Dave-Mastor

Hello all, I've come here for help with a problem that I've had for since I got the computer. Roughly six months ago I had a man that I know custom build a computer for me, this computer is mainly for Gaming, but also for work in 3ds Max.

Since day one with the computer I've been plagued with this strange problem, I don't know what causes it, nor does the man I bought it from. There also doesn't seem to be any information about it on the net either.

So, this is the problem: In any fairly new, high-end game, from Oblivion to World in Conflict, to Unreal Tournament III, I've been plagued with strange freezing issues. The game will run fine for any where to five minutes to an hour, when suddenly the display will freeze.

Usually the audio holds for a few seconds and then resumes (Most of the times only the background music and maybe ambient noises.) for a few more, before stopping completely. The display will remain frozen, no input works. If you move the mouse around and click it a few times, even though the display is still frozen, the computer will beep once.

I'm forced to hard-reset the computer. Needless to say, it completely ruins any gaming.

I don't think it's temperature, even when the case is open and I have a powerful desk fan blowing directly into it, it will still freeze. Not to mention any temperature program reads about 70c even during gaming.

My specs are:
Windows XP32 SP2
NZXT HUSH Case
Nvidia Foxconn 8800 GTX (768Mb)
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz
4GB of Ram (2x 2Gb) (Capped at 3.5 because of XP32)
Supernova 600Watt Powersupply.

Thanks for your time!

manic

Im skeptical of the power supply.
Have you ran memtest? Are you sure of the temps?
Run speedfan, or something that temp seems a little hot. If under
load if it varies much more you will be crashing.

Dave-Mastor

Really? At only 70c? Even when the computer is idling, and with the desk fan, it's still kicking around 65c. What are the optimum temperatures.

I have the fans set to run at %100 percent, at all times. The computer came with speed fan. Though I can't remember exactly what temps it gave me, I'm pretty sure it was in the range of the other programs I used... like nTune.

I actually don't think it's the RAM, I run some pretty heavy scenes in 3ds Max, which use up a ton of ram, and never freezes. Though I can't be sure, as I don't know how to run memtest, as I don't have a floppy drive. Is it possible to run it with a USB drive? if so, could someone tell me how?

Dave-Mastor

Can't anyone help me with this? It's really a big problem for me... on a computer that can play Crysis on max, I can't play any games at all! I really need some help!

manic

My pc at idle stays at around 40c. Im running a prescott cpu, which
are famous for being hot, and they were built I guess to take it.
Ive never had a problem. But if my cpu even though is a prescott
idled at 70, or 65c I would be worried.

Dave-Mastor

well, I could be wrong... it may be the GPU that's idling at that. SpeedFan should tell me what the processor is running at, right?

manic

It should. Everest will tell you to. Only idle temps though. Download
everest, free, install it. Then click on computer, then sensor it
will give you all of the idle temps, and show voltages coming from
your power supply...

Dave-Mastor

Here's what it's giving me:
Motherboard: 30C
Aux: 39C
GPU: 66C
And then what apears to by my hard drive at 28C.

Do you want the voltages?

manic

What are the voltages

Dave-Mastor

CPU Core: 1.14 V
+2.5 V: 1.90 V
+3.3 V: 3.28 V
+5 V: 4.97 V
+12 V: 2.56 V
+5 v Standby: 5.08 V
VBAT Battery; 3.31 V

manic

See where it says +12 V: 2.56 V? Is that a typo? That should be
reading from a range of 11.80 volts to 12 volts, maybe a little lower is
ok on the low side, and a little higher on the high side, but not
2.56volts. If that is not a typo Im suprised its even running.

Dave-Mastor

Not a typo; I thought that was a problem when I was reading it off... so what does it mean? Is there a fix?

manic

If nothing got damaged by the flakey psu, a new psu is in order.
I like this one, great price after mail in rebate..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006
Dont be fooled by big wattage cheapo psu's, if so you will be right
back where you started, or worse fried mobo....

Dave-Mastor

Will it fit? I'm not sure how big my old one is...

manic

You have a mid tower case, should not be a problem. Just be careful
as with anything when installing. Psu's are pretty standard when it
comes to size, some might be fatter, or a little longer, but will still
bolt up ok. I would not run that pc anymore. One zap and you will
be ordering a mobo. You may have already damaged it.

Dave-Mastor

Awww... foo. I hope nothings fried. Strange, I would exactly consider the other PSU Cheep, it was $109... not much less than what the new one would cost.

Alright, thanks a ton! I'll post back when I got the new one installed and tested to see if it's fixed.

Thanks again!

manic

Ok,,good luck,,

Dave-Mastor

Well....

It didn't work. The power supply arrived, I installed it... it's still holding at 2.37V.

I'm going to check to see if it's some strange bios settings or something

Dave-Mastor

It wasn't any strange bios settings or anything. I suppose this means it's the motherboard then?

Also, just out of curiosity, this is the 12v_ATX connector we're talking about?

manic

I would venture to guess the board is toast....