New hardware, what to choose?

seabird · #1 25th July 2009, 10:45 PM

Hi everyone,

my instability problem is most likely caused by a hardware issue... Now my problem is which, and how to solve..

Most likely causes:
-Memory
-CPU
-Power supply??

Solutions:
-Buy new memory (cheapest so first to try)
According to my MoBo manufacturer I can either get DDR2 SoDimm 533 or 667. Which should I get? Is there a big difference?

-Buy a new CPU... Ouch!!! (most likely not the case I understand)

-Get a different Power Supply (which might be a bit difficult for my casing... which was expensive, so hope the memory is the solution)

How can I best test these components to see where the problem is? And if I try the memory replacement (step 1) Which should I pick.

Thanks for the advice/tips

Golf4Fun · #2 25th July 2009, 10:51 PM

If it doesn't feel too hot the fans should be working and the power supply adequate.

Try removing one memory simm at a time and testing each separately.

Memory causes most problems that are hard to diagnose.

SwampKracker · #3 25th July 2009, 10:52 PM

Try running memtest from your Fedora installation disk.

http://docs.fedoraproject.org/instal...tml#sn-memtest

seabird · #4 25th July 2009, 10:53 PM

I understand I should maybe test them one at a time, but which test to run? The fedora CD test? Or are there better tests available? And if this is the cause: 533mhz or 667mhz?

SlowJet · #5 25th July 2009, 11:01 PM

If your are running Fedora it is most likely a software bug.
If the machine is dirty, clean it, and make sure it operates at a cool temp.
I would go with fans, cables, disk(s), mobo, video, keyboard, mouse, long before the cpu and memory.
If the power supply is very old or dirty, then get a new one.

SJ

seabird · #6 25th July 2009, 11:11 PM

it's a headless box, so forget video keyboard mouse etc. Disks have all passed previous test because this was my first suspect. Temps have been monitered and found ok (even working with open casing right now for better flow) Fans are clean and running smoothly. Powersupply is external (kinda like a laptop power unit) so no cleaning there.

My bug also came back as hardware issue is most likely.

Once my raid5 has synced up again, I will try the memory tests. Memory is cheap to replace and thus not a big trouble to test/replace.

Anybodies opinion on SoDimm 533 CL4 vs SoDimm 667 CL5?? (only very few 667 CL4 out there)

SlowJet · #7 26th July 2009, 02:21 AM

Well, you should have said that in the first place.
So you already knew the answer.
But I would pick raid5 before memory.

SJ