[SOLVED] Need hardware diagnostic help... please!

[ANAKHA88]

My new computer has been driving me nuts since i put it together, all the new games (WIC, Far cry 2, GTA IV) had been stuttering constantly like a lurch at the same interval in time ,("benny hill effect"). I fixed them by setting manual affinity but this is a sacrifice, and for GTA IV its not a viable option. I really want this resolved, I'll list my specs and cross them off one at a time time i find the culprit, I think its the cpu but am starting to think it may be the psu or HDD. Please, please help!

AMD athlon 64 x2 6000+ 3.1Ghz
4GB c5300 Corsair RAM
Radeon 4850HD 512MB
Western Digital 250GB HDD 7200rpm 16MB cache
Corsair 550W PSU
Vista Prem 64

[pharoah]

have you tried the amd dual core optimizer

[Tiber Septim]

Hi.
Have you tried the AMD dual core optimizer?

Use GPU-Z and CoreTemp, both in my signature, to check your system temps when idle, then load up a game for a few minutes, tab out and check them again.
Post both sets of figures back here so we can check them.

I think you may need a better Power Supply though.
I'm assuming you are using the Corsair VX550W found here.
I'd say your system is overdrawing and the PSU can't handle it.

[dai]

what does the bios list for your cpu temperature

[ANAKHA88]

Ok just got up, will try now, idle temp seems to be ~46.5 Average both cores, the loading is high at idle though because of 2 svchost's (30%), These are legit though but still use too much cpu time. Ill check the temps at load.

[pharoah]

tiber and myself both posted a link for the dual core optimizer.be sure to post back,and let us know how that helps if any.

[ANAKHA88]

Ok at 100% load i didn't hit 60*C, core 1 didnt even go over 55. Oh and yes i have tried the dual core optimiser, installed it let it sit there, (doesnt do anything when i click it, think its supposed to though). I'll make a better description of my problem in gameplay, World in conflict for example, the cutscenes flying over with the camera have jumps or lurches every second or so consistently, same goes for most games when running on both cores.

[pharoah]

dual core optimizer just runs in the background.you dont open it like a program.what it does it solve a time stamp problem between the 2 cores.which this is mainly for gaming.the lurching you describe even sounds like the problem that the optimizer solves.like tiber said it could also be a power problem.

[ANAKHA88]

So can i cross RAM and hard drive of the culprits list? And GPU? I would have thought it would be a cpu fault because games work on single core?

[pharoah]

possibly yes! what kind of virus program do you have?also do you have it running while playing games?some av software is infamous for eatting up resources.also do you do regular disc cleanup's,and defragments?

[ANAKHA88]

I have semi solved one problem, the svchost.exe eating away my cpu, i disabled all sound devices and one of them is the culprit, i think its the realtek drivers, ill try playing gta now with the extra 20% cpu power, no sound though.

Yeah i didnt think that'd work, ill try enabling the most basic sound drivers and see if the svchost starts chewing away again. I have AVG free, Spybot S&D and Windows defender, they are not eating resources though, no wait avg scan just kicked in so technically ill have to eat my words. But no not usually, svchost was the cpu hog and from other info i think its the realtek drivers.

Heres one for ya, the culprit for hte cpu usage was winfast audio drivers (tv tuner), so thats fixedish, but now fraps is showing a wave pattern in gameplay with the lurches, never did this before but now it seems to actually show the frame rate flux (kinda like this --> ^^^^^^), gameplay has improved nonetheless. Ok so what ive gathered is i should try a bigger psu with, quoting jeremy clarkson, MORE POWER!!! yay/nay?

Further study shows the high rises (3-4 fraps) cause a skip or too, which doesnt make any sense, i did see this on another forum ages ago but didnt think it applied, well now i think it does, ill chase it up now and i think i'm getting closer!!! (Aren't you excited too) Thanks for your help aswell though pharoah and tiberius... wait is that from morrowind?

If anyone is still reading this playing far cry 2 on both cores seems stutter free (moreso than normal) but the fraps on the keyboard lcd shows this ^^^^\/^^^^\/ (max
~45 fps) dropping to 0 every 10 seconds (\/) without really affecting gameplay. It didnt used to be like this untill i fixed the svchost.

[pharoah]

you may be on to something with that.have you tried updating your sound drivers?

[ANAKHA88]

Yes i tried updating everything, im now just trying to find the page i found ages ago with the same problem having no luck though. Hopefully fix this by the tim ethe cricket comes on.

[Mcninjaguy]

I wouldn't dare touch svchost at all

if you want to mess around with services type this into the start menu
msconfig

get a better PSU no less than 700w

[ANAKHA88]

I wasnt messing with services i found what was making the service eat my cpu, new problem, discs aren't being recognised asa there put in the drive? The only thing i have done is disable some audio drivers for winfast (tv tuner software), which was the step that fixed the svchost. Not a big problem but odd.

[ANAKHA88]

While playing fc2 i opened task manager and started killing excess processes, the second one i killed was winfast, also the tv tuner card related, downside its made the svchost munch away again, but it did stop the heart scanner effect in fraps(^^^\/^^^\/^^^\/). During writing this the svchost seems to be settling down. Ill do more testing, i still think this may be software related and not psu. We'll see.

[Mcninjaguy]

even if there are no effects with your PSU now, it won't last as long as you would like it to

[ANAKHA88]

Would this, Corsair HX-620 ATX, be an adequate upgrade?

[grimx133]

The 620HX has 3 x 12volt rails at 18 amps each, since you don't just add them up to get usable power, it's roughly equivalent to your 550VX, which has a single 41amp 12volt rail.

You be much better off with at least the 650TX, with the 750TX preferred. Give you some headroom for expansion and since you wouldn't be taxing the psu as much, it would run cooler and quieter.

At this point, the deal is on one of the PC P&C 750 watters. Amazing deal after rebate. 70 bucks, and free shipping. Unfortunately, it ends tomorrow, though like missing the bus, another one will be along. Oh yah, it's got 60 amps on a single 12 volt rail, just like the 750TX, and PC P&C makes excellent psu's and are known for great customer service.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341011

[Mcninjaguy]

I've been recommending PC P&C PSU for a while now its a great buy, if your feeling compulsive gobble up that deal!

cuz you know thats how we roll! lol recommending good buys and is what we do.