I'm still around, but work and family life are getting in the way a bit I'll report back later....

 

Right....

Rebuilt whole thing from scratch. Now running the 2 sticks generic 256Mb PC2100 and seriously underclocked processor at 1.34GHz and its all stable EXCEPT when running the standard CPU or multimedia CPU benchmarks - then its big turn off time. FSB at 133 is highly unreliable/no good at all.

It just seems that when you stress the system in terms of CPU processing it goes unstable - but it's memory related, because the Crucial PC2700 got through the standard CPU benchmark, but not the multimedia benchmark.

So, beef up the memory??? Can't find any Corsair PC2700 in stock (I'm now in a hurry), but did find:

Corsair 512MB DDR XMS2700LL Low Latency Platinum CAS2 @ £91.80
or
Corsair 512MB DDR XMS2700 TwinX (2x256MB) Platinum CAS2 @ £101.35
at http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Corsair_65.html

Thoughts??
Martin

 

Mine is fine on the vanilla Corsair 2700DDR ( 2x256 ) so the twinx should be fine .

Don't really want to stick my neck out too far

Steve

 

Daz , did you ever get to slacken off the memory timings ?

.. been reading that people have had issues with Nforce2 boards reading the 'By SPD' timings in the LL modules. Manually setting them slack, then tweaking after appears to get round this.

Steve

 

1 stick of Corsiar's best XMS2700 CAS2 333Mhz 512Mb RAM....and it still can't run:
- Sandra CPU multimedia benchmark at 1.34GHz or 1.8Ghz
- Sandra CPU benchmark at 1.8Ghz (OK at 1.34GHz)
- load Office SR1A at 1.34GHz or 1.8Ghz
...without instantaneous power down

BIOS sets memory speed to 333MHz and CAS2 at startup.

The first may be a Sandra incompatibility, so I'm not so concerned, but I'm not willing to let the machine out with this instability hanging over it.

I want to give up, but it's also becoming a battle that I must win

Next plan is to try another CPU I have - XP1700+ that runs quite happily (all Sandra benchmarks as well) at 1.6Ghz in a ATX midi tower

..and then I'm going to home in on the power supply as not being able to supply enough power when the CPU starts doing real intensive work. Is that a feasible avenue to investigate???

Thoughts?
Martin

 

Memory settings - no, I'm using Optimal settings which default the CAS to 2 with the Corsair, 2.5 for everything else. Do you know what memory settings I should try?

Power supply - that was my intention, but I can't really believe that a passive FDD and a passive CD will be drawing much current anyway. I'll try it tonight though...

Martin

 

Try the one's on the previous page ... they are about as slack as it gets ... ( I have since enhanced them somewhat )


Steve

 

Changing memory settings - no difference

Disconnecting FDD and CDRW power supplies - no difference

Installing an XP1800+ running at 1.6Ghz - as stable as a very stable rock - Complete Sandra burn-in passed with flying colours

XP2400+ RMA'd to eBuyer for replacement. Hope this sorts it. If it still does it with the new one, the SN41G2 is going next door with the XP1800+

Martin

 

well at least you are getting some experience with these boxes



Steve

 

Well I certainly like the idea a lot - but maybe I wouldn't advise a newbie to build one just yet, based on my, DazV's and your experiences.

Incidentally, I had an expectation that it would be quieter than it is, but the 3 fans make a bit of a racket. The PSU seems teh main culprit

Do you know of any means of making Shuttles quieter?

Thanks for your help - I'll post what happens with the replaced CPU
Martin

 

I said I'd post...

...put the new RMA'd XP2400+ in at the weekend (it's been sat in its box for a couple of weeks!)...

...and it's running at 2.0Ghz and it's fine. All SANDRA tests passed with flying colours

A happy bunny...for now at least

Martin