Funny hardware problem - driving me nuts!

[Barba Gann]

Recently I've perfomed a hardware upgrade: Asus P5B MB, Corsair 2Gb Twinx DDR2 800MHz RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo 6400, Gainward GeForce 7900GS. I am using CTX 550W PSU, SB Audigy 2ZS, SATA 1 HD Hitachi, Floppy and DVDRW from my previous PC.

I get an intermittent graphics problem. After installing Windows XP and after all drivers had been installed, I was offline defragmenting the pagefile and other parts of the HD in reboot mode (I used Perfect Disk 7). After the PC rebooted and windows logon screen came on, the display was off and on for several times with distorted images. Between one OFF and ON cycle the PC is frozen and I cannot move mouse / use keyboard. On reboot, everything was normal again. Then on another occasion when I reinstalled the soundcard drivers and rebooted, the display after POST - when the VGA Bios is displayed - showed unusual colours, and distorted images where seen again on windows logon screen - again a reboot brought everything back to normal.

I will be conducting burn-in tests for the PC using Sandrasoft XI, maybe the problem will be identified there.

I am suspecting the PSU due to the problem being intermitent but the tech guys at the hardware shop assured me that it should be enough and are baffled by the problem. Memory has been tested too and appears ok. Anyone can help?

 

[Admiral Huddy]

That doesn't sound good.. Is there any way of trying the card in another system?

 

[Barba Gann]

Unfortunately no - keep in mind that this is the second same type card that was supplied to me. Although everything is possible - isn't it unlikely that the second card is also borked? Also the issue is intermittent so even trying on another pc - a lot of time might need to pass before one can confirm whether the card is defective or not.