Me personally, I would delete that recovery partition and install XP home or Pro (either will do) from scratch. Dont delete that partition unless you have all the drivers you need on discs though.

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I re-installed the 768mb ram I'd taken out, switched Boinc back to 2 cpu's 100%, and let two "six hour" wu's run over last night.

wu1 affinity set to cpu0.
wu2 affinity set to cpu1.

wu1 done, wu2 only 50% done.

I'm probably one of the last one's to yell that I got sold a "lemon", but I think this is the conclusion I am reaching.

Some have commented that my conflicting observations and results don't make sense. And I agree.

But I think if re-reading this thread with the idea of a defective cpu1, then perhaps my observations and results begin to make sense.

Thats my theory at least.

I'll give NewEgg a call. If they're willing to waive any "restocking" fee, I'll take a chance with a replacement.

If they won't waive the fee, I'll take my money back, reinstall the Sempron, and unfortunately Rosetta will have to wait a little bit longer for me to save up some extra $$ to get a better performing cruncher.

I don't need dual core for myself. Was just trying to spend a little to potentially double what I could do for Rosetta.

Thanx for everyone's help. This really IS a "community" that we have here. Glad to have found it!

This report and hotfix from Microsoft may be relevant to bad multiprocessor performance.

Granted, this is a "stock-low-end" Compaq. I'm not installing crazy-mad graphics cards or anything.

This psu worked with the Sempron.

And, if I understand correctly, even with dual cores, the X2 is supposed to be more energy efficient, no?

I will admit the PSU sounds a bit low in strength.

Just for completeness,
here is the motherboard http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&lc=en&product=1822601&cc=us&docname=c00496280

Have you installed all Windows Updates including the drivers there?

Have you tried BOINC 5.6.0 ? http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php?min_version=5.0&dev=1 (yes we are on the home stright for another version).

It's an ATI Radeon Xpress 200 IGP motherboard, so have you installed the latest ATI drivers?
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=27

You are using BIOS v3.13 ?

Just a few things (and there is no way you can get hold of a 350W PSU or above ?

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Team mauisun.org

here's a thought, when you installed just two 512 ram mods did you install one into the first blue one and one into the first black one?

Up until the point of my having to reinstall Windows, "yes".

Have you installed all Windows Updates including the drivers there?

Was originally 5.4.09, then 5.4.11

Have you tried BOINC 5.6.0 ? http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php?min_version=5.0&dev=1 (yes we are on the home stright for another version).

No. I will do so soon, but would this really explain whats been happening?

It's an ATI Radeon Xpress 200 IGP motherboard, so have you installed the latest ATI drivers? https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=27

Yes.

You are using BIOS v3.13 ?

Appreciate the thoughts. I'd have to buy a new one. If I knew with 100% certainty, I'd do it. But just like AMD tech support trying to tell me to reinstall Windows, and when that didn't work, to go out and purchase all new dual-channel memory. Like I have a tree that just grows money!

Just a few things (and there is no way you can get hold of a 350W PSU or above ?

I don't remember the Colors. But originally Compaq came with just 256mb in the "first" color. So, I removed that, took a 512 from the "other" color and put it where the 256 was. Now, there are two 512's in the "first" color, and one remaining 512 from the "other" color which I then removed.

End result, two 512mb's in the "first" color.

here's a thought, when you installed just two 512 ram mods did you install one into the first blue one and one into the first black one?

read the manual, I believe the blue is for channel 0 and black is for channel 1. This might be the problem. There might be a problem with mismatched sizes, so if I were you, I'd try one 512 in the first blue slot, and ONE 512 in the first black slot (closest to cpu). You might find this fixes your issue.

I don't believe this is a memory issue, BUT... I'm willing to give it a try, to rule it out. Doing it now. I'll post back.

read the manual, I believe the blue is for cpu0 and black is for cpu 1. This might be the problem. There might be a problem with mismatched sizes, so if I were you, I'd try one 512 in the first blue slot, and ONE 512 in the first black slot (closest to cpu). You might find this fixes your issue.

I'm looking in my Asus manual for a different MB and it says:

for dual channel configuration (which your board is), the total size of memnory module(s) installed per channel must be the same for better performance.

It also says:

When using two ddr dimm modules, install into dimm_A1 and dimm_B1

Just tried it. My memory is single channel, and never had any problems (mis-match or otherwise) with the Sempron.

One 512mb in first blue, one 512md in first black, 256mb removed, "odd-man" 512mb removed.

Total of 1gb, two 512's, one in blue, one in black.

Beep, beep, beep, beep...

Computer would not "post".

Re-installed memory, boots fine.

I'm looking in my Asus manual for a different MB and it says:

for dual channel configuration (which your board is), the total size of memnory module(s) installed per channel must be the same for better performance.

It also says:

When using two ddr dimm modules, install into dimm_A1 and dimm_B1

do you have a MB manual?

Stock Compaq. No. Mobo is Asus A8AE-LE. Since Compaq, I don't think Asus supports it.

do you have a MB manual?

go here click on the "online tech chat" to the left, and ask about memory and placement on your mobo. I looked through the online manuals and don't see anything specific.

I see this:

What is Dual Channel mode?
Double Data Rate (DDR) memory can operate in Dual Channel mode. The motherboard specifications of your computer should state if Dual Channel Mode is supported. Dual Channel memory mode provides increased performance over Single Channel mode.
The following requirements must be met for the DDR memory to function in Dual Channel mode:
Same Density (128MB, 256MB, 512MB, etc.)
Same DRAM chip technology (x8 or x16)
All either single-sided or dual-sided
Matched in both Channel A and Channel B memory channels
NOTE: Motherboards with Intel i945G or i945P chipsets; with DR2-667 memory modules using one Gigabit technology perform as DDR2-533 memory modules. If faster DDR2-667 memory modules are used, they must be 256 or 512 Megabit.


From here

I too do not believe this a memory issue.

I am howether convinced it is a settings error, whether that be BIOS, Boinc,MS or other I`m unable to tell from here.

The only thing I can suggest from here is.........

Check the BIOS settings. (You can look for these in the X2 model higher than your original)

Reinstall Windows and all drivers (graphics,anti-V etc.,)

Install a fresh new version of Boinc on a new account and watch. Do not touch the settings of anything until you have seen what is happening, then report to here.

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Not all Czech`s bounce but I`d like to try with Barbar ;-)

Make no mistake This IS the TEDDIES TEAM.

Don't believe any of my RAM is dual channel, and despite what AMD may attempt to claim (replace all single channel memory with dual channel), I don't believe it.

I think that it was already established in this thread that it is NOT manadatory for X2's to have dual channel memory.

And the single channel "mis-matched" memory worked just fine with my AMD Sempron.

I see this:

What is Dual Channel mode?
Double Data Rate (DDR) memory can operate in Dual Channel mode. The motherboard specifications of your computer should state if Dual Channel Mode is supported. Dual Channel memory mode provides increased performance over Single Channel mode.
The following requirements must be met for the DDR memory to function in Dual Channel mode:
Same Density (128MB, 256MB, 512MB, etc.)
Same DRAM chip technology (x8 or x16)
All either single-sided or dual-sided
Matched in both Channel A and Channel B memory channels
NOTE: Motherboards with Intel i945G or i945P chipsets; with DR2-667 memory modules using one Gigabit technology perform as DDR2-533 memory modules. If faster DDR2-667 memory modules are used, they must be 256 or 512 Megabit.


From here

The "low-end" mobo on the Compaq, an Asus A8AE-LE has extremely limited BIOS settings. There is no way I could even consider overclocking from the BIOS (which in itself is a shame, cause I hear the X2 3800+ is perfect for oc'ing).

I have been through every possible BIOS setting, and looks fine. BIOS does recognize the cpu as an Athlon XP 3800 dual core.

Already did a destructive re-install of Windows.

After doing the Windows re-install, upgraded BOINC from 5.4.09 to 5.4.11

Someone humor me, although I believe I have already done this correctly, please tell me what the BOINC and Rosetta settings should be. I'm 99.999999% certain it is not this, but I never claim to be infallible.

I too do not believe this a memory issue.

I am howether convinced it is a settings error, whether that be BIOS, Boinc,MS or other I`m unable to tell from here.

The only thing I can suggest from here is.........

Check the BIOS settings. (You can look for these in the X2 model higher than your original)

Reinstall Windows and all drivers (graphics,anti-V etc.,)

Install a fresh new version of Boinc on a new account and watch. Do not touch the settings of anything until you have seen what is happening, then report to here.

X2`s can be run in single channel or dual channel.

Dual channel does NOT mean different memory other than the fact it is DDR. Two sticks of the same memory size are placed in the appropriate slots and will act as dual speed memory but it is definately not necessary.

I have one X2 3800+ running single the other running dual interleaved.

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Not all Czech`s bounce but I`d like to try with Barbar ;-)

Make no mistake This IS the TEDDIES TEAM.

BP, humour me......

Copy and paste your Boinc folder from Program files to A.N.other location.

Uninstall Boinc

restart

Download a fresh copy of BOINC and install using a brand new user etc., Do not alter anything. See what happens.

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Not all Czech`s bounce but I`d like to try with Barbar ;-)

Make no mistake This IS the TEDDIES TEAM.