So, we can pretty much rule out a problem with the cpu and memory.
The variables in the problem are poorly specified. We do not know exactly what hardware you are using and have used to test with and in what combinations.
What power supply? What amprage on each rail (3.3v, 5v, 12v)? What ATX version? What motherboard? What PCB revision? What chipset revision? What BIOS version? What memory? What hard drive? What chipset is on the PCB? What addin cards? etc.
What OS? What version? What patch level/service pack? What drivers? Their versions?
Other possible issues: Maxtor SATA hard drives had problems with nforce3 and nforce4 chipsets. You did not attach the molex power connector on motherboard for your video card, and your video card requires it. If you are using an nforce chipset, NVidia storage drivers may still be buggy. Do not install them. Your motherboard may have bad capacitors.
If we can totally rule out power supplies and cpu temperature issues, I'd say it is a driver/hardware bug. Get the latest motherboard drivers direct from the chipset manufacturer, get the latest video drivers from the chipset manufacturer, and install the latest processor driver from AMD.
If you've got a Nvidia based motherboard, go directly to nvidia. If you've got a Via based motherboard, throw it away =). Same with Nvidia or ATI based video cards. Few people seem to know about the AMD windows processor driver.
You can run cpuz to see what revision chipset the motherboard has to check for known bugs in it.
You can run FreeBSD or like to get real output for recuring hardware issues that windows ignores/hides. If it boots without errors, put it in a repeat cycle of buildworlds.
At this point I'd need to get my hands on the hardware itself.
I have two Antec Smart Power 400 power supplies, dead after less than three months of use. Both protected by APC UPS's while in use. So, yes, I currently place Antec in the 'crap' power supply category.
You did not mention specifically what power supplies you used. Again, THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROGLEM I HAVE SEEN. You need to make sure that the power supply you use is rated at minium for the ATX v2.2 standard. You need to make sure that it provides enough wattage on each rail. This means at least 35w+ on the 3.3v, 35w+ on the 5v, and 18w+ on each 12v. You may need even more depending, e.g. lots of hard drives or SLI video cards.
Crap power supplies typically result in * machine not powering on -- even if lights indicate power available * machine sometimes powering on, only powering on speradically * machine turning off almost immediatly after being turned on * machine turning off spontaneously -- could also be an indication of other faulty system components. * machine locking up -- also a good indication whether someone is using a UPS and/or has their refrigerator on the same circuit.
These issues typically indicate that the power supply cannot or can nolonger supply correct and necessary power to the system. The fail safe circuitry in many power supplies are typically responsible for the first four of these behaviours. This could be because of a faulty power supply not producing enough power, Really crappy power supplies are typically responsible for the last. i.e. they may end up frying your system.
You did not mention whether you are using a UPS. Some issues apply to it. Either a faulty UPS, or a faulty eletric utility grid.
You did not mention what motherboards you used, or whether they're DDR or DDR2 or 939 or AM2. The earlier 939 motherboard did not have BIOS which supported multicore chips. You did try flashing the motherboard to the latest BIOS, correct?
Also, early revions of BIOS in the AM2 motherboards had problems correctly detecting and configuring for the memory's SPD. You did try flashing the motherboard to the latest BIOS, correct?
You did not say anything about checking the voltage on the memory. If you are using DDR2, you did insure that the memory is set to 2.0v minimum, correct?
You did not say anything about the temperature of the processor. An AthlonX2 (both 89w and 65w versions) should give around 30*C CPU @ 15*C ambient temperature or 40*C @ 20*C ambient temperature when idle. You did install the monitoring software from the motherboard vendor, correct? Temperature probes are not always accurate, but they give a reasonable indicator of proper heat sink installation and system air flow.
I hear the same problems from people who assemble either an AMD or Intel based system. Either way, I suggest that since you do not know how to diagnose and repair such problems, you save yourself the trouble and purchase a premade system from someone who does.
Regardless, your problem is either:
Hardware: * Crap power supplies - biggest problem I've personally seen lately. * Crap memory - have not seem much of this lately. * Under voltage memory - biggest problem I've seen complaints about DDR2. Lots of DDR2 memory is sold to auto configure voltage for an Intel system, but require 0.1 to 0.2 more volts for an AMD system. If your memory is less than 2.0 or 2.1 volts, go into the BIOS and set it to 2.0 volts. If that does not work, set it to 2.1 volts. * Overheating - which is actually from improper assembly by "dumbass user" of heatsink and thermal grease on CPU. * First revisions of hardware with known bugs -- requires proper drivers to be installed, which also comes down to "dumbass user" for purchasing the hardware in the first place and not being able to find the latest drivers.
Dumbass/Incompetent User: * Install ALL necessary and latest drivers - motherboard, video, etc. * Improper assembly * Static shock to components * Overclocking
Good luck. I'll buy your stuff for $100 if you cannot get it to work =).
That's why I always use http://www.gandi.net/. They're both high quality and low cost. You can't beat 12 euro a year (about $15 USD) for the service they offer.
It's a pity that Microsoft don't produce a bootable image with a version of MSDOS containing a basic NTFS filesystem driver and some automated tools to do all of the above. It's technically possible.
Get your installation media. Boot it. Hit F5 to enter repair mode. You're now at a command prompt with full access to your NTFS and FAT filesystems.
It is not that Microsoft does not provide the tools, it is that people like you are too ignorant and incompetent to learn about them. Though, I give some of you slack for how incompetent Microsoft is about providing the information in a usefull and informative format.
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So, we can pretty much rule out a problem with the cpu and memory.
The variables in the problem are poorly specified. We do not know exactly what hardware you are using and have used to test with and in what combinations.
What power supply? What amprage on each rail (3.3v, 5v, 12v)? What ATX version?
What motherboard? What PCB revision? What chipset revision? What BIOS version?
What memory?
What hard drive? What chipset is on the PCB?
What addin cards?
etc.
What OS? What version? What patch level/service pack?
What drivers? Their versions?
Other possible issues:
Maxtor SATA hard drives had problems with nforce3 and nforce4 chipsets.
You did not attach the molex power connector on motherboard for your video card, and your video card requires it.
If you are using an nforce chipset, NVidia storage drivers may still be buggy. Do not install them.
Your motherboard may have bad capacitors.
BTW, use Orthos instead of prime95 for dual core stress testing:
http://sp2004.fre3.com/
http://sp2004.fre3.com/beta/beta2.htm
Like I said, I'd pretty much need to get my hands on the hardware itself to diagnose the problem at this point. Anyway, good luck and happy holidays.
If we can totally rule out power supplies and cpu temperature issues, I'd say it is a driver/hardware bug. Get the latest motherboard drivers direct from the chipset manufacturer, get the latest video drivers from the chipset manufacturer, and install the latest processor driver from AMD.
If you've got a Nvidia based motherboard, go directly to nvidia. If you've got a Via based motherboard, throw it away =). Same with Nvidia or ATI based video cards. Few people seem to know about the AMD windows processor driver.
You can run cpuz to see what revision chipset the motherboard has to check for known bugs in it.
You can run FreeBSD or like to get real output for recuring hardware issues that windows ignores/hides. If it boots without errors, put it in a repeat cycle of buildworlds.
At this point I'd need to get my hands on the hardware itself.
I have two Antec Smart Power 400 power supplies, dead after less than three months of use. Both protected by APC UPS's while in use. So, yes, I currently place Antec in the 'crap' power supply category.
You did not mention specifically what power supplies you used. Again, THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROGLEM I HAVE SEEN. You need to make sure that the power supply you use is rated at minium for the ATX v2.2 standard. You need to make sure that it provides enough wattage on each rail. This means at least 35w+ on the 3.3v, 35w+ on the 5v, and 18w+ on each 12v. You may need even more depending, e.g. lots of hard drives or SLI video cards.
Crap power supplies typically result in
* machine not powering on -- even if lights indicate power available
* machine sometimes powering on, only powering on speradically
* machine turning off almost immediatly after being turned on
* machine turning off spontaneously -- could also be an indication of other faulty system components.
* machine locking up -- also a good indication whether someone is using a UPS and/or has their refrigerator on the same circuit.
These issues typically indicate that the power supply cannot or can nolonger supply correct and necessary power to the system. The fail safe circuitry in many power supplies are typically responsible for the first four of these behaviours. This could be because of a faulty power supply not producing enough power, Really crappy power supplies are typically responsible for the last. i.e. they may end up frying your system.
You did not mention whether you are using a UPS. Some issues apply to it. Either a faulty UPS, or a faulty eletric utility grid.
You did not mention what motherboards you used, or whether they're DDR or DDR2 or 939 or AM2. The earlier 939 motherboard did not have BIOS which supported multicore chips. You did try flashing the motherboard to the latest BIOS, correct?
Also, early revions of BIOS in the AM2 motherboards had problems correctly detecting and configuring for the memory's SPD. You did try flashing the motherboard to the latest BIOS, correct?
You did not say anything about checking the voltage on the memory. If you are using DDR2, you did insure that the memory is set to 2.0v minimum, correct?
You did not say anything about the temperature of the processor. An AthlonX2 (both 89w and 65w versions) should give around 30*C CPU @ 15*C ambient temperature or 40*C @ 20*C ambient temperature when idle. You did install the monitoring software from the motherboard vendor, correct? Temperature probes are not always accurate, but they give a reasonable indicator of proper heat sink installation and system air flow.
Good luck.
I hear the same problems from people who assemble either an AMD or Intel based system. Either way, I suggest that since you do not know how to diagnose and repair such problems, you save yourself the trouble and purchase a premade system from someone who does.
Regardless, your problem is either:
Hardware:
* Crap power supplies - biggest problem I've personally seen lately.
* Crap memory - have not seem much of this lately.
* Under voltage memory - biggest problem I've seen complaints about DDR2. Lots of DDR2 memory is sold to auto configure voltage for an Intel system, but require 0.1 to 0.2 more volts for an AMD system. If your memory is less than 2.0 or 2.1 volts, go into the BIOS and set it to 2.0 volts. If that does not work, set it to 2.1 volts.
* Overheating - which is actually from improper assembly by "dumbass user" of heatsink and thermal grease on CPU.
* First revisions of hardware with known bugs -- requires proper drivers to be installed, which also comes down to "dumbass user" for purchasing the hardware in the first place and not being able to find the latest drivers.
Dumbass/Incompetent User:
* Install ALL necessary and latest drivers - motherboard, video, etc.
* Improper assembly
* Static shock to components
* Overclocking
Good luck. I'll buy your stuff for $100 if you cannot get it to work =).
That's why I always use http://www.gandi.net/. They're both high quality and low cost. You can't beat 12 euro a year (about $15 USD) for the service they offer.
It's a pity that Microsoft don't produce a bootable image with a version of MSDOS containing a basic NTFS filesystem driver and some automated tools to do all of the above. It's technically possible.
Get your installation media. Boot it. Hit F5 to enter repair mode. You're now at a command prompt with full access to your NTFS and FAT filesystems.
It is not that Microsoft does not provide the tools, it is that people like you are too ignorant and incompetent to learn about them. Though, I give some of you slack for how incompetent Microsoft is about providing the information in a usefull and informative format.