Problems, problems..w/FX-55 MSI MB..

[babentx]

I received a MSI Neo Platinum mb w/an FX-55 & 2GB DDR; I very, very carefully installed this board in my case [even wore a grounding strap !!]; other componets of this setup were a new OCZ 520W PS, ATI X800
Plainum video card, 2 36GB Maxtor U320 SCSI's running off an Adaptec 39320R controller, Sony DRU700 DVD
writer....
Anyway, I assemble this system, boot it up, it boots fine; I look in the BIOS and leave things pretty much "stock"; no overclocking, nothing out of the ordinary. I then install a new copy of Win XP, which goes fine; then
I have to install all the drivers, etc..... for the video card & motherboard [Nvidia chipset, ......]. I get this done, and I'm becoming less and less impressed with this setup. It doesn't seem any faster than my P4 2.4 w/1GB memory
on a P4P800 ! As I install more and more software, I become even less impressed; hangups on shutdown, freezing when using applications, and I've never seen a PC perform so many disc checks on booting back up
as this one did. I'm really depressed now, and read everything I can and search the net; I call tech support
at MSI [that was an expensive and long call !!!]; according to them, I installed XP incorrectly, whatever.....I didn't even bother with Linux after the XP fiasco. Anyway, regardless of what I did, nothing seemed to help.
I even did another clean install of XP from my old CD, with no SP2, same thing. DVD shrink would not work, period, and I do a lot of video editing. ln fact, that seemed to be a big issue, anything correctly recognizing the DVD writer; it was never a problem before, and isn't now (I'm back with my P4 !!!).
I've never had an MSI board, and I've always built PC's using Intel processors; I just never have had great luck with AMD, although I did build up a system for my cousin a couple of weeks ago [a Sempron], and it seemed to work just fine. I really thought the AMD 64-bit processor would really be fast; it wasn't. I know this can't just be me; I had a couple of friends double check the sytem, they could find nothing wrong.
I made a real mistake when I went into the BIOS and set the memory timing to "aggressive"; the thing wouldn't even boot up to XP !!!
Has anyone else had this much trouble with a system? It's been a long, long time since I've spent so much time, energy, and money on a system, and wound up with a crippled system; in fact, I never remember winding up like this !!!!!
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated; as I stated, I spent a lot of money on this thing, and wind up with nothing.......

 

[fishmonger12]

could you:

be more specific? what kind of ram are you using? are you using all of the same brand? is it all the same speed?

have you run prime95? have you installed your drivers in the correct order?

windows xp
all updates for windows xp
chipset drivers (most recent)
video + sound drivers.

do you have the most recent, non beta bios?

 

[babentx]

Sure, 'sorry about that......memory is Kingston HyperX 3200; yes, bios, drivers are all the latest; MSI has a live update utility that helps with this. DEP was turned off in Win XP also.
I've built PC's since 8086's were out, and I know all of those turned out a lot better than this setup !!
Honestly, I have no clue....I did speak with MSI tech support, but I don't think I talked with an experienced tech, and they ended up faulting me for purchasing their product. 'Not to worry, it won't happen again !!
It's been a long, long last few days, and really bad; I only build up a new PC about every 2 years, and I don't usually go near as far on expense as I did with this setup [X800 XT platinum card, 2GB HyperX memory, OCZ
520W power supply, FX-55.....]; it's been a real bummer, and I've waited over a month for that FX-55 to be available. What a waste. I have no vested interest in AMD, Intel, Motorola, or whoever....whoever can make the best processor, I'll go with it, and it sure hasn't been AMD any time recently. I guess I could try another motherboard, but I'm just not sure about the AMD processor anymore; it was supposed to be fast, but maybe
I'm so used to "fast" that the term doesn't have much relevence anymore, I don't really know. I do know my P4 2.4 'seems' just about as fast as the FX-55 did. 'Hope that helped.

 

[fishmonger12]

first of all, instead of bitching about your predicament, why don't you try and fix it? this is only my opinion, but i had trouble with my very first build. i figured out what the problem was, fixed it, and it works flawlessly. it has nothing to do with the brand of your processor.

DID YOU RUN PRIME 95? if that wont work, run memtest86. im assuming that you know where these programs are, seeing how you've been building computers "since 8086's were out."

are you sure you installed the 2 scsi's correctly?

this is troubleshooting. there isn't going to be some magik fixit that will fix your problem. you are going to have to put some effort into it.

if you're too lazy to troubleshoot, you will have to start RMAing parts. i suggest starting with the motherboard. the MSI board is damn good, but it is known for having to be RMA'd a lot.

this is all assuming there isn't a software conflict. have you run windows update.

finally, please refrain from long rambling "oh woe is me posts." i've said this already, but it contains very little information, and information is what i need because im not exactly talking to you face to face or able to mess with your computer.

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, something is obviously wrong. You can't judge AMD by this.

There is no question that a properly set up system with an FX55 will run rings around a 2.4 P4.

Didn't I read something bad about OCZ 520watt power supplies?

 

[babentx]

Thanks for the info. Actually this is more of a "I'm really PO'd" post than anything. I've done all the things you
stated days ago, but I do sincerely appreciate the info. Actually, I've been building PC's since the early '90's, when 8088's & 8086's were still around. And, I spent the better part of the weekend and a couple of more days working on this thing. I even made a flowchart and used a notebook, logging everything I did. I stated I had 2 other very qualified people look the situation over. It does seem that it might come down to a motherboard problem. I've never seen anything so sensitive as this motherboard when setting the memory settings just a hair over "std" settings. I did not run the prime test on the PC. That's a good test, but I think I ran through enough checks and tests.
I apologize for posting like this. It's not normal for me at all; I guess the fact that I received an Asus A8V well
over a month ago with the FX-53, and the board wouldn't see the SCSI bios had me really waiting for this setup, and was pretty disappointing. I posted and posted, talked with Adaptec, searched the web, but could find nothing where anyone had any problem with an Adaptec SCSI adapter on an Asus board. That's the brand of board I usually go with, but I realize there are other very good boards out there.
Thanks again.

 

[fishmonger12]

it was about ocz power supplies exploding, or something along the lines of that. anyway, i'd like to know the results of memtest... im assuming they came out ok. if that is so, i would return the motherboard, either RMA for a replacement or completely return for a different board (if it's possible.)

 

[babentx]

Okay, I won't judge AMD by this; one of the reasons I purchased the processor was because of reading a lot of info on it here, on many, many other forums, over a long period of time, and from the AMD forum. I stated I had built up a Sempron system for my cousin and it performed very well. I also stated I had no vested interest in AMD, Intel, or Motorola. Regarding the OCZ power supply, I'd appreciate your pointing out where any negative info might be found regarding the OCZ; it's supposedly one of the top rated power supplies.
I really appreciate the replys. I don't post here that much, and hopefully, my future posts will be a little more constructive.
Although this is a unique situation for me, I'll work on posting more positive and informative posts.

 

[LTC8K6]

I would start running some tests. Memtest86 will be a good start. Try running with less ram. Remove any components you don't really need like the DVD drive and see if the system becomes stable.

 

[LTC8K6]

OCZ 520W