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Athlon 64 ? and Everest

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Christer, 2005/03/23.

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  1. 2005/03/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello all!

    I have assembled a new computer for a friend. It's based on:

    Gigabyte GA-K8N Ultra-SLI
    Gigabyte GV-NX62128D
    Athlon 64 3000+
    2x512 MB PC3200 Kingmax Super RAM
    Hitachi 160 GB SATA HDS722516VLSA80

    In BIOS > PC Healt, the CPU temperature reads 27-30 °C. I haven't found any S.M.A.R.T. settings (enable/disable) or readings in BIOS.

    Everest v1.51 hangs and no readings become available before hanging. I don't even get into TaskManager to kill it.

    In AIDA 32 v3.93, the CPU temperature reads ~70 °C and no S.M.A.R.T. readings whatsoever for the HDD. After a short while, AIDA 32 hangs too with no access into TaskManager.

    I have a tendency to remain calm, simply disregarding the high temperature reading in AIDA 32 since it and Everst as well seem to be incompatible with the hardware. The question is with which hardware, MB and/or CPU and/or HDD?

    Anyone else out there who has similar experience or an idea about what's going on?

    Thanks for Your time,
    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  2. 2005/03/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    I installed HDD Health v2.1b159 and after starting the application, the icon in the notification area was dead and the computer frozen.

    ...... :confused: ...... Christer ...... :confused: ......
     
    Christer,
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  4. 2005/03/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    I ran the IBM/Hitachi Drive Fitness Test and it reported that S.M.A.R.T. was disabled. I could enable it and the status was reported as being good.

    When the computer was restarted into XP, I noticed a line during post saying that S.M.A.R.T. was disabled for that drive (it's the only drive in the system).

    I ran the IBM/Hitachi Feature Tool which also reported that S.M.A.R.T. was disabled. I went to the menu in which S.M.A.R.T. can be enabled and did so.

    When the computer was restarted into XP, during post the message was the same.

    Anyone out there who knows something about S.M.A.R.T. and Hitachi SATA drives that I have yet to learn?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  5. 2005/03/23
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Hello Christer,

    Luckily it only took a little searching to find this:
    from
    http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/gak8nultrasli/3.html

    Also check this as a reason why the system reading utilities may not be working.
    eg. (further down the page)
    Matt
     
    Last edited: 2005/03/23
    mattman,
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  6. 2005/03/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello Matt,
    thanks for doing the "legwork" for me!

    I read the MB manual to find out where to stick the wires and in which slots to put the memory modules for dual channel and I was on my way to bring the manual out again ...... :eek: ...... to find out what was going on.

    I actually found out that RAID is the default setting which puzzles me. I would believe that most users don't RAID. Anyway, the XP installer told me that there was no HDD but I didn't believe that was the reason for not hearing it ...... ;) ...... since it's a Hitachi ...... :rolleyes: ...... and I put it in myself!

    The POST screen changed dramatically when disabling RAID after which BIOS as well as the XP installer detected the SATA.

    Regarding the hidden BIOS options, it says nothing about ctrl-F1 on the BIOS screen but I will have a look in the manual to see what is said there.

    "Advanced chipset features" were revealed in which the two 512 MB PC3200 modules are reported as 256 MB ...... :confused: ...... but during POST the correct total RAM is reported as 1048576 kB.

    Enabling S.M.A.R.T. didn't do any good. Everest does nothing but hang, AIDA 32 still reads nothing for "Storage S.M.A.R.T." and is still of the opinion that the CPU runs at ~70 °C. HDD Healt opens into the notification area but immediately causes a total lockup.

    Now, I'm going to roll back to prior to installing HDD Helth becuase after hitting the reset button, it loads at startup and locks up the computer immediately. I'm really pleased for being addicted to Ghost ...... :cool: ...... and it seems like I know how I will spend my time today ...... :p ...... !

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2005/03/24
    Christer,
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  7. 2005/03/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Well, the ctrl-F1 to enter "BIOS setup" as they call it (as opposed to "CMOS setup ") was mentioned in the manual but not a word on the additional features that were revealed when hitting that combination of keys.

    No wonder that people avoid reading manuals since they are only half written anyway ...... :eek: ...... !

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  8. 2005/03/24
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Still no SMART? Are you certain you are doing "save settings to CMOS" when you exit. (I don't always read it and end up having to reset again).

    I know little about RAID, but I just wonder if the HDD will have drivers for RAID that will need to be removed now that you can disable it.

    Aida/Everest may need to be reinstalled when you have the system "normalized ".

    That review states that apart from those quirks, the motherboard is very good. It may go very well when you get it straightened out (pity you can't get much from the manual :( )

    Matt
     
    mattman,
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  9. 2005/03/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    During POST and in BIOS, S.M.A.R.T. is enabled and I reran the IBM/Hitachi tools (new download of latest versions) and it is "listed" as enabled there too. However, neither Everest nor AIDA 32 get the information and HDD Health is a total catastrophy. I have reinstalled an Ghosted back several times and managed to work a bit in Everest and AIDA 32 as long as I don't venture into anything remotely associated with the HDD and/or CPU. Everest identifies the Athlon 64 but AIDA 32 lists it as "unknown ".

    I don't think that RAID is related to the firmware of the HDD. I haven't seen anything in the Feature Tool and I believe that RAID is strictly a BIOS setting.

    I too am impressed by Gigabyte (I still know too little about the specific motherboard). Installing drivers was simple, insert the CD, wait for it to analyze the computer and click YES to install what is needed. No manual installation of 4-6 separate drivers.

    I will deliver the computer to its owner tomorrow morning which means that this situation will probably remain unresolved. It's a secondary issue since everything else works very well.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  10. 2005/03/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    By the way, can someone confirm that 27-30 °C is a normal temperature range for the Athlon 64 3000+ when idling or under light load?

    The casing, CoolerMaster Centurion, is very well ventilated with a front intake fan (80 mm) and a rear exhaust fan (120 mm) with the CPU-fan blowing out into that airstream.

    The intake fan blows in the air in the vicinity of the harddisks. The currently single harddisk is in the middle of the breeze and runs at a cool 30 °C (for a Hitachi SATA).

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2005/03/24
    Christer,
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  11. 2005/03/24
    FireDancer Lifetime Subscription

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    Hello Christer,

    Yes that temp is good I am running a Athlon 64 4000+ with a Thermalright XP-90 HSF and am idleing at 29C and 45C under heavy Load. Once your thermal paste sets in (roughly) 150 to 200 hours of use you should see a drop in temp maybe a degree or 2 if there is no overclocking done.

    Regards,
    FIREDANCER ;)
     
    FireDancer,
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  12. 2005/03/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello Firedancer and thanks for the information!

    I was a bit worried that AIDA 32 might be right since some Athlons run quite hot but I thought that ~70 °C compared to ~30 °C was too much of a difference ...... :cool: ...... and now I know for sure!

    This is a semi-budget build with the option to buy a better processor when the price gets "within range ". I think that the hardware combination seems pretty well matched and it is quite fast. Your 4000+ must be as fast as a cheetah at the edge of a forest fire ...... ;) ...... oh yes, I remember Your story ...... :) ...... !

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  13. 2005/03/24
    FireDancer Lifetime Subscription

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    *POKE* Yup it is fast :) I am running at 2.4 @200 FSB Stock. I did have it Overclocked at 2.6 with FSB @ 225 and still had plaenty of room to push it up more. I went back to stock for now because i am useing this machine for buisness and it is not necessary at this time but will be building a new machine with the FX chip for gaming and messing around on and that will get OC'ed.

    With your budget build your temps should be fine at 27 - 30C idle and like I said if your not overclocking and your customer is useing the machine for everyday tasks he should have no heat problems. I am assuming that you used the thermal paste that came with the chip (probably allready on it right?) anyways you should be fine. I would check temps for the first few weeks and make sure they are staying stable.

    If your customer is useing the machine in a controled enviroment and ambient temps stay stable the machine should do great! Ambient for most in a room is around 65 to 70 C. But if the room is consistantly heated you might see a rise in the mobo and cpu temp as well. I dont belive you will have that prob tho. Good luck!

    Hey at least it's not a PresHOTT ...errr I mean prescott :eek: We use those here at home as space heaters in the winter...just OC them a bit and your warm!!!! LOL
     
    FireDancer,
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  14. 2005/03/25
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    You must be mixing up °C with °F ...... :p ...... right ? Ambient at the time was ~22 °C and the processor was running only 5-8 °C above that.

    The Athlon 64 has some kind of power management to not burn unnecessary Watts at low load conditions and it seems like they succeeded. At least in combination with a well ventilated casing.

    Christer
     
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  15. 2005/03/25
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    Opps my bad!! Thanks for pointing out my little mistake :) yes you are correct and the machine should be fine ;)
     
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  16. 2005/03/26
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    FireDancer,
    I remember a discussion of the merits of saunas I once had with a guy from the UK. When temperatures was the topic, he thought that I was sissy ...... :eek: ...... until he realized that I was discussing °C and not °F ...... :D ...... !

    About the temperatures of the Athlon 64 3000+, it is the coolest I have come across and I thougth that the BIOS may be reading it wrong but the AIDA 32 reading was way too high. It seems like the BIOS reads it OK since Your experience confirms the values.

    Thanks,
    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  17. 2005/03/26
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    Hello

    Hey Christer,

    You will see a variance at times depending on what software you are useing. I would try reloading Everest and then opening it back up to the sensor and letting it idle for about 30 to 45 min and see if it settles down. I am going to try to post a screenie here for ya with Everest and Asus Probe on my machine. Both are about the same but bios shows 2 degrees higher which is common.
     
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  18. 2005/03/26
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Well, I can't reload anything now since the computer has been collected by its owner. I don't believe that letting it settle down would make any difference since it isn't Everst alone that doesn't work. HDD health doesn't work either and AIDA 32 can't identify the hardware (CPU).

    Thanks for posting the screenshot!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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