Random lockups in new build

JoeUk · 21 Oct 2008 at 13:11

Hi guys,

I was wondering if I could get some advice - last week I built a small form factor machine -

E8400
Asus P5E-VM-HDMI
Corsair 4GB PC2-6400 C5 DHX
640GB WD SATA2 SE16
in a V350B case

This is running on vista 64 - now other than being a bit of a pig to build with the mini scythe heatsink - i'm pretty happy with it other than the racket it puts out.

However i've had constant problems - randomly as in.. it can be in vista doing nothing or in a game 6 hours in it will just freeze. Very irratating!

It's at stock at the moment, i've tried adjusting the ram voltage from anywhere from 1.8 to 2.2v but it still seems to be doing the same thing, some days it won't do it at all and others it will do it as soon as I log in. The only other concern is the CPU seems to be running at 40c at idle, however.. since its a smaller case is this to be expected?

I'm about to run memtest but was concerned that perhaps it would error over incorrect voltages etc. Can anyone give me any advice as this is getting really frustrating - everytime I build a machine I seem to be stuck with memory errors and crashing. Wish i went for a big case now!

Cheers

MooMoo444 · 21 Oct 2008 at 13:21

Is your CPU overclocked?

JoeUk · 21 Oct 2008 at 13:25

it's at stock, everything in the bios is untouched other than me trying the ram voltages.

JoeUk · 21 Oct 2008 at 13:26

Oh forgot to mention i have a 4870 in there also.

MooMoo444 · 21 Oct 2008 at 13:26

Is your motherboard running the latest BIOS?

Not 100% sure if that will have any relevance, I'm just throwing ideas out.

JoeUk · 21 Oct 2008 at 13:52

Yeah latest bios and all the updates

fobose · 21 Oct 2008 at 16:38

Have you tried testing the memory with memtest?

JoeUk · 22 Oct 2008 at 12:45

Well.. ran memtest over night - 10 hours and no errors at all.. i'm getting a bit worried now! What else could it be? It's just locking up without any indication or error.. in games as well as just in windows idle.. can go 10 hours without a lock up or can go 5 minutes

Blackbadger · 22 Oct 2008 at 12:53

Have you checked the windows event log.. sometimes something handy is reported..

Skidilliplop · 22 Oct 2008 at 13:06

you mention you altered the RAM voltages to no avail. Have you tried upping the CPU voltage at all? Usually the board manages this but it's not impossible that it's undervolting the CPU Either due to the board or the PSU. Given it's seemingly random with no correlation to load I'd edge toward Power but if it's on dynamic voltage it could still be that.

JoeUk · 22 Oct 2008 at 15:04

Ok great, any suggestions for CPU voltage thats recommended for the E8400? Dont want to fry it!

MooMoo444 · 22 Oct 2008 at 15:08

Just raise it a few notches and see if it stops locking up.

JoeUk · 22 Oct 2008 at 17:03

Will try that tonight - hope it works! Getting really frustrated haha

JoeUk · 23 Oct 2008 at 09:49

Tried upping the CPU voltage - it just hangs on the windows loading screen.. put it to 1.4v? didnt want to try higher than that.

I'm at a loss! Got an expensive cube shaped paperweight now

MooMoo444 · 23 Oct 2008 at 13:07

Giving it more voltage shouldn't make it do that :confused:

Skidilliplop · 23 Oct 2008 at 15:43

I can think of only two Situations where upping the CPU voltage could make the PC hand worse.
1. The increase in voltage is causing overheating, though usually this results in a reboot rather than a crash but it has happened to me before.
2. Either the powerplant on the board has a dodgy MOSFET or the PSU is weak on a rail(s) and as you increase strain on power it becomes unstable and fluctuates.

I suppose you could try disconnecting all non essential stuff from the PSU and see if that improves it any.... the plot thickens.

Afternote: Just noticed you don't mention the PSU in the spec on the OP, what PSU are you running by chance? how old is it? Also what GFX card are you running?