Memory/Motherboard probably overheating.

[Renderer]

I have problems with the computer shutting itself down, for reasons related to heat, I believe, that trigger the safety feature on the CPU or RAM (if there is such thing, this is probably the culprit at 78~80 ºC).

Windows XP SP2 (I have decided not to use SP3, but this might change soon. sp37394.exe upgrade for AMDs did not work. this is a fix that must be installed previously so that SP3 does not crash with AMD processors... or something like that)
Motherboard: Asus K8LM-AE (hp slimline, not listed in Asus website)
Bios: Award BIOS, Recently updated to 8.82
RAM: 2x512 MB DDR recently bought and placed with aluminum heat spreaders. working.
Video: Radeon 200 xpress 64MB shared
Proc: socket 754 AMD Sempron 3300+ 2GHz, not overclocked

So basically I have tweaked my small HP that runs with its cover off.
I have sent my computer to HP Total Care three times. AFAIK they have only replaced a non working RAM memory, no other replacements were made. I believe the RAM is overheating constantly, eventually frying the RAM every year or so, which is the periods that have passed between every RMA to HP--of course, with a substantial amount of support money.

So now, I've decided to take the problem in my own hands, and stop sending HP my precious hundreds of dollars, and buy the memory myself, with 35 bucks for 2x512MB DDR, and aluminum heatsinks. Unfortunately, this has not solved the issue. Sometimes I still get kicked out of my computer by a sudden reboot, and bootings that fail due to extreme heat.

My fan never runs faster than 1400 rpm, which I think is a problem, but even downloading programs such as SpeedFan, they have not enlightened me on how to increase fan speed. CPU temp is listed as 0, and probably switched with the core temperature. Remote temperature is at 79º C, so this probably is the RAM temperature. This is an HP small factor PC, so there is no option for outsourcing fans or connecting other fans. Therefore, I looked for an updated BIOS that could have more manual fan functionality/control. I've run the 8.82 award bios update from softpedia, as shown in the link in my machine's specs above. I have not found BIOS alternatives in HP or ASUS websites, so I'm risking this reboot to never work again.

I have yet to restart my computer. So now, wish me luck. Hopefully I won't have to come back logged in my brother's gaming rig or a new computer.

-Renderer

Images:



Please help me fix this computer. It keeps rebooting by itself, and even getting aluminum heat spreaders on the RAM has not helped at all. WHAT DO I DO?

[ireland-1]

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,7309-order,4-c,systemresourcestuneup/description.html did you try this software it gives you an advance warning of overheating, if it keeps overheating you need a new heatsink also AMD Processor, or so I have been told anyway are notorious for overheating

[Karnac]

Your problem might be the power supply.....look at the +5V..... number on the last screenshot....why is that number 0 ?.......or maybe it's OK since the other number says the 5V is OK.

[Spoiler]

Do you have a copy of the mother board's manual?

Motherboard: Asus K8LM-AE (hp slimline, not listed in Asus website)


What RAM speed does it need?

[ireland-1]

Your problem might be the power supply.....look at the +5V..... number on the last screenshot....why is that number 0 ?.......or maybe it's OK since the other number says the 5V is OK.

Thanks to you I spotted that Vcc was 3.14 however Vcc is usually supposed to be 5V for things to work.

[Renderer]

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c00647131
This is the only thing related to the specifications of the motherboard that I could find.

As for the SpeedFan measurements, do not take them at face value. Obviously, it is not detecting my motherboard correctly, and so it lists the CPU temp. as the "Core" temperature. I know this because the CPU temperature that is listed in BIOS fluctuates around 55~60.

I have also noticed that I start having video problems when the "Remote"--I believe that is the RAM--nears 80. The computer also reboots when I reach that temp. It idles at ~73-76 ºC.

So there you go. I still think it is the memory, but I'd like to reduce my cpu temperature as well. I know air can do the job, but it's just not getting enough airflow as the fan only runs at its slowest speed. I know it can run faster--i've seen it make a lot of noise and wind before--but it just won't. And the Award BIOS update failed. I still am stuck with the HP proprietary AwardBIOS.

The motherboard needs PC3200 memory, which it is using.


What is the vcc?
Here is an updated image:

[westom]

I have problems with the computer shutting itself down, for reasons related to heat, ...

  See facts in another post called "Long-Term overheating" to grasp what you have.  An ideal operating temperature for memory is to be heated with a hair dryer on highest temperature.  But 100% defective hardware causes failure when warm; later gets worse at cooler temperatures.

 Heat is a diagnostic tool to find the defect.  Is it your memory or something between that memory and CPU?  Memory diagnostics combined with heat can help identify that defect.  Details in that other post.

[Renderer]

I read the post titled "Long-Term overheating". Are you telling me to sell and get rid of this computer? I'd like to... It's been nothing but a waste of money, time, and patience. Hundreds in HP total care, 100 in a new TB HDD, 35 in new memory and heatsinks, 20 in sata connectors, and really... I don't see the end of this. The question is... who'd want to buy this?

Also, what are the chances that the NEW RAM is defective? It's behaving the same way as the old ram.

[Karnac]

Reapply thermal paste , see what happens ........and then swap in a known good power supply.

[westom]

Provided was how to get answers.   Provided was the best information anyone could have provided with facts provided.  For better answers, then do those diagnostics.  Your reply is only as useful as the facts you have provided.

   Is the new memory defective?  Nobody can say until after you execute diagnostics without and then with memory heated to temperatures that are uncomfortable to touch but that are topical idea to that memory.  Its an HP. What does its comprehensive hardware diagnostic report?

[Renderer]

westom, I didn't understand what you were saying before, but now i kind of do.  You're telling me to run MemTest with a heater on the RAM to keep it warm, and check for any memory failures, right?
I'll go look for the MemTest bootCD, but I don't think using a blow dryer will be necessary. The memory's always hot, even when computer's idle.

[ireland-1]

well then the Chip is not connected up properly, ring up HP, they will put you onto their technician because they have recieved same error, and tell them that the RAM is hot even when system is idle, when an integrated Circuit Chip (IC) is hot all the time that means it is not connected to Vcc and Gnd correctly.

[Quantos]

Thanks to you I spotted that Vcc was 3.14 however Vcc is usually supposed to be 5V for things to work.

From the FAQ for SpeedFan

Hardware sensor chips are generic devices that can be used to measure voltages from anywhere. The measured voltage must be converted to the range required by the sensor chip. Standard monitoring chips specify which external circuitry must be used in order to measure voltages outside some range. Voltages like 12V, -5V, -12V and some others need this external circuitry. Some manufacturers chose not to follow datasheets. If this is your case, then you will read unusual values from SpeedFan. Since this custom circuitry is not known, SpeedFan does not try to "guess" it as any reading wouldn't be safe. If you get really odd voltage readings, simply enter configuration and uncheck the relevant ones.

[ireland-1]

From the FAQ for SpeedFan

What do you mean?

[Quantos]

That's an explanation for odd value voltage readings.