Thunderbird 1000 hang up problem!

[Vincentf]

Motherboard : Abit KT7A-RAID
BIOS : AWARD
BIOS Revision : KT7_ZT (05/11/2001-8363-686B-6A61-MA19C-ZT)

CPU : AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1000 (100 x 10)
Core Volt : 1.750v (Default)
I/O volt : 3.40v (Default)
Standard silver heatsink and fan

CPU FAN : ~5000 RPM
System FAN : ~2700 RPM

Idle temp :

Case opened : 40-41 celsius
Case closed : 43-44 celsius

Loaded temp : +59 celsius

OS: Windows Millenium Edition
Temperature querying : VIA Hardware Monitor V2.04

Problem :

The minute the CPU has any kind of hard work to do, the temperature ascend dramatically, which most of the time means computer hang-up.

Symptoms:

ALL THE TESTS HAVE BEEN RUN WITH THE CASE OPENED AND THE COMPUTER HORIZONTALLY PLACED.

With 20 sedconds of defragmentation with the standard Windows Defragmentation program, the CPU temperature would go up 3 degrees. With 40 seconds of the same defrgmentation exercise, the temperature would go up 7 degrees. With 60 seconds, the temperature would go up 8 degrees, bringing it to 49 degrees. Running a full defragmentation of all my disks would never work because the system would hang up before it ends. After reseting my computer with the reset button and going into Soft Menu III PC Health division, the CPU showed 55 degrees.

Running a 10 minutes game of Unreal Tournament (1024/768@16bit) would bring the CPU temperature to 58 degree but the computer would not hang up.

Running the 3DMark2001 demo would make the temperature go up from 40 degrees to a whopping 59 degrees but the computer would not hang up. The demo is 5 minutes or so long and feature a CPU friendly ending which sould have helped my CPU freshen a bit near the end.

Questions/Comments :

The problem is not that the CPU get hotter, it's that I've been running this computer for two months now and it's the first time I encounter such hang up problems. I've been running the computer case closed for months and never had problems. Now, I'm running it case opened, laying on its side because otherwise it hangs. I really need help to find a solution. Buying another fan or any cooling system is out of the question. Not because I don't have the cash, it's because the CPU does not need it. I saw my CPU running just fine at 66 degree for months and now it won't even like 55?! I'm sorry, I don't buy that. It gotta be a setting I have misplaced in my BIOS when I updated it or something because the computer worked fine for the two months it had it's ogirinal BIOS. I flashed it to the latest version. Seeing it worked all clunky I flashed it back but then again, no chance, it run like a squared clockwork. So here I have the latest one and I'm sticking to it.

Any suggestions?

P.S.: After reading a couple topic in this forum, I realize that maybe my chip is running hot... I didn't even overclocked it and it's running at 49 degrees only by surfing on the net.

 

[MrThompson]

If it hangs when the case is verticle but not horizontal, the weight of the HSF may be pulling the HSF away from the CPU. Check to see if the HS is level on the CPU and check the clip too. I have seen sagging clips cause this and clips that were about to pop off the zif tabs.

If you remove the HS and are still using the thermal pad, be warned you will need to remove the pad and use another thermal compound. The pad is a one shot deal.

 

[Vincentf]

The heatsink is right on his seat and is firmly in place. The clip is not loose.

Do anyone think it might be a voltage problem? I never touched the CPU in any way. I never removed the fan or heatsink or the clip. I never actually touched phisically the CPU.

And I have another problem. To see if it would change my temperature, I tried to downclock my CPU but the computer won't even boot! I don't understand! There supposed to be problem when someone overclock, but when downclocking becomes a problem...

Anybody has a suggestion?

 

[Vincentf]

On an interresting note, I tried to experiment a bit.

In Windows Millenium, on the desktop, the system lock up at around 50 degrees.

In a game, I can climb up to 62 without any bugs. But immediately when I get out of the game and back on the Windows ME desktop, my computer freezes.

Anybody has an idea of what is the problem.

 

[Dill]

long shot, but try windows 98 SE?

 

[Sebring]

Well, I'm not processor expert but i think that it's some bug in the processor itself. AMD is known to be not as reliable as Intel. 2 months ago I had problems with 1Ghz Athlon and GeForce2 GTS. My Windows 98SE had booted normally but whenever I tried to play any hardware accelerated game, system frozen. Then I changed to Intel P3 933mhz and everything is perfect.

Ur Solution:Just pray that AMD will make some patch for WIN or buy DURON or Intel....

 

[Vincentf]

Some news from up here.

I just run Windows Update and did the "critical updates" (which should be taken as "time that sould have gone on the programming of WinMe in the first place"...) and my system booted at 61 without any lock up. I'll try to make the temperature climb to see if the critical update changed the situation for good.

 

[WarCon]

I personally had problems with the ZT bios and lockups. I have no idea what it was (probably the new settings), but since my YH bios had been working no problems I just flashed back to it and the problems went away. I don't know if this is the case with you and if you just need to adjust some of the bios settings or if its something related to heat. The KT7A reads cooler than most motherboards so your high temps are "really" pretty high. It must be very warm in your room and I am guessing that this is part of your problem. 40's at idle is really a very high temp for the KT7A. The rise from there is all dependant on your heatsink, but your rise isn't abnormal.

BTW what is your system temp at?

 

[Vincentf]

Right now, my CPU's at 52 celsius and my system temp is at 38 celsius. The room is not all that hot but my case is surely not the best. :|

 

[Vincentf]

I think I'll drill some hole on the side of my case and install my 3' fan there.

EDIT : My sense of proportion is like weird. It's not 10 inches, it's 3 inches. Little bit of a difference eh?