Component Abnormalities

[Vesper]

Hello!

Recently, i've been having very...abnormal effects on my PC after a recent purchase I made for my PC after some suggestions from members on this forum.

I recently bought, and added a Radeon HD5850 to my PC and it's been performing alright but I feel that it can perform a lot better (Or so I was told).

The issue i'm having is that a lot of games tend to stutter, freeze up, and lock, sometimes my entire computer has just, shut off when playing a game (i.e. Witcher 2) and I have no clue whats causing this.

I had a look at my ram, and noticed it's acting very strangely, the RAM frequency is about 1066MHz as it states on the sticks themselves, but when I used CPUID to check what its running at, it tells me it runs at about 500MHz (Give or take). Is this a typical sign of RAM failure? Or is it something else that can be easily solved.

I was told it could be a BIOS issue, and noticed my BIOS is version F5, the latest being F7, but I haven't a clue on how to flash my BIOS to accept the latest version.

Also, I'd like to know if there's any air filters I can get for my case:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-237-CM

The fans are 230mm and I don't see any type of filter that can fit it.

I'm going to perform a full case "Spring clean" in the next week or so, and re-wire my entire system, so if I can get suggestions on potential hardware fixes/tips, that would be appreciated as I can plan that in my clean out.

Thanks!

System Specs

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 @ 2.66GHz

Mobo: Gigabyte 965P-DS3P - Chipset P965/G965 - BIOS: F5 - PCI-Exp x16

Memory(RAM): Corsair Ballistix DDR2 3x 1GB - Speed 1066MHz

GPU: Click

PSU: Hi-Power Black 800W Modular 13.5cm Fan PSU - 4x PCI-E, 20+4pin, 6x SATA

 

[Vesper]

Your ram is double data rate so you need to double what CPU-z shows, your running 1000 MHz.

Your PSU does not fill me with confidence.

What GPU were you running before, all drivers removed.

I was running a GeForce GTS250 1024MB, I was told it was a renamed 9800GT or something of that nature.

and im not sure why my PSU "Does not fill you with confidence", 800W from what I've been told, is more then enough for the current hardware i'm using.

 

[Vesper]

I recently did a temperature check on my CPU and GPU, my GPU is running fine at around 30-50c (While in use), but my CPU is showing this:



the current readings is "Idle", with just a few programs open (Skype, steam window etc), the high readings is when I had a game open, could this be why my game earlier just randomly shut down my PC?

I just purchased some thermal paste, so I hope that could do the trick, but any suggestions is appreciated.

 

[Vesper]

Another point i'd like to make on this, is that my current heatsync is stock, so if anyone can suggest a good heatsync as well, that would be great!

 

[Vesper]

Even if you're using the stock cooler those temperatures are ridiculous.

Likely the cooler isn't seated properly on the CPU.

Remove it, reapply thermal paste and refit.

Or get a new cooler.

I've ordered new paste, got some MX4 Thermal paste, and i'll get a nice new heat sync as well to go with it.

As for the PSU, i've had that for about a year and a bit now, didn't pay much for it, and so far it's served me very well, so I don't feel I need to change that (Just yet...).

Thankyou for the suggestions.

 

[Vesper]

What's a 'heat sync'?

I've heard of a heat sink before though.

Sorry, been doing stuff that involves syncronisation, tends to stick on the mind.

 

[Vesper]

Another question I had was about filter systems for my case, I'd rather not use a widely suggested pantyhose as a filter system for dust, is there any alternative or an actual filter made specifically for HAF cases?

 

[Vesper]

So, i got myself a nice new heatsink and got some MX-2 thermal paste, here's the results:



As a result of this, my computers performance has trippled, and ontop of that, I also found out that the power supply I bought was different to the one I recieved, its of the same make, but 100w more powerful, seems I got more then what I paid for.

Thanks for the help everyone, but I would like some advice on getting filters or some effective way of dust prevention at least.

 

[Vesper]

great result what cooler did you get?

as for filters, you can get a fair selection right here

The filters I need are for a Coolermaster HAF case, as stated in my first post, so they'd have to be around 230mm to fit the main fans.

and the cooler I got was a Zalman CNPS 10x Performa, got it on discount cause my brother works at a store that sells these types of components, got some Arctic cooling MX-2 paste as well.