My HTPC keeps crashing.... Help!

pumaz · 16 Sep 2006 at 11:45

I recently built a HTPC but quite a beast because i wanted to play games on a big my TV.

My Rig
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (members market)
Asus A8N-VM-CSM Motherboard (members market)
2 x 1gb Generic Ram Cas3 with Heat Spreaders (members market)
ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB (New from OcUK)
Samsung SpinPoint P HD160JJ 160GB SATA-II 8MB Cache (New from OcUK)
Pioneer DVR-111DSV 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (New from OcUK)
Zalman CNPS7000B-ALCU Ultra-Quiet CPU Cooler (members market)
Zalman VF900-CU Quiet Copper VGA Cooler (New from OcUK)
Antec Fusion HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU (New from OcUK)
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (New from OcUK)
Enermax Aurora brushed aluminium keyboard - Silver (New from OcUK)
Logitech MX518 Gaming-Grade Optical Mouse (members market)
Windows XP Pro with SP2

Other Info.
I know for a fact that all the component bar the CPU and Ram work fine but i don't doubt the do work as the member i bought them from is very trustworthy.

The HTPC was originaly built and installed with 1 gig of ram and a A64 3000+ and it ran with no probs at all, but since replacing the Cpu and ram (see spec.) it as been shutting down after a period of 10 mins when playing games and it won't run a complete test of 3dmark 06 without shutting down.

I checked the temps in bios after a shutdown - CPU 69 and Motherboard 44 :eek:

I have re-seated the CPU with arctic silver twice now but it doesent seem as tight as it should do (there's movement in the zalman heatsink). Is the reason the HTPC keeps shutting down due to high CPU temps even?

I've turned the 2 x 12cm case fans up to max and there too noisey now but its stopped the HTPC crashing in FEAR but it will still not complete 3dnark 06

In an ideal world i would like to turn the fans down again as they are very loud but i really need to sort this shutting down problem. I've spent loads on this and it's driving me mad. Do you guys have any suggestions?

hyper_piper45 · 16 Sep 2006 at 12:25

What voltage is the ram at? Make sure it at the stock volts, or maybe +0.1 higher.

Phil99 · 16 Sep 2006 at 12:27

Are you able to try a different CPU heatsink?

69 degrees seems stupidly hot, especially as that isn't the load temperature.

Try installing Speedfan and see what temperature it runs while you're running Prime95/SuperPI

pumaz · 16 Sep 2006 at 12:51

Thanks guys, forgot to add nothing is overclocked and i don't know much about the ram so i've left it on auto. I do have the retail heatsink (in the loft) i'll dig it out and give it a try later.

pumaz · 21 Sep 2006 at 00:05

OK

I 've got this sorted now, I simply reversed the two 12cm fans so they sucked air in instead of blowing it out.

I've ran 3dmark06 5 times and two hours of Prime95 (torture) and according to Asus Probe CPU temp never went over 45 and it didn't shut down once

Phil99 · 21 Sep 2006 at 00:32

Nice one

turbotoes · 22 Sep 2006 at 16:46

Dont you love it when the answer is simple and doesn't cost anything

dunno · 22 Sep 2006 at 16:58

any chance of posting some pics of your htpc inside and out? Was considering getting this case and would like to know how everything is inside

pumaz · 24 Sep 2006 at 22:24

I'll try and get some pics up in the next couple of days.

For those interested in the lack of remote function on the Fusion have no fear because it's been solved. I've done this and it works a treat

Credit goes to Druid01 from Soundgraph Forums...

"I actually replaced the Antec VFD with a thermaltake Imon Version.
Unlike the genuine Imon version the Thermaltake has no built-in Volume knob
which would ruin the look of the Antec front Facia.
But it has the Ir reciever built into the VFD and comes with a Imon Remote Pad.
Just unsrew the Thermaltake VFD from the 5 1/4 mounting bay it comes in and mount it into the existing bracket inside the case.
It is a perfect fit for the Antec VFD mounting bracket and plugged in perfectly.
You lose the volume control knob function on the front of the case but gain the ability to use the imon remote and still have a fully functioning VFD. It was a Win Win. It fitted perfectly and the loss of the flashy Volume knob wasnt a big deal as now I have the remote to change the volume.

"

I would also add from my own findings that you have to scratch some of the back blacking off on the perspex where the IR receiver sits behind or you won't get a more than a foot range on your remote. But fear not as once its put back together you cant tell

My only problem now is trying to get the ASUS SPDIF Module outputing in 5.1, The only thing it will work with in 5.1 is iMedian using the iMedian Codec which isn't ideal as i would like to experiment with other HTPC front ends.