Changed graphics card, computer crashes

[Freezard]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Troubleshooting starter

1. Overview of the problem
   Changed graphics card, computer crashes
   
   
2. Full description of the problem and symptoms
   When using heavy graphical intensive applications like FurMark or 3DMark my screen goes black, showing the DVI/VGA-mode alternating and the power on LED button blinks. After some seconds it turns completely black and I have to reboot twice. The first time it makes one long beep followed by three short ones. Judging from AMI BIOS codes it's a memory fault. Second time it boots like normal.
   
3. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
   Worked fine with my previous graphics card Radeon 3870.
   
4. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
   The time it happens seems totally random, I've once been able to have FurMark on over the night while many times it couldn't even finish one 3DMark run. I have yet to see the problem appear while gaming though (although I haven't tested Crysis or other difficult games to run).
   
   
5. I already tried these steps:
   Memtest86+ without any failures. Swapping memory modules from Corsair to A-DATA. Increased memory voltage. Resetting BIOS. Removed all unnecessary hardware. Swapped back graphics card to confirm there is no problem. Cleaned the computer, tested with both open and closed case. Turned fans on highest. Turned off all other applications running.
   
6. My software:
   • Win XP Pro SP3
   • Spybot
     
   • My hardware
     • ASUS P5W DH Deluxe
     • Intel E6400 (stock speed) with Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
     • Gigabyte Radeon 4850 with Accelero S1 v2 (stock) + 120-mm fan
     • 2 GB DDR2 A-DATA PC6400
     • Antec SmartPower 2.0 450W (from Sonata II)
     • 2 HDD, 1 DVD, 1 soundcard, Antec Sonata II
     
     
   • Other information that might be relevant
     I have logged the temperatures with GPU-Z and when they are maxed out during FurMark the GPU is 71 degrees Celsius, Shader about 10 more, MEMIO about 20-25 more. When crashing in 3DMark the GPU was barely 60 degrees, and the others 10 higher or less.
     
     PS. Thanks for running a great site!
     

 

[Billb2]

I'd look into a bigger PSU.
Can you beg/borrow/steal one to try?
450 watts isn't much nowdays.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Does your computer work fine when you put 3870 back in?

 

[Freezard]

Well, 450W isn't too much but it's still Antec, and it was running my CPU in 3 GHz as well as overclocked Radeon 3870 without problems. So actually the system I have now with 4850 should draw less power than before, if I reset CPU to stock speed which I have (2.13 GHz).

Yes my PC works fine when I put back 3870 back. But atm I'm running 4850 since it doesn't crash in Windows or when running games... yet.

Btw, is there the slightest chance that RAM can be overheated? They do have metal plates on them for cooling, but the Accelero cooler is pretty close to the RAM and they got pretty hot when I swapped them out.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

The only things I can think of is you either got a bad videocard or not enough power. I doubt your 450w is as efficient as the higher end antec power supplies.So who knows how much power your actually getting out of that thing. Why would your ram be overheating? I doubt the 4850 is any hotter than the 3870. If your worried the accelero cooler is blowing air on ram don't be. That would be a good thing. They say air cooling a overclocked cpu is better on the chipset because some of the air escapes and hits chipset. I'm sure same thing applies to your cooler on gpu. If your card works fine in windows but crashes when graphics get cranked up it will be power supply more often than not. 450w is very low for that system especially with overclocked cpu.

 

[Freezard]

Well I guess this PSU is of lower quality than I thought after reading around... unfortunately I don't have any better PSU to try out. But I guess it's about time I upgrade anyway, in case I get myself a 4890 or similar.

So which PSU would you recommend? How about Corsair 520HX?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I personally don't buy corsair power supplies. I've heard they are great quality but they overpriced in my opinion. I would get the highest wattage you can afford from a quality manufacturer(ocz, antec, pc power and cooling, cooler master, just to name a few). I have an antec true power quattro 850w in my rig. I would go with 700w minimum.