PC Problems
#1
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PC Problems
My PC has been given me problems and unlike normal faults I cannot pinpoint it to one item.
PC Configuration all equipment about 6 months old.
Windows XP Pro fully patched.
Antec P180 case
Intel core 2 duo e6600 conroe cpu
Corsair 2gb dd2 XMS2 Twin X
WD 320GB Caviar (for data)
WD 150GB Raptor (for OS) both using WB secure SATA
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7
Sony DVD-rw and rom
ASUS P5W DH Deluxe
Antec Truepower Trio 550W
Connect 3D ATI Radeon X1950XT-X silent heatpipe 512mb
Storyline.
Been away for two weeks always remove the HDs and place them away from the PC for security.
Get back home, plug the drives in and no boot drive found after running fixboot all working normally. Could be unrelated.
About a week later the PC just dies just as though someone has flicked the power switch. At the time I was gaming (BF2). The PC would not reboot. No graphics (no bios showing) Tried a few things but eventually turning the Power supply off and back on again, the bios showed. Then it would not recognise the master drive. When it did then it would not boot into windows. Eventually it booted into safe mode and then would boot into windows.
Did some investigate found the HDs had overheated due to the fans not being on. Sorted that out and made sure the HDs run cool (and still do). Thought that was the problem and put the PC back together.
Ran for 24hrs, then it did it again this time I was watching a movie. Again just like it had been turned off and on. And no reboot until I flicked the power supply.
Thinking it was the HD I removed the pair, rebuilt onto a spare sata drive and ran with this. A day later it does it again (whilst gaming)
Sometimes when its booting the screens do no show colours, or splits the screens or flashes colours (blue and red) this happens in bios and windows so is not drivers.
See .
http://www.dartmin.co.uk/Images/PCProblems-m1.avi
http://www.dartmin.co.uk/Images/PCProblems-m2.avi
With different issues and sometimes it hangs in different places
See
So ran both Prime95 and memtest for 12hrs Neither caused or reported errors
Moved back onto the original HDs
Problem occurred again whilst gaming !
Thought about reducing the video memory speed (even though I am not seeing GPU recoveries). Changing the memory by 1 or 2 mhz up or down will cause a reboot about 20% of the time. Or caused a glitch on screen
See
(see the line in the middle of the screen)
So now I am at the stage of
Normally work no issues
Gaming I may or may not get the fault.
If it reboots the bios will not show until the power supply it cycled.
Sometimes windows will not boot it hangs at the windows logos (the status bar still moving but will not load) 4/5 reboots and it goes in.
I still get the graphics glitches.
I am now looking at 1 of 3 items.
1. Graphics card, due to it being graphics related and my performance is cr4p
But I have run ati tool benchmark and check for artefacts and it does not happen.
And connect3d support are not sure.
2. PSU is it blipping
But I have check voltages in asus probe and do not see any
3. Motherboard is it the root of all evil
HELP
All items can be RMAd to the same supplier and I will buy a new item to swap out and try but do not want to buy all 3 if I can help it. But if I cannot replicate the fault I am concerned that the test for RMA may say there is not prob.
Because it is intermittent I dont want to have too much chaos
So if is the PSU I will buy the corsair 620w
Video I would buy a spare x1650xt to make do
And the mb would be another (non asus) 775 board but I would get another case for it to build it independent (and I hate swapping CPUs)
Any other suggestions for tests I can do!
I have may of missed things so if I say done it - sorry
PC Configuration all equipment about 6 months old.
Windows XP Pro fully patched.
Antec P180 case
Intel core 2 duo e6600 conroe cpu
Corsair 2gb dd2 XMS2 Twin X
WD 320GB Caviar (for data)
WD 150GB Raptor (for OS) both using WB secure SATA
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7
Sony DVD-rw and rom
ASUS P5W DH Deluxe
Antec Truepower Trio 550W
Connect 3D ATI Radeon X1950XT-X silent heatpipe 512mb
Storyline.
Been away for two weeks always remove the HDs and place them away from the PC for security.
Get back home, plug the drives in and no boot drive found after running fixboot all working normally. Could be unrelated.
About a week later the PC just dies just as though someone has flicked the power switch. At the time I was gaming (BF2). The PC would not reboot. No graphics (no bios showing) Tried a few things but eventually turning the Power supply off and back on again, the bios showed. Then it would not recognise the master drive. When it did then it would not boot into windows. Eventually it booted into safe mode and then would boot into windows.
Did some investigate found the HDs had overheated due to the fans not being on. Sorted that out and made sure the HDs run cool (and still do). Thought that was the problem and put the PC back together.
Ran for 24hrs, then it did it again this time I was watching a movie. Again just like it had been turned off and on. And no reboot until I flicked the power supply.
Thinking it was the HD I removed the pair, rebuilt onto a spare sata drive and ran with this. A day later it does it again (whilst gaming)
Sometimes when its booting the screens do no show colours, or splits the screens or flashes colours (blue and red) this happens in bios and windows so is not drivers.
See .
http://www.dartmin.co.uk/Images/PCProblems-m1.avi
http://www.dartmin.co.uk/Images/PCProblems-m2.avi
With different issues and sometimes it hangs in different places
See
So ran both Prime95 and memtest for 12hrs Neither caused or reported errors
Moved back onto the original HDs
Problem occurred again whilst gaming !
Thought about reducing the video memory speed (even though I am not seeing GPU recoveries). Changing the memory by 1 or 2 mhz up or down will cause a reboot about 20% of the time. Or caused a glitch on screen
See
(see the line in the middle of the screen)
So now I am at the stage of
Normally work no issues
Gaming I may or may not get the fault.
If it reboots the bios will not show until the power supply it cycled.
Sometimes windows will not boot it hangs at the windows logos (the status bar still moving but will not load) 4/5 reboots and it goes in.
I still get the graphics glitches.
I am now looking at 1 of 3 items.
1. Graphics card, due to it being graphics related and my performance is cr4p
But I have run ati tool benchmark and check for artefacts and it does not happen.
And connect3d support are not sure.
2. PSU is it blipping
But I have check voltages in asus probe and do not see any
3. Motherboard is it the root of all evil
HELP
All items can be RMAd to the same supplier and I will buy a new item to swap out and try but do not want to buy all 3 if I can help it. But if I cannot replicate the fault I am concerned that the test for RMA may say there is not prob.
Because it is intermittent I dont want to have too much chaos
So if is the PSU I will buy the corsair 620w
Video I would buy a spare x1650xt to make do
And the mb would be another (non asus) 775 board but I would get another case for it to build it independent (and I hate swapping CPUs)
Any other suggestions for tests I can do!
I have may of missed things so if I say done it - sorry
#2
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I think it's likely to be: (In order of likelyness)
- Heat related (most like CPU / RAM / Graphics) Modern sata disks don't usuallt get hot enough to be a problem.
- Power supply issues.
- Memory issues.
- Hard drive with swap drive failing
Solutions:
- Clean & visually inspect CPU/GFX/RAM check temps when gaming
- Beg / borrow a replacement PSU to test.
- download memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com/) and run it over night
- Check for latest BIOS & SATA drivers
- Download the WD drive testing software & run
- Heat related (most like CPU / RAM / Graphics) Modern sata disks don't usuallt get hot enough to be a problem.
- Power supply issues.
- Memory issues.
- Hard drive with swap drive failing
Solutions:
- Clean & visually inspect CPU/GFX/RAM check temps when gaming
- Beg / borrow a replacement PSU to test.
- download memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com/) and run it over night
- Check for latest BIOS & SATA drivers
- Download the WD drive testing software & run
#3
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After re-reading, could be memory on gfx also. Don't know how to test this.
And get latest GFX drivers etc
And get latest GFX drivers etc
Last edited by BlkKnight; 14 May 2007 at 01:59 PM.
#4
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I think it's likely to be: (In order of likelyness)
- Heat related (most like CPU / RAM / Graphics) Modern sata disks don't usuallt get hot enough to be a problem.
- Power supply issues.
- Memory issues.
- Hard drive with swap drive failing
Solutions:
- Clean & visually inspect CPU/GFX/RAM check temps when gaming
- Beg / borrow a replacement PSU to test.
- download memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com/) and run it over night
- Check for latest BIOS & SATA drivers
- Download the WD drive testing software & run
- Heat related (most like CPU / RAM / Graphics) Modern sata disks don't usuallt get hot enough to be a problem.
- Power supply issues.
- Memory issues.
- Hard drive with swap drive failing
Solutions:
- Clean & visually inspect CPU/GFX/RAM check temps when gaming
- Beg / borrow a replacement PSU to test.
- download memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com/) and run it over night
- Check for latest BIOS & SATA drivers
- Download the WD drive testing software & run
all blow cleaned and check for bulges - temps monitoring and ok when gaming.
will buy PSU if needed
done - ran for 12 hrs
bios updated - drivers updated - but happens outside of windows
WD lifeguard tools and diags ran - no issues returned
I am looking for tools like prime and memtest for the gfx memory
Thanks for the ideas
#5
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before you buy a new PSU , try removing all the components out of the case and set it up on a wooden table.
This will just check for any shorts that might be thermal expansion related.
This will just check for any shorts that might be thermal expansion related.
#6
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Two thoughts - I strongly think it will be PSU related. This can throw up all sorts of spurious errors.
Secondly, knowing your.. erm... prediliction for turning the air blue when things don't go *quite* according to plan; just how bad was it?
Secondly, knowing your.. erm... prediliction for turning the air blue when things don't go *quite* according to plan; just how bad was it?
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