stability problems when burning or re-encoding video

[waynezo]

about 15 or 20 minutes into working with video files i get error or spontaneous reboot with error message ,something about minidump. is there a common fixe for this or a guide to getting my machine to run more stable. I tried reinstalling xp home.
any advice will be appreciated.

[jggimi]

Heat is a major byproduct of video encoding. Many systems that are otherwise stable can have trouble with these types of applications.

Indications of hardware trouble of this sort will usually be failures at different points, rather than a failure at the same point each time.

There are hardware stress tests (such as Prime95) and also various motherboard monitoring tools that you can install. I recommend installing and using MB temperature monitoring software, even if stress tests don't indicate anything.

If you're having heat related problems, either add additional fans, or remove the cover, to improve air flow.

In addition, if you are overclocking your processor ... reset it to the manufacturer's rated speed; your problem may disappear. The manufacturer (in this case, AMD) rates processors for lower speeds than they might be capable of being clocked, but they do that because the processor has failed test(s) at higher speeds.

Doom9's hardware forum is the place to look for conversation about stress tests and motherboard monitors. Good luck!

[waynezo]

I am getting temps in the 60's sometimes during encoding. maybe that is the problem. Would disabling my second monitor help?

[jggimi]

I would doubt it, since the heat is produced by your CPU.

[waynezo]

are temps in the 60's enoughto cause BSOD and errors? I think possibly my stock heatsink is not on right?

[killingspree]

@waynezo: this is an international board so we would greatly appreciate it if you added denominations to your numbers. in this case Celsius or Fahrenheit, where personally I assume you are talking about the latter. if you are talking fahrenheit, you shouldn't really have any problems...

heat can ultimately cause BSODs and such as parts of the hardware might malfunction!

hth
steVe

[waynezo]

temps are in celsius and most of the time stay in the 50's Celcius but can jump into the 60's celsius per MBM5. IS 60 celsius too hot for stability?

[Kedirekin]

I don't know how much faith I put in this. Found it with a quick google.

Maximum CPU temperatures (http://www.heatsink-guide.com/maxtemp.htm)

Personally I think 60°C is plenty hot. I used to get upset when my PIII was running at 105°F (41°C), but then AMD tends to run hotter (and I think tolerate heat better) then Intel.

[Zhnujm]

My XP2000 goes up to 80°C during encoding without stability problems, i only use a low-noise fan.
Dont think 60°C would be a problem.
As jggimi already said i also would test the stability with Prime95. If this runs you can be somewhat sure that the hardware is not the problem.

[waynezo]

I ran prime 95 torture test and get the error illegal sumout. I think this means i have a software/driver problem.
I did accidentally leave norton antivirus on while uninstaling my realtek audio drivers could that have caused my os or drivers to get corrupted if so would that require a reinstalation of windows?

[manono]

A week ago, in this thread:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61488

I suggested running Prime95. I guess you didn't think it worthwhile then. Now you've run it and come up with errors. That's the reason for your crashes. I'm with jggimi in thinking that heat buildup may be the problem, and with Kedirekin in thinkng that 60 degrees Celcius is too hot. Here's another suggestion. Take the case cover off. Put a room fan pointing at the CPU and turn it on. Now do some encoding. If you don't get errors or reboots, then I think you've discovered the problem.

[Zhnujm]

Memory Timigs are also important. You can try to set everything to the safest values.

[jggimi]

I have some Athlon Thunderbird CPUs. They're not the same, of course, but I seem to remember a maximum of 70C, either from AMD's specs, or elsewhere.

I also seem to recall that the thermisters underneath the CPU will run up to 10C cooler than the actual temperature of the CPU.

If these still hold true, I would bet on heat being the problem.

[Zhnujm]

The Athlon XP has "that thing that measures the heat" (<- how is this called ? :)) inside the chip and newer MBs support that.
So the temperature is generally higher than with older Athlons/Motherboards.

[waynezo]

I went into the bios to set failsafe mode then machine wouldn't boot until i reset the raid function in the process i reset to previous settings and optimized settings in bios. at this point i don't know which settings the bios is at. is there a way to pull up a report on those settings.
my machine is running stable now and i have burned and reencoded 3or4 dvd's without errors or crashes. could it be reseting the bios solved my problem and how can i find out what my bios is set at?

[JTDROB31]

To:Waynezo.

Check your ''Heatsink.'' When there is not enough it will cause your system to crash when it get's to HOT.AMD chips have what they call ''Anit-Burn'' built into them.

[waynezo]

ever since i reset the bios my rig has been running stable. must have been something wrong with the bios.