Re: Bad Motherboard? Upgrade?

From: Augasm (baconeggsandspam_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 10/13/05 

Date: 13 Oct 2005 05:46:51 -0700

Many thanks to everybody on this -- particularly the suggestion of
running prime95.
I downloaded both the Windows and the linux versions, and also
downloaded a motherboard monitor program recommended in the prime95
readme file (it just reports temperatures, fan speeds, and voltages).

I ran prime95 for a half hour, which is well below the minimum
recommended time, but should have been plenty of time to find problems
given my current instability. The CPU temperature went up steadily,
until it plateaued at 68C (maximum is 90C). There were no problems. I
also ran it on the linux side, and the first time had the system freeze
just as per my initial post five minutes into the process. I started it
again, running at about 95% of the CPU and 45% of the installed 512MB
RAM, and it ran for 90 minutes with no errors (and no coincidental
freezes), before I cancelled it. This helped me to be more comfortable
with the idea that the motherboard alone was to blame. I naively
decided what another poster confirmed, that windows and linux must
fundamentally use system resources very differently. This certainly
seems reasonable, the way windows make my machine sound like a coffee
grinder.

I also should have mentioned in the first place that I had upgraded my
power supply some months ago to 400W, so I had dismissed power
problems.

So rather than dumping more cash than necessary on all new 64 bit guts
just in case it wasn't the motherboard alone, I grabbed one of the last
few 32 bit motherboards at my preferred local shop to swap in
underneath my chip and RAM for just $89 AUD (ASUS A7V400-MX) + $10
Thermal Paste.

So far it's working a dream, and indeed, something I should have done
three years ago already. If only Redhat 8.+ and 9+ had been more
stable, I might have suspected my motherboard in the first place. I
love linux again!

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