Athlon 2500+ Strange Problem

[YoungBlood]

Wondering if anyone could shed some light on a strange CPU issue i've been having over the last few days.
I play a certain online game which I know will allways max out the CPU usage at 100% constantly, however recently it will drop to about 7% causing the game to lock up for a few seconds then return to 100%.
Sure enough few seconds/minutes later it does it again, usage drops down and game locks up, then returns to 100% and all is rosey.

Its a clean install of XP with no other process's running in the background that should'nt be. CPU temps in BIOS show around 60C.

Another strange thing is 3dmark 06 will give 1fps readout on the cpu 3d tests and eventerly the machine reboots, ive not beable to complete a 3dmark 06 run on there yet.
MBoard is a Gigabyte GA-7DX

any help appriciated

 

[deadeyedic30]

"Another strange thing is 3dmark 06 will give 1fps readout on the cpu 3d tests and eventerly the machine reboots, ive not beable to complete a 3dmark 06 run on there yet."

It is running everything on the cpu, so for socket A its going to be about 1fps. 3D Mark 06 pushes modern systems so it will bring yours to its knee's and possibly cause it to overheat if the cpu cooling isn't spot on.
What is your graphics card and do you have the latest drivers installed for all hardware ?

 

[YoungBlood]

3D card is a 6600GT, im guessing with a base CPU temp of 60C with the standard AMD fan that when it gets to the CPU tests of 3DMark it shuts itself down for self preservation.
All drivers are up to date afaik.
One thing I didn't mention in my 1st post is that prior to this the PSU let go, with a bang and smoke and everything. I replaced it with a "cheap" 400watt as the system is not worth spending big bucks on, maybe something got damaged along the way.
Its just abit of a mystery why the CPU goes into, almost idol at random intervals, i'll put it down to a damaged CPU from the PSU letting go if nobody has any other suggestions.

 

[split]

I would very much doubt a damaged CPU if it runs most apps.

Your killing it trying to run 3dmark 06 IMO.
You replaced the PSU with? (define cheap)

What are your voltage readings?

 

[YoungBlood]

Cheap as in £15 "sumvision" 400watt
Voltages are Vcore 1.69
+3.3V = 3.26
+5V = 4.91
+12V = 12.80

Thoes are straight from the hardware monitor in the bios

 

[split]

Cheap as in £15 "sumvision" 400watt
Voltages are Vcore 1.69
+3.3V = 3.26
+5V = 4.91
+12V = 12.80

Thoes are straight from the hardware monitor in the bios

But you need load.
I dunno what voltage monitor works with that board tho...

Something to try...will it run 3DMark®2001?

EDIT. MBM will work on that board.

Board GA7 DX

Sensor Chip W83627HF
Case Sensor VIA686B 3
CPU Sensor VIA686B 2

 

[YoungBlood]

Yeah 3dmark 2001 runs fine, I think I might have sussed the problem out.....Could it of just been that the CPU was causing a bottleneck with that 3Dcard.
I placed an old Geforce 4 Ti4200 in there and all was rosy. Maybe the CPU was no match for the Geforce 6600GT that I put in there. Or it could be that the 6600GT draws too much power from my cheap PSU and causing problems that way.....
Also the mbm link u posted was broken but i'll google it up

Nope your link is the same as the google link, guess it's down for now

 

[split]

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/ works for me.

Try a mirror http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=311

 

[xirokx]

you sure its your cpu and not the RAM..althought your psu went boom, very rarely does the CPU get affected..Have you tried testing your RAM recently?

 

[YoungBlood]

The problem that I was having with the CPU dropping off during games has stopped since downgrading the 3DCard, so im going to assume that it was just some sort of bottleneck.
Thanks for the mirror'd link split, that one works and i'll post some numbers after work.

 

[Tute]

Cheap as in £15 "sumvision" 400watt

I think that's your problem.

The cheap PSU is probably having no problem powering the Ti4200, yet it's struggling with the 6600GT.
I'd swap it out for something a little stronger, or make the Ti4200 your permanent card!

 

[split]

I think that's your problem.

The cheap PSU is probably having no problem powering the Ti4200, yet it's struggling with the 6600GT.
I'd swap it out for something a little stronger, or make the Ti4200 your permanent card!

Aye.
I can't find much spec on it, but those PSU's can be found on a certain auction site for £8.45 brand new.

In fact I was given one in a PC that was beyond repair. Guy thought his PSU had blown, and got one of those to replace it with, but it was the motherboard.

 

[YoungBlood]

£8.45, I feel robbed lol
It was a matter of conviniance, I needed a new PSU there and then and they only stock cheap stuff. I shall upgrade the PSU then hopefully the 6600GT will run smoothly with the 2500+ Athlon.
One thing I will say though is that I have had 2 of these cheap PSU's literaly go bang which has put me off leaving the PC on while asleep/at work.
The more expensive ones, im looking at a thermatake or ocz brand im assuming have some sort of protection so your house does'nt burn down if they let go. Luckily when these cheap ones have died I was there to pull the plugs out fast, as you do

thanks for your help spilt and co

 

[Justintime]

Yep likely psu, never cheap out on the psu, i rather not use the rig than use a cheapo generic supply.