Help!

sadeyx · 28 Jun 2008 at 14:30

The problem I am about to explain has baffled me now for nearly 6 months and I am at my wit's end.

First let me say that I am no computer novice, and I have tried all the basic fault finding/eliminating steps I can think of.

I dont know if its hardware, or software, indications are that its hardware but having taken the regular steps for identifying a hardware problem I just dont know anymore, so I put this post in general as I dont know what exactly the problem is.

The Problem:
Locking up! - Originally this started happening when I would watch a video on the net in full screen mode (like on sidereel or bbc iplayer) I would start getting graphics corruption which can only be ridden by a reboot.

The has progressed to the system completly locking up. NO Bluescreen and completly NO way of monitoring the problem with software, since every peice of software locks up the instant it happens and is unable to report anything back after a reboot.

I had XP at the time and was planning a major overhaul anyway, so I have replaced (in stages over the past 6 months):

Motherboard (new board is Asus P5N-T Deluxe)
Processor (From '3.4 P4 Extreme' to 'Q9300 LGA775 'Yorkfield' 2.50GHz 6MB-cache')
Video Card (from 'GeForce 7900 GTO' to 'GeForce 8800GTS 512')
Memory ('Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-8500C5' + 'Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-8500C5' (purchased at seperate occasions)
Hardrive (Samsung SpinPoint F1 500GB - Though I still use a Maxtor 6L200MO as just a storage drive)

I also upgraded to Vista64 Home premium.

Of course I have changed my drivers, re-installed gone through my bios settings, even updated the bios.

HEAT:
Heat is not the problem here, I constanly monitor the heat and I can play high spec games Like Age of Conan or Vangaurd constantly in any given session and it wont crash.

Ive tried different browers, reinstalling flash, checking for virii, spyware, I've run Sisoft Sandra, 3dMark Vantage, Tunup Utilities, Registry Mechanic and Mem Test not one of them reports a problem!

I can consistently repeat the problem by viewing any streaming video in full screen mode! - but it can happen when doing almost anything now.

I've heard people have installed Nvidias NTUNE on vista64 and completly broken the installation, in fact Im certain that Ntune is not Vista64 compatible so thats the only peice of software ive not installed (and so I cant monitor my graphics card heat but thats not the issue as highlighted above)

Windows VISTA experience Index
Everything is at 5.9 except the memory at 5.5, I dont know why, people with slower memory than mine seem to get 6+, maybe a memory problem? but having replaced memory and switch around the modules in all possible configurations, nothing.

The only programs I consistenly run is MSN and Teamspeak.

Since i have replaced nearly every peice of hardware and software I just dont know what to try next!

Help!

sorcerer · 28 Jun 2008 at 17:34

How about the PSU, have you checked to make sure that you voltage's are stable and not fluctuating wildly.

Also is the freeze a temp. freeze then the system comes back or do you have to restart the whole PC.

dan653 · 28 Jun 2008 at 22:36

psu or most likely ram, ignore crucials specs for now

its either just bad, under or overvolted, or the timings are too tight

sadeyx · 29 Jun 2008 at 03:05

If it was voltage then why does it not crash during a 12 hour session on an extremly demanding game? - in anycase, how can test that?

My BIOS timings for memory are on auto.. ive not alterd any voltages or timings. In anycase this problem happened on my old board with old ram, and the same problem new board, new ram.

The freeze is permenant, I often fall asleep watching stuff, and will wake up in the morning with it frozen.

C64 · 29 Jun 2008 at 03:21

Well crucial ballistic tracer requires 2.2 volts so set it at that.
Also scan for virus with antivir personal edition classic.
I a while ago had a crashing problem causing bsods and made me think it was the ram however i tried several virus scanners including AVG which didn't pick anything up then I tried Avir and hey presto it was a virus causing bsods.

My BIOS timings for memory are on auto.. ive not alterd any voltages or timings. In anycase this problem happened on my old board with old ram, and the same problem new board, new ram.

that could mean #1 it's the ram not having enough juice or #2 power supply
seeing as the only constant seems to be the power supply, which power supply do you have ? if all else fails reformat as we don't even know if you used driver cleaner pro to clean the old drivers out etc etc anyway my best guess is corrupt OS or power supply.

sadeyx · 29 Jun 2008 at 03:55

Thanks! I'll try the voltage on the memory.

The PSU, is a 550 watt that I bought some time ago, I dont remember the details Ill try dig them out, but it was very expensive (£90odd) and I always properly research any item I buy and Im certain that is powerfull enough but your right, its one of the few constants remaining. - Do you mean its faulty? or do you mean now powerfull enough? How can I test this?

I Have AVG Pro 8.0 (legitimate) and its fine. All the software diagnosis programs I run say Windows its clean as a whistle and is a recent fresh install, but your right at this stage im willing to beleive anything lol

C64 · 29 Jun 2008 at 04:04

You need to find out exactly what model power supply you have and post it here.
It's most likely it may not have enough power not all 500 watt power supplies are the same a 500 watt power supply can be no better than a 350 watt power supply what matters is the 12v rail ratings you really should have 28a+ on the 12v minimum for that rig you are running.
I am leaning more towards something like drivers or operating system is just corrupt though.
If it were me I'd reformat and see if it still happens.

sadeyx · 29 Jun 2008 at 12:11

Here she is

http://www.**********/Product.aspx?WebProductId=290213

sadeyx · 29 Jun 2008 at 12:18

I dont know if this helps....

Ive increased the voltage as you say, but do I need to adjust anything else? There are loads of different options here that even Im not sure what to 'adjust'

C64 · 29 Jun 2008 at 13:48

I'd remove that link it's a competitor you may get suspended.
Looks like it's not your power supply then I'd say reformat and see if it still happens could be a corrupt OS or simply corrupt codecs or anything if it were me i'd reformat.

mp260767 · 29 Jun 2008 at 13:54

i'd try setting the memory timings rather than leaving them on auto.

also set you're vcore rather than leaving it on auto.

Up the northbridge voltage by 0.1 as u're running 4x1gb sticks.

C64 · 29 Jun 2008 at 13:56

To me it sounds like a software issue because he says it runs fine with games but just videos and certain other apps.

mp260767 · 29 Jun 2008 at 14:06

C64 said:
To me it sounds like a software issue because he says it runs fine with games but just videos and certain other apps.

not sure if its an edit but in the first post it says:

"I can consistently repeat the problem by viewing any streaming video in full screen mode! - but it can happen when doing almost anything now."

sadeyx · 29 Jun 2008 at 15:45

oddly thats the only product ive not bought from overclockers.. everything else is

Yes, initially its just the fullscreen video that caused it, but now it 'can' lock up doing anything.

Well i've reformated now and re-installed everything, so I'll see how I get on.

Can you tell me which setting the 'north bridge voltage is' and if I am to set the Vcore, what do I set it to?

Also, what do I set my memory timings to?

mp260767 · 29 Jun 2008 at 16:55

sadeyx;11988951Can you tell me which setting the 'north bridge voltage is' and if I am to set the Vcore said:
northbridge voltage on you're screen shot is the NB chip voltage.

memory timings take them from you're cpu-z screen shot in u're first post.

no need for the vcore change the auto setting i saw was for vcore over voltage so that should be ok.

sadeyx · 29 Jun 2008 at 21:02

mp260767 said:
northbridge voltage on you're screen shot is the NB chip voltage.

ok, what shall I set it to?

Also, Since ive put my voltage on the memory chip to 2.2 I keep getting more crashes and BSOD! - Ive took it back down and thats stopped the BSOD.

does this indicate a problem or do I need to adjust other voltages as well, or maybe increase the speed of the chips as well?

see this is why I hate messing around with things, there is never any clear instructions.

Not tested the fullscreen video yet after the re-format. but once ive taken the memory volt back to auto it does seem more reliable.

mp260767 · 29 Jun 2008 at 21:40

sadeyx said:
ok, what shall I set it to?

sorry about that thought i had put it in my previous post, see if you can up it by 0.1, if not the setting might be something like 1.6.

Camalot · 29 Jun 2008 at 21:57

I had the same problem, i traced mine to the ram, i lowered the timings and upped the voltage and i haven't had a crash for ages.

C64 · 29 Jun 2008 at 22:22

If the ram doesn't do the manufacturers recommended settings 2.2v and timings and mhz you can rma it crucial is very fast with rma's last time I had to it was 48 hours.

sadeyx · 30 Jun 2008 at 00:56

Camalot said:
I had the same problem, i traced mine to the ram, i lowered the timings and upped the voltage and i haven't had a crash for ages.

Lowered it to what, and increased it to what?

Cmon, specifics please

there are hundreds of settings here I dont want to randomly adjust stuff

C64 said:
you can rma it crucial is very fast with rma's last time I had to it was 48 hours.

rma?