• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Why Does a New Case make my system extremely unstable? UPDATED!

G

Gilby

Senior member
How can a case cause this?

First, my specs

2600+ Mobile running at 166*12 (2Ghz)
Thermalright 947u with Vantec Tornado
nf7-s v2
geforce 4 ti 4200
512 MB 2700 Ram
450 Watt Superflower PSU
2 120GB hard drives on one ide channel
2 Optical drives on second ide channel

I think that covers it.

Upgraded to new system two days ago and, as new case had not arrived, installed in old Enermax case (nice, but bland with so-so airflow.) The MB, CPU, HSF and memory were the new parts. Ran great. Immediately did a the slight overclock shown above and everything was running smooth and cool.

Tonight, moved everything to the just-arrived Antec Superlanboy. Looked sharp. Very sharp. But it didn't like the chip anymore. I turned the clock down, but the system kept shutting down, sometimes in BIOS, sometimes in Windows, sometimes on the way to Windows. If I did get to Windows, Prime would run for a minute or so at most. I had the chip clocked all the way down to 600, and still the problems persisted.

I actually was figuring that I must have somehow borked the MB or chip...but I put it back in the old case to check...and it's running fine.

So...any ideas? I noticed that the fit between my HSF and Power Supply was amazingly tight in the Lanboy, but I'm not sure how that would cause what I was seeing.
 
The most likely cause (as it seems to me) is that the heatsink is not sitting properly when in the Antec case. The most likely cause of overheating is a badly seated heatsink, and if you're noticing it's tight, then maybe something in the case is blocking it from going all the way down. Otherwise there should be no reason at all as to why parts work fine in one case and not in another (ambient case temps can't make that much of a difference to system stability).
 
So, basically, undo the hs and redo thermal goop - thin thin layer only, and screw it back in following the criss-cross pattern. If problem persists. Unscrew board and power on on a cardboard box. If problem persists, unplug PCI cards, harddrives, all but 1 stick of ram (only leave cpu, ram, gpu, keyboard), and try again.
 
I wouldn't yank the mobo just yet. Yes, re-do the cpu HS and new goo. Re-install everything (mem, vid, and pci, IDE cables and all power cables). If this doesn't work, then yank the mobo, re-install everything. If probs still occur, rule out mem, pci, vid, and drives. Only install items needed for system boot. Keep us informed. Good luck.
 
Remove the connection to the front USB ports (and all front ports) on the case. Make sure the PSU in the new case is 100% good before looking at other parts. You'll feel foolish if you do all the other stuff only to find out it's the connection from the mobo to the front ports.
 
Guess I need to be more clear--I was tired when I posted. The first thing I did was remove the HS and chip, cleaned them up real good, reapply thermal compound and put them back in. The problem persisted.

Another symptom. The whole thing ran warmer in the new case. In the low 40s instead of low 30s, and that at a underclock vs an overclock.

I already did pull everything from the new case, but I left the sink (not fan--can't move anything with that honking fan) and chip attatched to the board--I figured this would check the seat of the chip and sink. I already have stuff back in the old case--and it's running the same as before--I'm posting from it.

The new case came with no PSU--I pulled mine from my old case as, before these purchases, it was my most recent upgrade--got it this summer. I know it's good. Though I did try undoing the two 120mm fans in the new case to see if maybe there wasn't enough power for everything. No difference.

I also didn't hook up any of the front ports for the initial run. Can't be the problem.

When I pulled the board from the new case I looked for possible points that could be causing a short--nothing looked out of place.
 
hehe, i had something like that happening (well, mine was locking in the bios). it was the way i had the hdd cable routed, for some reason it was messing things up. i re-routed it and everything started working fine. i guess it was stretched too tight or something, it seemed seated properly but one hdd was having issues and locking up the pc.

start small. board, cpu, memory, video, psu. does it lock in the bios still? add a floppy. can you boot off a floppy without locking? keep going til you start having problems again.

what kind of temps is the bios reporting?
 
Did you use the NEO Backplate for mounting that 947U?

I guess I'm just suspicious of that HS and backplate not fitting well in the new case. Is flexing causing the heat increase (poor contact between cpu and HS), or maybe a case short of some type. Dunno, just a guess.

Fern
 
Yes to the neo backplate. The only way it will fit on my mb. It does, of course, seem to work just fine in the old case. Flexing caused from the pressure of the fan clip/bracket against the psu may indeed be the cause. I've got another thread looking for alternate ways to attatch the fan. Still, it was shutting down at even low temp readings. I really don't get it.
 
There is always the posibility that something was damaged during the 'transplant'. Do you have known good parts to replace key items (cpu, mem, hd, psu)?
 
Same issues here. I went from an Antec Sonata (with 430 Watt PS) to the Antec Overture Desktop (with the stock 380 PS). Now I get blue screens like crazy. The temps in the Overture are higher 55-58 for the CPU and 45 for the Mobo but that should still be in range. I'm going to transplant everything back into the Sonata and see if I get my stability back (which I've had for months on end). That would narrow it down to my power supply. Unfortunately in the Overture I can't swap power supplies due to the routing of the cables.
Specs:
AMD 3200+ (No overclocking whatsoever)
1 GB DDR4000 Kingston Ram
2 Sata 120 GB Samsung Drives
2 Optical Drives
ATI AIW 9800 PRO
A whole bunch of fans.

 
There is always the posibility that something was damaged during the 'transplant'. Do you have known good parts to replace key items (cpu, mem, hd, psu)?
Click to expand...

Yes, but that's not it. As I said above, I moved everything back to the old case to check if I had screwed soemthing up.

Anyway, on to the update.

Put a basic set back into the case with the case on it's side and the fan resting on top of the heat sink. Running stable in BIOS at 2ghz and 32C. Time to start adding parts--I'll keep updating.
 
Sometimes the case maker will insert mobo mounting posts where there shouldn't be one. Make sure there are only just as many posts as there are mounting holes in the mobo (usually just six or eight and all are around the perimeter - not near the middle). Those extra posts make great shorting points... If you have extra holes in the mobo that you want to use for support (I can always use as much support as possible 😉 ), use those old-style nylon standoffs with the bottom nib clipped off.
.bh.
 
There is one mount toward the middle of the board...but I also used that one in my old case. I am using 10 instead of 6 mounts, but the extras are all around the outside. Still, I did add some nylon washers on the screws when I put this board back in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top