[Red]

Just built a new set up with the following;

Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache
Seagate ST3100340AS 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm *32MB Cache* - OEM
Optiarc AD-7200S 20X DVD±RW/DL/RAM Internal SATA Bare Black Drive - OEM
Antec TruePower Quattro 850W Modular PSU - 2x 8pin PCI-E 2x 6pin PCI-E 4x 12V Rails
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
XFX 9800 GX2 Dual GPU 1GB DDR3 Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Music - VISTA Certified
Asus P5N32-E SLI Socket 775 Nforce 680i SLI FSB1333

On first boot, BIOS read that I had a Quad core 1.8Ghz instead of the 2.4, Noted this is as an issue I decided to follow on with a Vista install, thinking that I could update the set up etc and all will be fine

Vista picks up the Processor fine (as 2.4) as well as the 4Gb of RAM and the SATA drives.

Issue is upon installing/moving large files, the processor builds up rapidly and then the system freezes, I can't do anything but restart which sometimes will not boot back into Vista and will attempt once more after a reboot. I left task manager open once and it showed the system idle process as taking up between 98-99% of CPU activity, whilst the graphs showed barely 0-1% activity?

I'm thinking either;
Motherboard is broken/uncompatable with the processor
Processor is damaged in some way

I managed to install the the chipset drivers which came on the CD with the MOBO (x86) and attempted to install the ones found on the website, this however led to a blue screen crash. The first drivers installed improved the problem and i was able to move files over 1Gb from a USB HDD easily (before it crashed a third of the way through)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I am tempted to send back the Motherboard and find a replacement which is more up to date? It's 64bit ready, and comes with Vista drivers but doesn't advertise it as 'Vista Ready' anywhere.

It also says it's 'Quad Core' ready, but i'm starting to doubt this,

Any other infomation needed I'll get back to you ASAP

Thanks in advance for any help I receive, would love to get it off the ground as it'll be a beast when fully operating

[EDIT] I am sorry if I've put this in the wrong section, instead of pasting double posts can an Admin decide whether it belongs in motherboard issues or not? Thanks again

[Goku]

Red, I do not know much about your processor issues but I think the problem has got nothing to do with the 'System Idle Process'. Let me make myself clear. The 'System Idle Process' doesn't do anything, its just what the CPU does when its not doing anything. If the 'System Idle Process' is at 98% it doesn't mean your processor is 98% busy with the 'System Idle Process' hogging it, it's actually just 2% busy. So thats one thing ruled out. The hardware experts will be here soon and I am sure that they will help you resolve your problem.

By the way, you have posted the thread in the right forum. Also, a very warm welcome from me to you.

-- Goku

[Dalo Harkin]

If you are using something Like CPU-Z to measure the speed of the core then it will show 1.6Ghz at times - this is the 'power saving' that the GO has to save power - the speed of the CPU is still 2.4Ghz.
When you perform a CPU intensive task it will go up