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Another K7S5A video freeze issue

Author	Comment
crockettmann	Another K7S5A video freeze issue	Lead	[-]
Posts: 4 (01/13/06 20:59:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I have exhaustively read forums and every bit of info I can on this subject and still have a problem. I have run several types of monitoring software (CPU-Z, Belarc Advisor, Speedfan, etc.) and they tell me I am running a K7S5A V. 1.0 mobo, when it says 3.1 on the board. They also tell me my BIOS is old (and so does Sys Info) but the bootup screen says Release 8/11/03 S. The BIOS I used was the official one from the ECS website listed here in this forum. BIOS I have recently replaced the PSU with a 550W that meets or exceeds the recommendations (5v amperage is 36A on the new one). I still get video freezing whenever I set the speed to 133MHz., usually when I am using a DVD or graphics function. I use the following BIOS settings: DRAM timing Safe or Normel (3) CAS Latency 2.5 RAS Active time 7 RAS Precharge time 3 DRAM Driver Slew rating Fast System Info: General OS Information Windows Family: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack: Version Number: 5.1 (Build 2600) Mainboard Model: K7S5A V 3.1 Chipset SIS 735 Rev 01 5 x PCI: 32 bit USB Processor Model: 1x AMD Athlon(tm) Processor Code Name: Thoroughbred Socket/Slot: Socket-A (LIF Socket) Frequency: 1660 MHz FSB Speed: 133 MHz Bus Speed: 266 MHz Voltage: 3.3 V Revision/Stepping: 8/0 Signature: AuthenticAMD Vendor: Advanced Micro Devices Caches L1 Internal Data Cache: 64 KB L1 Internal Code Cache: 64 KB L2 Cache: 256 KB L3 Cache: 0 KB System BIOS Vendor: American Megatrends Inc. Version: 07.00T Date: 04/02/01 Size: 256 KB Memory 512 MB DDR-SDRAM PC 2100 (133 MHz) Video System Monitor: Default Monitor Video Card: Rage Fury Pro/Xpert 2000 Pro Screen Resolution: 1024x768 32 bit Sound Device Creative SB Live! (WDM) Physical Storage Device CD-ROM/DVD: LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1633S CD-ROM/DVD: CREATIVE DVD5241E Hard Disk: WDC WD800JB-00FMA0 Floppy Disk: Floppy disk drive I have Checked for newer versions of drivers and am up to date as far as I know. I would appreciate any new suggestions.
crockettmann	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#1	[-]
Posts: 4 (01/13/06 21:24:16) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I forgot to mention, but my ISA bus reads chip IT8712F but the chip on the mobo is IT8705F. Speedfan reads it as IT8712F/IT8705F.
krazeFinn	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#2	[-]
Posts: 433 (01/13/06 21:27:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Try upgrading the video card, and also try DDR memory. That ddr wont affect video, but does allow better memory throughput with socket A chips. Hullujua nuo Suomalaiset!
crockettmann	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#3	[-]
Posts: 4 (01/14/06 10:14:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I appreciate the advice & see if I can come up with another video card to test. I thought this one should be good enough. But I don't get you on the memory. I thought this WAS DDR? I got it from 4allmemory after using their system test to determine the best, most compatible memory.
krazeFinn	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#4	[-]
Posts: 433 (01/14/06 12:30:44) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Only you know for sure! I (mis)assumed you meant sdram, my bad. But try each stick alone in each slot...and run memtest on them. Hullujua nuo Suomalaiset!
Milt	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#5	[-]
Posts: 1429 (01/15/06 09:04:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi crockettmann, This sounds to me like your CPU (or some other component inside your case) is getting too hot, after a period of intense use. (playing video games, DVDs, or sound files qualifies as 'intense use') Usually, if any given program, or game, will run for a period of time, properly, and then crash, it's because of a heat build up, inside the case. You need some kind of software to monitor your CPU and System temperatures (while running programs in Windows), because when you are looking at the CPU temp in CMOS the CPU is not 'working' at all, as it IS when playing a game... it's basically just 'idling' On my own PCChips M848A v2.1 I use SpeedFan from http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php for temperature and voltage information. On my M848ALU... Temp1 will always be MY CPU Temp, and Temp2 will show a constant, bogus, 127C Temp3 will show a constant, bogus, 64 ~ 66C. HD0 Temp is my Hard Drive temp, assuming my HD has an internal temp sensor. This 'assignment' of temp #s varies considerably from mobo to mobo... so ALWAYS COMPARE SpeedFan's values with what's shown in your CMOS... your CMOS will always tell you 'the Gospel truth' The next time it hangs on you, when you reboot go straight into your CMOS to your 'Hardware Monitor', (or 'PC health') page and check your CPU and System temperatures. In order to determine if this WAG of mine is correct, Try pulling one side off of your case, and just set up a small desk fan blowing cool air directly into the box. See if that helps to extend the length of time before the system hangs, and please let us know what you find out. If it helps, then you'll immediately KNOW that it's a heat related problem, and now it's just a question of 'Which component?', and 'What can we do about it?'. This is the 'quick & cheap & dirty way' to find out if something is getting too hot. But it WORKS like a charm! Here is my new M848A v2.1 with a 1700+ @ 2400 MHz, and my trusty old M810L v7.1A with the same 1700+, running at 2500 MHz Also, some of my fancy cars are for sale on this page. Finally, here's my M810D/M841 'mod' page and my PCChips M810L BIOS page
crockettmann	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#6	[-]
Posts: 4 (01/15/06 22:44:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks, Milt, but I already use Speedfan, and I've tried CPU Idle in the past and it runs in the steady range of 37C to 42C. The freeze ups do not come after an extended period of use, but almost immediately, but ONLY when I am running @ 133MHz. I can, for instance, play a DVD using Power DVD 5.0 at 100 MHZ setting, skip scene to scene, FF at 32X speed, skip back, etc. and never miss a beat, but as soon as I reboot and try the same thing set at 133MHz, I may get away with playing the movie some, but just try to skip ahead or fast forward, and it will freeze. I can even burn a DVD sometimes at full speed, but as soon as the "finished" sound plays, I will get a lockup. So we're talking video AND audio here. More examples, at full speed I can surf the net, check my email, etc., but when I shut the PC down it may freeze on the shutdown page just as the windows sound plays. But when I analyze a movie with DVD Shrink, it will usually make it a few seconds through the analysis, but then the screen will freeze. I think the BIG issues here are the conflicts between how the motherboard and BIOS are beeing seen by these analysing programs, and what is really installed. I can physically SEE that the mobo is a 3.1, but is it being seen as a 1.0 BECAUSE of the BIOS, or what. Is this just a chance of a BIOS flash that didn't really set in right? Is it memory related? I use CPU-Z and it suggests CAS Latency 2.5 RAS to CAS 3 (DRAM Timing) RAS Precharge 3 Active 7 I can get these numbers, while the numbers it suggests for 100MHz are, respectively, 2,2,2,and 5. The BIOS does not even offer the options of Precharge 2 and Active 5, so I set at 3 and 6 for 100MHz and still do not have problems. Another thing, I have noticed another BIOS setting in other people's examples called "Memory Termination" that is not in mine.
krazeFinn	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#7	[-]
Posts: 433 (01/15/06 23:09:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Highly doubtful it would be result of partial bad flash, but I guess that cannot be 100% discounted. I'd search back at any specific changes in sw/drivers, hardware etc relating to development of problem. As far as differences in settings, it is possible that certain variationa and versions of bios are not id'd by all posters, therefore hard to pin down why some settings seem different. That particular one has quite little relevance btw... ...and I would rule out the simplest things first. To rule out possible video/audio conflict, try a different sound card, and or video. And also check out the memory sticks individually. Another easy test is to reduce load on psu would be to eliminate/unplug all uneeded peripherals. I'm certain the problem will become apparent through systematic diagnosis. I feel the misidentification of your version is probably of little consequence as well, just a quirk, as this board has exhibited more than its share of in various unnamed/unidentified factory tweaks, changes, and "enhancememts", as PCchitz so wont to do with their"lottery" style.... Hullujua nuo Suomalaiset!
Milt	Re: Another K7S5A video freeze issue	#8	[-]
Posts: 1429 (01/16/06 03:36:58) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi crockettmann, Okay, it's definitely NOT your CPU temp, not at 37C to 42C, so that's not it. I doubt that it's your new PSU, (not with a 550W 'rating'), but humour us, and give us the +3.3v, +5v, and +12v 'A' ratings, from the sticker on the side of your PSU ??? The ABSOLUTE MINIMUMS, as recommended in the "AMD builders guide", circa 2002, for any basic AMD XP processor setup, like an XP 1700+, one HD, one CD-ROM, and a 'mid-range' (for 2002) vid card, are... +3.3v = 28A +5.0v = 30A +12v = 15A And you have A LOT of 'stuff' in that box of yours. I've never heard of a XP 2000+ T-bred 'B' that wouldn't run at 12.5 x 133MHz = 1667MHz, so I doubt very much that that's your problem. Which pretty much leaves your memory. Your 512MB of DDR-SDRAM is 'rated' as being PC2100 = DDR266 = 133Mhz so, in theory, it SHOULD be fine at 133 MHz. But, I've got a 256 meg stick of cheap Azen PC2700 = DDR333 = 166Mhz which will run at 166 MHz, but not not 1 MHz more than that. Possibly, your PC2100 will SOMETIMES run at 133 MHz, and sometimes screw up. On the 'memory timings' thing, use the 'Tweaks' page of CBID... (Central Brain Identifier) http://cbid.amdclub.ru/ The easy way to check your memory, in isolation, is with MemTest86 http://www.memtest86.com/ MemTest86 will often run when the rest of the system can't quite make the speed... It runs from a floppy (or a bootable CD-ROM), and doesn't even need a hard drive hooked up. But, you MUST test each stick INDIVIDUALLY. MemTest86 doesn't even need an OS, (Operating System), so it's not 'testing' your OS, or any of the drivers that you load with that OS. It JUST tests your MEMORY, (including the L2 cache memory, located on your CPU), so if it can't load (or crashes), at any given FSB speed, which you're SURE your CPU is capable of, (e.g. 133 MHz), then your memory is simply not capable of running at that FSB speed. Then, if it crashes on you, or shows ANY errors, after at least two full 'pass', (of all 7 tests), we'll at least know that it's a hardware issue, and not something in your software (i.e. Windows, or CMOS Settings), that's causing the problem. And please, stop worrying that some software program, which you have DL'ed off the web somewhere, that is supposed to 'correctly identify' EVERY motherboard ever made, can't 'identify' yours, EXACTLY. You have a v3.1, period, and on a v3.1 you can use ANY BIOS ever made, for ANY K7S5A Here is my new M848A v2.1 with a 1700+ @ 2400 MHz, and my trusty old M810L v7.1A with the same 1700+, running at 2500 MHz Also, some of my fancy cars are for sale on this page. Finally, here's my M810D/M841 'mod' page and my PCChips M810L BIOS page

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