New system hangs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jens Seiersen
  • Start date Start date
J

Jens Seiersen

Hello All,

I have recently built a new system with the following specs:

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 4000+
MB - ASUS A8N-SLI Premium
RAM - 2GB DDR-SDRAM PC3200 Cossair
Graphics card - Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro
HDD - Maxtor 300 GB SATA disc
PSU - Chieftec GPS-400AA-101 A

I have installed Windows XP and had no trouble reaching the windows desktop,
but when I try to do more, such as starting a game or a 3D-mark benchmark
the system freezes after a while (seconds for the game and 10-15 frames for
the benchmark). The computer doesn't reset, but locks with the same frame on
the monitor and only responds to a reset. I am suspecting the power supply
of not being able to supply the system when the 3d part of the graphics card
kicks in. I would like to know if there is any tests/diagnostic tools I can
run to verify/pin-point the problem without going out and buying a new power
supply.

I hope you all can help me.

Best regards
Jens Seiersen
 
I see that Sapphire recommends a 420W PSU as a minimum.

However, your supply is dual-rail, rated at 14A on +12V1 and 15A on +12V2.
I'm not really expert on power supplies, but I find it hard to believe
that's not enough for a single X1600 Pro.

I presume that you have the latest nForce 4 chipset drivers installed (6.70,
from www.nvidia.com), and the latest ATI Catalyst drivers.

I don't know what to suggest, other than trying a memory tester.
(http://www.memtest.org/ provides a free one.) The Corsair ought to be good
with the A8N-SLI, but it's possible that you got some bad RAM.

The only time I've seen that sort of lockup was when I was overclocking
either the graphics card (a 256 MB 7800GTX) or my CPU (4400+ X2) a bit too
much. It didn't require that either card or CPU acquire a temperature
outside the acceptable range.

Sorry that I can't be more helpful.


Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.
 
Jens Seiersen said:
Hello All,

I have recently built a new system with the following specs:

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 4000+
MB - ASUS A8N-SLI Premium
RAM - 2GB DDR-SDRAM PC3200 Cossair
Graphics card - Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro
HDD - Maxtor 300 GB SATA disc
PSU - Chieftec GPS-400AA-101 A

I have installed Windows XP and had no trouble reaching the windows
desktop, but when I try to do more, such as starting a game or a 3D-mark
benchmark the system freezes after a while (seconds for the game and 10-15
frames for the benchmark). The computer doesn't reset, but locks with the
same frame on the monitor and only responds to a reset. I am suspecting
the power supply of not being able to supply the system when the 3d part
of the graphics card kicks in. I would like to know if there is any
tests/diagnostic tools I can run to verify/pin-point the problem without
going out and buying a new power supply.

I hope you all can help me.

Best regards
Jens Seiersen
Click to expand...

Well, your power supply is a cheapie that I wouldn't trust to run that rig.
And what you post sure sounds like a possible power supply problem.
HOWEVER, I suspect it might also be a driver problem.

Try this:
Uninstall ALL video card drivers. Yes, your screen will look like hell when
you are done. Drive on.
Reinstall the motherboard's chipset drivers (ALL of them)
Reinstall your video card drivers for the Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro
Reinstall the latest version of directx software, downloaded from microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.mspx

Reboot the system 3 times (yes, 3 times) and then try your games and 3d
benchmark software again.

If you've still got a problem, THEN try:
(1 stick of RAM, if you've got 2 . . . doesn't work, then try the OTHER
stick of RAM)
If RAM doesn't change anything, try swapping the PSU.

Good luck, -Dave
 
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