need help, my new build is giving me fits!!!

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chetcouch3

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
7
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I've built 5-7 pc's before but haven't encountered this type of problem before, any help will be appreciated. 1st the specs. 3500+ venice retail, 1 gb (2x512) geil dc ram, pny 6600gt that I know works, wd 160 gb ide, tdk 48x cdr (that I also know works), and asrock dual sata mobo.

I ordered the proc, mobo, and ram to replace my aging athlon xp 2100+, nforce 2 system. After installing all parts into my antec case with 350w antec psu (1.5 yr old)everything was working great. Installed xp great, then I installed my mobo drivers, then downloaded my antivirus and spyware program and videocard driver ( installed video card driver first). installed nba live 06 and played about half an hour with my friend, then in the middle of the game it started lagging for a few seconds and then bsod. I had all wires connected properly and pc was running great for a little over an hour. Now it won't post completely. When I hit the power button it posts the video card bios, then processor check, then memory check and message to hit f11 for boot options pops up then it hangs and will not continue. It does not make it to the ide drive check where it recognizes the hard drive or optical drive. I've tried not only resetting the cmos with jumpers but also removing cmos battery while unplugging board. I've tried alternating the ram, unplugging everything but essential components, everything I can think of.

I'm thinking psu could need to be upgraded but your comments are welcome and will help. Will board or cpu or ram be damaged if it is the psu not providing enough power? thanks everybody
 
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love2skate824

Senior member
Sep 5, 2005
313
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I know for a fact that the Asrock board you have comes with only one pata/ide cable. did you install both the cd rom and the hd on the one cable(one as a master and one as a slave?)
 
Powermoloch

Powermoloch

Lifer
Jul 5, 2005
10,084
4
76
It looks like the PSU is the problem, since after 1 1/2 of gameplay might fully crapped out your psu.. I'm guessing that you can check your peripheral components as soon as possible with a new psu for any apparent damages.
 
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chetcouch3

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
7
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I used separate cable for both drives with each set as master. If psu is it then what do you recommend for $50-$65 range
 
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Maverick69

Junior Member
Oct 21, 2002
16
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In my experiences with electronics, providing too little power has never messed up a device. I can't imagine how it physically would. It would be more likely that a power supply would be toasted from a device pulling too much current through it which the power supply couldn't handle, however, your power supply "probably" wouldn't allow this to happen anyway. Anyway 350w does seem a bit small for that setup and could possibly be your problem.
 
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NobleKain

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
11
0
0
I had a VERY similar problem with my machine: (and solved it... perhaps they are related?)


My mach specs:

AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice (retail)
EVGA AMD nForce4 SLI MB
EVGA Geforce 7800 GTX
1 GB Dual Channel DDR400 [2x512] (XMS Corsair)
Seagate 80GB SATAII HD
Plextor DVDR/-RW SATA


My issue: After building my machine, I loaded everything just fine... updates and all. Started playing AOE3 trial, and after about 8min into the game, it began to lag and then just Froze. (One time the game actually auto closed... no Dr Watson or anything... just *POOF*). I couldn't do ANYTHING... not even close the game. I had to hard reboot. This happened everytime.

Here's what happened: Turns out, My MB has 4 DIMM slots. In order to use Dual Channel DDR, you must install them A) In pairs, B) each pair must be identical, and C) Each pair must go in specific slots.

The problem? On the motherboard itself, the DIMM slots are color coded
(1-yellow, 2-blue, 3-Y, 4-B). The manual said the Dual-Channel DIMMS must be installed
1&2, and 3&4... but this is not correct. It must be installed 1&3, and 2&4... following the color coding. THis ONLY APPLIES TO DUAL CHANNEL DIMMS.

EVGA acknowledged their faulty manual. According to them, the Computer shouldn't even post with the bad configuration. For whatever reason mine would, but then had issues. Anyway, I moved the misplaced DIMM, and now no more problems.

Hope yours is the same thing... they certainly sound similar.

 
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chetcouch3

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
7
0
0
probably not the same problem, the geil is a matched pair and I tried it also with 1 stick at a time, no luck any way.


would a weak psu hang up the post process?
 
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NobleKain

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
11
0
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Originally posted by: chetcouch3
probably not the same problem, the geil is a matched pair and I tried it also with 1 stick at a time, no luck any way.


would a weak psu hang up the post process?
Click to expand...

Mine were also matched pair, but apparently also required specific placement. AND Dual Channel DIMMS were required "in pairs" so just 1 stick wouldn't work.
 
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chetcouch3

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
7
0
0
The psu still comes on and all, is there any possibility that it is a problem with mobo?
What is my next step in troubleshooting process?
 
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NobleKain

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
11
0
0
From your manual... same deal:


Installation of Memory Modules (DIMM)
939Dual-SATA2 motherboard provides four 184-pin DDR (Double Data Rate)
DIMM slots, and supports Dual Channel Memory Technology. For dual channel
configuration, you always need to install identical (the same brand, speed,
size and chip-type) DDR DIMM pair in the slots of the same color. In other words,
you have to install identical DDR DIMM pair in Dual Channel A (DDR1 and
DDR2; Blue slots; see p.8 No.7) or identical DDR DIMM pair in Dual Channel B
(DDR3 and DDR4; Black slots; see p.8 No.8), so that Dual Channel Memory
Technology can be activated. This motherboard also allows you to install four
DDR DIMMs for dual channel configuration, and please install identical DDR
DIMMs in all four slots. You may refer to the Dual Channel Memory Configuration
Table below.


Dual Channel Memory Configurations
DDR1 DDR2 DDR3 DDR4
(Blue Slot) (Blue Slot) (Black Slot) (Black Slot)
(1) Populated Populated - -
(2) - - Populated Populated
(3)* Populated Populated Populated Populated
 
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NobleKain

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
11
0
0
Another thing you MD notes:

What kind of Video Card do you have? PCI-x or AGP? If AGP, is it a 3.3v card? If so you MB says "don't use it. It can cause the card and your system permanent damage".
 
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chetcouch3

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
7
0
0
it is a pny 6600gt agp board. I don't believe it is a 3.3v, aren't those agp 1x and 2x voltages? I thought that an agp 8x card would be fine
 
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chetcouch3

Junior Member
Sep 28, 2005
7
0
0
I used the drivers off the installation disk for the mobo drivers, no way to know if they are the new ones or not, though probably not.
 
Aquila76

Aquila76

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
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Your vid card is fine for that mobo (not a 3.3V).
Drivers won't cause BIOS to fail.
If you have a spare PSU, try that first. You are dangerously close to the max power draw of the 350W. Some of the Antecs I've had in the past got really flaky as they got older (voltage fluctuations, ripples, etc.) and while it didn't get as severe as your problems, when I replaced it with a TruePower 430, all the problems went away. I still think Antec is a good PSU for standard use, though I have a dual rail Enermax in my current rig.
 
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