Computer freezes occasionally during rendering

reeljim wrote on 12/17/2002, 10:17 AM
OK all you gurus out there...I'm a little frustrated. I have an Athlon XP 1700+(1.47), 256 DDR, 80GB 7200 HD, 32mb video. I tried to render a VV clip (aprox 22 min) last night to MPEG2 stream (thanks bcbarnes!) and the computer locked up about 90% into it. I defraged the hard drive and tried again with the same result. I get up this morning and try again and it renders just fine. My guess is the memory must be getting hot and failing (the computer had been running all day)...any suggestions? I'd like to fix whatever the problem might be, but don't want to throw a bunch of money out on hardware what-ifs if I don't have to.

Comments

reeljim wrote on 12/17/2002, 10:58 AM
Thanks, but I already have the side of the case off.
AlexB wrote on 12/17/2002, 11:10 AM
Then take a large fan and point it at your open pc. If cooling is a problem this will help a bit. You should also have a look at your power supply, maybe it is too weak to supply sufficient power for your CPU at 100% for a long time. I had a similar problem with a P4 and a power supply without extra 12V connector.
Alex
shogo wrote on 12/17/2002, 4:56 PM
I had the same problem with my XP2000 had to open the case like you did to finnish long renders. Don't like doing it though cause I have three young ones with prying hands.... I am loking into water cooling next I have a Volcano 7 cooler but it can't keep up with my CPU and it is way to loud. When it gets to about 57 C or 135 F for long it locks up. You might download a system monitor and see roughly how warm it is getting durring renders. I use the APOGEE overclock program and it shows me how hot it is.
BillyBoy wrote on 12/17/2002, 5:06 PM
If it is a over heating problem, taking the case cover off isn't that hot an idea. :-)

Especially for AMD systems AIR CURRENT is important. Taking the the cover off may lower the insider temp... but does little if anything for cooling down the main source of heat, the CPU. Temps can actually be lower with the case cover on if you get proper air flow.

Consider a variable speed heat sink fan that speeds up when it senses the temp getting too high. Also a fan to suck in cool air from the front and/or the side of the case then direct it at the CPU can help a lot. Cool air in, hot air out. Don't forget to reverse the fan direction for the front or side

Presently my "main" system as a AMD 1900 XP, 512MB RAM, and hard drives. It has two case fans to suck hot air out and two to bring cool air in. One in the front and one in the side. Check out the Antec line of oversized cases. I got a full tower.

Even during overnight renders my temps rarely get over 104F for the CPU and no more than the mid 90 range for inside the case.

Common problem is blocked air flow. You should take a few minutes to arrage the jungle of cables to keep them away from the fans and whatever you're trying to keep cool. Use cable ties. Even twist-ems from. Also the newer round IDE cables block less air.
craftech wrote on 12/17/2002, 8:37 PM
What is the brand name and model of the power supply inside the case?
Nat wrote on 12/17/2002, 9:50 PM
That's sad, I just rendered a 1h30 project on a 850 machine without a problem with a 20 $ power supply.
BillyBoy wrote on 12/17/2002, 10:27 PM
Sure right, but how LONG did it take?
Stiffler wrote on 12/18/2002, 2:29 AM
Now, I'm a little concerned (paranoid)...My XP 2100 is running at 138 F with only IE running. Too hot? I've got 2 case fans (in and out).

Anyone know what is too hot for an AMD?
AlexB wrote on 12/18/2002, 5:09 AM
You find specs in:
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/23794.pdf
Maximum die temperature for 2100 is 90°C = 194°F. Check for approved Fans and heat sinks at
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_869_4348^4356,00.html
Alex
JJKizak wrote on 12/18/2002, 8:21 AM
My electronic experience with solid state devices running at a temperature
of 90c has proved disasterous and 140f is not to my liking either.


James J. Kizak
craftech wrote on 12/18/2002, 9:49 AM
Onboard temperature sensors, particularly those which use a probe below the CPU are often inaccurate. Correction values are factored in the bios when it reports the temp. You should allow a margin of safety in either case. For the Athlon XP which has a max of 90C, I would try to keep it below 75C as reported by the bios. AMD CPU's lock up when overheated as opposed to P4 which runs at reduced speed when overheated.
In system tests which I have done, the easiest way to reduce the temperature temporarily is to take the cover off. Unlike an earlier post, I don't know of any system which will run cooler with the cover on. Disconnect all fans except the CPU fan and run it with the cover off. If the lock ups are eliminated, I would change the power supply. Is it AMD approved?

There are a lot of really bad power supplies on the market. Most of them have false power ratings on them. The continous power rating is often undisclosed. If you buy one at a computer show, a rule of thumb would be to go by the weight of the power supply rather than the power rating. The heavier the power supply, usually the better it is built.
Toms Hardware recently compared them and drew similar conclusions:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/index.html


Tyler.Durden wrote on 12/18/2002, 9:58 AM
Hi All,

You might keep in mind that many cases are designed to draft airflow past the drives and other components as it enters the case.

While removing the cover may reduce the average enclosure temperature and perhaps thus CPU temps, drive temperatures may rise dramatically and other component temps too, depending on their proximity to each other and airspace.

That said, open cases *can* be cooled using household fans... sometimes this can be quieter than additional case fans. :)


HTH, MPH