ABIT IS7 Random beeps

[Bradan]

Abit IS7 mobo
Intel P4 northwood 3.0ghz @ 3.2ghz
512 mb (400mhz, apacer) 512mb (166mhz, comstar)
radeon 9200 (250mhz@280 LOL, had to say it)
300 watt psu
1X CD R/WR
1X FLOPPY
80 GIG HDD

hi, im getting like 70 fps avg on cs:s and i will get a random fps drop down to about 15fps with my mobo making a single beep at the same time.

sys temp - 40c
cpu temp - 48

this did not happen on my old mobo, its brand new yesterday.
max temps are at 70c for cpu and 60 for sys temp

I dont know if my psu is not keeping up, anyone know the prob?

thanks

 

[PC eye]

The three main things to look at there are:
1) the low output supply at 300w where intense graphics seen in the newer games will pull on the card, cpu, and memory
2) mixed speeds and possible mismatch on the installed memory or conflicts unseen
3) the P4s are known for running warm to begin with 48C norm for a stock HSF when gaming

The average recommendation seen for older atx model boards is 350w with at least 450w+ for any planning SLI or ATI's Crossfire. A gaming build would see 500-600w with OCing added.

Describe the beeps as heard. 1 long 2 short or ???

 

[Bradan]

I just got the abit guru program so I noticed when I get these random beeps (one single 1/2 second beep. thats it), the voltages on:

cpu 1.47v (1.5v)
DDRV 2.57 (1.62v)
3.27v (3.3v)

* Load Temp (Idle Voltages) *

The cpu also goes from idle 37c to load 45-55c, I think it is the psu but maybe a memory problem that you were talking about, seeing as i got the new mobo 3 days ago.

The memory could have been put in wrong, new board has Dual channel, unlike my old mobo. I have one 512mb (200mhz) stick in the first slot of one channel and the other stick is 512mb (166mhz) in the first slot of the other, is that correct?

Also, when I oc, 3ghz @ 3.2ghz it may put strain on the ram bc they are running at 171+mhz if that means anything.

Stock clock gets me less beaps in a session of cs, its prolly sucking up volts or the mem is too slow.

 

[PC eye]

If the faster memory is not backclocking from 200mhz which in DDR is 400mhz down to the 166mhz seen in the bios but 333mhz in double data rate terms the audio tones would be from the mismatch there. You installed the faster dimm in the first slot which is correct. The problem may with the faster memory not being backward compatible to match the other's speed.

The cpu temp rising from the 37C idle upto as high as 55C hopefully is being seen with a stock heat sink/fan combination when you load a large program. Plus you are OCing which will see higher temps right away. You need two things there to correct this if you plan to continue to OC there. When going to crank things up you still want to keep temps down on everything. Besides the use of larger aftermarket cpu coolers and additional and even larger case fans are added in to get more air moving around inside the case.

The specifications on that model board seen at http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/techspec.php?categories=1&model=79 show that it supports DDR400 PC3200 memory. The problem you are running into with the audio alerts is the mismatch with the DDR400 not backclocking and you don't have the memory for OCing installed?

 

[Bradan]

ok I played counterstrike, this time with only the ddr400 stick, still get the random beeps, I think it may be the psu.. when im talking random beeps its like

beep
(5 mins)
beep
(3 mins)
beep
(2 mins)
beep
(1 minute)

then once every minute

ya i think its the psu for sure, i went on abit eq while i played for 2 hours trying to get the beeping 1 min apart, looked at voltages and my cpu which is supposed to be 1.525v is 1.47v aswell as 3.3v rail to 3.26v ill buy a new psu and get back to you. thanks for your help!

 

[Bradan]

turned error logging on for abit EQ which I thought was on, but it wasnt..... anyways every beep means a voltage drop, im getting a 500 watt psu.. thnx

 

[PC eye]

Pick out a good name supply like Antec. Silverstone. OCZ, ThermalTake, or something on this idea. For a look at some Antec models that will go right into your case there, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...16&Submit=ENE&Manufactory=1516&SubCategory=58

The TP II 480w is a good model to have when going to build a newer case sometime if you don't want the larger TP II 550w model. Curremtly I am running the 480w here with the 550 waiting to go in if I decide to boost this system up or go with a new build in 2007. I suspected right off that the 300w was the main problem there. The 300w psus were never intended to meet the demands you will see placed on a system at this time.