High End PC with BSODs!!!

[alejandroPCM]

Hi to all from a sad new pc owner.

Here is my story as short as i could make it.

My system specs are as follows:

OS: Win XP Pro SP2

UPS: MGE Nova 600 AVR
PSU: Enermax Liberty 500W

CPU: Athlon64 X2 +4400
MoBo: Asus A8N32-Sli Deluxe
VGA: Asus 7800GT 256mb
RAM: 4x512 (2gb total) OCZ Platinum 3200 Rev2.
Sound: Creative X-fi

HDD: 2 Seagates SATA at RAID0 total of 240Gb connected at SATA1 and SATA2 mb slots (NCQ enabled)
--The Seagates are nested in Cooldrive6 and Cooldrive Lite HDD coolers---
HDD: External WD SATA 250Gb connected at SATA3 mb slot

OD: Plextor PX-712SA also SATA connected at SATA4 mb slot


Heatsink: Thermalright SI-120
HFan: Thermaltake 120mm at 35-95CFM

Intake fan (front); Cooldrive6 and Cooldrive Lite intake fans
Intake fan (front): Papst 120mm at 44CFM
Exhaust fan (back): Papst 120mm at 44CFM
Exhaust fan (top): Coolermaster 120mm at 7CFM
Exhaust fan (top): UPs has a 120mm exhaust fan on top of CPU

External: Hauppauge External WinTV USB card
Internet: Dial-up ISDN through USB modem

MY CPU starts at 34C and soon rises to a stable 42C idle - 45C under load
and the mb temps never go above 40C.
This information was given to me the BIOS hardware monitor and PC Probe 2.


My problem is:

about a month of smooth operation i began having BSODs with the classic DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
messages and nMUSB.sys,nMUSBlf.sys (and other .sys files) address issues.
These crashes occured both during gameplay, accessing the internet, or just watching tv
and could happen at random times.

Initially i thought it was me playing around with the registry too much and overtweaking the pc
or even badtweaking it.
So i decided to format and reinstall everything. The sequence of installation went as follows:

1.WinXp Pro Sp1
2.WinXP Pro SP2
3.Mobo Drivers (cd drivers and apps, then web update of NForce Chipset drivers)
----- I HAVE NOT UPDATED THE BIOS------ although there is a newer update.
4.VGA Drivers (latest nVidia forceware)
5.Sound Card Drivers (cd drivers, then web update)
6.PlexTools

7.Diskeeper and PerfectDisk
8.------run offline defrag and then smart defrag-------
9.All my other sofware + WinTv card drivers
10.Games (Star Wars Empires at War, X3 Reunion, GUN )


I'm also using ZoneAlarm and Norton Antivirus.
I have scanned for viruses or other annoyances using Norton, Spybot, Spywareblaster, Adaware.

But alas, that didnt help cause the BSODs continue!!!

As you can see i have spent quite a lot of money to build this system
and i am very frustrated to see it crashing on me where it should be kicking the lamas ass!!!

I have read several threads for this issue but it seems i have all the solutions:

1.PSU is 500W
2.VGA is one of the best
3.RAM is also very good and plenty of it (2gb)
4.CPU never even goes near 50C and the BIOS doesnt seem to have an alarm autoshutdown option.

I am desperate for help so if anyone could lend a hand......

[bailey]

run memtest with that system, I suspect a bad ram stick.


no need to make double post

[blue60007]

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...wpost&t=156990

Cricket suggested the same thing over there...I'd suggest it too. Also, try running just one stick (try them all if necessary).

[alejandroPCM]

I tested all 4 sticks with memtest86+ and the first pass revealed 0 errors on all 9 tests. it took 45 mins so i didnt let it proceed to 2nd pass.

my psu is ENERMAX Liberty 500W. its powerfull enough

thnx for your reply

[David M]

Even the best PSU's can go bad. Check your three voltages when runnnig a stress test such as 3DMark06. If your voltage is dropping 5% or more below where it is supposed to be then your PSU is not doing the job. This will remove the guesswork.

[alejandroPCM]

My Voltages registerin PC Probe 2 as follows:

Vcore: 1.39V
+3.3: 3.26V-3.38V
+5: 5.03V-5.11V
+12: 12.03V-12.16V

the first values were taken while opening a few large programs...
the second values are the biggest i have seen during idle.

i hope that gives you an overview of my voltages.

[Panama Red]

A google search of the nMUSB.sys shows it related to the NetMod usb modem used for internet connection. Is this the brand you're using? The bsod message indicates a hardware problem and this device may be that piece of hardware with the problem. The NetMod Helpdesk thread I found suggests undating the modem's firmware. Check this link:

http://www.intracom.gr//helpdesks/ne.../engl_faqs.htm

And this one for the firmware upgrade:

http://www.intracom.gr//helpdesks/ne...rivers_usb.htm

[alejandroPCM]

funny you should say hat....I am sitting here (between frequent BSODs) with a friend brainstorming on the problem..

We just concluded that it might be a USB device probably the modem (or the TV card). But since the BSODs happen when i m online mostly we guessed it was the modem.

I just turned the Legasy USB to DISABLED in the BIOS just to make sure its not that and i m waiting for the next BSOD while i download the modem drivers.

will let you know how it goes...thaxs a lot guys

[alejandroPCM]

Ok guys thnx for your help.......i think Panama Red was right....i got rid of the modem drivers and installed the latest version and i havent had a BSOD since then.

BUT X3 REUNION STILL CRASHES!!!!!

What is the reason of having a 3,000 Euro machine if it cant play a game!!!!

i am noting here that the game crashes both patched (v1.4) AND unpatched (v1.0). Also tried launching the game with and without EAX sound, withand without AA and also tweaked other grafix settings but to no avail..

Any suggestions?

[Kareeser]

Any error messages associated with the crash? You could also probably get game-specific help at the game's tech support forum.