amd64, suse 9.2, hardware/network problem?

I have a number of problems and/or concerns with a system I've just
built. Although I've run linux for >5 years, I'm feeling a bit out
of my depth here and am not sure whether the problems are all
related (hence the hardware issues I mention).

All help will be VERY much appreciated and I apologize for the long
post.

Peter

The system:
**AMD64*3400
**Abit*AV8*w/*onboard*Gigabit*10/100*&*sound
**2*x*512*PC3200*DDR
**GeForce*FX5700LE*(nVidia)*
**SATA*HDD
**Just*PC*case*w/*420W*PS
**Suse*9.2*w/*all*kernel*patches
**Kernel*2.6.8.24.11

Sound, video (inc 3D) work fine.

The problems:
1) Abit BIOS say the CPU temp is running at 55-57 degrees Celsius.
***This*is*at*light*load*-*web,*email,*text*editing*Etc.
***Is*this*too*high?

***I*have*an*inexpensive*Masscool*CPU*fan*and*used*thermal*paste
***between*cpu*and*sink.*I*addition*I*have*2*CompUSA*case*fans
***(1*exhaust,*1*blowing*in),*and*the*PS*fan*(and*there's*a*fan
***on*the*video*card).

2) Reviewing /var/log/messages I see on average per day one
***'Losing*some*ticks...checking*if*CPU*frequency*changed'
***warning.*I've*not*seen*this*w/*previous*machines*I've*built
***(but*then*I've*never*looked!)*and*I*don't*know*if*this*is*
***something*to*be*concerned*about.

3) Network problems
***I'm*using*a*Linksys*router*&*DHCP*over*cable*broadband.*
***Also*running*the*Suse*Firewall*(runs*by*default).

***On*bootup,*the*network*is*very*fast;*however,*from*time
***to*time,*the*network*seems*to*hang.*During*this*time*I
***cannot*ping*even*my*router*and*of*course*web-pages*don't
***load*Etc.*These*periods*last*1*or*2*minutes.
***Eventually,*the*network*goes*down*completely*and*I*have*
***to*run*/etc/init.d/network*restart*and*the*cycle*starts
***all*over*again.
***The*output*of*ifconfig*seems*the*same*whether*the*network
***is*working*fine*or*is*hung.
***I*have*a*Windoze*machine*on*the*same*network*which*runs*
***fine*so*I've*ruled*out*router*problems.

--

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Peter Ensch,
(E-Mail Removed) A-1140 (214) 480 2333
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Peter Ensch wrote (using the worst editor ever):
> I have a number of problems and or concerns with a system I've just
> built. Although I've run linux for >5 years, I'm feeling a bit out
> of my depth here and am not sure whether the problems are all
> related (hence the hardware issues I mention).
>
> All help will be VERY much appreciated and I apologize for the long
> post.
>
> Peter
>
> The system:
> AMD643400
> Abit AV8 w onboard Gigabit 10 100 & sound
> 2 x 512 PC3200 DDR
> GeForce FX5700LE (nVidia)
> SATA HDD
> Just PC case w 420W PS
> Suse 9.2 w all kernel patches
> Kernel 2.6.8.24.11
>
> Sound, video (inc 3D) work fine.
>
> The problems:
> 1) Abit BIOS say the CPU temp is running at 55 57 degrees Celsius.
> This is at light load web, email, text editing Etc.
> Is this too high
>
> I have an inexpensive Masscool CPU fan and used thermal paste
> between cpu and sink. I addition I have 2 CompUSA case fans
> (1 exhaust, 1 blowing in), and the PS fan (and there's a fan
> on the video card).

The values you list are fine. Perfectly normal.

The rest I can't comment on, but included here just to get
rid of the weird characters.

>
> 2) Reviewing var log messages I see on average per day one
> 'Losing some ticks...checking if CPU frequency changed'
> warning. I've not seen this w previous machines I've built
> (but then I've never looked!) and I don't know if this is
> something to be concerned about.
>
> 3) Network problems
> I'm using a Linksys router & DHCP over cable broadband.
> Also running the Suse Firewall (runs by default).
>
> On bootup, the network is very fast; however, from time
> to time, the network seems to hang. During this time I
> cannot ping even my router and of course web pages don't
> load Etc. These periods last 1 or 2 minutes.
> Eventually, the network goes down completely and I have
> to run etc init.d network restart and the cycle starts
> all over again.
> The output of ifconfig seems the same whether the network
> is working fine or is hung.
> I have a Windoze machine on the same network which runs
> fine so I've ruled out router problems.
>
>
>
> ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
> Peter Ensch,
> (E-Mail Removed) A 1140 (214) 480 2333
> ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Peter Ensch adjusted his/her tin foil beanie and asbestos underwear to
write:

> I have a number of problems and/or concerns with a system I've just
> built. Although I've run linux for >5 years, I'm feeling a bit out
> of my depth here and am not sure whether the problems are all
> related (hence the hardware issues I mention).
>
> All help will be VERY much appreciated and I apologize for the long
> post.
>
> Peter
>
> The system:
> AMD64Â*3400
> AbitÂ*AV8Â*w/Â*onboardÂ*GigabitÂ*10/100Â*&Â*sound
> 2Â*xÂ*512Â*PC3200Â*DDR
> GeForceÂ*FX5700LEÂ*(nVidia)
> SATAÂ*HDD
> JustÂ*PCÂ*caseÂ*w/Â*420WÂ*PS
> SuseÂ*9.2Â*w/Â*allÂ*kernelÂ*patches
> KernelÂ*2.6.8.24.11
>
> Sound, video (inc 3D) work fine.
>
> The problems:
> 1) Abit BIOS say the CPU temp is running at 55-57 degrees Celsius.
> ThisÂ*isÂ*atÂ*lightÂ*loadÂ*-Â*web,Â*email,Â*textÂ*editingÂ*Etc.
> IsÂ*thisÂ*tooÂ*high?

If those temps are at near idle I would suggest you take the fan/HS off
and reseat it again 64bit chips only go upto 70c approx they do not go
as high as the old Athlons before damage can occur, check to see that
there are no bits of grit or even a hair across the bottom of the sink
or on the chip, they are a little too high for my liking, depends on
you room temp though, is it hot there?

My 64bit 3000 overclocked to 3400 speed is at 40-44c at full load
running seti/boinc 24/7 with the fan/HS that came with it in a
relatively warm room.

I have lapped ( polished with very fine emery and then with the good old
Silvo silver polish ) the HS base until it is almost mirror like, and
apply just a very small amount of paste, smear across the surface then
scrape off with a credit card, there should be just a very thin coating
enough to fill any scratches on the base and the chip face.



>
> IÂ*haveÂ*anÂ*inexpensiveÂ*MasscoolÂ*CPUÂ*fanÂ*andÂ*usedÂ*thermalÂ*paste
> betweenÂ*cpuÂ*andÂ*sink.Â*IÂ*additionÂ*IÂ*haveÂ*2Â*CompUSAÂ*caseÂ*fans
> (1Â*exhaust,Â*1Â*blowingÂ*in),Â*andÂ*theÂ*PSÂ*fanÂ*(andÂ*there'sÂ*aÂ*fan
> onÂ*theÂ*videoÂ*card).
>


Try leaving the case side off and have a normal house fan blowing in and
see if the temps come down, maybe the air is not circulating round the
case and there is stale hot air round the chip you can use the sensors
package and gkrellm to monitor in real time the temps and fan speeds.

Try the above first and see if your temps come down, could also help
with your other probs it the case is too hot.

HTH

--
Mark
Twixt hill and high water.
N.Wales, UK.
onfxvgpnvfr-ng-tzk-qbg-pb-qbg-hx

Peter Ensch wrote:
> I have a number of problems and/or concerns with a system I've just
> built. Although I've run linux for >5 years, I'm feeling a bit out
> of my depth here and am not sure whether the problems are all
> related (hence the hardware issues I mention).
>
> All help will be VERY much appreciated and I apologize for the long
> post.
>
> Peter
>
> The system:
> AMD64 3400
> Abit AV8 w/ onboard Gigabit 10/100 & sound
> 2 x 512 PC3200 DDR
> GeForce FX5700LE (nVidia)
> SATA HDD
> Just PC case w/ 420W PS
> Suse 9.2 w/ all kernel patches
> Kernel 2.6.8.24.11
>
> Sound, video (inc 3D) work fine.
>
> The problems:
> 1) Abit BIOS say the CPU temp is running at 55-57 degrees Celsius.
> This is at light load - web, email, text editing Etc.
> Is this too high?
>
> I have an inexpensive Masscool CPU fan and used thermal paste
> between cpu and sink. I addition I have 2 CompUSA case fans
> (1 exhaust, 1 blowing in), and the PS fan (and there's a fan
> on the video card).
>
> 2) Reviewing /var/log/messages I see on average per day one
> 'Losing some ticks...checking if CPU frequency changed'
> warning. I've not seen this w/ previous machines I've built
> (but then I've never looked!) and I don't know if this is
> something to be concerned about.
>
> 3) Network problems
> I'm using a Linksys router & DHCP over cable broadband.
> Also running the Suse Firewall (runs by default).
>
> On bootup, the network is very fast; however, from time
> to time, the network seems to hang. During this time I
> cannot ping even my router and of course web-pages don't
> load Etc. These periods last 1 or 2 minutes.
> Eventually, the network goes down completely and I have
> to run /etc/init.d/network restart and the cycle starts
> all over again.
> The output of ifconfig seems the same whether the network
> is working fine or is hung.
> I have a Windoze machine on the same network which runs
> fine so I've ruled out router problems.
>
The VIA Ethernet drivers that come with Suse 9.2 have a bug in them.
Install the driver from the motherboard CD

Or do what I did and install a different Ethernet card.

Keith Walter wrote:

> Peter Ensch wrote:
>> I have a number of problems and/or concerns with a system I've just
>> built. Although I've run linux for >5 years, I'm feeling a bit out
>> of my depth here and am not sure whether the problems are all
>> related (hence the hardware issues I mention).
>>
>> All help will be VERY much appreciated and I apologize for the long
>> post.
>>
>> Peter
>>
>> The system:
>> AMD64 3400
>> Abit AV8 w/ onboard Gigabit 10/100 & sound
>> 2 x 512 PC3200 DDR
>> GeForce FX5700LE (nVidia)
>> SATA HDD
>> Just PC case w/ 420W PS
>> Suse 9.2 w/ all kernel patches
>> Kernel 2.6.8.24.11
>>
>> Sound, video (inc 3D) work fine.
>>
>> The problems:
>> 1) Abit BIOS say the CPU temp is running at 55-57 degrees Celsius.
>> This is at light load - web, email, text editing Etc.
>> Is this too high?
>>
>> I have an inexpensive Masscool CPU fan and used thermal paste
>> between cpu and sink. I addition I have 2 CompUSA case fans
>> (1 exhaust, 1 blowing in), and the PS fan (and there's a fan
>> on the video card).
>>
>> 2) Reviewing /var/log/messages I see on average per day one
>> 'Losing some ticks...checking if CPU frequency changed'
>> warning. I've not seen this w/ previous machines I've built
>> (but then I've never looked!) and I don't know if this is
>> something to be concerned about.
>>
>> 3) Network problems
>> I'm using a Linksys router & DHCP over cable broadband.
>> Also running the Suse Firewall (runs by default).
>>
>> On bootup, the network is very fast; however, from time
>> to time, the network seems to hang. During this time I
>> cannot ping even my router and of course web-pages don't
>> load Etc. These periods last 1 or 2 minutes.
>> Eventually, the network goes down completely and I have
>> to run /etc/init.d/network restart and the cycle starts
>> all over again.
>> The output of ifconfig seems the same whether the network
>> is working fine or is hung.
>> I have a Windoze machine on the same network which runs
>> fine so I've ruled out router problems.
>>
> The VIA Ethernet drivers that come with Suse 9.2 have a bug in them.
> Install the driver from the motherboard CD
>
> Or do what I did and install a different Ethernet card.

This is exactly what I did and now everthing's fine. Thanks!
Peter


--

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Peter Ensch,
(E-Mail Removed) A-1140 (214) 480 2333
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^