaged due to the fan failing as the heatsink is easily enough when not overclocking the FSB (I removed the noisy fan on my KT7 when I had one with no ill effects) Since you've eliminated the ram the next thing in the troubleshoot order should be, Presuming that after running the diagnostics on your HDD it's OK, to try performing the install with a barebones config (just CPU, Ram, vid card and HDD). Post back with how you make out

 

[UCLAPat]

Okay, I tried some other IDE cables (from a computer I know works fine). No difference.

I tried a fresh install again and have the same copy problems, regardless of the install disc used. All the cards were removed from all the slots (also done previously).

No problems were detected with the hard drive.

I'm going to break down and get a new MB/CPU.

Fry's has a $100 deal for the ECS/2000+ combo. After tax, it's $108. Then a CPU cooler will add $30-60. It's OEM. I also have a $40 gift certificate to Fry's.

If I buy online, I can get the retail package (3 year warranty instead of 60 days?) and it's $95 for the CPU and $60 for the MB. However, since it's retail, it already has a cooler.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Thanx for the update, LMK how the new combo does!

 

[MisterNi]

If you decide to go for the Fry's package deal, no need to spend over $20 if you're not going to overclock.

Here's a nice HSF for under $20 and should be pretty quiet.

Link

 

[UCLAPat]

Thanks, DAPUNISHER & MisterNi for all the help and advice!

Here's what I ended up doing. I didn't get the Fry's deal. It would've been $108.25 for an ECS mb/2000+ (oem). If I got that inexpensive cooler (with artic silver iii), it would've been $26.33. So the grand total would've been $134.58 out the door. Oh! I could also be hooking it up tonight!

I bought at two separate online stores. The ECS MB was $60.62 out the door. I got the 2100+ (retail, instead of the 2000+ oem with the Fry's deal) for $103.92 out the door. So the grand total is $164.52. $30 difference is not so bad for a retail box, longer warranty, and another 100+ rating. Sadly, I have to wait for the mail service...

So it still means I have a $40 gift certificate burning in my pocket.

MisterNi, I'll still keep that cpu cooler in mind. It seems nice. Do you think it'll be better than the stock amd cooler?

Anyway, this setup is to tie me over until the flashy new cpu's come out. Hammer, anyone?

 

[MisterNi]

The retail cooler should be more than fine, but if you find the retail cooler too loud, you can give the Arctic Cooler a try, just don't expect to overclock and maintain reasonable temps.

BTW, but welcome to the forums.