Prime95 on Windows 2003

optim · 2003-11-01, 16:37

It is impossible to complete the initial self-test with Prime95 23.7 on my Windows 2003 server machine.

The machine is:
AMD Athlon XP 2600+ "T-bred B" FSB333 2083MHz, 256K L2 Cache
512MB DDR333 RAM (Kingston)
Epox mainboard with Nvidia chipset
GeForce4 MX440 graphics card
Windows Server 2003

The program is configured to connect thru a proxy server on my network. Communication with PrimeNet is performed without errors.

The program tried to run a 1-hour long self-test. After 10-20 seconds the machine stops responding and in the end I even cannot move the mouse.

After one day of experimenting, I understood that it was impossible to run Prime95 on this machine

I will perform some more experiments and I will post the results soon. I want to test version 22 on the same machine, and additionaly test version 23 on another machine with Win2003.

I suspect either an incompatibility with Win2003 or some hardware problem on my machine.

It is not a temperature problem because the CPU is running at 40-44 Celsius degrees with copper heatsink. The RAM memory also has copper cooling installed.

Anyone else with experience on Prime95 and Win2003?

What should I do?

Nebob · 2003-11-02, 01:33

23.5 running fine for several months on my win2003 enterprise box.

QuintLeo · 2003-11-02, 23:13

Most likely, you have a RAM or a MB problem - Prime is very memory-intensive, and has often been used as a CPU and memory system test program.

Might be a bad/marginal CPU, but I've seen that a LOT less often on non-overclocked Athlons.

E_tron · 2003-11-05, 03:14

Try upping the voltage to the CPU (vcore) by about .2-.5 of a volt. That should make your machine more stable(with a little more heat).
If that doesnt work then try upping the voltage on the memory as well by about .2 volts

QuintLeo · 2003-11-05, 22:52

Uh, no!

Do NOT try feeding a Thoroughbred 2.1+ volts (that is what upping it by .5 volt would do, from the base 1.6+ which varies by model) - that probably WILL fry the poor CPU, even if you have GOOD cooling.

Upping the CPU voltage by .05-.2 volts might help, but will add significant heat generation - NOT recommended if you're running AMD's stock HS/Fan from a boxed retail CPU set or similar. IF you're running GOOD cooling, Alpha 8045 or Swiftech 462 or any of the SLK 600/700/800/900 series or similar, the heat should not be a problem.

I'm still more inclined to suspect the MB or RAM as the problem, though, based on past personal experience AND most reported problems with Prime95 that have been cured by a hardware swap

I'm especially suspicious due to how quickly the machine in question fails - this is NOT an indication of a CPU voltage low problem at all....
.

optim · 2003-11-06, 08:07

I tested version 22 of Prime95 and caused the same problems. It was impossible to complete the torture test, after some seconds the machine freezed up, including the mouse, the keyboard and the clock display. I was even unable to Ping it via the network.

I was thinking about some compatibility problem between prime95 version 23 and windows2003 but now, after testing version 22, I am pretty sure that the problem is with my hardware.

I will replace the RAM and/or swap DIMM slots, before trying again.

thanks for your answers.

optim · 2003-11-10, 10:17

I swapped DIMM sockets and I tried another RAM DIMM module. It cannot work.

Then, I underclocked the CPU from 2088MHz to 2000MHz.

After the underclock, the machine was able to start the torture test on Prime95 version 23 and keep it going for 10 to 30 minutes. After that time the machine was freezed up (no mouse moving, no keyboard input etc).

Does this indicate a CPU problem or a Motherboard problem?

Should I return the CPU and/or the motherboard to the shop I bought them from two-three months ago for replacement? I would have already done that if the machine wasn't my network server here... I will have to backup and open another temporary server until I get the new CPU/motherboard...

How to understand whether the problem is with the CPU or the motherboard?

GP2 · 2003-11-10, 16:53

Have you tried running Memtest86?

Recently I wrecked a board through overclocking, and even at normal clock speed Prime95 (or mprime actually) would freeze shortly after starting torture test. When I ran Memtest86, that program would also beep and freeze in a repeatable way.

Putting the CPU and memory into a new board fixed the problem. Or, at least, Memtest86 ran fine after that... I'm waiting for double check results to come back.

QuintLeo · 2003-11-13, 00:20

An underclock depends - did you drop the multiplier, or the FSB?

If you dropped the multiplier, then you have an almost definite CPU or CPU cooling problem.

If you dropped the FSB, it is most likely a RAM or Motherboard problem, but *could* still possibly be a CPU problem.

optim · 2003-11-13, 04:59

only the multiplier

2003-11-01, 16:37	#1
optim Nov 2003 European Union 2³×13 Posts	Prime95 on Windows 2003 It is impossible to complete the initial self-test with Prime95 23.7 on my Windows 2003 server machine. The machine is: AMD Athlon XP 2600+ "T-bred B" FSB333 2083MHz, 256K L2 Cache 512MB DDR333 RAM (Kingston) Epox mainboard with Nvidia chipset GeForce4 MX440 graphics card Windows Server 2003 The program is configured to connect thru a proxy server on my network. Communication with PrimeNet is performed without errors. The program tried to run a 1-hour long self-test. After 10-20 seconds the machine stops responding and in the end I even cannot move the mouse. After one day of experimenting, I understood that it was impossible to run Prime95 on this machine I will perform some more experiments and I will post the results soon. I want to test version 22 on the same machine, and additionaly test version 23 on another machine with Win2003. I suspect either an incompatibility with Win2003 or some hardware problem on my machine. It is not a temperature problem because the CPU is running at 40-44 Celsius degrees with copper heatsink. The RAM memory also has copper cooling installed. Anyone else with experience on Prime95 and Win2003? What should I do? Last fiddled with by optim on 2003-11-01 at 16:40

2003-11-05, 03:14	#4
E_tron Sep 2002 Austin, TX 1000110001₂ Posts	Try upping the voltage to the CPU (vcore) by about .2-.5 of a volt. That should make your machine more stable(with a little more heat). If that doesnt work then try upping the voltage on the memory as well by about .2 volts Last fiddled with by E_tron on 2003-11-05 at 03:15

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2003-11-02, 01:33	#2
Nebob Sep 2002 11 Posts	23.5 running fine for several months on my win2003 enterprise box.

2003-11-02, 23:13	#3
QuintLeo Oct 2002 Lost in the hills of Iowa 111000000₂ Posts	Most likely, you have a RAM or a MB problem - Prime is very memory-intensive, and has often been used as a CPU and memory system test program. Might be a bad/marginal CPU, but I've seen that a LOT less often on non-overclocked Athlons.

2003-11-05, 22:52	#5
QuintLeo Oct 2002 Lost in the hills of Iowa 2⁶·7 Posts	Uh, no! Do NOT try feeding a Thoroughbred 2.1+ volts (that is what upping it by .5 volt would do, from the base 1.6+ which varies by model) - that probably WILL fry the poor CPU, even if you have GOOD cooling. Upping the CPU voltage by .05-.2 volts might help, but will add significant heat generation - NOT recommended if you're running AMD's stock HS/Fan from a boxed retail CPU set or similar. IF you're running GOOD cooling, Alpha 8045 or Swiftech 462 or any of the SLK 600/700/800/900 series or similar, the heat should not be a problem. I'm still more inclined to suspect the MB or RAM as the problem, though, based on past personal experience AND most reported problems with Prime95 that have been cured by a hardware swap I'm especially suspicious due to how quickly the machine in question fails - this is NOT an indication of a CPU voltage low problem at all.... .

2003-11-06, 08:07	#6
optim Nov 2003 European Union 104₁₀ Posts	I tested version 22 of Prime95 and caused the same problems. It was impossible to complete the torture test, after some seconds the machine freezed up, including the mouse, the keyboard and the clock display. I was even unable to Ping it via the network. I was thinking about some compatibility problem between prime95 version 23 and windows2003 but now, after testing version 22, I am pretty sure that the problem is with my hardware. I will replace the RAM and/or swap DIMM slots, before trying again. thanks for your answers.

2003-11-10, 10:17	#7
optim Nov 2003 European Union 2³×13 Posts	I swapped DIMM sockets and I tried another RAM DIMM module. It cannot work. Then, I underclocked the CPU from 2088MHz to 2000MHz. After the underclock, the machine was able to start the torture test on Prime95 version 23 and keep it going for 10 to 30 minutes. After that time the machine was freezed up (no mouse moving, no keyboard input etc). Does this indicate a CPU problem or a Motherboard problem? Should I return the CPU and/or the motherboard to the shop I bought them from two-three months ago for replacement? I would have already done that if the machine wasn't my network server here... I will have to backup and open another temporary server until I get the new CPU/motherboard... How to understand whether the problem is with the CPU or the motherboard?

2003-11-10, 16:53	#8
GP2 Sep 2003 5×11×47 Posts	Have you tried running Memtest86? Recently I wrecked a board through overclocking, and even at normal clock speed Prime95 (or mprime actually) would freeze shortly after starting torture test. When I ran Memtest86, that program would also beep and freeze in a repeatable way. Putting the CPU and memory into a new board fixed the problem. Or, at least, Memtest86 ran fine after that... I'm waiting for double check results to come back.

2003-11-13, 00:20	#9
QuintLeo Oct 2002 Lost in the hills of Iowa 700₈ Posts	An underclock depends - did you drop the multiplier, or the FSB? If you dropped the multiplier, then you have an almost definite CPU or CPU cooling problem. If you dropped the FSB, it is most likely a RAM or Motherboard problem, but could still possibly be a CPU problem.

2003-11-13, 04:59	#10
optim Nov 2003 European Union 2³·13 Posts	only the multiplier