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scratching my head here...

C

cugine

Weaksauce
Joined
Jan 29, 2007
Messages
73
Problem:

The monitor started flickering while I was using the computer and anytime I used the mouse or typed it seemd to flicker even more. Eventually it would freeze completely.

I first thought it was a video card issue so I ordered a new video card. Then after I ordered it I thought maybe the PSU was bad so I ordered a new PSU. I have installed the new PSU and Graphics card and I am experiencing a distorted frozen image after my pc is on for a short amount of time. It happens in bios, safe mode or normal windows xp mode.

The PC is a DELL 4600. I have replaced the PSU and GFX card. Everything else is stock. I have tried another flat panel and I get the same issue.

Also, sometimes when I turn my PC on I hear a faint short beep and my monitor will report that there is no connection with the VGA. I'll have to do this 3 or 4 times to finally have the monitor recognize the pc.

http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1zp6.jpg (first couple minutes of being in windows safe mode or normal)
http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image2ih7.jpg (idling in bios)
 
I ordered new RAM, it will be here on Monday. I will try that. Maybe I should also re-seat the CPU when I replace the RAM.
 
...ordering new RAM without even bothering to test what you had makes right around zero sense.

Try with a different cable. Make sure your case has proper airflow and the GPU isn't overheating.

Replacing mediocre components with new mediocre components won't necessarily fix an issue. Please tell us the exact model of graphics card and PSU you bought.

There is no reason to reseat the CPU.
 
silent-circuit said:
...ordering new RAM without even bothering to test what you had makes right around zero sense.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should of stated that this is my mom's PC (quite old) and she has only 512 megs of RAM. I ordered 2 sticks of 1 gig each from Corsair. This upgrade has nothing to do with the issue, I was going to order it regardless.

silent-circuit said:
Try with a different cable. Make sure your case has proper airflow and the GPU isn't overheating. .
Click to expand...

I will try this. I assume you mean the Monitor VGA cable

silent-circuit said:
Replacing mediocre components with new mediocre components won't necessarily fix an issue. Please tell us the exact model of graphics card and PSU you bought.

There is no reason to reseat the CPU.
Click to expand...

I purchased an evga e-GeForce 7600 GS AGP 8X 256-A8-N542-T2
The Power Supply is an PC Power & Cooling Silencer S41D2 410W ATX12V Active PFC Power Supply

One other thing is the lcd itself keeps popping up a message telling me that the resolution should be 1600x1200 and I have to press exit on the flat panel to clear it.
 
Don't see any problems with your component selection, then.

It may be a refresh rate issue -- go in to the Nvidia control panel and make sure the refresh rate is 60Hz and the resolution is set to 1600x1200. If that makes things too small, change tha font DPI setting in Windows to make them readable again instead of lowering the resolution. You should always run a LCD at its native resolution -- that's potentially part of why the display is putting up that message.
 
Try running some tests like those on the Ultimate BootCD. If you can make the PC lock up with any of them, or get any of them to report an error, you might get a hint as to what's the issue :)
 
sometimes i scratch my head when there is no itch and then an itch shows up it's maddening!
 
silent-circuit said:
Don't see any problems with your component selection, then.

It may be a refresh rate issue -- go in to the Nvidia control panel and make sure the refresh rate is 60Hz and the resolution is set to 1600x1200. If that makes things too small, change tha font DPI setting in Windows to make them readable again instead of lowering the resolution. You should always run a LCD at its native resolution -- that's potentially part of why the display is putting up that message.
Click to expand...

I understand that but why would it crash while sitting in bios? It's not like I can set the resolution in there. Also, when windows loads I don't have much time to do anything. I'll try setting the resolution and refresh rate before the screen goes goofy. I'm running old A09 bios and I can't even get temp reads from it. I'm going to try and flash it to A12 (the latest).
 
Is it a monitor lock up or the actual computer is freezing? Also, did you use a different cable with that other flat panel you tested? Could be some weird faulty cable problem. If it's a proprietary cable, check to make sure al the pins and connections are alright.

I did a google search and it seems it's not an uncommon problem with the 4600 for some reason. It seems it can be fixed by changing the refresh rate.
http://www.hightv.de/showthread.php?t=16437

Also, try a safe boot, see if that changes anything.

And try the monitor on a different computer.
 
Do you hear any beeps when turning on the computer? 1 beep normal POST, more than 1 beep = hardware issue. If you hear no beeping, take out ram to see if multiple beeps can be heard.

Can you boot into windows normally regularly or does your computer fail to boot into windows every so often? If you cannot boot into windows normally, how often can you boot into safe mode?
 
That is not a RAM issue for sure. Have you tried a different monitor? It could also be the motherboard since the graphics card was replaced.
 
You might want to dl the new OCCT there is a test that runs the new OCCT gpu test and linpack. It should be very stressful on the NB or better yet ATI tool and IBT and see if you get any errors.
 
Update.... This is sort of hard to follow but bear with me. :)

I took the broken PC downstairs and hooked it up to a different monitor (Dell 2005fpw) with a different cable and the PC worked fine.. It never crashed once and I was able to load the latest drivers etc.

So I brought the old monitor (NEC fp) downstairs and hooked it up to a different PC. The PC detected the monitor, and ran fine. No crashes. I decided to leave the NEC with this PC.

I then took the broken PC with the new Dell monitor upstairs and hooked up the mouse/keyboard and speakers (black/green/orange cable to sound blaster). I turned the PC on and loaded windows. Then I opened up internet explorer and loaded yahoo. I clicked on the news to watch a video and as soon as the sound came on the PC crashed like before. I start to think it has something to do with the soundcard/speakers so I unplug the three cables connected to the soundblaster and reboot. I reload windows and open up a youtube video and let it sit there for an hour or so. I come back and it never crashed.

Do you think somehow the soundcard/speaker system could be causing my system to crash? It seems really weird. I did notice that creative labs diagnostic icon in the bottom right corner loading when I started windows. I checked system hardware and my soundcard does not have any incompatibility reports. It's really bizarre.
 
cugine said:
Update.... This is sort of hard to follow but bear with me. :)

I took the broken PC downstairs and hooked it up to a different monitor (Dell 2005fpw) with a different cable and the PC worked fine.. It never crashed once and I was able to load the latest drivers etc.

So I brought the old monitor (NEC fp) downstairs and hooked it up to a different PC. The PC detected the monitor, and ran fine. No crashes. I decided to leave the NEC with this PC.

I then took the broken PC with the new Dell monitor upstairs and hooked up the mouse/keyboard and speakers (black/green/orange cable to sound blaster). I turned the PC on and loaded windows. Then I opened up internet explorer and loaded yahoo. I clicked on the news to watch a video and as soon as the sound came on the PC crashed like before. I start to think it has something to do with the soundcard/speakers so I unplug the three cables connected to the soundblaster and reboot. I reload windows and open up a youtube video and let it sit there for an hour or so. I come back and it never crashed.

Do you think somehow the soundcard/speaker system could be causing my system to crash? It seems really weird. I did notice that creative labs diagnostic icon in the bottom right corner loading when I started windows. I checked system hardware and my soundcard does not have any incompatibility reports. It's really bizarre.
Click to expand...
Looks like you nailed it. Does the diagnostic icon lead to any messages?
 
cugine said:
Do you think somehow the soundcard/speaker system could be causing my system to crash? It seems really weird. I did notice that creative labs diagnostic icon in the bottom right corner loading when I started windows. I checked system hardware and my soundcard does not have any incompatibility reports. It's really bizarre.
Click to expand...

Its possible that the speaker system is faulty and is supplying an interfering voltage/electrical noise to your soundcard.
Maybe the speakers ground is not at the same level as the soundcards ground and thus induces current to flow back through the soundcard.
If they crash your PC, its wise not to plug them into it again.
 
Unfortunately this wasn't it. It now takes a while for it to crash and I can't find any information on it. I think it's the motherboard. I'm going to take the soundcard and modem out to help pinpoint the issue but I do not know what I can do at this point. It sounds like its time to buy a new pc.
 
I installed SpeedFan 4.37 and it's reporting the following:

Idle
GPU: 48C to 50C
HD0: 34C
Core 48C to 50C
 
High, but not enough to cause issues, and normal enough in a junky prebuilt case like what you'd get from Dell. No real surprise there. Fairly sure you've got a dying motherboard.
 
I removed the Modem PCI card and also the Sound PCI card.

I moved the wireless G PCI card one slot down to give the GPU more space.

I downloaded OCCT 2.0.1 and it passed as 'stable'. I also, left the pc on overnight and no crashes. So far so good. If it crashes again I will give up and purchase a new PC. Thanks everyone for your help.
 
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