[VIA] Not sure sure what the trouble is!

Question

Sorry this is a long post but this problem is getting to me!!
My system spec is as follows –
MSI KT4AV motherboard (VIA KT400A chipset)
AMD Athlon 2800XP cpu
2 x 512MB PC3200 DDR400 RAM (Matrix) – this is on the labels on the RAM cards
XFX Nvidia 6600GT 128MB VRAM
120GB HDD
CD RW
DVD
Floppy
Akasa Paxpower 460W PSU
Chenbro midi case (MS6712)
120mm case fan at rear extracting air
80mm fan drawing air in through front
19” LG monitor
Windows XP Home SP1
I have had the system (but with different PSU and FX5200 graphics card) for just over 12 months and over that time have experienced odd reboots or program crashes mainly when using the X-Plane flight simulator program – this hammers the cpu but hardly uses the disk.  Just over 2 weeks ago I upgraded the PSU and graphics card to those shown above.  But the problem has continued or even got worse.
So the problem is that X-Plane program will often crash or cause a system reboot and I have even had a few occurrences of the AVG System Scan or the Burn In Test programs also causing reboots.
I have checked loads of stuff including using system counter logs, etc to see if there is any unusual activity but all seems ok.  I have also used the Burn In Test program to hammer the cpu, memory and video card at 100% load but all passed ok.
I have also been using the MSI-supplied PC Alert software (and also the BIOS info) to check temperatures and I THINK that temperature might be the problem but don’t understand why.
During recent testing (when the weather has been hot and sunny) the system seems to ‘idle’ with PC Alert showing temps of around 45(cpu) and 32(system), reaching these temps within ~10 minutes from 29(cpu) and 27(system) at start-up.  If I run either X-Plane or BIT these temps can rise to around 50 and 35 and, coincidence or not, it is around these temps that the reboots, etc start to happen.  Throughout all this the GPU temp is usually no higher than 60.
The questions I have are –
•   how does PC Alert or the BIOS actually read the temps i.e. are the above temps likely to be close to reality or could the CPU be much higher? (I have set the BIOS temp warning to 70)
•   since the cpu spec says that it can tolerate up to ~85 why should 50 cause it problems?
•   am I missing something!!!!
•   HELP – this is beginning to bug me!

Answer 1

Hello,
Memory timings determine how good the modules are.
Low latency modules are for gaming/overclocking 2-2-2-5 or 2-2-2-6
These modules are a slight impact on system performance, gfx and of course offer the best possible memory transfer rates possible. (more responsive pc too).
However the slower modules, 2-3-3-5, 2.5-3-3-6, 2-3-2-6 are cheaper and nearly as good.
So 2x512mb of these will be very good too.
Corsair
OCZ
GEIL
Crucial
These are all good brands, make sure you know the timings.
The GEIL VALUE RAM 2x512MB DUAL KIT 2.5-3-3-6 are the best low end modules.
If you do go for this one make sure you get the GE1GB3200BHDC found in my previous post.
PC3200 or PC2700,
As you have a 333FSB CPU, A PC3200 module would not offer any advantage in terms of memory bandwidth but it will be a better buy.
- better for newer CPUs, so it will last longer.
- memory timings will be better.
The memory timings are related to the memory frequency, the lower the frequency, the lower you can set the memory  timings.
So a PC3200 2.5-3-3-6 module can run at 2-*3-*3-5 @ 166Mhz(PC2700 speeds).
*it should be 2.5 but no bios allows you to choose 2.5, only the first one can be set to 2.5
Or you could just get some PC2700 modules that are rated 2-2-2-5, these will be better for your CPU.
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=8637111014&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=66690
PC2700 @2-2-2-5 is becoming rare as 200FSB CPUs have been around for a long time.
(Not to confusing I hope.)