Extremely unstable system

orcicdejan

Hello!
I've got some problem, and I hoped you could help me.
I've bought a computer year and a half ago. Configuration is:

Intel P4 Celeron 2400MHz
motherboard: Asus P4SGX-MX
memory: 256MB DDR 333MHz (have no idea who is manufacturer)
HDD: Maxtor 40GB, 7200
CD-RW: Asus 52x32x52
video card (got it few months later): GeForce 2 (I know, but couldn't afford anything better...)

From the very beginning I had problems – spontaneous restarts (and later, when I disabled ‘automatically restart on error’, BSOD) followed by damaging files (including system files), programs crashing... There is no obvious patterns – it crashes:
- in WinXP SP1, Win98, Win98SE
- whether applications are running or not
- with old, integrated video card, and with new one
- with old memory and with new one
It even crashed during installation of Win on a freshly formatted HDD (so, it’s not problem with software).

So now I have average of about 5 BSODs per day and 2 repairs and one clean installation (including formatting of HDD) of Win per month. No need to speak what it does to your nerves.

I thought memory was problem, so I bought new one (Transcend 512MB DDR 400MHz) but nothing changed. One correction: now I couldn’t reinstall WinXP (setup kept complaining it couldn’t copy some files, and crashed at the end; I’ve tried with backup copy of Win install CD, no effect) until I replaced memory with older one. Later, during the installation of other programs, everything worked fine with new memory, until I tried to install Office – it couldn’t find file obviously present on CD. And when I switched memory, it worked again!?

Next day, Win crashed again, and I can’t repair it (setup crashes every time I try), I’ve formatted disk now, but have no nerves anymore to reinstall complete system.

I ran some memory tests with all three configs (memory 256, 256+512 and 512), and each time I’ve got LOT of error messages (more correctly, it hasn’t passed any test). Somehow, I doubt both memories are malfunctioning, and suspect maybe problem is in motherboard. However, I’m not an expert in hardware, so I hoped there will be someone with ideas.
Thank you in advance!

PS: I live in Serbia&Montenegro, so don’t give me too expensive suggestions!

profdlp

orcicdejan wrote:

...I ran some memory tests with all three configs (memory 256, 256+512 and 512), and each time I’ve got LOT of error messages (more correctly, it hasn’t passed any test). Somehow, I doubt both memories are malfunctioning, and suspect maybe problem is in motherboard....

Do you have a friend who would let you stick the RAM in their computer for testing purposes? If your RAM passes the tests there it pretty much cinches that you have a motherboard problem. This doesn't necessarily mean the board is bad, you may just need to adjust the memory timing in the BIOS.

If you haven't tried it already, I'd recommend Memtest86.

Donut

Have you also got a spare PSU to try out?

edcentric

Your mobo uses the SiS chipset, which I know nothing about.
It sounds like either memory setting in BIOS are causing conflicts, or hte onboard memory controler is history.
If you can run memtest on the memory in another computer, and it passes, then you need to look at your mobo.
First try making sure that the memory setting are all correct. We can help walk you through the settings.
If that doesn't help look for a new mobo.

Do you run software like MBM to check voltages on you system? Are they all OK?

orcicdejan

I've dumped my BIOS (params not important excluded), I hope you'll be able to find something:
(this is with old 256MB memory)

== BIOS (type 0, handle 0000, length 20) ==
Vendor = Award Software, Inc.
Version = ASUS P4SGX-MX ACPI BIOS Revision 1005
Segment Address = F000
Release Date = 06/11/2003
ROM Size = 256 KB
Characteristics = |PCI|Plug and Play|APM|Flash BIOS|BIOS Shadowing|ESCD|CD Boot|Selectable Boot|BIOS ROM Socketed|EDD|360KB FDD|1.2MB FDD|720KB FDD|2.88MB FDD|INT5 PrtScrn|Int9 8042|INT14 Serial|INT17 Printer|INT10 CGA/Mono|
OEM Characteristics = 00000000
Extended 1 = |ACPI|USB Legacy|AGP|
Extended 2 = |

== Baseboard (type 2, handle 0002, length 8) ==
Manufacturer = ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Product Name = P4SGX-MX
Version = REV 2.xx
Serial Number = xxxxxxxxxxx

== Processor (type 4, handle 0004, length 32) ==
Socket Designation = PGA 478
Processor Type = CPU
Processor Family = Celeron
Processor Manufacturer = GenuineIntel
Processor ID = 00000F29 BFEBFBFF
Processor Version = Intel(R) Celeron(R)
Voltage = Currently 1.5V
External Clock (MHz) = 100
Max Speed (MHz) = 3200
Current Speed (MHz) = 2400
Status = Populated, Enabled
Processor Upgrade = ZIF Socket
L1 Cache Handle = 000A
L2 Cache Handle = 000B
L3 Cache Handle = FFFF

== Memory Controller (type 5, handle 0005, length 24) ==
Error Detecting Method = None
Error Correcting Capability = |Unknown|
Supported Interleave = Unknown
Current Interleave = Unknown
Max Memory Module Size = 1024 MB
Supported Speeds = |70ns|60ns|50ns|
Supported Memory Types = |DIMM|SDRAM|
Memory Module Voltage = Supports 3.3V
Associated Memory Slots = 4

== Memory Module (type 6, handle 0006, length 12) ==
Socket Designation = DIMM 1
Bank Connections = RAS 0, RAS 1
Current Speed (ns) = 0
Current Memory Type = |DIMM|SDRAM|
Installed Size = Not installed
Enabled Size = Not installed
Error Status = 00

== Memory Module (type 6, handle 0007, length 12) ==
Socket Designation = DIMM 2
Bank Connections = RAS 2, RAS 3
Current Speed (ns) = 0
Current Memory Type = |DIMM|SDRAM|
Installed Size = 256 MB, Double Bank
Enabled Size = 256 MB, Double Bank
Error Status = 00

== Memory Module (type 6, handle 0008, length 12) ==
Socket Designation = DIMM 3
Bank Connections = RAS 0, RAS 1
Current Speed (ns) = 0
Current Memory Type = |DIMM|SDRAM|
Installed Size = Not installed
Enabled Size = Not installed
Error Status = 00

== Memory Module (type 6, handle 0009, length 12) ==
Socket Designation = DIMM 4
Bank Connections = RAS 2, RAS 3
Current Speed (ns) = 0
Current Memory Type = |DIMM|SDRAM|
Installed Size = Not installed
Enabled Size = Not installed
Error Status = 00

== Cache (type 7, handle 000A, length 19) ==
Socket Designation = L1 Cache
Cache Configuration = |Level 1|Write-Back|Not Socketed|Internal|Enabled|
Max Cache Size = 32 KB
Installed Size = 8 KB
Supported SRAM Type = |Pipeline Burst|Synchronous|
Current SRAM Type = |Pipeline Burst|Synchronous|
Cache Speed (ns) = 0
Error Correction Type = Single-bit ECC
System Cache Type = Data
Associativity = 4-way Set-Associative

== Cache (type 7, handle 000B, length 19) ==
Socket Designation = L2 Cache
Cache Configuration = |Level 2|Write-Back|Not Socketed|Internal|Enabled|
Max Cache Size = 1024 KB
Installed Size = 128 KB
Supported SRAM Type = |Pipeline Burst|Synchronous|
Current SRAM Type = |Pipeline Burst|Synchronous|
Cache Speed (ns) = 0
Error Correction Type = Unknown
System Cache Type = Data
Associativity = 4-way Set-Associative

== Physical Memory Array (type 16, handle 0026, length 15) ==
Location = System board
Use = System
Error Correction = None
Max Capacity (KB) = 1048576
Error Info Handle = FFFE
Number Of Devices = 4

== Memory Device (type 17, handle 0027, length 23) ==
Array Handle = 0026
Error Info Handle = FFFF
Total Width (bits) = 0
Data Width (bits) = 0
Size = Not Installed
Form Factor = DIMM
Device Set = 1
Device Locator = DIMM 1
Bank Locator =
Memory Type = DRAM
Type Detail = |Synchronous|
Speed (MHz) = 0

== Memory Device (type 17, handle 0028, length 23) ==
Array Handle = 0026
Error Info Handle = FFFF
Total Width (bits) = 64
Data Width (bits) = 64
Size = 256 MB
Form Factor = DIMM
Device Set = 2
Device Locator = DIMM 2
Bank Locator =
Memory Type = DRAM
Type Detail = |Synchronous|
Speed (MHz) = 0

== Memory Device (type 17, handle 0029, length 23) ==
Array Handle = 0026
Error Info Handle = FFFF
Total Width (bits) = 0
Data Width (bits) = 0
Size = Not Installed
Form Factor = DIMM
Device Set = 3
Device Locator = DIMM 3
Bank Locator =
Memory Type = DRAM
Type Detail = |Synchronous|
Speed (MHz) = 0

== Memory Device (type 17, handle 002A, length 23) ==
Array Handle = 0026
Error Info Handle = FFFF
Total Width (bits) = 0
Data Width (bits) = 0
Size = Not Installed
Form Factor = DIMM
Device Set = 4
Device Locator = DIMM 4
Bank Locator =
Memory Type = DRAM
Type Detail = |Synchronous|
Speed (MHz) = 0

== Memory Array Mapped Address (type 19, handle 002B, length 15) ==
Starting Address = 00000000
Ending Address = 0003FFFF
Array Handle = 0026
Partition Width = 2

== INACTIVE (type 126, handle 002C, length 19) ==
0000 7E 13 2C 00 00 00 00 00 ~.,.....
0008 FF FF FF FF 27 00 2B 00 ....'.+.
0010 01 00 00 00 00 14 13 2D .......-
0018 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF 03 ........

== Memory Device Mapped Address (type 20, handle 002D, length 19) ==
Starting Address = 00000000
Ending Address = 0003FFFF
Device Handle = 0028
Array Mapped Address Handle = 002B
Row Position = 2
Interleave Position = 0
Interleaved Data Depth = 0

== INACTIVE (type 126, handle 002E, length 19) ==
0000 7E 13 2E 00 00 00 04 00 ~.......
0008 FF FF 03 00 29 00 2B 00 ....).+.
0010 03 00 00 00 00 7E 13 2F .....~./
0018 00 00 00 04 00 FF FF 03 ........

== INACTIVE (type 126, handle 002F, length 19) ==
0000 7E 13 2F 00 00 00 04 00 ~./.....
0008 FF FF 03 00 2A 00 2B 00 ....*.+.
0010 04 00 00 00 00 20 0B 30 .......0
0018 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........


For memory testing I've used MemTest and few another programs (from Hiren's boot CD and Ultimate boot CD), all of them reported errors. I'll try it on another computer.
For the weekend I'll run motherboard tests, maybe I'll find something interesting.

BTW, thanks!

Donut

Have you got another stick of ram to test with? Beg or borrow if you can.

orcicdejan

I have two - old 256M and new 512M, as I said both failed the tests, but somehow I don't think both are bad.

Donut

Sorry, I missed that part when I re-read last night. :o

Can we rule out the power supply yet? A psu thats getting flaky can cause errors everywhere.

orcicdejan

Have no idea. I'll run some test.

Grond

I'm giving 5-1 odds on the psu.