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[Hamzter]

Hey,

I've been building a new computer for my girlfriend, using an oldish Biostar IDEQ 300G barebones case and motherboard, but I'm having problems getting it to post. I can only get it to boot sometimes, most of the time the fans just spin a full speed, and doesn't post. Sometimes when I get it to start, it freezes shortly after, pressing reset makes the system go back to full speed fans again.

I've just been checking the BIOS health status page, and noticed the core voltage was 1.32V, when it should be 1.4V for this processor (3.4GHz P4), is this too low? If this is the problem, I'll have to replace the processor as this motherboard doesn't allow changes to the core voltage

Specs if you're interested:

Biostar IDEQ 300G
P4 3.4GHz (SL7J8)
2x512MB DDR400 RAM (Tried replacing this stuff, no luck)

Thanks for any help

 

[BENdage]

Is the RAM set at correct voltage?

It maybe down to that CPU voltage, I don't know off the top of my head if it defo does need 1.4, but if it does 1.32 is well below and could well be the cause of the problems. What if you connect up a different power supply to see if that helps just a process of elimination

 

[Hamzter]

According to this, it's a 1.4V core voltage, I can't change any of the voltages and it doesn't show the RAM voltage, all it shows is...

CPU VCORE - 1.32V
NB/SB VOLTAGE - 1.48V
+3.3V - 3.18V
+5.0V - 4.97V
+12.0V - 11.90V
5V(SB) - 4.83V

I also can't change the power supply as it appears to use custom connectors. I was thinking about trying to underclock it to try and make it stable, but the minimum cpu clock is 200MHz (the default), but I can drop the RAM speed to 333MHz, would that make it any more stable?

 

[Hamzter]

Ok, here's summat else that might be a clue, I've found that removing the heat sink, then reattaching it allows it to post, very wierd!! Something to do with the CPU seating perhaps? I thought maybe it's because I'm unplugging it while I'm doing it, but I can't repeat it just by unplugging it. Sounds like one for Columbo!!