Can't get full 200fsb despite low temps

[tomsega]

I was running a Shuttle XPC with an AthlonXP 3200+, a gig of Corsair 400ddr, and a GeForce 6800, which was fine for about a year. NOW however, after upgrading to a 6800gt, things are going wrong.

When I run at standard 200fsb speed, I get bluescreens when gaming. However, this isn't heat related - as my max CPU/Case temps are only about 51/48, and it STILL does this on a cold morning when they are only at 39/35... The 6800gt itself is also way below dangerous temperatures.

If I underclock to 198fsb everything is fine... But if heat isn't the issue, why should I have to underclock? Also, if I keep 200fsb but set the RAM at 83% (333) it's fine too. However, the RAM has always been stable at this speed and adjusting the latencies doesn't help. Memtest doesn't register any complaints either. Although, memory overheating seems the only possibility to me, but do any heatspreaders really work?

Anyone got any better ideas?

 

[Me__2001]

could be the memory, what voltage have you got going through it ?

 

[tomsega]

The memory is at 2.62v. IE, it's on auto. As far as I can tell with my Shuttle BIOS, it only offers CPU and AGP voltage options, not memory. Unless a program exists..

 

[Me__2001]

im pretty sure normal voltage is 2.5V so it may be getting a bit warm, i think i asked before in your other thread but it is definately a 400Mhz FSB CPU ?

Edit: did the 3200's even come in 333FSB versions ?

 

[tomsega]

The only thing that really seperates the 3000+ from a 3200 is the ability to run at 200fsb instead of 166, so yeah it should support the full 400mhz. It would be strange if the memory were crashing because of too MUCH power.. considering it doesn't seem heat related.

If only the Shuttle people weren't such BIOS babysitters I'd be able to play with the voltages and find out.

 

[ChristopherP]

Is the Shuttle PSU powerful enough to run all of this?!

Aren't they only like a couple hundred watts?

Maybe this could be your problem... most people run systems like that on 350w + PSU's...

 

[tomsega]

RIGHT! I FINALLY found a fantastic PSU wattage calculator at -
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/Power_Supply_Calculator.php?cmd=AMD

And i've calculated my components-

AthlonXP 3200+ - 77w
6800gt - 65w
1gb 400ddr - 30w
HDD - 20w
DVD Drive - 30w
Plus USB/Other - 32w

Total: 284watts! MY PSU: 240....
This HAS to be the problem, really. I've ordered a new 300w silentX PSU and some pretty DDR heat spreaders.

Thanks.

 

[ChristopherP]

Thought that would be it

 

[Me__2001]

that might explain a few things, hopefully it will sort it