Computer Lockups

[dek]

I recently built a computer and it contains the following items.

Processor : AMD 64 3400+ 2.4ghz
Memory : generic (from old pc) 1gb less than pc3200 i think, it doesn't say :x
Video : Geforce FX 5700 Le OC
Motherboard : EPoX 8KDA3+ nForce3 250Gb
Sound : Creative Audigy 2 ZS
HDD: Western Digital 120GB 7200rpm

The problem I have is this, my computer will freeze a few times a day when I play some of my older games (wc3) and very often when playing some newer games (cs:s). I'm not entirely sure that its a problem on my end for the freezes in css. However my computer does freeze when playing wc3, and I am forced to restart.

I have downloaded the latest bios, nvidia display drivers, nvidia nforce drivers, creative sound drivers, and directx 9.0c.

I've tested with normal clock speeds, overclocked speeds, and underclocked speeds. When I was overclocked I ran prime95 for only 11 hours, but my system reported no errors. I'm not exactly sure why my computer is doing this, or what steps I should take to fix this problem. I hope that you can help a poor gamer. Thanks.

 

[Hajime]

It's the ram or the PSU. Possibly the vid card - have you tested it for stability?

At least that's what I think - don't consider it guarenteed. However, it is unlikely that it is the ram if P95 had no issues with it for 11 hours, and it would point to either PSU or Vid Card if it freezes during gaming - quite probably vid card. How far do you have the 5700 OC'd?

 

[dek]

it came pre oc'd by nvidia, they up'd it probably a tiny nudge. i've also noticed what seems to be missing frames every once and a while, like my screen will have a short white out then back to the game for just a split second.

 

[Hajime]

I can't see it so I can't be sure, but that sounds like a vid card prob to me, Dek.

Try underclocking the -videocard- specifically. From what I took from your original post, you only tried to underclock the proc - 3400+ has headroom, and from what you are saying, it sounds like it is the vid card's fault.

 

[dek]

well, the only thing is, it can't be set any lower, and also the 5700 ran fine on my old computer.

 

[Hajime]

Hrm. Have you tried running memtest86 on the ram?
And what're the voltage readings on the rails of the PSU?

 

[dek]

i will run memtest and get back to u.
also i believe the voltage is 1.6

 

[Hajime]

The 3.3v is at 1.6v?

Well, that'd be your reason right there .

No, really, what does your PSU run the 3.3v, 5v, and 12v rails at?

 

[dek]

excuse my ignorance, but i have no idea where i could find that information. i don't own a multimeter

 

[xsilver]

via bios or temp monitoring software ..... large discrepancies between actual rail and reported value will determine stability ... eg 12v reports at 11.5v = no good

 

[Hajime]

Try MBM - google for MBM download. It should help a lot.

 

[raildogg]

might be ram

 

[dek]

ok i ran memtest and recieved no errors

then i downloaded mbm and i have this

http://www.suavesports.com/dek/nothing.JPG

i also checked to make sure i didn't have any irq conflicts and everything seems to check out there.
on another note i found a little more info on my ram.

DDR 334 at 167mhz, CAS: 2.5-3-3-7, Single Channel (64 bits)

 

[dek]

so in light of finding out i'm running pc 2700 which runs at 166mhz, but my base processor speed is 200mhz. this would most likely be the cause of my freezes? and i would need to overclock my ram just to get to my default processor clock speed to keep it from freezing?

 

[dek]

bump

 

[Hajime]

Dek: Run Memtest86. If there are any problems in ram, it'll show it.