"CRITICAL ERROR" with MachII - help

[phil stanbridge]

I noticed over the last couple of days my MachII has been taking a lot longer to start-up. Maybe by as much as a minute. Obviously this had got me worried, but when it booted as normal I forgot about it. Yesterday I received this "CRITICAL ERROR" on the LCD, and in the control centre software. There was no obvious problem. I wasn't sure what it was referring to. Then I got a "TOO HOT" error and decided to switch off. I took the side panel off the compressor compartment and couldn't see anything obviously wrong. I did notice the compressor was extremely hot to touch - like so hot that after a few seconds you would burn you fingers :eek: surely that isn't right?

Anyway, this morning, I switch on and receive yet another error this time in the form of "TOO SLOW" on the LCD. The pc doesn't even boot. The unit decides to go back to bed. It is a Sunday after all :confused: so I wait for a while and check things out - nothing wrong, well nothing that is obvious to me. The evap head is at -8 at this point so I restart and it boots fine this time round, as you'd expect. It is still taking a long time to cool down to -39 (my boot temp). The operational hours are 553. I don't know what is up with it. I haven't a clue. I'm typing this on my system now and it's fine - but I'm worried about the longetivity of my MachII.. Any ideas?

[JCviggen]

could you confirm - for example by taking off the cooling head - that the temperature is actually dropping very slowly, or if the head gets freezing cold as normal but the sensor doesnt display it right? What are CPU temps like?

The compressor will always get very hot...thats normal. I believe the thermal spec on them says it is no problem if it was running 90 or 100C and it will be far from that.

but you need to contact nVENTIV support on this one!

[phil stanbridge]

Thanks for the reply mate.

I put this back together on Friday after removing my last chip. I'm now running a Malay 2.4 @ 300fsb (3.6ghz) stable. The cpu temps (according to Asus Probe) are -39. My evap temps are -40. Critical error again.. Just as Im typing this.. Arghhhhh.. shut down time..

[JCviggen]

so the cooling performance seems ok... have you tried updating the firmware already?

[berkut]

Does the fan on the condenser work properly ? (dust, bearings etc) ?

[phil stanbridge]

The cooling performance seems fine IMHO. But it's all working slooooooow. I just turned it back on and it took longer than normal to start. I also set the fans to turbo and it took longer for these to go into turbo mode - (presumably 12v??) Certainly longer than I've noticed in the past.

As for firmware, I have got a patch here, but it's fairly old - is there a new one out?

[phil stanbridge]

Originally posted by berkut
Does the fan on the condenser work properly ? (dust, bearings etc) ?

I think so - they both are working, I've tried them individually with the software. I've also used an air duster on them just in case.

[phil stanbridge]

..well my machine just shut itself down this time, with a TOO HOT error message on the LCD. What is this referring to exactly? The cpu temps are very good - the evap head feels to hot to me, but I know this is pretty warm to the touch in normal operation. I don't know what to try :confused: I think my MachII is on the way out..

[JCviggen]

sounds like a sensor problem...but please update the firmware just to make sure,,, nventiv.com and then downloads

[phil stanbridge]

Have updated all the software - hasn't helped at all. My machine has just shut down again. I've emailed Nventiv - one thing - there's a copper pipe that coming from the condensor and rests in the air by the middle of the unit - it has a definite kink - is this right? I dont know what this tube does.

[Popcicle]

It's been kinked and cut off short right?

That's the line used by the factory to fill
the unit with refrigerant.

How does this unit act as a stand-alone and
the evap head doesn't have to cool down
a CPU? With the evap head just free standing?

[phil stanbridge]

I've just tried this - I have taken my system apart and have fired up the MachII standalone so to speak. I plug in a dc switch and fire it up - it gets to my boot temp (-35) and says "running" then powers down to idle after a few seconds of this. I have done this twice and both times its fine - The temp gets down to -38 before the LCD changes to POWER DOWN, as you'd expect - so it appears to be working fine?? It has me confused.

[JCviggen]

maybe you should give the molex connector some power so it keeps running like that...?

[phil stanbridge]

Is that right? I will do that - so can I get away with just plugging a psu into the mains, without having to re-rig my mobo up again?

[bmg]

Originally posted by phil stanbridge
Is that right? I will do that - so can I get away with just plugging a psu into the mains, without having to re-rig my mobo up again? A stand-alone PS is all that's needed. The mach II will power on anytime it sees power on the 4 pin connector.

[phil stanbridge]

well Ive just stuck a psu in to the equation - I turned it on, and plugged the molex in, but it still powers down - what am I doing wrong?

[lallend]

Did you use a paperclip or something like that to bridge across the atx connector to "start" the psu?

[tonytiger]

I had that very same problem.Sorry to say the unit is faulty or even broken.I had to RMA mine ,i have a new one now which has no problems.

Don't email them phone the Tech Support other wise you won't see a reply for a least 5 days (well it was with me anyway).

[phil stanbridge]

Oh dear :( that doesn't sound good.
FWIW I've got it running standalone, which it has been now for a good 30 minutes at -49. What do I do next guys? Why is definitely faulty if it appears to be running fine like this? I'm not sure why it was reporting those errors earlier though?

[phil stanbridge]

Tonytiger who did you ring from the UK? I'm also UK based.

[tonytiger]

No i didn't.I suggested to ring because i got replies within 5-7 days ,they must be very busy!

Anyhow i think it was some sort of temp sensor problem ,i sent it back to the reseller waited up to 5 weeks until i got fed up and demanded a refund.With the refund i got another which is much better and finally works!;)

[lallend]

Originally posted by phil stanbridge
well Ive just stuck a psu in to the equation - I turned it on, and plugged the molex in, but it still powers down - what am I doing wrong?

Originally posted by phil stanbridge
Oh dear :( that doesn't sound good.
FWIW I've got it running standalone, which it has been now for a good 30 minutes at -49. What do I do next guys? Why is definitely faulty if it appears to be running fine like this? I'm not sure why it was reporting those errors earlier though?

I am curious, what did you do to resolve the "power down" issue that you were having?

[phil stanbridge]

Nothing at all this is the thing. I left it to see if it would power down and it didn't so what could could be causing this when it is connected up?

[lallend]

Originally posted by phil stanbridge
Nothing at all this is the thing. I left it to see if it would power down and it didn't so what could could be causing this when it is connected up? Hmm, this is strange, first you try it in a "stand alone" situation then it powers down. Later, you try it again in a "stand alone" basis and it doesn't power down.

My guess is ya have a dodgy controller and its time for a RMA unfortunately

[phil stanbridge]

No sorry, you mis-understand, or it was my bad explanation :rolleyes:. It kept powering down when it was connected to the pc - I haven't had it power down by itself in standalone mode yet. Although it gets to -53 now it takes an eternity to get there. Boot up time takes longer I'm sure. I' m not convinced this is 100% working but I don't know what else to try - I could reconnect it again I suppose :rolleyes: I emailed Nventiv yesterday afternoon and have yet to hear back.

[phil stanbridge]

..Update - Just got back from the office and fired her up. It got to 14 degrees and powered down saying "TOO SLOW" so there you have it. I think it's RMA time.. What do you guys reckon? I made a cup of tea in the time it took to get to 14 degrees. Normally in that time it would have reached boot temp and more.

[phil stanbridge]

.another update.

It's completely stuffed now :( The unit gets to about 18 degrees before it comes up with "TOO SLOW" on the LCD and switches off. FWIW I can hear gas escaping (??) if I move the capillary tube - things are not good. I'm sad. I spoke to my reseller yesterday evening and they said I really need to hear back from Nventiv before they can do anything for me - I still haven't heard a thing back and I emailed Sunday morning.

[phil stanbridge]

I have yet to hear back from Nventiv. Has anyone a contact email addy I could use? I have sent two off to the support address to no avail a couple of days ago. Maybe I'm just impatient but I have a £600 MachII sitting here that I cant use. :(

[JCviggen]

m8

the support guy has been sick but he got back in today, ill tell him to email you back

[phil stanbridge]

Thanks mate, would really appreciate that. :)