Stability problems, running out of ideas.

[imported_Sparrowhawk]

First off, I'm new here and I hate to admit it but I'm here out of desperation.

This all started about a month ago. At that time my computer was custom built with the following specs:

ASUS P5N-E SLI
Intel Core2 Duo E6750 (not overclocked)
4GB(2x2) OCZ DDR2800 (stock speeds)
2 SATA hard drives
8800GT
450W PSU

For a good solid year my computer had been running great, like a gem. No issues. Then one day the screen started flickering when I was in graphics-intensive games. I did some checking to see if the GPU was getting too hot, it didn't look like it. Well one day I got up to go get a drink, came back and the screen was black. At this point the computer wouldn't even POST with the video card in. So, since it was still barely under warranty I RMA'd the card to eVGA.

Just after all this, while I was waiting for my new video card, I did my taxes and realized I had a decent chunk of change coming my way, and some items I'd been eyeing on Newegg were on sale and had free shipping, so I bought it all. I figured when I got the replacement card back from evga I'd just sell it to someone.

My new stuff arrived. Here's what I ordered:

eVGA GTX 260
500W PSU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600

I kept the same board and RAM.

First time I go to boot up the machine with the new stuff in it, I update the BIOS just to make sure it's up-to-date as the new CPU is pretty recent and the board about a year old. After updating the BIOS with no issues, I proceed to start installing Windows Vista. The installation is going veeerrrrryyy slowly. We're talking maybe 5-10 minutes between screens sometimes. So I go online to see if anyone else has had this issue, and one guy says he solved it by disabling his floppy drive in the BIOS settings. Makes sense since I don't have a floppy drive, so I go in and disable it.

Installation goes smoother, and I get my way through an installation of Vista, and begin to install Motherboard/video card drivers/antivirus on it.

This is when I start getting BSODs and random resets. At first it's not a big deal. I remember how back when I got the setup originally, the board wasn't detecting the right timings and voltages for the RAM. I remember having to up the NB voltage to 1.5

So I go in and do that. Still getting BSODs and now the RAM is failing basic tests in memtest86+. So, I contact OCZ and they grant me an RMA. Well, I just got the replacement RAM back from OCZ and I'm running into the exact same problems.

I can't figure out what it is. I've tried reloading BIOS defaults, stepping up voltages, manually setting timings, and keeping an eye on CPU temperature. The processor isn't getting hot just sitting idling at the BIOS screen. I would think if there were a serious cooling issue with the processor the temperature would creep pretty fast in the hardware monitor in the BIOS.

I've kept an eye on the GPU temp when I can get Windows stable enough to run it. Nothing strange there, even during the little time I can get into a game. The resets do seem to still be coming under "load" though. I was able to play Far Cry 2 for about 5 minutes before it just hard-rebooted. I checked CPU temp in the BIOS immediately after that reset and it wasn't more than about 45C.

I've thought about the possibility that maybe it's a power issue, but I would think 500W would be enough for what I've got. I'm only running 1 SATA HD and one optical drive.

I'm seriously sort of at my whit's end. The only other thing I can think to do is try to RMA the motherboard back to ASUS, but I don't like the prospect of having to go another 3 weeks without a computer. If anyone has any suggestions at all I'd be immensely grateful. Thanks.

 

[techmanc]

You can go here and check your power supply requirement from newegg. 500w seem minimalist for your system.......
That said I am not sure its causing you problems. How did you setup your memory? Did you get recommend setting from OCZ?

http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html

 

[imported_Sparrowhawk]

Hi, thanks for replying.

Yes, I've set the RAM at the specified settings from OCZ.

As for the PSU stuff, just about every PSU calculator I've ever come across has given me about 350W tops with this setup. And this is setting everything to full utilization and the board and fan to "high end". I don't really think it's a power issue.

 

[techmanc]

Does sound like a MB problem. You get and helpful information of problems looking at the event viewer?

 

[imported_Sparrowhawk]

Originally posted by: techmanc
Does sound like a MB problem. You get and helpful information of problems looking at the event viewer?

That does sound like a good idea, thank you. I'll try that when I get home from work tonight. I lef the computer running with Steam downloading some large games as a sort of "stability" test. If it's still running when I get home, it may mean I've made some progress.

 

[Slugbait]

Installation goes smoother, and I get my way through an installation of Vista, and begin to install Motherboard/video card drivers/antivirus on it.

So, can we safely assume the mobo chipset drivers were installed first?

I went up to Asus, and noticed the only available chipset drivers for Vista are beta...and it's been more than three years since those beta drivers were released. Not that this is surprising, tons of companies don't support their older hardware for newer operating systems right away...but especially for companies like Asus, they usually release updated drivers after a certain period of time (i.e. the people who would succumb to upgrading out of frustration have already done so). My guess is that they have some sort data showing this particular board doesn't have a decent percentage of customers using Vista.

 

[Slugbait]

Oh wait, duh...just thought of this...

Did you install Vista Gold or Vista SP1?

 

[imported_Sparrowhawk]

Originally posted by: Slugbait

Installation goes smoother, and I get my way through an installation of Vista, and begin to install Motherboard/video card drivers/antivirus on it.

So, can we safely assume the mobo chipset drivers were installed first?

I went up to Asus, and noticed the only available chipset drivers for Vista are beta...and it's been more than three years since those beta drivers were released. Not that this is surprising, tons of companies don't support their older hardware for newer operating systems right away...but especially for companies like Asus, they usually release updated drivers after a certain period of time (i.e. the people who would succumb to upgrading out of frustration have already done so). My guess is that they have some sort data showing this particular board doesn't have a decent percentage of customers using Vista.

Yes, that's the order I always go in on a new install. I usually stick mobo/video drivers on a thumb drive, then on my first bootup install chipset drivers. And the drivers I installed are the very latest from nVIDIA's website (the board is an nforce 650i). I never trust the drivers that the board manufacturers have up.

 

[imported_Sparrowhawk]

Excellent question. I am installing Vista SP1, and the problems persist even after all critical updates are installed. As I said earlier, though, today was kind of "experiment" while I'm at work. The machine is idling at home right now while downloading some Steam games. If it's still up when I get home, I'll try a bit of gaming and see if the problem persists.

Another thing I should probably add, and that I just now thought of, is that I have made some changes to the interior of my case. My case (antec sonata) came with a black plastic apparatus that hooks on the side just under the side-panel and is supposed to "tunnel" air to the CPU. I figured since the CPU wasn't getting to hot I should just take that out to maybe improve airflow. One thing I just realized in thinking about it, however, is that part of this "tunnel" apparatus extended out over the NB heatsink of the motherboard. It may have been affecting airflow in the case to where the NB was heating up or something. No idea, we'll see. Thanks again for the response.