system failed cpu check

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 8:19 pm

ok guys i have sought out tech support and searched endless usergroups but i cant seem to find a solution to my problem which is this
when i am playing games that require direct x 8 or higher i get a 'system failed cpu check' message in a loop from the audible warning on my N-Force2 mobo
before anyone suggests i have, tried on every single windows os (excluding nt and xp home), as well as trying every single possible audio, video, mobo drivers from their respective creations.
i am running the newest bios for the board.
this problem seems to come and go for example throughout november it wasnt a problem but then in dec. it has been happening constintly and its really freaking annoying.
i have tried resetting bios defaults, underclocking (all the way to 100X 11), overclocking (170 X11), as well as the different voltage settings for the processor. at current i am running it at 100X 11 and after initial tests the problem has not reoccured but i still should be able to run the proc. at stock without problems
asus tech support was no help they said get a new power supply and get the newest Nvidia drivers (grr!!!)

Systems specs
A7N8x-dl
1 gig pc 2700
Athlon 2500+ (barton)
GeForce 4 TI 4600
Seagate 120 gig ata 100 hd
450 watt power supply
Pioneer DVD player
Mitsumi 16X burner
DirectX 9.0b End-User Runtime
Onboard Sound
Disabled 3Com Network Port
Using NVidia network

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 8:34 pm

side note... further testing at 100X11 concluded that it did not get rid of the msg... it just lessend the frequency

[Fallen]Thanatos · Post by **[Fallen]Thanatos** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:56 pm

check your cpu fan or heatsink, it might be lose,or fan not working properly, you may be overheating your chip.

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:22 pm

done that as well, plus if its the fan it should be sounding off any time i do anything stressful for the computer.
for example video encoding that i do
i also ran Super PI for 45 minutes calaculating 32 million digits of pi at 99% cpu usage and not a peep
thats what is confusing... i think it has something to do with direct x but i have no way to confirm that
reason why i think that is because any game running dx 8 or lower has no problems anything 8.1 and above sounds off like a bat outta hell

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 1:13 am

Run prime95's torture test while looping 3dmark2001 for 24 hours.

Stress-test it first and then you can better pin-point the problem.

Other than that, just start with the bare minimum parts and keep working your way up until it borks itself. That piece is then the problem.

[Fallen]Thumperup · Post by **[Fallen]Thumperup** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 8:47 am

What about AMD drivers for your processor ????

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 2:14 pm

didnt know that there were newer drivers for processors then what comes with them...
and as for your comment raven i am running bare bones as it is... with the exception of the ram.. i suppose i can turn of the sound and network stuff but its on board... aside from thati have a video card and a hard drive that can actually be removed... i will start pulling my computer apart next week after mid terms if it comes down to that...i will try running it through the bench marking stress tester like you said

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 5:29 pm

Prime will stress the cpu and RAM. If there's a problem with them (or the communication between them such as the mobo), it will give you an error. 3dmark will stress your vid card (the last test is directx 8 so it will help you find out if it is actually directx 8 ). The 2 together stress the entire system so if it's gonna blow, it should.

Memtest is also recommended as long as you don't have an A64 system (which you don't so you're fine).

If there's an option in your bios to let the cpu uniquely identify itself, I'd also turn that off (basically, just try and shut off everything you don't need in the bios such as raid, network, audio, usb, etc.). Then just re-enable until it borks.

My friend's onboard LAN got fried along with his onboard video. Everything else works fine but those 2 things. Maybe one of your onboard components is the culprit.

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 5:59 pm

thanx i will give it a try when i can, right now i have to much stuff to do to worry about it...
i had written asus about it over christmas break and just got a response from them on friday so thats what spawned the answer seeking