[potter]

System Specs
- XFX GeForce 8800GTS 640MB DVIx2 TVO PCI-E
- Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13ghz - Skt775 Fsb1066 2mb Cache Boxed In
- ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium/WiFi AP LGA 775 Supreme FX Audio Card ATX
- Corsair (TWIN2X2048-6400PRO) XMS2-6400 2048MB 5-5-5-12 2X240 DIMM Platinum XMS2 Heat Spreader with activity LEDs
- Coolermaster eXtreme Power 650W PSU - ATX 12V V2.01 120mm Fan 20+4pin
- x2 Western Digital 250GB SATA Hard Drives
- Windows XP Professional

I recently built a new computer and I have had countless problems with it. However two particular problems have really gotten me stuck. Any help would really be appreciated!

The first problem I am having is installing certain software and downloading stuff that takes up a decent ammount of hard drive space. For some reason it turns out corrupt, or I cannot complete the installation. One game in particular I am having problems with is World of Warcraft. I have downloaded the trial copy countless of times, and installed the game from my CDs and I keep getting the same error, claiming that there is an issue with my RAM or Hard Drive. I spoke on the phone to Blizzard Support (Company that owns World of Warcraft) and they claimed it was my computer and not a problem with the copy of the game. So I ran the memtest86 which they suggested and a disk check and it came up with zero errors on both. I have downloaded other software, for example the nvidia tempreture monitoring programme, and that wouldnt install because of corruption errors. I have tried to transfer stuff from my other computer to my new one in RAR format, and the files would not unpack because of CRC errors. I am really stumped. I have tried removing one of the hard drives and installing it on the other one and I still got the same errors. I did that with both Hard Drives, I also did the same with my RAM. I am really not to sure what to do.

The other problem I am having is random shut downs. At first I thought it was windows causing the PC to shut down so I turned off auto restart, but it still shuts down as if somone pulled the plug (No BSOD). This only occurs when I am playing games, I can leave the computer on all day with no problems but as soon as I load a game like Half-Life or Doom3, it shuts the thing down after about 30 minutes, and progressivly gets worse. The computer is running at a decent tempreture, nothing out of the ordinary. I have absoulotly no idea what could be causing it.

If anyone can help with either of theese problems I would really appreciate it!

Thanks
- Potter :1angel:

 

[linderman]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news and I will probally need a cannon plunger to get you to swallow your PSU is most likely your culprit.

There is no bigger rip off in the computer market than PSU makers there is no real standard to keep their testing methods on a level palying field.

They test their units at 20C when the real internal box temps are more like 40C dont forget @ 52C most all PSU's do an auto shutdown


its not uncommon to see real world testers bench test units that claim to be 600 watts to find out they really put out 430 watts!

to verify some of this info: you could try removing the side cover off your computer and blow a house fan into the box. Run the computer, see if its less flaky than usual. The reduced heat present in the box should make the PSU's voltage stay stable longer than you are accustomed to.

if you notice an improvement then I suggest you buy yourself an Antec 650 tri rail PSU they are top notch unit that are 85% efficient and have active PFC they run about $108.00 after rebate at newegg.com you could also check zipzoomfly.com and tigerdirect.com

 

[linderman]

Model RP-650-PCAR (Regular)
Type ATX from factor 12V V2.01
Input Voltage 90~132V / 180~260 V (Selectable)
Input Current [email protected]
Input Frequency Range 47~63Hz
Fan Sleeve bearing 120mm fan
Power Good Signal 100-500ms
Hold Up Time >17ms
Efficiency >70%
typically MTBF >100,000 hrs
Protection OVP / OPP / Short Circuit Protection
Dimension Standard ATX PS2 150 x 140 x 86 mm
Operation Temperature 5~50 C
Safety Nemko / TUV / cUL / CE / BSMI / FCC / CCC
UPC Code RP-650-PCAR - 870423002536

no active PFC >>>>>> these are the signs to look for in a high quality unit you should be looking for 85% efficiency not 70%
and the shutdown threshold of 50C is lower than normal :sigh:

here is a review for that unit: Quote:
Though it didn't have the most stellar results coming out of the gate, or the most comforting design, Cooler Master's eXtreme Power Duo 650W is a fairly good buy for the price. Generally, it seems to be a power supply for gamers on the go - its compact size and light weight will help it to fit into any system, though its lack of expansion options is slightly disappointing. Overall, it's a good buy for users that are just like its performance - in the middle of the road between user and enthusiast, who need something reliable to power their machine, that won't add a burden to their wallets, or arms for that matter.

This is about as lack luster a review as you will ever read; it means it didnt catch on fire while testing!

 

[potter]

I see, well that sounds like it could be my problem!
I will see about replaceing the power supply and write back with any results I get back here.

Thanks for the help!

 

[potter]

Ok, I took it to my local computer shop for them to look over the problem on Monday, they installed the power supply you suggested and they said everything was working fine. I asked if any problems were still happening and they had (forgotten) about some of the problems involved.

They continued checking stuff out and they then phoned me up today and said the CPU was damaged when installed and that was the problem, and it was working fine with the old PSU.

Im a bit confused if the CPU could of been the problem or not, and I would like a second opinion before I send any parts back. Or buy a new CPU or PSU. I don't know who to believe or what to do :4-dontkno

Thanks,
- potter

 

[linderman]

well, you could RMA your CPU for diagnostic testing ???? I personally would stick with your new PSU and sell off your original on ebay Your new unit is alot higher in quality than the original one,


are your problems gone now ?????



FWIW: a cpu usually either works or it doesnt the only error I have ever seen happen when installing a cpu is bent pins, if that was the case it would not have started! very seldom is the problem a bad CPU I generally sell and service about 60 computers per year; I may see one bad CPU and thats generally an overclocker fryer or messed up cpu pins????


your call its hard to tell ??????

 

[kev1952]

As Joe mentioned, CPU's usually work or don't work. There isn't any "middle" ground with a CPU.

.... said the CPU was damaged when installed ....

This is just plain hogwash unless THEY damaged it when installing it at the shop. If it had been damaged earlier (bent pin maybe) then it simply wouldn't have worked at all. Go with the new PSU and keep your original CPU.

 

[PanamaGal]

I have to agree with Joe and Kev, as it sounds like you've run into a shop where they either don't know what they are doing, or trying to rip you off. A CPU will either work or not, with a bent pin(s) not allowing for working some of the time. It will either work or it won't. I also vote for you to keep the new power supply and your old CPU. Computer shops like that tend to give good and honest ones a bad name. Too bad.

 

[potter]

Thanks Joe, Kev, PanamaGal,

The shop had swapped out the original PSU for the Antec unit Joe suggested and reported back two days later that all was okay - until I asked them about the three specifics that I'd reported when I took it in.. games not installing and others falling over after an hour or so; XP default theme not loading properly and the PC crashing to a black desktop with small icons when this was altered... these were the 'forgotten' problems I mentioned in my last - and very hasty post!

Had a call on Thursday telling me that the problem had again been eradicated.. this time due to a faulty drive in the RAID 0 array that wasn't mirroring properly and thus causing all the problems - tried to explain that RAID 0 doesn't mirror but gave up and suggested that if they were that concerned they could set the drives up as two separates... :smile:

Call came on Friday I believe saying that the fault was actually my CPU so they'd swapped it out with one from one of their machines, put my original PSU back in - and all was hunky dorey... seems I damaged the CPU when I installed it... grrrrrr... as you say.. damaged CPUs don't run.. not to the extent of running Half Life 2 for an hour anyhow!

Wish me luck, I'm off in the morning to insist on the original CPU being refitted together with the requested PSU while I wait and then test them!

Cheers!

 

[linderman]

good luck these endeavors are not fun.


the hard drive problems does sound correct as far as corrupting data and so forth ????


keep us posted and we wish you a speedy as well as satisfactory resolution!

 

[floydfan]

i have a feeling that they bent a bunch of cpu pins when taking off the heatsink, and are probably trying to blame it on you. either that, or your heatsink was poorly mounted and the overheating protection was going off, and theyre just trying to fool you into buying a new cpu, and keeping the old one. that store seems really fishy.

 

[linderman]

I just cant swallow a CPU that runs but is defective? end of story


and NO WAY one that will game for an hour and its a bad cpu! just dont happen that way :laugh:

 

[kev1952]

Good luck with it, Potter. We'd be interested in the outcome of this story.:smile:

 

[potter]

now there's 'interesting'....

called at the shop, put the PC through its paces - and couldn't fault it... so in the end took the easy option, payed for the new CPU and bought the old one home... at least my wife won't (i hope!) be able to argue too much when I tell her i'll have to upgrade my PC as otherwise the money i gave the shop will go to waste! :laugh:

in the meantime the old CPU is being RMAd.. just in case! :grin:

Thanks everyone for all your help and support.. I won't ask how a WD 2500 SATA drive has just become 150Gb when formatted.... :1angel: