Pages: 1

 

2007-12-14 02:30:54
Lai
Member
+186|6629
Recently I installed a barebone PC for a friend. Her father bought some parts, without any real knowledge of software so it was up to make to make the thing running. The PC is for administrative/school-associated tasks only and does not have an internet connection at all (so yes, I had to download all the required basics like essential updates (e.g. SP2), drivers, Acrobat Reader etc. beforehand and put them on CD). Everything is working fine now, but we also installed a funny program that came with the motherboard and enables you to monitor your CPU speed, voltage etc.

Now this is the case: it constantly indicates a too low voltage for the CPU and e.g. too high for the memory. It could be that the program is flawed since it always indicates a CPU fan speed of zero RPM while it is spinning like hell. But I figured the PSU might be inadequate since they only put a 250 Watt in it They is the shop since her father just bought the cheapest case with the cheapest motherboard and assumed a proper PSU would be installed. The motherboard only has 8 MB shared video, so her father also bought a PCI-E videocard. I think the card just pushed it over the edge and the PSU just can't pull it.



These are the full specs.:

Intel Pentium D 925
3.00 Ghz (200 x 15)  Dual Core
Memory = 2048 MB
Cache = 4096 KB

MSI micro ATX
(Shared VGA = 8 MB) < irrelevant since a PCI-E card is installed
Chipset = F71882FG
Socket = 775
Integrated 5.1 Realtek HD Audio

Western Digital 400 GB SATA

DVD RW AD- 5170A

Multi-card reader

2 GB DDR2 667 Mhz RAM < her father didn't know whether it was SC or DC, but I assume its SC

"Peak" Nvidia Geforce 7200GS 256 MB DDR2 Passive Cooling
PCI-E, TV out, 1x VGA, 1x DVI



All on a 250 Watt PSU,.. what do you guys say?

Also I think an FSB of 200 Mhz is ridicilously low for a DC CPU and if you let it run just a little higher from BIOS, it istantly fails to boot and gives a failed to overclock error. Any comments on that?
2007-12-14 02:48:11
CrazeD
Member
+368|7150|Maine
A powersupply that is insufficient either won't turn on, or will reboot the PC randomly and often. It is not the watts that matter, it is the amperage that matters. An insufficient power supply will not cause a change in CPU or memory voltages, those are strictly regulated through the motherboard.

Pretty much every CPU has a FSB of 200MHz by default. You can't just look at the FSB, you have to also look at the CPU multiplier - that's where it gets the speed. FSB * Multiplier = speed. Your overclock probably failed because you're trying to run the RAM faster than it wants to or because the CPU needs more voltage. Read some overclocking guides if you're unsure.
2007-12-14 02:59:13
Lai
Member
+186|6629

CrazeD wrote:

A powersupply that is insufficient either won't turn on, or will reboot the PC randomly and often. It is not the watts that matter, it is the amperage that matters. An insufficient power supply will not cause a change in CPU or memory voltages, those are strictly regulated through the motherboard.

Pretty much every CPU has a FSB of 200MHz by default. You can't just look at the FSB, you have to also look at the CPU multiplier - that's where it gets the speed. FSB * Multiplier = speed. Your overclock probably failed because you're trying to run the RAM faster than it wants to or because the CPU needs more voltage. Read some overclocking guides if you're unsure.
Hmmm,.. ok so the FSB is fine then. It runs fine and there is no need or will to overclock for a administrative PC.

But how would you explain the incorrect voltages then,.. dodgy MSI monitoring application? I've confirmed that fails registering the correct fan-speed as well.

Edit: it did reboot once, but only once. Probably because her father had been randomely altering things in the BIOS I reset them though.

Last edited by Lai (2007-12-14 03:00:49)

2007-12-14 05:19:39
Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6675|Winland

CrazeD wrote:

A powersupply that is insufficient either won't turn on, or will reboot the PC randomly and often. It is not the watts that matter, it is the amperage that matters. An insufficient power supply will not cause a change in CPU or memory voltages, those are strictly regulated through the motherboard.

Pretty much every CPU has a FSB of 200MHz by default. You can't just look at the FSB, you have to also look at the CPU multiplier - that's where it gets the speed. FSB * Multiplier = speed. Your overclock probably failed because you're trying to run the RAM faster than it wants to or because the CPU needs more voltage. Read some overclocking guides if you're unsure.
A too weak PSU can alter voltages when it becomes unstable. Not so much over voltage, but very well under.

And the CPU being rated at 105w does not help. That PSU is definitly too weak. Get a 350w+ one and try again.

MSI mobos also suck. It propably reports wrong, but I wouldn't rule out the PSU for that.

Oh, and if the RAM is cheapass, it won't clock much at all. I wouldn't recommend overclocking at all if it's just going to be used for typing.

And it's a quad-pumped FSB. It's effectively 800MHz.

Last edited by Freezer7Pro (2007-12-14 05:23:05)

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
2007-12-14 06:11:17
Lai
Member
+186|6629

Freezer7Pro wrote:

MSI mobos also suck. It propably reports wrong, but I wouldn't rule out the PSU for that.
Yep and so does the monitor they got, but I'm surprised her father managed to get her a new PC anyway, since they haven't got much (both parents unemployed).

Cheapest new PSU I can find right now on the web is 25 euro's.
2007-12-14 06:17:39
jaymz9350
Member
+54|7055
just how far off are the voltages?  software readings for temps and voltages are not 100% accurate no matter what program you use.   also if the board is set to slow the processor down while idle it probably lowers the voltage as well.
2007-12-14 07:00:10
Lai
Member
+186|6629

jaymz9350 wrote:

just how far off are the voltages?  software readings for temps and voltages are not 100% accurate no matter what program you use.   also if the board is set to slow the processor down while idle it probably lowers the voltage as well.
Say about 8 volt instead of 12 and 7 instead of 5.
2007-12-14 13:56:50
Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6626|'straya

well i was running a old 305 watt PSU and before it just finally died and would not turn on... it was giving less power to my CPU and it was running alot slower... and only recognised 1GB of my RAM.

but i upraded to a Antec 750 Watt PSU and its running great.

Last edited by Little BaBy JESUS (2007-12-14 13:57:10)

2007-12-14 14:15:40
Agent_Dung_Bomb
Member
+302|7214|Salt Lake City

That's an awful lot of hardware for a 250W PSU.
2007-12-15 01:37:09
Lai
Member
+186|6629

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:


well i was running a old 305 watt PSU and before it just finally died and would not turn on... it was giving less power to my CPU and it was running alot slower... and only recognised 1GB of my RAM.

but i upraded to a Antec 750 Watt PSU and its running great.
Well, even though it's only 250 Watt it's brand new so I hope it ain't dying. Then again if it does so soon, the shop is forced to take it back

 

Pages: 1

Board footer

Privacy Policy - © 2025 Jeff Minard