First time trying 6600GT

[fylmz]

Just built it...everything seems to run smooth on the surface. Boots quick with no errors. Just updated all my drivers and windows updates. Ran some of the 5900 demos for my 6600gt and one time it switched the monitor off and looped audio over and over. I reboot and try a different demo...works great for a long time. I switch to 2x AntiAliasing and it works great for awhile but then locks up and turns my monitor off.

Maybe I missed something on installation
specs
MSI K8N Neo2 Mobo
AMD64 3500+
gig Corsair Value Select pc3200 ram
Audigy2
7200 ide seagate
420w power supply

Whats the best temperature and/or power supply monitoring software out there right now?

 

[JBDan]

66.93 driver from Nvidia's website? Any anti-virus running when dnlding or installing your new vid driver? Are you oc'ing your gfx card? If YES on the antivirus during dnld/installation do a re-dnld and reinstall with the AV off/disabled. You oc'ing anything?

 

[fylmz]

not o/cing anything. I installed the latest drivers BEFORE antivirus software.

 

[JBDan]

Need to take a look at the GPU cooler and see if the fan is turning. Could be a heat prob on your gfx card. Does it only lock up during 3d apps/demos?

 

[fylmz]

just popped the lid and all fans in the system are running fine. So far, yes it has only locked up during the demos.

 

[Duvie]

Any firewall apps like zonealarm running??? I dumped Zone alarm on my sons PC as it caused freezing and lock ups when I started 3d apps....MOre specifically the problem only arose when I downloaded andinstalled DX9. However I reformatted and tried several diff ways. The only fix was dump Zonealarm and get another fire wall app...And it runs 100% fine for the last 2 weeks and that is with 3d gaming (DX 9) occuring a lot!!!

 

[JBDan]

Well it would not hurt to do a reinstall of your 66.93's from Nvidia's site. Very simple. Also try " mother board monitor " and take a look at temps during the 3d demo's if they will run lol. Is fast writes enabled in bios? You can disable it and try runnin demo again. No quick answer here srry could be several things.

 

[fylmz]

no zonealarm...just AVG Free antivirus and mouseware

 

[Snoop]

You installed the latest nvidia chipset drivers?

 

[fylmz]

i went to MSI's website and installed the updated mobo drivers. I'm an AMD newbie so is there anything else I should install?

Just noticed the 6600gt has a temp monitoring button. It says my card is running at 51 degress C.

Isn't that hot as hell?

 

[JBDan]

51C at idle correct? NO 51C is not hot at all. If its going to 75-80C under load that is getting on the hot side although it will still run. Try MBM yet and look at other temps? Look at your PSU rails as welland see how stable they are.

 

[fylmz]

I've never in my life considered monitoring the PSU rails...I'm quickly learning I need to from reading here.

I'm not sure what to look for if they are stable or not. Is there any other program to monitor the rails other than the BIOS?

edit: yes at idle

 

[Snoop]

You should install the latest Nforce "chipset" drivers from Nvidia.com (Nforce Unified Driver), may help, and really should use those anyway, often times the drivers on mobo mfg sites can be dated.

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: fylmz
I've never in my life considered monitoring the PSU rails...I'm quickly learning I need to from reading here.

I'm not sure what to look for if they are stable or not. Is there any other program to monitor the rails other than the BIOS?

edit: yes at idle

As far as stable look at the +12 volt rail>it should be around 12/11.9/12.1 Your +5 should be 5/4.9/5.1 and your 3.3 should be 3.3 or - 3.25/3.35 These are tight specs and yours may vary a little. Look at getting "Mother Board Monitor" to monitor rails.

 

[fylmz]

the rails look fine.

Here's an update tho when I rebooted last time i did two long different beeps.

was like... BaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhBEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepBaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhBeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

researching beep codes now. Not in the manual!!

this was also right after I installed the new nforce3 chipset from nvidia

 

[JBDan]

Ok then give us some voltages in your bios. What is your CPU(you say 1.47?)/AGP/MEM/V-LINK voltages?

 

[fylmz]

well i dunno I just reinstalled the RAM...still doing it. Do you all think i may be a bios problem?

I downloaded the NVIDIA System Utility and it says the following:

HyperTransport Linl: 1,005 Mhz
Memory bus: 402 (DDR) Mhz

AGP bus: 66mhz


Memory Controller timing
T (RAS) "8" Row Address Strobe
T (RCD) "3" RAS to CAS access
T (RP) "3" Memory Bank Switch

Cpu die: 34 celcius
System: 28 celcius

Voltage and speeds

Voltages (in volts)
CPU 1.500
AGP 0.000 <------are these monitoring problems? I'm going to check the bios now
Mem 0.000
NF 0.000
Aux 0.000

Speeds (in mhz)
Mem 402
HT 1005
AGP 66

 

[fylmz]

And here are the Bios readings:

VCORE ("->" shows fluctuation)
+3.3v 1.47 -> 1.48v
+12.v 12.03 -> 12.09v
+5.0v 5.10 -> 5.13

Battery 3.22 -> 3.24
+5VSB 5.13 -> 5.15v

cpu temp @ 40 degrees celsius idle

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: fylmz
And here are the Bios readings:

VCORE ("->" shows fluctuation)
+3.3v 1.47 -> 1.48v
+12.v 12.03 -> 12.09v
+5.0v 5.10 -> 5.13

Battery 3.22 -> 3.24
+5VSB 5.13 -> 5.15v

cpu temp @ 40 degrees celsius idle

Rails are dandy but what are your RAM voltages at? Also what is your AGP voltage at? These settings can cause instability especially RAm voltages. Could be a bios issue who knows lol. You have the latest ver correct? Not a beta? You know how to flash incase you find you are on an older bios?

 

[fylmz]

i've got the most recent bios...and i cannot find where to check the voltages of the ram, agp in it.

was so stoked for this system now i'm frustrated

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: fylmz
i've got the most recent bios...and i cannot find where to check the voltages of the ram, agp in it.

was so stoked for this system now i'm frustrated

I dont own this mobo but tit mUST have those voltages in there LOOK I tell you !! LOL

 

[fylmz]

memory voltage is at AUTO
agp is 1.55v

 

[JBDan]

Go to corsair website/pull up the specs on your RAM (pdf file) and see what they are rated at. Prob 2.75. If so, put mem voltage to manual and set it to 2.7 to start out with. Run your demo/games. IF ya lock up go to bios and up mem voltage to 2.75 or 2.8 if this is how your mobo's bios works. I have had many builds where mem voltage is crucial for stability especially with corsair RAm. I run mine at 2.8 and is the only way I was able to get my sys 100% stable. If you still get lock up which I doubt you will then try to up your agp voltage to 1.6 NO HIGHER and see if this helps. Use the AGP volt increase lastly though after you play with RAM volts. G-Luck

 

[CraigRT]

I had the exact same symptoms a few years ago with a videocard upgrade... turned out to be my Antec 300W PSU was not strong enough. Went to a 400 Antec and problems went away. the 300W Antec is still in use in another system to this day. (proves the power supply was not going bad, just not strong enough)

 

[fylmz]

well i don't have much in this system, tho i do know the 3500+ and the 6600 gt are voltage hogs.

420w
+5 +3.3 +12
40a | 30a| 18a |