advice please on fixing old pc or getting a new one

vts69

vts69

vts69

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18 Dec 2010
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6
Hi

I would very much appreciate your advice on my situation (and apologies for the long post!):

I currently have a:

Processor * Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Quad Core Processor 2.66Ghz, 6MB Cache
Motherboard * XFX 750i SLI Motherboard
Memory * 4GB Expandable to 8GB
Hard Drive * 1TB (1xTB) SATA300 Hard Drive
Optical Drive * 20 x Super multi DVDRW
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Graphics * 2 x nVIDIA GeForce GTS250 512MB DDR3 Graphics Cards
with a monitor running 1920x1200

Which has worked fine for maybe 2 years but occasionally it started freezing up playing games. Now I recently started getting 3-4 beeps on POST. Then the PC stopped booting at all and Vista couldn't successfully repair itself - 'Bad Driver...'. So I got a new HD (OCX Vertex 2 120Gb :) )and a copy of Win 7 upgrade.

After installing the new HD and putting Win 7 on it I still get 3-4 beeps on POST. According to AMI codes this means probably RAM or maybe motherboard. I have swapped the RAM sticks around individually in all 4 slots and all ways get 3-4 beeps. I ran memtest86 and it was still passing after 4 times. However Prime95 goes 1-5 mins before getting BSOD. And it's crashing now using normal apps so it's about to die.

So I'm unsure if the solution is to replace RAM, or if it's actually the motherboard or I read it could be PSU too. Question 1: Does anyone know ways to tell for certain which it of these it might/might not be before I start getting replacement bits?

e.g. I can't see a socket 775 ddr2 SLI in the motherboards list here but maybe I'm blind ;) Q2: If there is one still made, what MB/PSU/RAM should I get?

Failing that, do I have bits worth rebuilding round? I haven't built my own rig in years so would I be best to go pre-built with the current best vfm cpu/graphics card and bin this old one?

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
Hi there, Welcome to the forums :)

Have you tried installing just one RAM stick, then seeing if the system is stable? Also, have you gone into the BIOS and set the specified RAM frequency, voltage and timings manually - often these are very different from the default ones and can cause problems.

May I ask what make and model PSU have you got?

As for a new motherboard - getting a good DDR2 s775 board with SLI is tough. The best one is pretty much the 780i - and that is only "OK". However, I would only go down that route if you PC can't be fixed, if the mobo is faulty then you should be able to get a replacement from XFX (3 year warranty).
 
Have you measured the PSU voltages with a multimeter? If so, what readings are you getting on the 5v (red wire), 12v (yellow) and 3v (orange) lines? Also what are the readings while sat in the BIOS?

Or even simpler, just try another PSU and see what happens.
 
If i remember correctly 1 long and 3 short beeps on boot is a display card fault, which sounds closer to your 4 beeps than a memory faulty which im sure is 1 very long beep that repeats.
(obviously I don't know your motherboard and the beep codes may be different)

As you have 2 x nVIDIA GeForce GTS250 512MB DDR3 Graphics Cards, theres a possibily one is faulty or maybe just has developed a poor connection.

May be worth trying to run the system with just 1 display card installed and then swap to the other, see if the error beeps only occur with one of the card's.
If it does, you may have your culprit , if it doesnt beep with either in a single card configuration , put both back in and see if the error returns.

I have seen many error's dissappear over the years just by reseating all components in a PC
 
Last edited:
Thanks all for your quick replies and ideas.

I've tried all combos of the ram sticks in the 4 sockets so it's either both RAM (made by Rendition?) or the motherboard. Or both.

The PSU is a Sweex 650W Low Noise. It certainly was low noise but a quick google mentions some review problems so it could be that failing. In BIOS the voltages are in line, with CPU temp very low. I did try with a gpu disconnected but no difference so I don't think it's a lack of power...

I don't have another PSU so I didn't try that.

So I tried disconnecting the SLI and swapping 1 GPU in either socket. I thought this was a great chance because I realised the first card presses against the memory a little. But unfortunately no change.

I once before had a machine I ended up replacing everything on as it turned out the mobo was at fault.

I've emailed all this to the supplier so I'll try to see if they will do anything.

Looks like a similar mobo will be hard to get, so if I need to get a new cpu and memory as a result I may as well just new-build?

Cheers
V
 
Hmm so I'm thinking let's try self build but replacing mobo with a newer one so I need new ram and cpu too, and I want to be safe with a high level psu too:

Mobo: Asus P7P55D-E Intel P55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-389-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1495

cpu i5 760: Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz (Lynnfield) (Socket LGA1156) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-339-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1672

cpu cooler: Corsair A50 High-Performance CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/AM3/LGA775/LGA1156/LGA1366) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-001-CS&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=

RAM DDR3: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-203-CS&tool=3

PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro Modular 850W Power Supply http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-193-CM&tool=3

That should hopefully get me up and running again, I will keep my old GTS250 graphics for a bit and upgrade that later, I can't stretch to a gtx570 right now but soon hopefully.

Will that all work together ok?

Cheers
V
 
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