CPU clock stopping on an upgrade/newbuild.

[twiggs]

When you say bios, are you referring to the POST?
does it look like this?

[stickyb]

What was the CPU in the old machine? You are not trying to switch from Intel to AMD are you?

Either way, how did you get round the problem of the motherboard drivers? You need to install the new ones that came with the mother board, but I don't think you can until you are running on the new board - bit of a catch 22?

[green granite]

You could try asking the question here: Motherboards, Bios & CPU - Tech Support Forum

[Keygrip]

No, twiggs, it's when that screen shows that I hit the "DEL" key and get into a whole world of demons and dragons of settings.

Everything is "toggle", dozens of little presets like boot order, hard drive health monitoring, auto or manual finding of components....all sorts of stuff.

Have to click F10 to save and exit. Then it starts up again from zero.

Go to the page you show - see extreme bottom left - hit the DEL key and you will see what I mean.

The CPU in original macine was a small, 700MHz thing - not sure of brand - but it's now in the trash/dustbin .

The current chip is an AM2 and an AM2 mobo.

The chip that I loaned it from this machine was another AM2, Athlon 64 X2 (6400 model).

[twiggs]

Ok that's good, just wanted to be sure of how far you get.
So you can get to the EZ Flash 2 feature in the bios?
I think an attempt at bios upgrade is about your only alternative left apart from trying a different mobo.

Try going into EZFlash 2 and become familiar with how it works.
If the system still freezes after a couple of minutes that might still be enough time to try an upgrade.
When you are sure of what needs to be done, download the new bios file to a flash drive.
Pressing <ALT> + <F2> instead of <delete> will save you time and send you straight to the utility when you are ready to do it.

What is the bios version currently?
Do you have the motherboard setup CD?

[Keef]

I'd be wary of trying to write a new BIOS with the thing freezing after a few minutes. If it decides to freeze while writing the BIOS there may be no way back.

Try the different graphics card option first!

[twiggs]

Agreed Keef, but I am assuming Keygrip has tried all advice that has been suggested to now.
I would also like to know first if the system does freeze whilst in the EZ flash utility in the bios setup. (just using the utility not actually doing the update)

[Keef]

Indeed!

My main machine developed an occasional and random disk fault that I could NOT run down.

It turned out to be a duff ribbon cable from the hard drives to the motherboard. I'd bought a new 500GB hard drive, and was thinking about a new motherboard, when it occurred to me. Probably the cheapest item in the PC.

[Keygrip]

Tried it today with all three SATA devices unplugged at the mobo end.

3 minutes 52.

[Keef]

Have you tried it with a different graphics card?

[green granite]

Try putting the old psu into it and running it with just 1 stick of ram and the video card and see what happens, then plug in a sata disc and see if it can see it. Power supplies can cause all sorts of strange things to happen

[Keygrip]

Replacing the old PSU would require a rubber mallet or sledgehammer - it's a different socket type.....and the "old" one is in the trash (unfortunately).

Graphics cards exchanged - identical cards in this machine (Deep Thought) and the upgrade/new build machine (Deep Green) - consecutive serial numbers.

The graphics card that was in the new build is now happily running in this machine - no pioint in swapping them back.

Graphics card that WAS running in this machine, was put into Deep Green - 3 minutes 27.

Tried a reboot and alt/F2. Took me to a page entitled "EZ Flash BIOS ROM Utility B327"

It went on to say "FlashType: PMC Pm4GFL004T LPC/FWH"

Current ROM
Board M2n-SLI Deluxe
Version 1400
Date 02/14/08

Alt/F2 didn't display a clock, so wasn't in a position to check the time.

Will try again later when I get my instrument approach stop watch out of the car (yes, I do still time my approaches - I'm old, you see).

[twiggs]

Since you can get into the bios settings, can you set the correct time and date?

[Bushfiva]

Sounds like something's overheating, and it it's not the CPU, it's something else that should be heatsinked but isn't. Tried touching all the chips and heatsinks? You're looking for a chip that's incredibly hot, or a heatsink that's cold (because it's not sinking heat). I don't know if you've done it already, but in the minutes available to you before it locks up, I'd nip along to the "turbo settings" or similar, and set it to safe, or default mode or whatever it's called.

But what I'd personally do about now is sneakily buy another motherboard without telling anyone.

[Keef]

Originally Posted by Bushfiva

But what I'd personally do about now is sneakily buy another motherboard without telling anyone.

You and me both

Actually, before doing that, I'd put my test meter across the outputs of the power supply when it's working, and again when it isn't.

I've changed lots of power supplies over the years (probably several a year for the various folks I "look after"), and only one motherboard. They have a habit of dropping one of the power rails.

I've not needed a hammer to do that - they're usually held in by four screws.

But I think this is a new power supply and a new case because the old one was dud.

[Keygrip]

It is, indeed a new power supply - but bought from the High Street and not shrink wapped (which suggests it was opened previously).

Test leads have been across the outputs during it's "running" - didn't think to search for volts after the freeze.

First time I tried to set time and date, it was a few minutes after boot up and it froze as soon as I started banging on keys - so I just stopped trying. Will try that again, today.

I've already started perusing the pages of www.newegg.com for another ATX form, AMD motherboard, that will accept the same components (RAM pins, video card, CPU, 3xSATA) but does not have the name ASUS on the box. Disgraceful company that do not deserve one cent of anybodies money.

I would have ordered one - but America closes for the day tomorrow (Thursday) and the sales start on Friday.

[Keygrip]

Had another thought - the PSU has two, independently wired, four pin plugs for the CPU. Seems there are some 8 pin power units out there and you have to use both plugs to accommodate them.

I switched the leads in the hope of finding non-stop volts (if they ever did stop - not tried the multi meter yet).

Turned it on, successfully set the correct time and date before it all stopped at 3 minutes 17 seconds.

I creep towards ordering another board, don't I?

Sigh.

[twiggs]

Now that you have managed to succesfully set the date and time, what happens upon reboot? Is the date and time still correct?

If you are planning on getting a new mobo, then an attempt at bios upgrade is worth trying as it won't cost you anything if the board is going in the bin anyway.
3 minutes should be sufficient time, but a few practice runs in the EZ Flash utility, without the new bios file, would be wise so that you mazimize the use of those 3 minutes.
When you are happy, save the new bios onto a flash drive and give it a go.

[Keygrip]

Yus. Real time and date remembered.

ASUS sent me an e-mail a few days ago about another subject. I mentioned my disappointment with the company customer support (ASUS customer support? oxymoron).

They said they will re-open the case that I started in February. They proudly say that somebody will telephone me on Monday.....or Tuesday. (Maybe!).

[Keygrip]

The new motherboard is scheduled for delivery on Thursday.