I need to burn some DVDs on my WinXP PC, but before the transcoding is
completed my cpu is overheating and the system dies. I'm using
NeroVision Express software, which doesn't allow me to control the
effect on the cpu apparently.

Is there some tool which will permit me to pause the NeroVision process
before the cpu gets too hot? Or to s-l-o-w it down a bit?

What other alternatives do I have in the short term while I investigate
mega cooling hardware?

Matti

On Tue, 4 Apr 2006 23:51:14 +0100, "Matti Lamprhey"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I need to burn some DVDs on my WinXP PC, but before the transcoding is
>completed my cpu is overheating and the system dies. I'm using
>NeroVision Express software, which doesn't allow me to control the
>effect on the cpu apparently.
>
>Is there some tool which will permit me to pause the NeroVision process
>before the cpu gets too hot? Or to s-l-o-w it down a bit?

Try setting the priority on Neovision to low? You can also consider
enabling thermal throttling in BIOS.

Are you doing any overclocking? What kind of configuration are you
using exactly?
--
A Lost Angel, fallen from heaven
Lost in dreams, Lost in aspirations,
Lost to the world, Lost to myself

On Tue, 4 Apr 2006 23:51:14 +0100, "Matti Lamprhey"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I need to burn some DVDs on my WinXP PC, but before the transcoding is
>completed my cpu is overheating and the system dies. I'm using
>NeroVision Express software, which doesn't allow me to control the
>effect on the cpu apparently.

How do you know the system is dying because the CPU is too hot? Software
is not supposed to adapt its demands on the system to accomodate a stressed
CPU.

>Is there some tool which will permit me to pause the NeroVision process
>before the cpu gets too hot? Or to s-l-o-w it down a bit?

If that amount of CPU power is required to do the job, it's possible that
slowing it down will cause the job to fail.

--
Rgds, George Macdonald

"George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
> "Matti Lamprhey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >I need to burn some DVDs on my WinXP PC, but before the transcoding
> >is completed my cpu is overheating and the system dies. I'm using
> >NeroVision Express software, which doesn't allow me to control the
> >effect on the cpu apparently.
>
> How do you know the system is dying because the CPU is too hot?
> Software is not supposed to adapt its demands on the system to
> accomodate a stressed CPU.

Lengthy cpu-intensive tasks such as batch mp3 compressions always raise
the cpu temperature, which I monitor using Asus's PC Probe utility;
when this reaches a critical value my whole system freezes or reboots.
I replaced the cpu fan recently but it hasn't helped.

>
> >Is there some tool which will permit me to pause the NeroVision
> >process before the cpu gets too hot? Or to s-l-o-w it down a bit?
>
> If that amount of CPU power is required to do the job, it's possible
> that slowing it down will cause the job to fail.

?? Why should that be the case? There is no I/O with the DVD writer
happening at this stage of the proceedings. It's just doing two hours'
worth of number-crunching before it's ready to burn the result.

Matti

"The little lost angel" <a?n?g?e?(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
> "Matti Lamprhey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >I need to burn some DVDs on my WinXP PC, but before the transcoding
> >is completed my cpu is overheating and the system dies. I'm using
> >NeroVision Express software, which doesn't allow me to control the
> >effect on the cpu apparently.
> >
> >Is there some tool which will permit me to pause the NeroVision
> >process before the cpu gets too hot? Or to s-l-o-w it down a bit?
>
> Try setting the priority on Neovision to low?

I've experimented with all NeroVision's priority settings, including
Very Low, but to no avail -- it still gets nearly 100% of the cpu.
Perhaps I need to run other non-cp-intensive 'dummy' processes
simultaneously . . .

> You can also consider enabling thermal throttling in BIOS.
>
> Are you doing any overclocking? What kind of configuration are you
> using exactly?

I haven't spotted any BIOS options for heat control, and I'm not
overclocking. My motherboard is the A7V333 (Socket A, VIA KT333
chipset). Should I be considering underclocking?

Matti

On Wed, 5 Apr 2006 10:07:38 +0100, "Matti Lamprhey"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> You can also consider enabling thermal throttling in BIOS.
>>
>> Are you doing any overclocking? What kind of configuration are you
>> using exactly?
>
>I haven't spotted any BIOS options for heat control, and I'm not
>overclocking. My motherboard is the A7V333 (Socket A, VIA KT333
>chipset). Should I be considering underclocking?

Socket A unfortunately doesn't have that. While you are looking at a
better heatsink, try comparing the cost of a second hand Sempron with
a board or something. It might not cost that much more and will likely
cut the time you spend on the processing.

You could try underclocking and undervolting but it just doesn't sound
quite right for your system to be overheating if you're running stock.
Did you mount the heatsink correctly, try remounting it just in case.
What are your temperatures like?

--
A Lost Angel, fallen from heaven
Lost in dreams, Lost in aspirations,
Lost to the world, Lost to myself

"Matti Lamprhey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
> > "Matti Lamprhey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> > >I need to burn some DVDs on my WinXP PC, but before the transcoding
> > >is completed my cpu is overheating and the system dies. I'm using
> > >NeroVision Express software, which doesn't allow me to control the
> > >effect on the cpu apparently.
> >
> > How do you know the system is dying because the CPU is too hot?
> > Software is not supposed to adapt its demands on the system to
> > accomodate a stressed CPU.
>
> Lengthy cpu-intensive tasks such as batch mp3 compressions always raise
> the cpu temperature, which I monitor using Asus's PC Probe utility;
> when this reaches a critical value my whole system freezes or reboots.
> I replaced the cpu fan recently but it hasn't helped.


Turn it off, open the computer, and check out the heatsink/fan.
If it's dusty, get some compressed air and blow the damned
thing off the heatsink.

Is the fan speed monitored?

--
Steve Wolstenholme Neural Planner Software

EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
http://www.easynn.com

On Wed, 5 Apr 2006 10:07:38 +0100, "Matti Lamprhey"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> You can also consider enabling thermal throttling in BIOS.
>>
>> Are you doing any overclocking? What kind of configuration are you
>> using exactly?
>
>I haven't spotted any BIOS options for heat control, and I'm not
>overclocking. My motherboard is the A7V333 (Socket A, VIA KT333
>chipset). Should I be considering underclocking?

Honestly the only thing you should consider is to spend the $10-$15 to
get a proper heatsink for this system. You don't need any sort of
super-gigantic heatsink, damn near any heatsink being sold now will do
the trick. A quick look through www.newegg.com shows that heatsinks
good for all AthlonXP processors start at $7.49, and there's probably
a half-dozen of them that cost less than $15.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...62&Order=price

Any one of these heatsinks, if properly installed with thermal
compound properly applied as per the installation instructions, will
keep your processor plenty cool.

-------------
Tony Hill
hilla <underscore> 20 <at> yahoo <dot> ca

On Wed, 5 Apr 2006 10:06:59 +0100, "Matti Lamprhey"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
>> "Matti Lamprhey" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >I need to burn some DVDs on my WinXP PC, but before the transcoding
>> >is completed my cpu is overheating and the system dies. I'm using
>> >NeroVision Express software, which doesn't allow me to control the
>> >effect on the cpu apparently.
>>
>> How do you know the system is dying because the CPU is too hot?
>> Software is not supposed to adapt its demands on the system to
>> accomodate a stressed CPU.
>
>Lengthy cpu-intensive tasks such as batch mp3 compressions always raise
>the cpu temperature, which I monitor using Asus's PC Probe utility;
>when this reaches a critical value my whole system freezes or reboots.
>I replaced the cpu fan recently but it hasn't helped.

Why don't you tell us which CPU and what critical temperature you're
working with? In that generation of CPUs/mbrds there were problems with
reporting of CPU temps... mainly BIOS related, so: is the CPU really
getting that hot and do you have the BIOS & PC Probe updated to the latest
level for that mbrd.

I had a MSI K7 system which was reporting CPU temps in mid/high-60s under
load which dropped to mid/high 50s with a BIOS update. After that I had
reduced confidence in the temp reported and decided that the critical
temperature I used would be well above anything I was likely to see in
practice... IOW raise the "critical" temperature or turn off the
monitoring, since it's of dubious value anyway.

You should be sure, of course, before doing the above, to make sure that
your heatsink is properly mounted and of sufficient heat-draw capacity and
that your case ventilation is correct. Those were not the easiest
heatsinks to install - is the heatsink getting noticably warmer as the CPU
temp rises? As far as brand/type, I found the Speeze (now Masscool) or
Spire (different brand names of the same devices) Falconrock or WhisperRock
were good reliable, reasonably priced and quiet.

>>
>> >Is there some tool which will permit me to pause the NeroVision
>> >process before the cpu gets too hot? Or to s-l-o-w it down a bit?
>>
>> If that amount of CPU power is required to do the job, it's possible
>> that slowing it down will cause the job to fail.
>
>?? Why should that be the case? There is no I/O with the DVD writer
>happening at this stage of the proceedings. It's just doing two hours'
>worth of number-crunching before it's ready to burn the result.

Ah OK, it's not actually the burning but the encoding process which is the
problem.

--
Rgds, George Macdonald