At Wit's End: Barton 2500+ locks up; 1800+ works fine

[CHiZZoPs]

I got a DFI Lan Party NFII recently and put the system together: Raid 0, AMD Barton XP 2500+, nice new 450 watt power supply with plenty of amps in the 12 volt circuit; my hyperX dual channel ram and vid card are on the way...

since the beginning I had problems installing win xp, kepts hanging, crashing. I finally got it installed, but always crashing/ hanging--couldn't last 10 minutes.

Put in a cheap pci video card and bought a cheap stick of pcy 128 meg pc2100 ram to use while I wait for the hyperX. Both of those didn't help the prob. Finally, after swapping PS, Ram, vid card and trying ide vs raid, I put in my old AMD 1800+ XP. Worked fine, never locked up. I exchanged the Barton and put in the new one today and BAM! Same problem. Temp is fine. Bios up to date.

You guys think it's just the ram and once the good stuff comes my probs will be gone, or is there something bad happening here with the motherboard, or something else?

THANK YOU in advance.

[tgxiii]

From my experience, RAM is very problematic when it comes to installing Windows XP. I've used generic before, but never again. Lately I've only used Kingston and Corsair. Those brands have never let me down, even their value sticks. I think you're right in your hunch that it's the RAM. Wait for it to arrive and see if XP installs. Post any updates, and good luck.

[RamonGTP]

Well PC2100 is suppose to be run at 133mhz while the Barton runs at 166... That might be the problem.

[CHiZZoPs]

Welp my Kingston HyperX dual channel pc2700 just came in the mail today along with an nforce fx vid card. I popped em in, and, palms sweaty, put in the barton cpu, hoping my troubles would be over.

They weren't.

SAME DAMN THING!

Windows crashes/locks up during or shortly after boot up.

Strange thing is, I'm in safe mode with networking right now and hasn't crashed yet....

IT's not the mem (tried 3 different sticks/cfgs), vid card, cpu, raid....is it software or motherboard? Why does it freak out only with the barton 333 FSB when the XP 1800+ runs fine!?!?!?!


HEEEEEEELP!

[DPA]

well, it may have something to do with your bios...

or it may be as simple as giving the CPU another .025 volts or .05 volts.

Try putting in the 2500+ and use the bios to give it some juice. if this still doesn't fix your problem, then go to your manufacturers website and get the newest bios revision.

Good luck

[CHiZZoPs]

Have latest bios.

I'm thinking this is a semi-common problem with barton 2500+'s. I am going to gather all the prob posts I can find and send to nforce or something. Who should I send it to?

[wallie_x]

I'd go back to the basics. First plan a clean install with only a barebones system. Use one stick of known good RAM. Lower the FSB to synchronous 133/133. Make sure your CPU is in sufficient contact with the HSF (mounted properly). With the generic drivers for the CD-ROM from Win XP set-up program, I to have had problems with data transfer between the CD-ROM and the HD. If it went to fast <<Crash!!>>Disable the RAID. and use the IDE. Load chipset drivers first thing, and then re-boot, then the video drivers, re-boot etc If that works configure the bare bones sytem first before adding any other PCI card.
I'm not to familiar with RAID, but doesn't it have its own separate BIOS? If it does loading Windows through two BIOS's would be a mistake.

[AzKidd69]

Originally posted by wallie_x

I'm not to familiar with RAID, but doesn't it have its own separate BIOS? If it does loading Windows through two BIOS's would be a mistake.

oops. I guess my 3 bioses would be a bad thing...??

seriously tho willie_x is on the right track...

also might wanna check out docMem from www.simmtester.com and make sure that ram is ok.. takes a LONG while for the full test BUT it does an awesome job of testing memory for errors...

[Strawbs]

when you say the temps are "OK", exactly what temps are being reported? and what make mobo do u have (I've never heard of a "DFI" b4!)?

If it runs ok in safe mode, u should be looking at drivers too, not just hardware!

You haven't been O\C'ing that rig have you?

BTW: I have no issues with my 2500+.

[CHiZZoPs]

Just to give you guys an update:

I tried all your reccomendations. Tried win 98se as well, and XP on a primary ide with raid disabled. All lockups.

So I put my 1800+ cpu back in and will wait for this to get solved in a (hopefully) bios or driver update.

It's just wierd cuz others have no prob with the barton 2500+

CHiZZoPs

Dfi Lan Party NFII
AMD Barton 2500+ (Can't run)
AMD XP 1800+
Kingston HyperX Dual CHannel pc2700
2x80 gig (IBM/Seagate) Raid 0 on rd P and S
HP cdrw and dvd rom on IDE 2
Leadtek Winfast NF FX5200
Win XP Corp with Sp1 patch