New Processor - random reboots/instabiity

[StarsCupChmps99]

I just got a new XP 2100+ processor for my system which my dad is actually getting (I'm setting up a 2.66 p4 for myself). I have a Gigabyte 7VRX which has been running an XP 1700+ completely stable for a year - I'm not really into overclocking - the highest that I have tested it was at 150fsb but it ran perfectly. When I first installed the 2100+ yesterday I ran a 1 hour test on Hot CPU Tester and it passed. I let the computer sit for about 2 hours and tried to run it again. It crashed after 17 seconds on the QuickSort test. Another try another error on QSort. Attempt at 3dMark2001se - blue screen. I then ran a Prime95 torture test and it crashes within about 5 seconds. When I run Sisoft Sandra CPU benchmarks it will not crash but my scores are on the Integer tests are typically lower than the reference XP 2000+ scores. I have an Antec 330 psu that came with my Antec case (it is NOT a True Power psu but one of their standard psu. I am also running two 120mm case fans, two hard drives, one cd-rw, soundcard, d-link ethernet, Radeon 9700 Pro, and two sticks of Mushkin PC3000. Running memtest86 still shows no errors so I know that the memory is not the problem. Would this most likely be a defective CPU or a power supply problem or maybe even a bios issue (I am using the latest bios from gigabyte). Any help would be appreciated.

 

[HappyNic]

what speed are you running your xp2100+ at , and what heatsink and fan are you using, what's your cpu temperature ide and load.
your cpu could be over heating, or you could of some how damage your cpu when you first ran the Hot CPU Tester for a hour with insuficent cooling.

 

[mechBgon]

You may be overworking your power supply. Antec has only made one 330W PSU that I know of, the TruePower, and since you say it isn't that one, I'm guessing it's a PP303XP. With only 180W of power available on the 3.3V + 5V lines, I think it might not be enough. Maybe pick yourself up a TruePower 430?

 

[StarsCupChmps99]

The temps are reading about 5 degrees Celsius higher than the 1700+ so I figure that is about normal at around 45C at idle and around 51-52 at full load. I think that the power supply might also be the problem as the +5v drops from "normal" of 4.910 to about 4.8 under load. I have ordered a True Power 430 which should be here tomorrow or Tues but my dad doesn't have one so I'm hoping that this system will still run stable after taking the Radeon 9700 out and using the Radeon 8500 which he will be using.

 

[Jeff7181]

I'm not familiar with the motherboard you're using... but does it have a Via chipset? I've heard lots of problems with Via chipsets, AMD CPU's, and nVidia graphics cards... the problem is they all suck a lot of juice so voltage drops slightly across the whole system. And while a 0.1 volt drop on the 12 volt or even the 5 volt lines won't make much difference, 0.1 volts is enough to give your CPU a fit. That's what was happening with mine when running 3D stuff... the Ti4200 was drawing a ton of juice, and the XP1700 was drawing a lot of juice, so that the core voltage dropped below 1.5 on my Palomino XP1700. So I just adjusted the voltage in the BIOS to +.25 and it idled at 1.8, but under load it dropped to 1.740... spec is 1.750... no more lock ups or "random" reboots. I learned about that problem on a Via message board somewhere. Try it out, make sure your core voltage is staying at what it should be at when you fire up that 9700 Pro... it's as much of a hog as any nVidia card is.