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PSU or something else???

E

eriktaylor1979

n00b
Joined
Mar 14, 2007
Messages
6
I'm having an issue building a new system that I thought was a memory problem, but now I'm not so sure.

Here's what I'm running:

MSI 975X Platinum v.2 motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz w/ Intel stock CPU fan
2GB Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400 DDR2-800 (2x1GB modules) (5-5-5-12 @ 1.9V)
ATI 512MB X1650 Pro PCI-E graphics card
Western Digital 320GB SATA HD (only HD in the system)
LG Super-Multi DVD writer w/Lightscribe

I also have a wireless keyboard and mouse with a single receiver pulling power from USB.

I'm running it all with a Coolermaster eXtreme Power 430W PSU.

When I assembled the system, I installed Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit) as the OS, and it ran fine for a few hours, and then I started getting an occasional bluescreen. Another couple hours after that, I got a bluescreen and my motherboard quit POSTing. I found that if I killed the power completely and turned it back on, I could boot up fine. But that would only last a few minutes until the system would freeze up. This would happen in Windows or in the BIOS, so I think that rules out the OS.

I pulled one of the memory sticks out and rebooted using one module... still had the same problem. A few minutes of operation and the system locked up. I switched the memory modules, and voila! Booted up and the system ran great for 3 days.

After 3 days... same problem cropped up again. I get a few minutes of operation in and then the system locks up.

At that point I figured the memory was the obvious problem. So I RMA'ed the 2 modules back to Corsair and they sent a couple replacement sticks. I started by putting in both sticks... same problem. I tried each stick individually... one stick ran for 20-30 minutes before system lockup... the other ran about 2 minutes. So I'm still getting flucuation based on what memory is on the board.... but what are the odds of getting 4 bad sticks in a row from Corsair?

I called Corsair, and the only explanation they could come up with other than "we just gave you memory from the crap pile" was that I needed more power.

What do you guys think? Any merit to that suggestion before I go blow $100 or so on a new PSU?
 
eriktaylor1979 said:
At that point I figured the memory was the obvious problem. So I RMA'ed the 2 modules back to Corsair and they sent a couple replacement sticks. I started by putting in both sticks... same problem. I tried each stick individually... one stick ran for 20-30 minutes before system lockup... the other ran about 2 minutes. So I'm still getting flucuation based on what memory is on the board.... but what are the odds of getting 4 bad sticks in a row from Corsair?

I called Corsair, and the only explanation they could come up with other than "we just gave you memory from the crap pile" was that I needed more power.

What do you guys think? Any merit to that suggestion before I go blow $100 or so on a new PSU?
Click to expand...

It's definitely not a memory issue. The odds of getting 4 bad sticks from anybody that tests their memory like we do is pretty ridiculous. It'd be like being struck by lightning every hour, on the hour, for a full day.

Well, the memory probably wouldn't hurt you as badly, but you get my drift.

As for the power supply suggestion, The one you listed is a fairly old design, ATX 1.3 spec, with only 19A on the +12V rail. It *should* be enough for that system, but I wouldn't be surprised if you swapped it out and your problems went away.

Before you go and spend money on a (Missed the line there. Helping is fine, dropping links like that is not.-Spectre) new power supply you'll probably want to flash your motherboard's BIOS to whatever the newest version is, and since the issue seemed to start after a while of working successfully, check the CPU heatsink/fan and the PSU fan to make sure they're working correctly, it might be a heat issue.
 
We happened to have a 550W Antec Neo HE supply at work that we know to be fully functional, so I brought my box in and hooked that supply up in place of my Coolermaster... Still the same problem there. So, if that rules out my PSU... I've gotta look at your other suggestions...

Can I safely flash the BIOS if I've only got a matter of minutes/seconds before the system locks up? The lock-up is consistent every time, except for that one stick that I'm managing to get about 20 minutes out of.

And let's talk about the CPU...

First off... I'm not attempting in any way, shape or form to overclock that sucker. In fact, my board has a feature it calls "Dynamic Overclocking Technology" that attempts to automatically boost performance by a set percentage... First thing I did when I assembled the machine was to get into the BIOS and make sure that was disabled. It was actually disabled by default. I'm assuming that at the CPU's stock settings, the stock heatsink/fan would be sufficient. I installed it exactly as the manual instructed, making sure the fan pegs snapped down firmly into the board and that its making good contact with the CPU.

During the period the system was running, I would occasionally give it a quick reboot to get into the BIOS and check the CPU stats.... I've never seen the CPU reach a temp higher than 41C.... even after several hours of use. I've read in several places that if you're running cooler than 50C, you shouldn't give temperature a second thought, so I haven't. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Aside from that... the case has a gauge on the front for the ambient temperature inside the box. The needle sits pretty steadily right around the first mark @ 30C. It's got a wire-mesh on the front, top, and side panels, with a 120mm fan on the front, another 120 in the back, and an 80mm fan on the side panel that's offset just an inch or 2 to the left of the memory slots.

I've talked to ATI, and they assure me there's no compatibility issues with their card in that system, and I haven't seen anything that would indcate there's a problem with the graphics card.

I can take the dvd writer and hard drive out of the picture, and still lock up in the BIOS... so those are ruled out...

Other than that... there's the motherboard itself. If I can't flash the BIOS due to a lock up... what's my next move to determine if there's a problem with the board?
 
Yes... it'll lock up no matter where. BIOS, Windows, DOS, you name it. If you're in it after the system's been running a few minutes, it's going to lock up.

Motherboard problem?
 
Ok, found the problem. The motherboard was actually what MSI called the 975X Platinum Limited Edition, with the gold heatsinks and 20th anniversary inscription. The heatsink on the chipset had come loose and wasn't making good contact. So... my chipset is fried. I switched out the board and all is well.

The memory works great, by the way... gets the highest rating of all components tested in Vista's windows experience index. I might even put in 2 more sticks.
 
eriktaylor1979 said:
Ok, found the problem. The motherboard was actually what MSI called the 975X Platinum Limited Edition, with the gold heatsinks and 20th anniversary inscription. The heatsink on the chipset had come loose and wasn't making good contact. So... my chipset is fried. I switched out the board and all is well.

The memory works great, by the way... gets the highest rating of all components tested in Vista's windows experience index. I might even put in 2 more sticks.
Click to expand...

Awesome, glad you got the problem fixed!
 
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