Weird Pattern Showing on screen

[Brentx]

Ok so I have been having this crazy pattern showing up on screen. It looks like a crazt tesalation of the image on the monitor. This problems seems to only happen when I play games. Cliffs are included if you don't want to read the full version.

Originally thinking this problem was caused by overheating, I got a can of dust, took out each component, and made sure it was dust free. I also reapplied thermal paste on the CPU, it is a year old.

Next I ran memtest over night on the machine.... no errors, as was expected, since it is Corsair XMS memory (though any memory could be bad)

That did not fix the problem, so I proceeded to replace the video card. However, no luck what so ever . Still got the problem with the new card. I went as far as reinstalling windows multiple times, to see if that would resolve the issues.

Now, I have replaced the motherboard. And guess what? I get the same problem again, however, now it does it before I can even load windows!

Usually I can figure out problems like these, but this one is really confusing me. The only components I haven't replaced yet are the RAM and CPU, so I am pretty sure that it is either one. It is just so hard to test for the problem, because it is so sporadic. I will replace the hardware, it will seem fine, and then on a reboot it will all go to crap.

What do you guys think could be the problem?

Specs are:
Athlon 64X2 4200+
2GB PC3200 Corsair Memory
nVidia Geforce 7800GT
Asus A8N5X mobo and a Biostar TForce4 SLI (started with the Asus, biostar won't get past loading windows)

Really is a PIA. I don't have any extra 939 CPU's laying around, otherwise I would test a different one.


Cliffs:
1. Computer is having a weird pattern problem show when playing games
2. Thought it was overheating, cleaned every component and reapplied thermal grease
3. Ran memtest - ram is good
4. Replaced video cards - still having problems, and reinstalled windows multiple times while doing this.
5. Replaced Motherboards, new mobo is causing the problem even in BIOS, crazy characters are showing up.
6. Trying to figure out what is causing this problem... what do you guys think?

I really think this is the RAM now, I will have to dig up some DDR ram somewhere to test further... just weird that memtest passed it.

 

[Trashman]

I would try a different PSU.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: Trashman
I would try a different PSU.

:thumbsup:

 

[crossrode]

Sounds like you are describing problems caused by a corrupted video driver. Try a different Nvidia video driver. Or a least a different copy or download of the one you are using.

 

[corkyg]

It would be helpful to see a screen shot of the wierd pattern. Based on what you have done, my sense is that you are getting EMI, and it could be from the PSU. I discount the video driver because you have used different ones with the same result.

 

[Brentx]

Couldn't be the video drivers... I tried multiple different versions already.

I should of added this, but I have tried 2 different PSU's. One a Thermaltake 550W and a Cool Master 450W. I did this once I switched cases.

I will see if I can get the problem to duplicate again, and I will post a screen shot.

 

[crossrode]

Hard drive? Try one stick of RAM at a time. I had a Corsair XMX stick fail and the computer wouldn't load games. Gave an error message though. Sent it to Corsair under warranty and got new RAM. Worked perfectly. Solved the problem.

 

[Brentx]

Originally posted by: crossrode
Hard drive? Try one stick of RAM at a time. I had a Corsair XMX stick fail and the computer wouldn't load games. Gave an error message though. Sent it to Corsair under warranty and got new RAM. Worked perfectly. Solved the problem.

Cool, I just started testing this, and the machine will actually load with one stick. I haven't tried the other stick yet to see if it duplicates the problem I was having.

 

[crossrode]

My young son's friend came over and said his computer would not load his game any longer. He was right. Just gave an error message. I pulled the two sticks of Corsair XMS his dad paid extra for when he bought the computer. Left the two DIMMS the computer came with in. Loaded right up and ran perfect with the original RAM. Tried the two bad DIMMS I pulled in another computer and had errors. Gave the guy two DIMMS I had and sent his in to Corsair under warranty. I'm using those two sticks right now in this computer 8)

Anyway, many times when you have problems loading sotware, the RAM is the culprit.

 

[Brentx]

Well, I tried different sticks of ram. Tried different slots on the mobo, and nothing. It still does it. Here is a screen shot of the problem. Since the computer freezes, I had to take it with my slr.

Text

Now I did notice that when I ran memtest, there were about 7 errors, that happened on different tests, and in different memory locations each time. This is starting to make me wonder if the memory controller is the problem. And since it is not an Intel CPU, the memory controller is built in to the CPU, which would explain why replacing the motherboard did not fix.

You think I should try sending the CPU under warranty to AMD?

 

[crossrode]

You may be on to something. I have sent several AMD to the company for warranty replacement. AMD has always been great about it. Yeah, you have swapped MB's, PSU's, video cards and tried everything but a different CPU and RAM. I would send in and get a replacement. My only experience with bad processors is when I have overvolted them into their death or had them just die and come up blank. Interesting idea that the built-in memory controller may be faulty. The RAM showing erors with memtest would be a red flag for me. I have many computers so it's easy for me to swap things around and test in a lot of cases. System Restore saves me a lot too. I had a video card dying a slow death once and swapped MB's and CPU's before I found it. Costs a lot of money doing that. AMD warranty might be the answer.

 

[Brentx]

Yeah thats what stinks about his system. Most of my test stuff is is socket 754 and I have an extra AM2 mobo and sempron laying around. But no extra Socket 939 stuff, so its been a long trial and error process.

This computer is for a client of mine. I built it for them about a year ago, so I gave them my machine in the mean time. It was a bit of a downgrade, but they are happy with it. I have my laptop in the meantime, which plays WoW at 1920x1200 perfectly, so I'm not complaining either.

Now to get this CPU replaced. I'll post back here if it solves the problem (hopefully) or not.

 

[crossrode]

Let us know. I just sold a socket 754 2.4 Newcastle with one of the three MSI K8N NEO MB I own. I have a second ABIT/754 2.4 newcastle and a third 2.4 Clawhammer/ASUS A8N Deluxe. Ha... have a fourth socket 754 AMD 370 with 1 MB L2 cache, the top of the line socket 754 chip. That's on a EPOX SLI (yes I have a socket 754 Nforce 4 setup). I also have two socket 939 system running. ASUS A8N32-SLI/4800+ X2 and a second ASUS A8N-SLI Premium/FX55. I have several Intel complete systems too. This e6600/p5b Deluxe and a ASUS Micro/805 D Smithfield. I just sold my Pentium 4 3.0 syste. Well, one of my P4 systems. I also have a Socket A 3200 running and my Pentium III 450 mhz. Runs perfect! Whew. Gotta get my Pentium III 100mhz running someday.

 

[Paperdoc]

You've replaced everything and the problem peersists. But I did not see you say you have tried it with a different monitor. Did you?