Computer Problems... what should I do?

decidence

decidence

Genkai Conqueror
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Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
2,877
Location
British Columbia
My computer...

AMD FX-51 Processor
2x512mb Corsair DDR2 PC3200 ECC Registered Ram (184pin)
Asus Mobo (can't remember model but it's a server board, ie. requires ECC Registered ram)
ATI X800 Pro 256mb
Enermax 450W PSU


My problem...

This only started happening last week, but all of a sudden my game with freeze, I will still be in game but everything on screen will be frozen and I will have no input access. The only thing I can do is force crash the game by going to desktop and ending process. This happens with not only FFXI but other games I have played in the last week as well.

I don't have any extra parts laying around to test what might be causing the problem, it has been suggested that my PSU might be failing and unable to power my video card 100% of the time, or my RAM might be dieing. I'm not sure though. I don't really want to throw money into buying new parts because this system is 2.5yrs old already and I need a full rebuild prolly within a year anyways (however I don't want to drop $1500 right now to do it). But if there is a cheap method of fixing this I would be happy to try it.
 
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I have experienced the exact same thing happen to me a few times. I couldn't even access the task manager to kill the POL process in some cases. My hunch is that it is not related to bad hardware. I have a new laptop and all hardware is working properly. I wouldn't be surprised if this is something SE has to fix.
 
Side topic, why'd you pick ECC?

On topic, your PSU shouldn't be dying just yet. I have an Enermax 465w in my previous computer, Athlon XP 3200+. Had it about 3½ years and it hasn't bunked on me yet. Also running 1gb and an X800 GTO2 in there. Enermax is reliable, their PSUs should outlast most of the other components in your system.

Have you checked GPU temps during the crash? How long has it been since you rebuilt? Tried reinstalling DirectX?
 
Ehlisar: This has happened with NHL2007 as well, so its not just SE.

Cmdfly: I didn't know that my mobo was ECC only until I went to upgrade my RAM about 3 months ago. The people at A-Power failed to mention that when they were suggesting that board for my processor (or that was the only board they had for FX-51 at the time).

The RAM was convienently ECC Registered when I got it from EBay, I didn't even know it was.

As for GPU Temperature, Im not sure... I don't have a program thats guaging that. I've never rebuilt or touched/upgraded anything since I built it in the first place. And no I haven't tried re-installing anything or updating any drivers either (my ATI drivers are probably out of date).
 
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Grab the new Catalyst drivers. In the Catalyst Control Panel there is an overclocking feature. Enable this - it will cause no harm. Once the overclocker is enabled, it will show you a live temperature gauge that updates every... second? Maybe 5 seconds.

I'd keep an eye on that. If it's consistantly going over 100° (under load; in games etc), you need a cooler. The almighty Arctic Cooler ATI Silencer is only about $30 after tax. It's a shitload quieter than the stock cooler, and it does a bitchin' job of keeping the GPU temps down.

I think 100° is the threshould - my X1900XTX averages 58-85 with aftermarket cooler. Report back with your avg temps and we'll see.
 
It sounds like a heating issue to me. Make sure that your heatsink/fans on your card or clean of dust. Also wouldn't hurt to check the CPU one as well.
 
PSU can cause this.

graphics card can cause this.

processor can cause this.

memory can cause this.

software can cause this.

really tough to guess ; ;
 
The first thing I do to a computer that is acting up is make sure there is no virus/spyware/malware on machine. I then clean up the startup so less programs are running. Then check to see if you need to be defragged. Then open your case and make sure all fans and everything are free from dust buildup and are in working order. If it still does it, start looking at hardware and possibly a reinstallation of OS.
 
neophytal said:
PSU can cause this.

graphics card can cause this.

processor can cause this.

memory can cause this.

software can cause this.
Click to expand...

and I'd check them in that order.
 
I installed the Catalyst Control thing and enabled the Overdrive. The hottest it got while playing last night was 72 degrees.

Then I installed the Prime 95 software and started running a Torture Test last night choosing the maximum heat, power and some ram testing option. When I woke up it was still running with no problems so I just left it going... with my luck I will come home tonight and find it is still going strong.

I dunno what to do after that if everything is successful with those tests.

I already did an AdAware Scan with updated definitions last week, I only had 10 objects to be removed and thats after not scanning in like 5 months (I tend to not that crap on my computer). I did take a peek at my processor heatsink after a crash last night (its an aftermarket nice one) and I could see through the fan blades that my block was quite congested with dust so I might need to remove the fan and clean that up.
 
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Did you change the Prime95 test this morning before going to work? It's good to run each stress for 24-72 hours, but if your system won't crash after 2 hours of it then you're safe. Move onto the next one for testing.

Depending on the cooler, that dust blockage may be critical. I had a Zalman 7700 that had a nice thick layer of dust between it and the fan, and yet my system would never crash. However some of the more typical HSFs with parallel airflow, could be less forgiving if the fan can't expel the hot air from the heatsink fins.
 
Deci you can build a kick ass comp for under $700. So its not as much of an investement now as it used to be. Do your research though, and if you need any lolcomputer advice on parts to get lots of people on here got your back.

In case you care for my opinion, and you actually go out and buy this shit get a:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (overclockable safely past the Extreme's clock for $800 less)
2 Gb of Corsair XMS RAM, ($160)
Gigabyte 945, or 965 if your feelin it (965 better for OC) motherboard.
And Geforce 7600GT.

Thats pretty much my system, with PSU and all that shit that isnt hard to pick out. It flys, like holyshit fast.

Just thought id drop my 2 cents there for ya.
 
Ran the Small test last night which was Maximum PSU and some other stuff... 7hrs+ with no problems. I started the Blend one before I left for work.
 
Blend is mass RAM, right?

The fact that the max power and max CPU stresses were inconclusive, leads me to believe it's strictly GPU-based. Has it crashed since you put in the new Catalysts? Maybe it was just a bunk driver, corrupted/replaced .DLL, etc.

edit: did you check the dust factor on your GPU fan?
 
Yes Blend is max RAM.

Hasn't crashed since the new driver/catalyst control center was installed. Hasn't gone over 80 degree's.

Didn't check the Dust on my GPU because my sound card is right up beside it and I would have to take the card out to check and that would take all of 5mins.
 
CmdrFly said:
I'd keep an eye on that. If it's consistantly going over 100° (under load; in games etc), you need a cooler. The almighty Arctic Cooler ATI Silencer is only about $30 after tax. It's a shitload quieter than the stock cooler, and it does a bitchin' job of keeping the GPU temps down.

I think 100° is the threshould - my X1900XTX averages 58-85 with aftermarket cooler. Report back with your avg temps and we'll see.
Click to expand...

My X1600 idles at 130F (54C) and under load runs 150F (65C) which the ATI drivers shows as being in the safe zone.
 
Pascal said:
My X1600 idles at 130F (54C) and under load runs 150F (65C) which the ATI drivers shows as being in the safe zone.
Click to expand...
That's with stock HSF?

I think my 1900 shows temps in °C, and it breaches 80 when I'm in Vegas or Dark Messiah. But this is all coming from memory which I can immediately say is shitty at best. This is with an Arctic Cooler Accelero X2 on the card.
 
CmdrFly said:
That's with stock HSF?

I think my 1900 shows temps in °C, and it breaches 80 when I'm in Vegas or Dark Messiah. But this is all coming from memory which I can immediately say is shitty at best. This is with an Arctic Cooler Accelero X2 on the card.
Click to expand...

Cheap stock HSF, but I have two high output case fans moving air in the case that I'm sure are helping. The intake fan blows across all my PCI slots.
 
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