Hi guys

Saturday morning, this past weekend, I dropped a new heatsink/fan in my computer (a Zalman CNPS9500 LED) as I've been doing a fair bit of research on overclocking over the past little while, and have decided that it was time to give it a try.

(just so you know what I'm working with here I've got an MSI K8T Neo FIS2R motherboard, with an Athlon 64 3200+ Processor)

Before I did anything, I run some tests and had discovered that the CPU was running around 68C without load... and under a load (using Super Pi) it got up to 96C, which was my big motivator to get some improved cooling in there. So, like I was saying when I woke up on Saturday morning I installed the HSF, and everything was working GREAT! The Zamlan kept everything all kinds of cool... without load I was around 38C, and when it was loaded down it got up to 40C.

Then Sunday, seeing how smooth everything was running I figured I'd take a crack at the BIOS and try for the overclock.
I went with a 5% increase to start with. I figured that with this new HSF heat would be an issue considering how much cooler it was running than it was previously.
Everything started just fine, so I went over to my XboX and played around on that for a bit while I left my computer running just to see how stable it was going to be... and well, after a bit I came back to my computer to find it not working... all the fans were still running and the case-lights were on... it just wasn't doing anything.

Seeing this as a problem, I shut it down, unplugged the power supply, left it for the night and went back to it this morning before work.

When I turned it on, once again all the case lights and fans came to life. But that is it.
There were no tell-tale beeps of a computer starting up and the HD and power lights on the front of my case didn't come on...

What's going through the back of my mind is that I don't know how long it was running as hot as it was, but I'm thinking that might have had something to do with it... then the extra juice I put through it for the OC was the straw that broke the camel's back... Does that sound feasible? or does this sound like it might be something else?

Looks like you cooked something. Overclocking a processor that runs hot in the first place was not such a great idea to start with. Looks like you may need a new processor. For overclocking the 3200+ check this http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl.....tml#sect1. For a constant eye on the temp get this program, minimize it and it will show the temp in the system tray at all times. http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

Wow, another one! :)
Thanks for pitching in whs!

I was thinking about going for a new processor once I got the OC figured out using this one.

I really I didn't think that any heat was going to be an issue at this point as I was running that much cooler, and I figured that the 5% I opted for was a nice conservative number compared to some of the oterh numbers I saw people were getting up to. (I guess not eh?)

Thanks for the article, I hadn't seen that one.
And I'll check out that program once I get that machine of mine back on its feet.

So, if I do end up having to go the route of getting a new processor (without having to swap out the board) can you make any reccomendations? (The main purpose for my rig is gaming and managing my downloads).

Unfortunately my board is a S754 ... and I'm having a devil of a time trying to track down a NEW Processor. :(

Sorry for the delay DrTheBob. I'm hoping your puce died in a quiet, heat induced sleep, rather than going SupaNova. In which case your m/b should be OK

Here are some sites that seem to sell 3200's: => see Edit below

AMD Athlon xp 3200
Buy Athlon xp 3200 Processors
Get Power and Performance for less!
www.memory4less.com

AMD Athlon 64 CPU Deals
Shop for 3200+ CPUs at Newegg.
Our Mind Blowing Deals won't last!
www.Newegg.com

Amd 3200
Looking for Amd 3200?
Buy direct from sellers and save.
www.eBay.com

AMD Athlon 64 Venice Core
AMD 3800+ 2.4GHz ADA3800BPBOX &
90nm 3000+, 3200+, 3700+ in Stock
www.Atacom.com

amd 3200 $29
Compare & Save on Processors
$29 - $82 at 20 stores
winbuyer.com

Amd 3200
We Have 9,000+ Computers & More
Amd 3200 on Sale. Read Reviews!
www.NexTag.com/Computers

3200 Amd
3200 Amd Online.
Shop Target.com.
www.Target.com

Edit: bbPress seems to have messed up the links. Better type them in or Google AMD 3200+ (right side).

If it's not too late, I just recently retired my old PC that used that motherboard. One time I did an overclock and ran into a similar situation. There is a jumper on the mobo that can be used to clear out the CMOS and reset the BIOS. If I remember correctly, it's the only jumper on the board, so all you need to do is unplug the PC, move the jumper from it's current position over one pin (there are three pins, so move it from pins 1 & 2 over to 2 & 3), give it a five count then return it to it's original position (very important), plug it in and power it up. If that does not work then odds are you did fry the CPU.

Good luck!!

PS, www.mwave.com also has good prices on processors.

@ Budohorseman:It's not too late at all... And here I thought this place was all tapped out of great ideas. :) I know what I'm going to be doing when I get home tonight!

@Lighthouse: Oh good idea... Yeah, I'm not going to let this slow me down at all as far as trying to get my speed up. (my system is starting to fall behind everyone else at the LAN party attend every year). I'm looking at this as a set-back not a discouragement.

Thanks again guys

I'm glad that worked out for you, and as they say, timing is everything--I had just joined the forums yesterday! It's always better to be able to take your time to build/buy a new system rather than being forced into getting a new one. I didn't get much overclocking on my AMD 64 either, but so far I have managed to get my new Intel OCed by 25% stable on an air cooled system, so if you are looking into a new system within the next six months or so and you like to OC, Intel is the way to go for now (though we will need to wait and see how the new B3 stepping does on the new AMD Phenom processors). Good luck with your system and your overclocking efforts!