Computer locks up

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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
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Well i'm having a problem. My screen has been going black and my computer has been locking up this past year once in a while and I never figured out what the problem was until recently. I mostly only play World of Warcraft.. I mainly play it in a window. Today I noticed that when I watch a video (720p if that matters) and keep WoW running in the backround my computer will freeze with a sound loop error and I will have to force restart it manually. I tried disabling sound and it was still a no go.. I then swapped in my old 7800GT card and everything was perfectly fine! The video ran several times (7min clip) and it never froze once. The 8800gt usually freezes within the first clip.. if not the 2nd repeat.

I then called up EVGA tech support and they asked for my power supply stats. They said everything is okay but then he made me look at speedfan. When I had WoW runing it was at +12V: 11.19V and he said it should be 11.90 or above. I'm thinking okay.. I then installed a different power supply which he said will be okay for the card. This power supply is currently running at +12V: 11.50 while WoW+ video is running. The other one was running at about 11.19ish. The freezing still happened with this power supply and it seems to not have changed a thing. Now i'm torn in between buying a new top of the line power supply.. or buying a new video card. I know its either one or the other but i'm not sure what to do. Some help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

edit: also quick note: it only locks up during a game AND video. If I play a video without the game it will not lockup.


Specs: Q6600 quad core
8800gts evga 640mb
asus p5k deluxe
1st power supply: Xion 600W +12v1: 22A, +12v2:22A
2nd power supply: off the top of my head.. 500W +12v1 18.5, +12v2 18.5 (?)
Vista hope premium
Latest nvidia drivers.
TEMP: 60C while in a game.
 
elmer92413

elmer92413

Senior member
Oct 23, 2004
659
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Get a new PSU. I wouldn't trust that Xion for much. Voltage drops like that are not good. The ATX12v specification actually gives 11.40v as the lowest on the 12v line, so 11.19 is way below standard,
Incase you are curious pg 22 (pdf).
 
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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
16
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Alright my PSU arrived in the mail. I realised it is still showing my 12v line at 11.25 on speedfan.. but asus probe and bios is reading it at 11.9ish.

Sadly.. the problem is still there. My screen went black while playing a video while I was in a game. I'm guessing the problem is my video card? It doesn't do it with my 7800gt.
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
15
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I don't know if this will help, but you may want to try uninstalling your Video drivers and installing some newer ones.

You don't mention changing drivers, and if you have the 7800gt drivers and are trying to run the 8800gts on them you most likely have some problems.

 
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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
16
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This problem been happening for a while and I even reformatted my comp a bit in between then =\
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
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What Memory slots are your RAM modules in?

It looks like that's a Dual Channel MB, so your RAM should be in slots 1 & 3 (primary) or 2 & 4.
Not sure how many sticks you have.
 
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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
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I have 4 sticks of memory.. so all the slots are filled up. I also received no errors on memtest. If its working correctly with the 7800gt then its obviously the PSU or the card itself. I got a new PSU and the problem is still there.. i'm guessing try a new VC now? =\
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
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Yeah, wanted to check just in case (Memory).

You're on your second PSU and that should be a good one you have now.

Since your 7800 seems to work without issues it really points to the 8800.
Is there any visible damage or anything on the 8800?
It's not clogged up with dirt/dust is it? I know these things love to suck up that dirt :)

Only other thing I could think of is to monitor the Video Card temps to see if they're getting too high.
Other than the dirt thing causing high temps the fan may not be running right or the heatsink compound may not be the best on it.

Hmmm fans, this reminds me. I can't recall the exact models, but on some of the more recent cards you actually needed to use Rivatuner or something to set the fan speeds up high enough. They weren't ramping up like they were supposed to.

Check your Video Card temps and fan speed if you can.
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
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I would go with the Video Card.

When I've had video issues related to a MB problem it's been no video period.

You have video and the 7800 works fine, I think the MB being bad is an outside chance.
 
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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
16
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Quick question.. and I know this is a bit off topic but..

http://www.hardwarezone.com/im...es/2008/2528/Power.jpg

In this picture it shows 2X 6pin connectors.. I havent been following video cards for quite some time, but i'm guessing thats required? to have 2X 6 power supply connectors going into it? Also is my power supply enough to handle a 9800GTX, 4 gigs of memory and a Q6600 quad?

power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817703009


Also the voltage on speedfan shows my new PSU at 11.25.. yet ASUS probe and bios shows it at 11.9, i'm guessing speedfan is just a bit screwy?

Also I just realised I got a test report from PC power & cooling.

VX Name: +12v
Load current 60.00A
upper: 12.36
lower: 11.64
outcome: 11.96
power: 717.6
outcome: 753.5W


Does that all seem good?
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
15
81
750W? Yeah that should be more enough - maybe even to SLI these.

I believe you do need two 6 pins for the 9800GTX.

Second link didn't work, but you mentioned a Pcnp 750W earlier.

I'm not familiar with speedfan, I'd go with ASUS Probe.


FWIW, you could probably RMA that 8800gts and get at least an 8800GT's out of it (I would think).
That's not too bad a way to go.
 
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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
16
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Hmm I can RMA it after a year of having it? Am I able to SLI it with the 9800gtx after this problem is fixed?
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
15
81
You said it's an EVGA correct? I believe they have a lifetime Warranty, you may want to check on that.

No, you basically need two identical cards to SLI - at least the same model number (brand may be different and work).
 
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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
16
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Yep its evga.. and I already ordered the 9800GTX and it charged =\. Also it seems like they did do a test, but when I installed the PSU and if I tapped the side of it when the case was open the whole computer would shut off. I then quickly reconnected everything and everything works fine now and it's not doing that anymore. I just hope theres nothing wrong with this PSU at all, that would be my luck.
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
15
81
LOL - you sound like me.

I've gone through about six of my current MB's.

This last round I had to RMA the RMA they sent back four times until I got a good working one - and even then the last one was Modded like crazy. I just kept it (upgraded my daughters System), the RMA shipping was getting too expensive :)

Haven't heard of tapping the side causing power to flutter, that's a new one to me.

 
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Bluntey45

Junior Member
Aug 21, 2008
16
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well erm hopefully it was just a loose power cable or something not properly in all the way. Meh if they sent me test reports then i'm guessing it has to be fine.
 
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wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
15
81
You should probably be okay, if you're banging around on your Computer case you're probably more likely to mess up a Hard Drive than anything else.
 
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