Author: Peter Collins
Date: 17:47:07 11/07/03
I was using Fritz8 on my computer without rest for months, and it just got fried
last week, see the link: http://photos.yahoo.com/irememberyouraddress2
The only time I need to reboot using XP Pro SP1, max. hashtable setting is 818
or 819MB, is when I enter more than 500-1000 moves as annotations while
simultaneously having Fritz work (2200XP+ with 1G RAM, though not at full
settings for ram, 3 sticks won't allow it, etc.). Irrespective of the OS or
computer, you cannot do this without the program crashing. XP not only shuts
down just the program, it actually reboots it.
The main question for CCC is "have you found that your computer component
life-span is shortened by working it so hard? Mainboard temps never went above
40 (in a hot summer 30C room) nor did the cpu ever go above 65C (admittedly,
that's hot, but way below the 85-90C specs).
Has anyone fried their computer under non-aggressive yet full spec conditions
lately? It would almost be a good joke that the recent sun flare caused it, but
magnetic radiation is all we would have gotten...I don't know enough about
physics to understand anything beyond the idea that our atmosphere protects us
down here. Flares have nothing to do with particles that destroy earthbound
chips, do they? :)
I never overclock, I have a UPS installed with extra bells and whistles, i.e. a
really clean electrical supply (voltage regulation, can't remember the term)with
unfortunately no log describing the failure.
What's worth noting is in CAPS BELOW. any comments welcome!
*************************************************************************
For the full story, here's the text sent to UPS company...describing event that
fried my computer.
I took great care of this computer, yet on October 28, 2003, 9:30am, it
malfunctioned. Upon inspection, a chip exploded on the motherboard to
the extent that it even burned the connecting chipset fan wire so that
it even separated. I enclose (if your system allows it) 4 pictures,
.jpg 344 and 348 are the clearest ones.
http://photos.yahoo.com/irememberyouraddress2
Here is the chronology:
System specs:
2200XP+ AMD Thoroughbred B CPU
512MB + 256MB + 256 MB of DDR 400RAM, samsung infineon and other.
November 11, 2002 to June 13, 2003: no-name brand of 300W power supply
(touch brand) I implored retailer to install instead an Enermax P/S,
he promised but never delivered) Lifespan was 213 days {before failure without
damagin any components, to my knowledge}.
July 8, 2003 to October 28, 2003: New Enermax 350W power supply
installed by me. 58 days to explosion.
I run computer in well ventilated setting with additional system fan,
24hours/day, 7 days a week, since it was new, in a cpu intensive chess
analysis program. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING
CONTINUOUSLY FOR ABOUT 300 HOURS SINCE THE LAST BOOT, AND REALLY THERE'S NO
RESTING BETWEEN BOOTS SINCE I GOT IT, EXCEPT WHEN I'M MOVING to a new home,
etc.!
UPS was hooked up to it since I received it new on Dec.4, 2002.
I have another computer on the battery side, and software shows ample
reserve capacity, since I don't hook monitor onto battery side, I'm more
interested in preventing damage than saving data.
I air blow clean the case every 3 months or so.
Technicians tell me that from the picture (the black/white concentric
circles on a black rectangular busted chip below the yellow connector)
it is emblematic of a power surge that destroyed this motherboard.
Fortunately, all other components are intact, though I have no
knowledge of whether the CPU is intact, as I haven't yet tested it.
No other sources of surges possible, i.e., I'm not even connected to a
phone, let alone the web, I type now from the library.
Q1: How do I make a claim to replace the motherboard, and given that
it is 355 days when it failed, which price would it be calculated at?
Q2: Why did this happen at all? I thought that the UPS would entirely
prevent this. I was asleep at the time, a continuous beep and a bad
smell woke me up.
Q3: The software was loaded onto the computer that got damaged. As
far as I know, there's no log of an event, can you tell me how to send
one to you if there is a way to retreive it?
I BELIEVE THE NEW MANAGER WHEN HE TELLS ME THAT THE CURRENT MOTHERBOARD
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IS SO DOG-EAT-DOG WITH RAZOR THIN MARGINS THAT
THEY ALL TAKE THE ATTITUDE OF BASICALLY IGNORING THEIR WARRANTIES FOR
COMPETITIVE REASONS, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.
I.E., THEY GENERALLY WILL LEAVE IT UP TO THE GOOD WILL OF THE RETAILER,
WHO EATS THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. SO PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO APPROACH
THE VENDOR, GIGABYTE. ALSO, THEIR TECH DEPARTMENT SEEMS VERY
EXPERIENCED, ABLE TO DIAGNOSE WITH HIGH PROBABILITY THE REASON FOR THIS FAILURE.
Q4: IF IT IS PART OF LIFE THAT ONE CANNOT REALLY OPERATE A DESKTOP ALL
YEAR LONG, LET ME KNOW!
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