Issues and advice for new kit needed

Magpie2121

Magpie2121

Magpie2121

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Joined
13 Aug 2011
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210
I have the following spec PC with multiple issues. The main one being I can't play any games because the fans go berserk and it then either freezes or shuts down. I've just tried playing Half Life 2 just now and it froze.

I'm not sure if I need a new gaming case because the components are very tightly packed. Removing the side door lets out a lot of heat.

Here's the specs:

20gjmoj.jpg


Here's my case:

qxp3ma.jpg



15pn3vs.jpg



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And finally, here's a link to the booting issue it has. It does boot up but, as you can see, it displays a few errors and then sort of reboots itself several times before booting to Windows.

https://youtu.be/b5mRESpQRvU

I'm a casual games so not too concerned about buying a high end graphics card. I just want a stable system really. Any advice on what sort of gaming case and graphics card I should buy would be much appreciated. Also, any advice relating to the issues shown please?
 
Very poor airflow there for a GTX 285 - those things run hot.

Measure the temps with something like GPU-Z while gaming and see what is going on there. Boot issue might just require a restore defaults in the BIOS - seems like some voltage/clock speed is not quite right and the BIOS is recovering several times until it settles.
 
BuToNz said:
Very poor airflow there for a GTX 285 - those things run hot.

Measure the temps with something like GPU-Z while gaming and see what is going on there. Boot issue might just require a restore defaults in the BIOS - seems like some voltage/clock speed is not quite right and the BIOS is recovering several times until it settles.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Here's what I'm getting whilst gaming. Am I best buying a new case?

icqsts.jpg
 
mickyflinn said:
With all due respect when was the last time you cleaned your system, especially the gpu ?
Click to expand...

Around 2 months ago, I replaced the board and CPU with this i5 2500k. I kept the same case.
I gave it all a good clean at that point. However, I didn't clean the graphics card.

I did inspect the graphics card a few days ago and it is quite dusty around the fans. I would rather just buy a new graphics card and possibly replace the case as the card is quite dated. I just need advice on what to get. I don't see the point in cleaning the GPU.
 
Well as suspected your GPU is hitting its thermal threshold. The GTX 285 is pretty long in the tooth, replacing it with something like a GTX 950 would be a nice jump in performance.

Depends entirely on your budget though. Case should be fine with a cooler running card (Exhaust style blower fan would be most ideal).
 
mickyflinn said:
Whats your budget ?
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Maybe around £50 for a case. And £100 for a graphics card.

But I'd like a nice small case as my current one lays horizontally and overhangs the shelf making it uncomfortable for me to sit at as you can see:

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I would prefer a case that I can sit upright and lay it at the side of my workstation to free up space where my feet are. My current case has 1 SSD and 3 X 3.5" HDD's so a new case would have to be able to house these as well as the other components.
 
BuToNz said:
Very poor airflow there for a GTX 285 - those things run hot.

Measure the temps with something like GPU-Z while gaming and see what is going on there. Boot issue might just require a restore defaults in the BIOS - seems like some voltage/clock speed is not quite right and the BIOS is recovering several times until it settles.
Click to expand...
This to be honest.

The GTX285 is a high power-consuming hot-running card, and considering your case doesn't even seem to have a dedicated intake fan for bringing cool air into the case, nor exhaust fan to move the heat out of the case, so the the blower cooler on the 285 will speed like it's gonna take off, but still not cooling the card as there's simply insufficient air available to cool it.

Personally, I think it is ok to keep your existing case, but you just need to go for a more efficient lower power-consuming graphic card, such as the 2nd hand 750Ti or a HD7850 etc, or a 970 even or may be a new RX480 for under £200.
 
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mickyflinn said:
What size is the space you want it to fit in ? also motherboard type e.g matx ,atx etc.
Click to expand...

I don't know a great deal about motherboards but it's an Asus P8Z68-V PRO.

The new case would have to sit at the side of the desk where my subwoofer is currently sitting. Dimensions would have to be as pictured 22" X 11".

2jczcef.jpg


I have to say I love the look of the NZXT H440 / 340 case. I think it will also fit where I want it but I'm not sure which graphics card would suit this.

Many thanks
 
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Marine-RX179 said:
This to be honest.

The GTX285 is a high power-consuming hot-running card, and considering your case doesn't even seem to have a dedicated intake fan for bringing cool air into the case, nor exhaust fan to move the heat out of the case, so the the blower cooler on the 285 will speed like it's gonna take off, but still not cooling the card as there's simply insufficient air available to cool it.

Personally, I think it is ok to keep your existing case, but you just need to go for a more efficient lower power-consuming graphic card, such as the 2nd hand 750Ti or a HD7850 etc, or a 970 even or may be a new RX480 for under £200.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for your input.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to get a new case as my current one is too awkward where it's positioned. I can't even lay it on its side as there are vents at oppsite ends:

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a vote for NZXT S340, great case for the money. You can sit it sideways standing in the current position of the Zalman, so the symmetrical window side panel is in full view.

Can be a nice little setup if you tidy up the cables.
 
mickyflinn said:
Right the best card for at price point of £100 is the 750ti is that your max budget for a gpu ?

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £98.69
(includes shipping: £8.70)
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Fantastic. Thank you so much for this.

I have another few questions regarding air cooling and fans.

I take it these come with a new case?

Will I need to purchase any separate cooling equipment / fans for my setup?

Is a low profile graphics card best suited for this case and setup and will my present motherboard fit easily into a NZXT case with plenty of free room?

Should I go for the NZXT S340 or H440?

I can possibly up my budget to £150 for a GPU.
 
mickyflinn said:
You can get a lot of gpu for that money the 440 is £30 more than the 340 so take a look, folow link below. Cooling you shouldnt need any more fans.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/case...owers?cksuppliers=431&cktab=0&spage=1&ssort=3.

my basket at overclockers uk:

Total: £211.98
(includes shipping: £0.00)
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Click to expand...

That's great, many thanks again mickyflinn.

As you said, the H440 is only slightly more expensive than the S340. Are there any benefits of having the H440 over the S340?
 
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