avrus96

Hello, Everyone
I feel that I know my way around computer hardware, yet I have a strange problem that has compelled me to join this forum, and hope that you will be able to help me.

It's sort of a long story, but I should start it by describing my system:
Intel Pentium D 2.8Ghz
2GB DDR2 667 Memory
Nvidia Geforce 8800GT 512MB
500W XION PSU
Gigabyte nForce4 SLI Intel Edition Mobo
7200RPM Western Digital SATA HDD
Windows 7 RC1 Build 7100

And that I have been enjoying games such as CoD4, L4D, and most recently, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood at maximum detail settings at high framerates. I'll use Call of Juarez as the reference for the remainder of the description.

(In this game, I used to get 40-60fps at max settings)

Now is where the story begins.. 2 days ago, I decided to hook up a second LCD monitor to my 8800gt's second output. I installed several programs similar to SpeedFan to record temperature data on this second display while playing games. I noticed soon after launching call of juarez, however, that the framerate had dropped significantly. Even in the menu. Ingame, the framerate dropped to 8-15fps, and the whole engine seemed to be in slow-motion. This did not alarm me, at first, because I assumed that it was the stress of displaying the second monitor's image, and the various temperature readings/graphs were to blame.

So, after playing around w/ dualview and clone mode some more, I disconnected the second display.

I soon did become alarmed, however, when upon relaunching call of juarez, I noticed that the performance had stayed the same! I getting 12-16fps as opposed to the previous 40+!

In the following hours, I uninstalled and reinstalled most of my Nvidia drivers, motherboard drivers, and unused programs. The side effect of this was that when I decided to use System Restore, I found all restore points before the 1st day overwritten, and resorted to a clean installation of Windows 7.

This proved simple enough, and after installing current Nvidia drivers, DirectX, Motherboard drivers, and Call of Juarez, I launched the game and honestly wasn't surprised to see no difference in performance.

It's also important to note that throughout the whole ordeal I am positive that my Pentium D 820 never exceeded 75ºC. Although high, this processor idles around 60ºC, and has been for about 2.5 years.

Also, I keep mentioning the processor, I realize that the problem may originate from something else. It's just that the (notorious) Windows Experience Index, which rated most of my components around 5.8 and my processor at 4.9 previously now rates my processor at a static 3.7 with no change to the other scores. I should also state that load times for all games have increased almost twofold.

I feel that I've already written too much, but I feel that it is worth it if anyone here can provide help, especially if they are familiar with a problem so new to me.

Lord Sirian

Your CPU idling at 60C is not a good thing. The overheating problem is probably caused by your low quality PSU.

Download Everest from here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

And SensorsView from here:

http://www.stvsoft.com/SensorsViewPro21Setup.exe

Use them to check your PSU voltages and then post them back here.

dai

upgrade your psu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w

redo the paste on the cpu with some arctic silver

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

blow any dust out with a can of air

avrus96

Thanks for the responses.

Well, I am using Arctic Silver right now.. and I guess my PSU is low quality.
I think I've got an extra one laying around somewhere and I'll be sure to try it out.

My current temps are:


Again, thanks a lot for responding. I'll post whether or not it worked later today.

avrus96

Well it worked! Game performance is how I remember it, and the WEI CPU score is up to 4.5. I really should invest in a non-generic PSU in the immediate future (the one I just threw in was 430W), and I'm happy to see temps back to a 45ºC Idle.

Also, if anyone has the time, I would enjoy hearing an explanation of how a cheap PSU's low/high/inconsistent voltages can affect CPU temperature and performance.

Anyway, thanks a ton!

Zombiemold

I am having this EXACT same problem, I was so stoked to see my problem almost step for step explained here. I too would also like to know why the PSU would effect the heat of the CPU etc.

It perplexes me because I suspected it was the PSU that was the issue, so I took everything out of the computer that I wasn't exactly using (Stripped it even cleaner than it was when it was stock) and the issue persisted, so Im asuimg my PSU has permenant damage now?

dai

the harder a psu works from the demands put on it causes it to generate heat which flows through the system
although you see underpowered psu working fine
that is until it comes to a point where it gives up the ghost
if you are lucky you just lose the psu
if you are unlucky it can take a lot more with it
a couple of months ago i had a quality silverstone causing around $2000 damage throughout the house
no computers were on
it took my psu and ups
the whole of my daughters computer
damaged the paytv box
and the wireless doorbell
the house saftey switch goes out in millionths of a second but it was not quick enough because the problem started inside not coming i from the outside