Computer problem: motherboard or power supply

[larry moe 'n curly]

Daniel Prince wrote:

I have a home built PC with an Epox 8RGA+ motherboard. It has an AMD
Barton 2500+, and a gig of ram. I use the onboard video and sound.
My power supply is an Antec TruePower 420. Where would I look for a
similar working system?

Even the cheapest system sold now is faster.

A $2 digital voltage meter should be more than good enough to tell
whether the PSU or the motherboard is bad, and instructions for
testing can be found in the forums at Overclockers.com and
HardOCP.com, but the locations to measure the voltages on the mobo may
not be obvious. But generally if the mobo is bad, you'll see some
bulging electrolytic capacitors (www.BadCaps.net has lots of info)
around the CPU, next to the north bridge (has a heatsink on it), near
the AGP card slot, or near the DIMM slots, but some caps fail without
showing any physical signs.

Old Antec TruePower PSUs were made by Channel Well Technology (may say
"CWT" on the yellow tape on the transformers) are famous for failing
because of bad Fuhjyyu brand capacitors (Google "Fuhjyyu syndrome"),
but changing capacitors in a power supply can be difficult because
they're stuffed so close together and the better brands of parts tend
to be fatter than the originals. So some of the new caps have to be
installed way above the circuit board (long wires must be insulated
with heatshrink) and physically secured with nylon ties or silicone
sealer. I believe the new Antecs don't use Fuhjyyus because they're
made by different companies, probably Fortron-Source (CapXon caps, not
crowded), Seasonic (OSTs -- well, they're not as horrible as
Fuhjyyus), or Delta (I don't know what brands of capacitors, but
Deltas are among the best power supplies).

 

[AZ Nomad]

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:56:07 -0600, Jim Yanik <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote:

"Charlie" <left@thestation.com> wrote in
news:hdpvfj$82e$1@news.eternal-september.org:


"AZ Nomad" <aznomad.3@PremoveOBthisOX.COM> wrote in message
news:slrnhg0sch.d8p.aznomad.3@ip70-176-155-130.ph.ph.cox.net...
On Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:03:42 -0500, Charlie <left@thestation.com
wrote:

The problem is neither the m/b or the powers supply. The clue that
defines the problem is the "CPU is used at 100 percent".

If the system can't run at 100% cpu, then it is broken.

Start by looking at the task manager ( control alt delete) and see
what process is hogging the CPU. Then learn how to stop it from
running. It could be malware or a valid application run amok. When
you have identified
the culprit do a Google search for ideas on eliminating the problem,

When it runs for a long time it is generating enough heat to force
shut down.

There will always be tasks thad will run cpu usage to 100%,
for example decompressing files. If the cpu crashes at 100% then
you can't even install software or open a medium sized pdf.

Why not spend the $60 and replace the motherboard/cpu with someting
made in the last 7 years?

Why piss away $60 without trying the free s/w fix first?

Also,you don't just replace the MB/CPU,you also have to buy new RAM,perhaps
a new hard drive(SATA instead of IDE),new video card,whatever other cards
needed to fit the new buss connectors.....it adds up.

The system being replaced is four generations old. PC133 is from the
Pentium 3 generation. A combo motherboard/cpu/memory can easily be
had for $60 that'll blow the old one away.

If you don't have spare components, you can easily waste that amount
of money of postage trying the shotgun approach.

In anycase, the idea of never letting the system use 100% cpu
utilization is idiotic and won't work, unless of course, you never
install software, or use any software more complex than wordpad.

 

[Charlie]

"AZ Nomad" <aznomad.3@PremoveOBthisOX.COM> wrote in message
news:slrnhg3d9i.bdv.aznomad.3@ip70-176-155-130.ph.ph.cox.net...

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:56:07 -0600, Jim Yanik <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote:
"Charlie" <left@thestation.com> wrote in
news:hdpvfj$82e$1@news.eternal-september.org:


"AZ Nomad" <aznomad.3@PremoveOBthisOX.COM> wrote in message
news:slrnhg0sch.d8p.aznomad.3@ip70-176-155-130.ph.ph.cox.net...
On Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:03:42 -0500, Charlie <left@thestation.com
wrote:

The problem is neither the m/b or the powers supply. The clue that
defines the problem is the "CPU is used at 100 percent".

If the system can't run at 100% cpu, then it is broken.

Start by looking at the task manager ( control alt delete) and see
what process is hogging the CPU. Then learn how to stop it from
running. It could be malware or a valid application run amok. When
you have identified
the culprit do a Google search for ideas on eliminating the problem,

When it runs for a long time it is generating enough heat to force
shut down.

There will always be tasks thad will run cpu usage to 100%,
for example decompressing files. If the cpu crashes at 100% then
you can't even install software or open a medium sized pdf.

Why not spend the $60 and replace the motherboard/cpu with someting
made in the last 7 years?

Why piss away $60 without trying the free s/w fix first?



Also,you don't just replace the MB/CPU,you also have to buy new
RAM,perhaps
a new hard drive(SATA instead of IDE),new video card,whatever other cards
needed to fit the new buss connectors.....it adds up.

The system being replaced is four generations old. PC133 is from the
Pentium 3 generation. A combo motherboard/cpu/memory can easily be
had for $60 that'll blow the old one away.

If you don't have spare components, you can easily waste that amount
of money of postage trying the shotgun approach.

In anycase, the idea of never letting the system use 100% cpu
utilization is idiotic and won't work, unless of course, you never
install software, or use any software more complex than wordpad.

It wasn't a case of never letting the system use 100% cpu utilization.

From the original post: "These problems occurred more often at higher room
temperatures and
when the CPU is used at 100 percent for more than 20 minutes"

You've got to keep your eye on the original symptoms. Go back and read what
the OP said.

 

[Daniel Prince]

"larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:

A $2 digital voltage meter should be more than good enough to tell
whether the PSU or the motherboard is bad

I just used a program called Motherboard Monitor. It says that my
3.3 volt supply is around 2.67 volts.

I am wondering if Motherboard Monitor could be correct. Could a
computer run at all if the 3.3 volt supply is that low?

Am I correct in thinking that the 3.3 volt supply comes from the
power supply and not from the motherboard?
--
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