Please Help! My CPU is unstable at default voltage

[cooljoegz]

Currently, I need to run my CPU with 1.575v. Default is 1.52v.
When I set it to default voltage, it loads up to XP loading screen and BAM, 'blue screen' and restarts.
When I up the voltage 1.575, it's fine.
Right now, the voltage is increased 2 levels at (1.57v). I tried increasing to the 1st level (1.55v) and that loads me up into windows. If i do anything cpu intensive, it gives my 'blue screen' and restarts.

Is my CPU dying?? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

[DanTheBanjoman]

Care to share your other specs? CPU type, systemboard, memory, PSU, videocard etc etc
Also, can you read what the blue screen says? Might give you a nice hint.

[wazzledoozle]

What temperatures are you getting in windows?

[cooljoegz]

I am not able to read the blue screen because it restarts by itself quickly.

Here are my specs:

P4 2.8
2x corsair 512mb dual channel
motherboard Abit IS7E
PSU 450 watt (not sure of brand)
ATI x800 XT

Temperatures are fine, around 45C

Also if it's temp. problem, it doesn't make sense to up voltage to get my computer to stable since upping voltage will increase temp. resulting in less stability.

[wazzledoozle]

Probably either a failing power supply or motherboard. Most likely the power supply. Do you have another one you could swap out and see if it works?

You should check your voltages while in windows, get this-
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en

Once installed go to computer, then sensors. How is the core voltage and others?

[cooljoegz]

I just recently got a new PSU(450w) because my old one was insufficient (350w).

I have CPUZ, and I can read my core voltage on there. How would I know if my voltage is abnormal. Right now it reads around 1.55 - 1.56v.

If the problem is with my motherboard, is there a way I can confirm this, so I can order a new motherboard in preparation of a dying motherboard. :-(

[wazzledoozle]

I just recently got a new PSU(450w) because my old one of was insufficient (350w).

I have CPUZ, and I can read my core voltage on there. How would I know if my voltage is abnormal. Right now it reads around 1.55 - 1.56v.

If the problem is with my motherboard, is there a way I can confirm this, so I can order a new motherboard in preparation of a dying motherboard. :-(
Well if the voltage differs in real time from what you had set, then there is a problem. There needs to be a significant difference though. Yours seems fine. I dont know much about P4's, though CPU's dont die like that. If assume its a motherboard problem now, try and consult another opinion also.

[cooljoegz]

Bump....Any other opinions as to why my CPU would require more voltage to be stable?? Any info would greatly be appreciated.

[INSTG8R]

Im still gonna say its PSU issue I have IS7 as well I had previously run a 9800PRO and a P4 2.4C@3.0 on a 300W PSU (Sparkle so no slouch at 300W) I now run a 3.2E and an X800XT on a Tagan 420w. I have zero issues with Stability. I would be interested in the Amp Ratings on that PSU

eg mine

3.3v 28A
5v 42A
12v 22A

[intel igent]

i agree. wattage means nothing on a psu, amperage is much more important. plus you want most of it on the 12v. my powerstream 520w 3.3v=28a +5v=40a +12=33a

[cooljoegz]

Hmm..thanks for the Amp info. I'll check out mine when i get home and post it to let you guys tell me if it's any good. Crossing finger that it is PSU...

Just curious...Have you guys ever heard of this same problem I'm currently experiencing??

Also, I notice another thing last night as I was observing the core voltage...
When the cpu is idle, the voltage is at around 1.56 (currently set at 1.57).
When the cpu is under load, the voltage actually drops lower than when idled, around (1.54 -> 1.50)
This seems odd as I would think it would suck more juice when under load.

When I unload the cpu (stop running Prime95), it jumps back up to 1.56v. Very weird...(I use CPUZ to obtain voltage in windows)

What do you think?

[cooljoegz]

I'm sorry I haven't posted my PSU info.

But good news....I pretty much confirmed the problem.
For those that has been following...
It is my 'CPU' that's dying.
How did I confirm it?? (not sure if this confirms it)>> I got another CPU (P4 3.2ghz) and was able to use default (1.55v) voltage. Everything was stable.

I guess CPU can die this way (requires more voltage to be stable). Any opinions??

[wazzledoozle]

weird

[Jimmy 2004]

My opinion would be that your CPU has a problem, but I doesn't necessarily mean that your CPU is dying. It could just have a strange fault that means it can only perform correctly with higher voltages. As long as it is doing its job well at the higher voltage, you may as well keep going with that for the time being, as if your CPU fails it shouldn't damage any of the rest of you PC or lose your data and it certainly isn't worth going to any effort to try and get it repaired if it is the hardware itself. Keep going until it really is dead, not just until its diet has risen!!

[cooljoegz]

I will get another CPU when it dies, but unfortunately, due to it's instability and "fat diet" I cannot overclock it any more. Well...not a decent overclock anyway. Right now, I believe my CPU(2.8ghz) is a bottleneck to my GPU (x800 xt). Currently, I'm using my friend's CPU (3.2ghz -> 3.45ghz) and my 3dmark 2005 is 5,600+ without overclock.

Another thing, I would like to ask. With my current config (with 3.2ghz), when I play Need for Speed Underground 2, it slows down quite badly (15fps) at certain location. Especially, the Drift Stages. Is this game really that graphic intensive or is the problem with the game itself.

currently using 5.6 catalyst drivers.

[Hellraiser1981]

Hmm..thanks for the Amp info. I'll check out mine when i get home and post it to let you guys tell me if it's any good. Crossing finger that it is PSU...

Just curious...Have you guys ever heard of this same problem I'm currently experiencing??

Also, I notice another thing last night as I was observing the core voltage...
When the cpu is idle, the voltage is at around 1.56 (currently set at 1.57).
When the cpu is under load, the voltage actually drops lower than when idled, around (1.54 -> 1.50)
This seems odd as I would think it would suck more juice when under load.

When I unload the cpu (stop running Prime95), it jumps back up to 1.56v. Very weird...(I use CPUZ to obtain voltage in windows)

What do you think?
The voltage drop you are noticing is normal, it's called droop. When the CPU draws more current, the voltage will decrease a little. When someone does a vdroop mod on thier motherboard, they are just adding a variable resistor to "recalibrate" the CPU voltage feedback circuit.

If you're CPU is running unstable at default voltage, there is definetly a problem. Try disabling hyperthreading and thermal throttling if the bios has those options.

[Jimmy 2004]

I will get another CPU when it dies, but unfortunately, due to it's instability and "fat diet" I cannot overclock it any more. Well...not a decent overclock anyway. Right now, I believe my CPU(2.8ghz) is a bottleneck to my GPU (x800 xt). Currently, I'm using my friend's CPU (3.2ghz -> 3.45ghz) and my 3dmark 2005 is 5,600+ without overclock.

Another thing, I would like to ask. With my current config (with 3.2ghz), when I play Need for Speed Underground 2, it slows down quite badly (15fps) at certain location. Especially, the Drift Stages. Is this game really that graphic intensive or is the problem with the game itself.

currently using 5.6 catalyst drivers.

With a setup likes yours, if the rest of the PC lives up to the spec of the CPU and Graphics card just about no games should really be playing at 15FPS. I'd guess that is probably the game itself - if the PS2 can play it fine at a low resolution, your PC should be able to play it fine at the highest graphics settings. I don't think it's supposed to be an especially intensive game. Try upgrading to the latest patch and if that doesn't help you could post you problem in the games forum on this site, maybe someone there can help you...

[Snipe0876]

once i upgraded to a 3.2 amd the first 1 got it done exactly same as u i couldnt get it to run stable on normal power i had to bump it up to get it into windows or id get blue screen then restart after a while though of this it blew resulting in the loss of my cpu and mobo. the result being because the paste on the underside of the heatsink wasnt right i learned from then on to make sure i do the paste myself with top stuff id check that to considering the sevarity of the situation that happened to me.

[Estatic_Fear]

I am not able to read the blue screen because it restarts by itself quickly.
you can turn off automatic restarts from My Computer properties.
Be sure that message will bring the trouble explained. by the way....i think your PSU is the guilty :rolleyes:

[cooljoegz]

once i upgraded to a 3.2 amd the first 1 got it done exactly same as u i couldnt get it to run stable on normal power i had to bump it up to get it into windows or id get blue screen then restart after a while though of this it blew resulting in the loss of my cpu and mobo. the result being because the paste on the underside of the heatsink wasnt right i learned from then on to make sure i do the paste myself with top stuff id check that to considering the sevarity of the situation that happened to me.

What do you mean the paste on the underside wasn't right? And how did you make it right?

[cooljoegz]

you can turn off automatic restarts from My Computer properties.
Be sure that message will bring the trouble explained. by the way....i think your PSU is the guilty :rolleyes:

The computer restarts before it can log on to windows. It restarts on the loading Windows screen when you first boot up.

If it is my PSU, why would upping the voltage cause the computer to stablize. Wouldn't it make it even more unstable since it's stressing my PSU even more when upping voltage?

Anyway, as an update, I gave back my friend's CPU (3.2 ghz) and back to my old CPU. Currently using non-default voltage (1.575v) and stable. I guess I'll wait till this CPU die, then get a new one

Thank you all for you comments