Another reader wrote to me regarding the all-to-often lockup problems with the TNT. After trying the DIMM swap trick, he informed me that it still did not work. I then asked for a run down on his rig, HOLY COW! He had a list of hard drives and a list of CD-drives along with a dozen other devices. I informed him that in my opinion, I have had a sneaking suspicion that these TNT lock-ups may have a power supply connection, and felt that this might be what was going on with his over ladened rig. I turned him on to Waterfall Pro to check the 12 volt power supply on his motherboard with. As it turns out, he did have a power supply problem and his surge protector was causing problems.

Let me tell you what I have noticed on my own rig's 12 volt supply. Even with only one HD, a TNT, a PCI SB Live!, and two CD-drives; my new BH6 rig with a 235W power supply would drop to as low as 11.2 volts at times in the 12 volt supply reading, when calls on the CPU and DIMM or HD swap where called for. Like when one of those bright flashes of light in Shogo seemed to require a memory call or swap file call, BLAMO! That's when it would lock. Anyway, I did fix my problem with the DIMM slot swap. However, after seeing how low my 12 volt supply was going at times, I remembered problems with the TNT not running Direct 3D on other motherboards due to low 12 volt power supply. After hearing that some readers can use LGS memory, while my rig can't, I am beginning to wonder if a lot of TNT problems may have a 12 volt power supply connection, which becomes critical when overclocking due to increased demand on the CPU. And if somehow this all ties in to memory brand and DIMM placement that seems to hold no rhyme or reason, yet cures these problems many times.

If you are having problems, I suggest you measure your 12 volt supply as well with Waterfall Pro, in addition to doing all the other things suggested. Be sure to optimize it for your specific motherboard, and check out the 12v reading to see if it drops below say 11.3 volts. Of course, try by-passing the surge protector as this reader did, just to test it for possible problems. Some of you super gizmos, please test this hunch out. Let me know if any of you remember the critical point for 12 volt power supply that will cause the TNT to crap out in 3-D apps. I know that the TNT could not run in Direct3D due to low power on some MB's, as it used to on some ASUS boards. Remember that this is just a hunch at this point, but I have a strong feeling that it needs to be looked into by some enterprising tech-minded individual who just might be...YOU?

Well, that's just something I have been kicking around, and I think some power supply exchanging tests may be in order. But back to the reader. He mentions something about a surge-protector creating a problem as well, which may apply to some of you as well. He advised me in an earlier letter that he had taken my advice and was going to strip his rig of one of the extra HD's, and possibly another item in order to supply more 12 volt power to the TNT. Here is what he wrote in his last letter:

Well, I got some of my problems fixed. It certainly was a power problem. It turned out to be my surge suppressor causing the TNT to crash. I plugged my computer directly into the wall and now I can run with my DIMM in slot 3. I still have a few problems though. I still have to "prime"my power supply before it turns on. I can get the machine to turn on the first time by flipping the main switch in the back twice. I can live with this.
Thanx again
Nathan Lindsey

posted by Dan "Pakman" E. - 02.01.99 11:39 AM MST