HELP! with MoBo AN8 Ultra..

[Bluelight]

Ok, I'v buildt a computer with AN8 Ultra Motherboard, everything seems ok, but the computer freezes a short time after reboot..

The first time I powered on, I installed WinXP and all was well, but after some hours of use, the comp started to crash/reboot/freeze..

I have formatted it and copyed files several times, but after it reeboots and loads the setup, the PC crashes..

I have no problem running setup from BOOT-CD, it's when the setup starts to install from the hard drive disc that it makes truble..

I'm not 100% well at writing english, but hoping to get a helpful reply very soon..

I know the PSU works, and the DVD-RAM and HDD works..

Or else I chouldnt have copyed the files, right?

And that also means the DDR-RAM and CPU also works?

So it's the MoBo then??

I have tryed diffrent BIOS settings and Cleared CMOS several times..

Edit: That Avatar (picture) of a computer there is not the computer I'm building here..

I have more then one comps.

Edited July 24, 2005 by Bluelight

[ssmokee]

Post your full system specs. Brands, model numbers, etc.

[Bluelight]

Motherboard: Abit AN8 Ultra, nForce4 Ultra,Socket-939 ATX, S-ATA, GbLAN, Firewire, PCI-Ex16

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz Socket 939, 512KB, BOXED with fan

DDR-RAM: TwinMOS PC3200 DDR-DIMM 1024MB Dual Pack Kit w/two matched PC3200 CL2.5 DDRs

Graffics-card: Sapphire Radeon X700PRO 128MB GDDR3 PCI-Express,Tv-Out, DVI-I, Lite-Retail

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250GB IDE ATA/100 8MB 7200RPM

ANd I used ATA-100 since I hate S-ATA connectors.. They break easily..

Edit: And a qality PSU working correctly..

Edited July 24, 2005 by Bluelight

[ssmokee]

Keep going on the PSU specs....

[jcarle]

Some of this may be obvious, but sometimes stating the obvious doesn't hurt.

Make sure that you install the latest version of the BIOS for your motherboard.

Make sure you have installed all of the latest versions of all the drivers for all your hardware.

Make sure that you've installed all of Windows' updates.

If you still have problems, then you may have a hardware issue.

[Bluelight]

NorthQ Powersupply 4775 ATX 400W..

Silent, 140mm Fan, 12-17 dBA, 24-pin..

Edit: I can't use WinXP, so I can't install drivers..

And there are one Driver mentioned in the manual called NVidia ATA driver or something..

But chould not installing it, hurt the MoBo?

I have to install WinXP to install that driver to, and that was the way to do it in the manual to..

I had XP working for some hours, but then the computer started to Freeze/reboot..

And now I can't install before it freezes..

And I now recall that everything about Freeze/crash started after I installed uGuru on-the-fly-overclocking drivers that follows with the MoBo..

I then un-installed it, and cleared CMOS, but crashes keept coming..

Edited July 24, 2005 by Bluelight

[big poppa pump]

Never even heard about the PSU. So surely cannot comment on the quality of that one. What are the railings on the 12V line for the PSU? Anything less than 26-30A on the 12V line is basically a s***ty PSU!!

[Bluelight]

Bla bla..

NQ4775-400WATT Ultra Silent PSU

The NQ-4775 is the brand new series of Ultra Silent PSU products with the NorthQ name on the side.

The NQ-4775 is the first model with a huge and ultra silent 140mm crystal clear fan installed. The fan is produced with the well know ceramic ball bearing, that gives 300.000 hours of lifetime.

The 140mm crystal clear fan gives massive airflow with very low rotation speed and noise level between 12 – 17dB.

The new and huge fan is one of more special features of the new NorthQ PSU. ATX 2.0 is the next feature of the model, that gives a powerful and extreme stabile 12v lines for the products because 2 x 12v rails is working together with a higher output as result.

The ATX 2.0 system utilizes the new 24pin ATX connection, which is standard on the latest generation of motherboards. Also included is a 24-20pin converter to ensure that the PSU is compatible with regular ATX motherboards.

NQ-4775 is also equipped with the new 75Watt PCI-Express line for the top line of PCI-Express graphic cards on the marked.

All the cables on the NQ-4775 is equipped with black cable sleeving, and with total of 4 x S-ATA plugs, 7 x Molex plugs ,2 x Molex for floppy, PCI-Express, P4 Extension and finally the 24 pin ATX for motherboard.

All the cables have been extended with 10cm to a total length of 60cm from the base of PSU to the last plug on the longest rail. The P4 extension is only 40cm long.

The new NQ-4775 gives a combination of extreme power and stability combined with the essence of pure silence in low and medium load.

Specifications :

Voltage : 230Vac(180-264)

Frequency : 47Hz-63Hz

Current : 4.0A(MAX.) At 230Vac

Inrush Current : 70A at 230Vac cold start at 25°

Efficiency : 65%MIN.at Full load - 55%MIN.at 30W load

Voltage

+3.3V

+5V

+12V1

+12V2

-5V

-12V

+5Vsb

Max Load

30A

28A

14A*

15A*

0.5A

0.5A

2.0A

Min Load

0.5A

2.0A

0.5A

0.5A

0A

0A

0A

* Combined output on +12V1 and +12V2 : 29A

Output Watts : 400W - +5v. +3.3v. : 130W

Over Voltage : +5V:6.8V,+3.3V:4.5V,+12V:15.6V

Short Circuit : All output to GND

Cable configuration:

1 x 24/20pin ATX cable

1 x 4pin motherboard extension cable

1 x 6pin PCi-express cable

4 x S-ATA plug on 2 cables (2 on each cable)

7 x Molex plug on 2 cables (4 and 3 on cables)

2 x Floppy plug on 2 cables (1 on each cable)

Total of 7 cables from Power Supply

Key info :

Standard ATX 400Watt PSU

ATX 2.0 standard

Passive PFC

24-pin ATX extension

140mm crystal clear fan installed

Fan speed control function inside

Noise : 12 - 17db noise level.

Full cable sleeving

4 * S-ATA lines

75Watt PCI-Express line

Cables extended with 10cm to full 60cm and 40cm for the P4 extension

20-24pin converter for new motherboards.

Titanium coated

Lifetime : 50,000 hours at 25°

Dimension:175*86*140mm(W*H*L)

Is it ok with the info of the PSU now?

Combined output on +12V1 and +12V2 : 29A

What the *? is that 29A?? Amp?

29 x 12 = 328W?

So you mean you need more then 30A on a 400W PSU?

What whould the other connectors get the power from then?

I currently have another comp. with 4 HDD's, 2 DVD-ROM's, Powerful AGPx8 graficscard with extra 4-pin power connector and heat-pipe-cooler (weight 1kg), CPU. RAM, Grafics-card is overclocked..

Is also have 7 powerful Delta fan's 100 3m/hour airflow (sounds like a dustbuster/vaacumer) and it got 2 cold cathode lamps..

I use a Mist 360W PSU if I'm not wrong..

It works perfectly fine..

The new comp. I buildt has 1 HDD, 1 DVD-ROM and PCI Express x16 graficscard with no extra 4-pin powerconnector and this comp. has 2 fans (ultra silent)..

Ofcause there chould be something with this new comp. that makes it use lots of power.. But still.. : P

I think it might be the MoBo, what do you guys think?

I need help..

This is the 3rd time I build a comp. and this one is just mmessy.. : P

I also started building a new one today..

I put together a SunBeam Acrylic Case..

Looks nice with no components in it..

Edited July 25, 2005 by Bluelight

[boooggy]

try using other memory. i had kind of the same problems with my pc till i change my memory.

[ssmokee]

From what you described it sounds like a power or heat related issue. Stick to the basic components for now and unhook any unnecessary lights and things. I have no idea how those guru drivers work, but I would check the BIOS and look at the CPU temp and monitor voltage level for several minutes. Check to make sure the CPU is identified correctly in BIOS and running at the speed it should be. Do you have good airflow inside the case? The power supply should enough as long as long as those specs are accurate. It is still possible that you just got a lemon unit though, so you might want to try hooking up a known good unit that has been in service for a while.

[Bluelight]

Heat is not the problem, the comp. I use myself is a 1 year old Abit NF7-S v2.0 - AMD Athlon XP 2500+ overclocked mounted with a copper-block connecteed to a superconductor heat-pipe cooler with airflow through it, and my current CPU temp. on this comp. is above 68'C (I know this isn't healthy but it's for limited time only.. This comp. works very good), and the comp. I'm building has a stable temp. of 40'C, so the temp. can't be the problem and the PSU is NOT the problem.. The memory is the same as I use on my own comp. but I chould ofcause finish my next other comp. with exactly the same parts and see if I get the same problem!

Wich I don't think I do..

I also got some tip on leaking capacitors, but didnt find eny visible leak..

But the problem fit mine very good..

I'll mount the new case now.. : P

But the comp. I posted here for, was working perfectly fine for some time..

Until it started crashing/rebooting/freezing more and more..

So it takes time to find out if it happens to the next comp. I'm building..

lol, I just saw on a Norwegian professional OC-forum and test-lab that +12V line on a PSU don't need more then 18 Ampére to run computer + Vapochill.. : p

Also found this..

Don't look at wattage so much as the quality of the power supply. A good 300w power supply owns all the crap 400w PSUs you see for under $50. Of course a good 400w power supply isn't going to hurt, but go for quality over "quantity".

BTW my fastest system uses a 250w power supply. That's right, 250 watts. It's because it is a real 250w power supply and not one of these fake 400w ones. It's not overclocked, it has 1gb ram, HD, CD, 9600 w/ 256mb, all the normal stuff. It works fine.

He did also say that MIST is a very good PSU and thats what I use on my own comp. 400W

Edited July 26, 2005 by Bluelight

[Bluelight]

I understands this needs a post refresh/update.. :

Ok.. Here we go..!

I have buildt a Computer looking like this:

And this Chieftec case contains the following:

Abit AN8 Ultra, nForce4 Ultra, Socket-939, ATX, S-ATA, BbLAN, Firewire, PCI-Ex16.

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz Socket-939, 512KB, Boxed with fan.

TwinMOS PC3200 DDR-DIMM 1024MB Dual Pack Kit w/two matched PC3200 CL2.5 DDR's.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250GB IDE ATA/100 8MB 7200RPM.

Sapphire Radeon X700PRO 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express,Tv-Out, DVI-I, Full-Retail

PSU: NorthQ 4775 ATX 400W Silent, 140mm fan, 12-17dBA, 20/24pin.

Case also have 2 PAPST fans installed..

Airflow is great.. Temp.'s are great (below 40'C CPU)..

______________________________

I installed WinXP and used the computer for a day or so, then I installed uGuru, and problems occured..

The computer crashed after installing uGuru so I Cleared the CMOS and Un-installed uGuru..

The manual says something about installing nVidia IDE driver wich I'v not done (not uGuru manual)..

Then the computer worked for some time, but after one more day of use or so, the WinXP OS started making trouble.. Missing config.sys file on BOOT and so on (though it might be a virus)..

So I re-installed WinXP again after formatting, then everything seemd ok..

But after a short time of use the computer started to freeze and re-BOOT often.. And now it's almost hopeless to make it BOOT at all..

I get passed the BIOS info screen, then Freeze!

Sometimes I can see WinXP loading screen before it freezes..

So, now I wonder.. What is the problem?

The MoBo?

Cause I can't find eny reson why it should be enything else..

But my experience in this is to low to state a sertain failure..!

I did also Clear CMOS once while PSU was turned on..

Red led on MoBo lighted (computer was not running)..

I dunno if this can cause the MoBo to fail..

________________________________

Edit: This is the case I'm working on now by the way.. :

Sorry for poor image qality, I have no dig.-cam. now, so I rented my dude's cell-phone cam.

Edited July 25, 2005 by Bluelight

[big poppa pump]

Based on whatever you have posted, all the symptoms basically point out to either a bad PSU or faulty memory. Use memtest to check the memory and it that comes out ok then it is the PSU!!! I have seen and worked on these kind of problems too many times and it has to be either one of the above!