New build, but can't game...ARG!!! :(

[Leif769]

Ok folks, need some help here... I've built maybe 10+ puters in the last 10 years. Have gone with AMD for the last 8-9 of them, but this time I decided to go with one of the new Intel dual core chips. Took my son's puter and gutted it. I kept the case (4 x 80mm fans) and power supply (430W - Antec True430), the CD/RW and HD. The new parts I swapped are:

-Asus P5NSLI motherboard,
-Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4300,
-PNY GeForce 7600GS 512mB DDR2 (PCI-E)
-2x 1gB of Corsair RAM (non-value RAM)

I also put back in an older (maybe 2-4 yrs old) SoundBlaster PCI card, and I use RoadRunner cable modem.

My main problem...? I can NOT keep a game running for more than maybe 10-20 minutes, before the screen pixelates/shifts half out of phase! Sometimes now, Yahoo Messenger also just shuts down on me, seemingly at random times. I have not had any troubles with getting online, surfing, emails generally, playing Media Player for both music or videos. All that stuff works fine for hours and hours. It's just that I can't game, and am (almost) worried about having a breakdown or seizure from lack of gameplay... LOL *sigh*

What I have done so far, is swap out the memory and video card, changed the drivers that came with the video card to the latest nVidia drivers, I also have a fresh install of WinXP Home, DX 9.0c, and have loaded all the M/B drivers that came with the M/B. I've tried watching the heat stats, and seem to have no reading over 42-43C, the CPU is steady around 37-38C, and the video card's heatsink/fan is only warm to the touch. I don't know it it would make a difference, but the NorthBridge heat sink is too hot to keep a finger on it for more than a second or two MAX.

I hope someone can help me figure out what the heck is goin on, cause just surfin the web isn't much fun after being a gamer since I had an Apple II+...

PS. Ah yes, the games I have been trying to play, when it locks up on me are :Titan Quest, Galactic Civs 2, Age of Empires 3, and Heroes of Annihilated Empires. I haven't tried any (much) older games like Civ 2, although I do have a few laying around that I could try maybe tonight or tomorrow... Have stayed away from EQ2 and WoW too, no MMORPGs for the last year or so.

[glc]

Is that Antec power supply a true ATX 2.0 unit with a 24 pin main connector? I have my doubts.

[Leif769]

Originally Posted by glc Is that Antec power supply a true ATX 2.0 unit with a 24 pin main connector? I have my doubts.

No, it is ~4 years old, and has the 20 pin connector. I DID go get a 20/24 pin converter, after I figured that out. Time for a new PSU? If so, recommendations that will push enough power, yet aren't terribly expensive?

[Jose Suarez]

you most likely have motherboard problems, check voltage, frequency ect. wen you play games the Graphics feature is turned on by direct x based games, I had the same problems but with a P!!! overclocked 1.2 Ghz I some how got it to that speed, and it shut down in Graphic intensive apps, change motherbard, new if possible and reinstall XP, here is a link to a good motherboard you can order http://www.pcclub.com/product_detail...temno=A4830806, I just builded a cedar P4 3.0ghz with HT with a PCI GeForce 4 MX4000 overcloked from 270mhz to 310 and it smoked all those games, games don't take advantage of both cores, you are better off with one central fast core because they only use one believe it or not, but it may be motherboard problems trust me on this one.

Also there are some cases with bult in power supply as low has $49 on the PCclub website. Make sure the powersupply is designed for the motherboard, wen you run games they use more power, also get a fan on that heat sink may be another factor.

[Alaron]

Here is a great choice for a true ATX 2.0 unit that won't break the bank: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

[Jose Suarez]

Cheap power supplies.

[glc]

Jose, FSP is one of the best PSU manufacturers out there, they are inexpensive but not CHEAP. This problem is due to improper use of a 20 to 24 pin converter.

[nwarren]

i just picked up an antec neo he 550watt psu from best buy and i love it. it set me back $160 but i needed it in an emergency situation and it has filled the bill very well. i know you can get them much cheaper on newegg and i highly recommend them. it has the 24pin main and then about any other possible power connection you would ever need in a pc. also, all the wires are wrapped in molex to keep everything looking nice and orderly inside. i know that is probably way more than you are looking to spend on a psu, but i look at it as an investment. i won't need to get a larger power supply for a LONG time, or maybe ever again.

[Leif769]

Originally Posted by nwarren i just picked up an antec neo he 550watt psu from best buy and i love it. it set me back $160 but i needed it in an emergency situation and it has filled the bill very well. i know you can get them much cheaper on newegg and i highly recommend them. it has the 24pin main and then about any other possible power connection you would ever need in a pc. also, all the wires are wrapped in molex to keep everything looking nice and orderly inside. i know that is probably way more than you are looking to spend on a psu, but i look at it as an investment. i won't need to get a larger power supply for a LONG time, or maybe ever again.

Actually, I went to BestBuy and got an Antec Trio 650W PSU for about $115. The problem's not fixed, so I'll be reformatting and reinstalling, but I feel a LOT better about going with another Antec! This is maybe the 3rd-4th Antec I've used, and I've never had any problems with any of them. This PSU is super quiet too, as is the new CPU cooler I've added, since I want to OC when everything is running stable. Zalman 7700, with a 120mm fan, and the copper heatsink weighs around 917g... almost a kilo! Can barely hear it running at max speed of 2,000 RPM.

Anyways... gonna start the tiring and dreaded reformat and install of WinXP. I MISS Win 2K Pro, hate calling Microsoft every time I reformat a drive!