Flickering/shaking screen and shutdowns

[mozart3]

ASUS P8Z68-V LE Intel Z68 (REV B3)
Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (with stock cooler)
8GB G.Skill RipJawsX (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Kit - F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
Crucial m4 128GB
Sony Optical 24x DVD Writer, AD-5280S-0B, SATA, Black, OEM
TP-Link 300Mbps Wireless N PCI Adapter [TL-WN851ND]
600W Corsair Builder Series 600CX V2 Power Supply

OS Windows 7

Hi, would be grateful if anyone could give me any advice.

Unfortunately I do not have any spare other bits of hardware to swap and test because this is my first build.

The screen is constantly shaking/flickering, not always in the same place, even if no programs are running. I have been getting shutdowns with no BSOD or error messages, as if the power plug was pulled out. It has even done it once during startup before getting to the windows login screen. Once I was playing music in winamp while browsing internet and it froze, the screen looked like it had interference and the sound got stuck on a buzzing sound. All I can find in event viewer is the Kernel error message saying it was not shut down properly, but then again I am not great at reading error logs.

I have tried:

- Getting the latest Intel HD graphics driver from the Intel website
- Updating to latest BIOS
- Running memtest for 2 passes no errors
- Clearing CMOS
- Reinstalling windows
- Plugging into a different socket in the wall
- When booting in safe mode last on the list is always classpnp.sys
- Having no USB plugged in apart from mouse
- Have heard constant high-pitched sound coming from somewhere out of the board, but read that this is just more than one device resonating and nothing to worry about
- Enabled XMP and set the RAM clock speed and voltage to 9-9-9-24 1.5V as manufacturer specs
- When it is turned off and I listen carefully there is still that high-pitched sound accompanied by bleeping at the bottom-back corner of the board near the power supply (maybe this is just normal?)
- Looking inside it doesn't look like anything is touching something it shouldn't, and am pretty sure I didn't drop any screws behind the motherboard or anything like that.

All the parts are brand-new, I realise it's more difficult to diagnose faulty hardware if I don't actually have any other alternative parts to swap around and test with.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[paul878]

Do you a Multimeter to measure the power-supply voltages?

 

[C1]

I wouldnt mess around too much more or something like the MB, Drive, etc. might get damaged.

Go to Fry's and buy a suitable replacement PSU. If that turns out not to be the issue then you can return the purchase within 14 days.

 

[mozart3]

Do you a Multimeter to measure the power-supply voltages?

Thanks for your reply, I don't have a multimeter though.

I wouldnt mess around too much more or something like the MB, Drive, etc. might get damaged.

Go to Fry's and buy a suitable replacement PSU. If that turns out not to be the issue then you can return the purchase within 14 days.

Thanks, you both think the power supply is by far most likely to be the issue even though I chose a good brand one with ample power?

I will try and get hold of another one anyhow.

Cheers

 

[C1]

I am giving you prudent advice from a technician's view. The evidence suggests that the PSU is suspect, but more importantly, given the current operational functioning of the system, YOU MUST ELIMINATE THE PSU AS THE PROBLEM SOURCE ASAP AS IT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO DAMAGE HARDWARE COMPONENTS.

 

[mozart3]

HAS THE CAPABILITY TO DAMAGE HARDWARE COMPONENTS.

I see what you mean.

How many watts would you say is minimum suitable for testing if say a friend has one they can lend me?

 

[C1]

500 watts will be adequate for test purposes (normal operation/non-stress).

 

[mozart3]

I am still in the process of getting another PSU to test with, and still will not come to a conclusion until I have done, but I have just come across other people having problems with the same PSU (particularly from post #12 onwards):

http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96784

It seems like this PSU does not cope well with systems that do not draw much power, and mine does not demand much power.

I am based in UK and ordered it off Aria.co.uk, I hope they will acknowledge that it is faulty if I RMA it.

 

[mozart3]

Ok, I bought an XFX 80 plus bronze rated 550W one and system works fine with no issues.

I bought the faulty one off Aria, returned it to them and they are claiming that they tested it and found there to be no problems and that I must have chosen one which is "not compatible with my system".

Now I'm pretty sure I know the answer here, but wanted to make sure just in case I am missing something; I'm pretty sure that as long as you have the right connections and adequate power then there are no possible compatibility issues with PSUs?

I discovered after buying that many people have had problems returning things to this company before. Has anyone been in a situation where the retailer claims that a returned item has no issues with it when they are blatantly lying?