[mcbrite]

I am not sure I understood: do you plan to build a new computer, motherboard and all?

I must admit that I have never seen a case in which voltage got so low and the source of the problem was other then the PSU. I still wonder what it is. Had it been with me I would have taken out the sound card and the hard disks, install an old disk, run memtest in DOS and install XP at it's barest, without activating, to see if the computer stabilize. But then it's me. I hate to replace parts unless I am double sure that they are defective. I am somewhat old fashioned, having fun fixing things and not replacing components.

Not at all, I'm just trying to get it back working.... Since my Enermax Case is like 7 years old and since the source of ALL the recent messups I've experienced is most likely heat in general, I think this is the most important thing right now... Where is the point in fixing stuff, if it will just break again...

I just put the burner in this laptop, so now I'll bake me a memtest boot-cd and burn a special xp-build-boot-dvd I've been meaning to try out anyway. Then grab me one of my loose ide-drives and try out what you suggested...

The Neverending Story continues! Stay tuned for part 37... ;-D

PS: Were you talking about the new pdu? I don't know what I'll do yet, either keep the Targan (the one we thought was broken but isn't) as a Backup and Testing unit (like I could have used yesterday... ) or just flog it on ebay...

Edited by mcbrite, 09 June 2008 - 10:38 AM.

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The box that you plan to buy comes without a power supply but has lots of fans and fan options. That, together with your other equipment will demand a considerable output from the power supply. Since you already bought the new one, keep it. I am sure you will not regret it.

[The Skeptic]

The box that you plan to buy comes without a power supply but has lots of fans and fan options. That, together with your other equipment will demand a considerable output from the power supply. Since you already bought the new one, keep it. I am sure you will not regret it.

[mcbrite]

The box that you plan to buy comes without a power supply but has lots of fans and fan options. That, together with your other equipment will demand a considerable output from the power supply. Since you already bought the new one, keep it. I am sure you will not regret it.

Ok, changed the mainboard... Of course I had to take of the CPU and it's heatsink and reattach it...

Now I get temperatures as high as 80C° during IDLE!!! Even with old heatpaste and maybe not the most perfect fit, that seems a bit high for idle, no

Of course I swiched it off by now. I don't know what else to do, this driving me INSANE. Also kind of putting a HUGE dent on my wallet...

[bleep] PCs...

[The Skeptic]

You must install the cpu perfectly in place! Take the power cable off. Remove the Heatsink from above the CPU and clean both surfaces, the top of the cpu and the bottom of the heatsink perfectly. Do this carfuly, avoid scratching the surfaces. Now you must apply fresh thermal paste to each surface. Apply a very thin layer to each surface and reinstall the heatsink. Make sure it sits square in place and then tighten the holders. Excessive paste will is not good. It will spill over and will decrease heat transfer between cpu and heatsink.

I can gurantee that the high temperature (which can easilly and quickly fry your cpu) is the result of incorrect installation. Using the old paste is a serious mistake. It's dried, flaky and you would be better off not using any paste on the cleaned surfaces then installing as you did.

[fawoodward]

Your initial post said the error was from reading the BIOS from the hard disk. Do you have another hard drive you can plug in and test?

[happyrock]

I too would have taken out the sound card ..SB drivers have caused strange problems for many people