New build not working up to expectations

Fearsoldier · 02-07-2008, 02:06 PM

Hello, I am not computer illiterate, I have plenty of experience with hardware and software. I previously had a P4 3.4 GHz 2gb machine, crappy old nvidia dvi video card, and it didn't run World of Warcraft even with graphics settings at their worst.

So I built a new computer, not bad, all in all $1000.

Motherboard: Gigabyte S-Series GA-M57SLI-S4 (SLI Support)
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4000+ (2.12 GHz)
Memory: 4x1GB DDR2 PC3200
Graphics Card: GeForce 8600GT 512MBx2 (Connected with SLI Bridge)
Hard Drive: 500gb SATA Western Digital
Operating System: Windows Vista 32bit

Yes I know I don't have a 64bit operating system so all 4 gigs of ram aren't being utilized.

My computer runs fine, it runs better than my old on. However still on games and stuff I get choppiness, and load times are ridiculous, graphics on some applications can't even be turned to max because I still get choppy.

Video card drivers are up-to-date and SLI support is enabled.

Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong. All my hardware initializes and runs without error.

HawMan · 02-07-2008, 02:19 PM

What psu you using?

Fearsoldier · 02-07-2008, 02:31 PM

500 Watt PSCI-500BLK

Falconoffury · 02-07-2008, 02:57 PM

Try taking out a memory module and see if that helps. I recall it helping someone in the past with Vista 32-bit.

HawMan · 02-07-2008, 03:28 PM

my guess is that your underpowered and the cards arnt getting enough 'juice' therefor they are not giving you their full potential.

I would look at the Antec trio 550W

Fearsoldier · 02-07-2008, 04:05 PM

I thought of the power supply at first but nvidia has warnings in their firmware that alert you when your cards aren't getting enough power, is their a watt tester I could download that would see just how much I am gonna need to get, because I will get another psu that is no problem, I just don't wanna go underpowered again.

HawMan · 02-07-2008, 04:10 PM

The only calculator i know of is :

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/p...ulatorlite.jsp

Which requires you to put in the system specs ( I dont bother with the floppys, LEDs etc ).

u551 · 02-07-2008, 04:13 PM

I dont really have any expirience or knowledge about this but do you have the AMD Dual Core Optimizer installed?

Fearsoldier · 02-07-2008, 04:34 PM

No I do not, what exactly does it do and where can I find it?

Also I ran the test, comes back with 416 watts at recommended run capacity, and at full capacity it is only 426 watts.

u551 · 02-07-2008, 04:42 PM

Link to download the optimizer: http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...ties/Setup.exe

You can google for info.

Fearsoldier · 02-07-2008, 08:35 PM

Installed but doesnt seem to do anything at all, restarted and still runs exactly the same

Fearsoldier · 02-14-2008, 08:12 PM

Can someone help me out any further? It is just weird, everything shows up fine.

dai · 02-17-2008, 10:32 AM

426+30%=568w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371001

Fearsoldier · 02-18-2008, 12:22 PM

why 30%?

**Jtsou** · 02-18-2008, 12:49 PM

Sort of an insurance for power fluctuations i think.

dai · 02-18-2008, 04:24 PM

the 30% is to allow for the inefficency of the psu
i.e.
a 600w with an efficency rating of 75% equates out to 450w
Power Supply Information and Selection

**linderman** · 02-18-2008, 05:47 PM

also try running your system with two gigs of memory instead of 4

I would defintely get a better quality PSU !!

**linderman** · 02-18-2008, 05:49 PM

also try running your system with two gigs of memory instead of 4

I would defintely get a better quality PSU !!

I am shocked you can run your system in SLI with that PSU at all >>>>> but you will fry something if you continue with such a marginal quality and size power supply!

**speedster123** · 02-18-2008, 06:29 PM

that 650 trio will not get any cheaper, the 550 trio is actually more money now and too borderline for the system.

02-07-2008, 02:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fearsoldier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32Bit	New build not working up to expectations Hello, I am not computer illiterate, I have plenty of experience with hardware and software. I previously had a P4 3.4 GHz 2gb machine, crappy old nvidia dvi video card, and it didn't run World of Warcraft even with graphics settings at their worst. So I built a new computer, not bad, all in all $1000. Motherboard: Gigabyte S-Series GA-M57SLI-S4 (SLI Support) Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4000+ (2.12 GHz) Memory: 4x1GB DDR2 PC3200 Graphics Card: GeForce 8600GT 512MBx2 (Connected with SLI Bridge) Hard Drive: 500gb SATA Western Digital Operating System: Windows Vista 32bit Yes I know I don't have a 64bit operating system so all 4 gigs of ram aren't being utilized. My computer runs fine, it runs better than my old on. However still on games and stuff I get choppiness, and load times are ridiculous, graphics on some applications can't even be turned to max because I still get choppy. Video card drivers are up-to-date and SLI support is enabled. Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong. All my hardware initializes and runs without error.

02-07-2008, 02:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
HawMan Liam Join Date: May 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,940 OS: Win XP My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations What psu you using? __________________ Please Consider Donating to keep the site free.

02-07-2008, 02:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fearsoldier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32Bit	Re: New build not working up to expectations 500 Watt PSCI-500BLK

02-07-2008, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Falconoffury Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 190 OS: XP Professional sp2 My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations Try taking out a memory module and see if that helps. I recall it helping someone in the past with Vista 32-bit.

02-07-2008, 03:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
HawMan Liam Join Date: May 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,940 OS: Win XP My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations my guess is that your underpowered and the cards arnt getting enough 'juice' therefor they are not giving you their full potential. I would look at the Antec trio 550W __________________ Please Consider Donating to keep the site free.

02-07-2008, 04:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fearsoldier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32Bit	Re: New build not working up to expectations I thought of the power supply at first but nvidia has warnings in their firmware that alert you when your cards aren't getting enough power, is their a watt tester I could download that would see just how much I am gonna need to get, because I will get another psu that is no problem, I just don't wanna go underpowered again.

02-07-2008, 04:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
HawMan Liam Join Date: May 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,940 OS: Win XP My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations The only calculator i know of is : http://www.extreme.outervision.com/p...ulatorlite.jsp Which requires you to put in the system specs ( I dont bother with the floppys, LEDs etc ). __________________ Please Consider Donating to keep the site free.

02-07-2008, 04:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
u551 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 197 OS: WinXP, sp2 My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations I dont really have any expirience or knowledge about this but do you have the AMD Dual Core Optimizer installed?

02-07-2008, 04:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fearsoldier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32Bit	Re: New build not working up to expectations No I do not, what exactly does it do and where can I find it? Also I ran the test, comes back with 416 watts at recommended run capacity, and at full capacity it is only 426 watts. Last edited by Fearsoldier; 02-07-2008 at 04:37 PM.

02-07-2008, 04:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
u551 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 197 OS: WinXP, sp2 My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations Link to download the optimizer: http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...ties/Setup.exe You can google for info.

02-07-2008, 08:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
Fearsoldier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32Bit	Re: New build not working up to expectations Installed but doesnt seem to do anything at all, restarted and still runs exactly the same

02-14-2008, 08:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fearsoldier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32Bit	Re: New build not working up to expectations Can someone help me out any further? It is just weird, everything shows up fine.

02-17-2008, 10:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,629 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: New build not working up to expectations 426+30%=568w http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371001 __________________

02-18-2008, 12:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
Fearsoldier Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32Bit	Re: New build not working up to expectations why 30%?

02-18-2008, 12:49 PM	#15 (permalink)
Jtsou Hardware Specialist Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Louisburg, NC Posts: 1,214 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1 My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations Sort of an insurance for power fluctuations i think.

02-18-2008, 04:24 PM	#16 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,629 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: New build not working up to expectations the 30% is to allow for the inefficency of the psu i.e. a 600w with an efficency rating of 75% equates out to 450w Power Supply Information and Selection __________________

02-18-2008, 05:47 PM	#17 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations also try running your system with two gigs of memory instead of 4 I would defintely get a better quality PSU !! __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

02-18-2008, 05:49 PM	#18 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: New build not working up to expectations also try running your system with two gigs of memory instead of 4 I would defintely get a better quality PSU !! I am shocked you can run your system in SLI with that PSU at all >>>>> but you will fry something if you continue with such a marginal quality and size power supply! __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

02-18-2008, 06:29 PM	#19 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,223 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: New build not working up to expectations that 650 trio will not get any cheaper, the 550 trio is actually more money now and too borderline for the system. __________________