Computer Crash and I've tried Everything

[ZombieJoe]

I built my own computer about two years ago. And it always had a problem with crashing in the middle of games, but it crash very seldom so I ignored it. Now I have upgraded my graphics cards and it crash more than ever, after ten minutes of playing games. I have tried everything to fix this and am now completely lost.

Here's What i got...

Quad Core 2.4 ghz
nvidia 680i lt
1 kilowatt power supply
3 sata HDD
four gbs of pc6400 Corsair Ram (four one gbs)
two nvidia gts 250 (sli)
windows xp
norton anti virus

here's my story...
As I said my computer crashed when I ran games but not often, so I ignored the issue. Than after updating to a new set of Graphics cards it crashes all the time, moments after starting the game. So I first tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game...that didn't work. Then I updated my graphics card drivers and made sure to remove the old drivers...that didnt work. I adjusting the settings on the game, turned off vSync, lowered resolution, ect...that didnt work. I even installed a new hdd, reinstalled windows xp, freshly updated the game, all drivers, and ect...that didnt work. I ran dxdiag and it says everything is working fine. I ran memtest and that's were I starting getting somewhere. I ran tests on all my ram and all my dimm slots. Nothing was wrong or not working. BUT! When i tried testing more than two gb's at a time it crashed. So I determined that for some reason I can't run more than two sticks of ram. I tried running the game then and it worked. But the next day when I ran the game it crashed again. Also, I should note, I am running the sticks side by side, one in a white slot and one in a black, when I tried to put both in only the white slots, the computer blue screen and restated before I could read the blue screen. So I put them back the way I had them. So next I turned off the Vsync and anisotropic set to linear, and it hasn't crashed since. i can play indefinitely without issue. Can anybody help me out with this? I want to know what happen and why I can't run more than two sticks of ram and why I can't run vysnc? I have not tested my power supply yet but I can tell that it's fans are working so I can't imagine it's over heating. My CPU max temp when playing games is 50 to 60 C and my gpus are about 30 -50 C. So I am completely lost here. PLEASE HELP MY INTERNET!

[glc]

What brand is your power supply? What happens if you put the ram in the black slots? Are you overclocking anything? What voltage is the ram rated for, and what ram voltage are you using? What brand is that motherboard? Which 2.4 GHz quad core is that? What are your CPU, system, and video card temperatures? Does it still crash with only one video card installed? What happens if you uninstall Norton?

[ZombieJoe]

PowerSupply = cool master;

Haven't tried the black slots will do that today.

I am overclocking nothing.

The ram is rated for 1.8 v, the bios automated it at 1.85v i have switched to 1.8v. I should have mentioned this earlier, but I tried this early on as well.

The mobo is an nvidia 680i LT

CPU = quad core 2 q6600;

My CPU max temp when playing games is 50 to 60 C and my gpus are about 30 -50 C.
(I mention this in the original post)

There was only one card back in the beginning and it crashed then.

I never uninstalled norton but I did turn it off.



That seems to cover it. Thanks in advance for the help by the way. I will try a few more things and post back. Mean while I look forward to any ideas you might have.

[ZombieJoe]

I should mention as well that when I turned off Norton it didnt fix anything. And now, my computer runs the games without crashing as I said, but Norton is completely active, so I do not think Nortons is to blame.

[glc]

The ram is rated for 1.8 v, the bios automated it at 1.85v i have switched to 1.8v.

Try running it at 1.9 or 2.0. Just don't take it over 2.1.

The mobo is an nvidia 680i LT

Nvidia doesn't have branded motherboards. What is it - Asus, EVGA, ECS, Foxconn, ?

[ZombieJoe]

Sorry, it's an NForce.

So change the voltage to 1.9? Why should I do that? It sounds strange.

[glc]

NForce is also not a motherboard brand. Do you have the manual or the box it came in?

Increasing ram voltage is a very common way for tweakers to get ram to be more stable.

[ZombieJoe]

I will try the ram idea today. As far as the mobo goes, yes i still have the manual. All I can gather as to its brand is that it says XFX. Is that it? I am well versed in my mobo brands. Ill keep looking though.

[mjkovis]

Is this your motherboard?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...594&CatId=2541

[glc]

Oh boy. I wish you luck in getting it stable.

To begin with, Nvidia has never made a stable chipset for Intel processors. Even Asus boards can be a challenge to get working right. XFX boards are, frankly, low quality.

The chipset has a history of issues trying to run 4 ram modules, and the lower the quality of the motherboard the harder it is to get it stable. Your best chance is to raise the ram voltage as I suggested. The other option is to remove your 4 modules and get a single 2x2gb kit. There really aren't any SLI motherboards I recommend for Intel socket 775 processors, just single card and Crossfire boards.

EDIT: Update the motherboard bios to the latest revision.

[ZombieJoe]

Yup, that's my mobo. I tried upping the Voltages, that didn't work. I tried 1.9, 2.0 for multiple sets of ram. I also removed one of the graphics cards and that didn't work. My friends has the same computer setup I do but his doesn't crash. Then again mine didn't either back in the beginning. So what do I do now? Can we safely conclude that it's my mobo?

[ZombieJoe]

Well my computer crashed now with only two sticks of ram. I'll try a get my hands on a 2x2. See if that works. If it doesn't, your saying that it's my intel processor in conjunction with my XFX mobo? So which should I replace? And if so, do you have any recommendations? I don't want to deal with this anymore. I didn't pay $1500 to build a gaming rig that doesn't play games.

[glc]

Well, there are only 2 brands of processors - AMD and Intel. If you get an AMD processor you have to get a different motherboard. If you replace just the motherboard, you can't run two Nvidia video cards unless you get another motherboard with a Nvidia chipset.

Have you updated the bios yet? Try slowing the ram down from 800 speed to 667 speed.

[ZombieJoe]

I've been looking and cannot find on nvidia's website anything about updating a bios. I also have no idea who to do a BIOS update, as I've never done one before. If i find one at all I'll let you know.

[ZombieJoe]

First, thanks for all the help. 2nd how do i slow the ram down?

[ZombieJoe]

Well i slowed the ram down, that didn't fix anything either. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the bios

[ZombieJoe]

Further updates on my adventure into madness. I did find the bios update from XFX, what a lot of help they are (sarcasm). I burned the iso they gave me to a cd, but it wont boot the cd. This is all new ground for me and I don't know how to make it update the bios.

[glc]

1. Please edit your post instead of continually reposting. Thank you.

2. Can't help you on the bios update, I don't have a XFX support acccount. You are going to have to dig deeper on the site for instructions. I doubt that the iso creates a bootable CD.

I think it's time for you to try to get support directly from XFX.

[ZombieJoe]

Sorry, I've actually never really used a forum before. And I have been in contact with XFX and as of yet they have completely failed to get back to me. I'm still running through some ideas in the mean time. I've updated my audio drivers, gonna find a set of 2x 2gbs sticks, and worse case scenario i will update the bios. I don't want to do this because I am aware I can brick my mobo completely. But, I will seek out proper instruction before proceeding. I thank you for all your help, and if i get things working i'll be sure to post them so anybody else with this problem will know how to fix it.


Thanks

[glc]

I'm thinking this whole issue may be solved with a bios update. If you have a removable bios chip, you can order a preflashed chip for 30 bucks from this guy:

www.badflash.com

[akwillowbear]

You need to go to XFX, then support. You will need to regester the first time including your XFX product info. After that you can get help and download drivers and bios. I have had good luck with there support.

[ZombieJoe]

So I did the bios update, and it still crashes. I have concluded that the mobo is defective. I have decided that I'll just buy a new mobo. Do you have any suggestions towards what mobo I should get? Do you have a preference that you trust that will work with a intel quad core and has SLI support?

[akwillowbear]

this thread is getting old, if you haven't done so already you might want to start a new one. I don't have anything I can recomend. I use a xfx 790I ultra sli mobo. It has slots for 3 gpus. I have had problems with it crashing in the past and I think it was from my cpu overheating. I fixed the problem and sofar sogood. that sound you just heard was me knocking on wood!! if you go with one that can handel 3 keep in mind even though the card might be sli cappable only certain one will work on a 3 way setup. I found out the hard way. good luck!!

[glc]

Any board that I'd recommend would only accept one Nvidia video card, sorry.

[GRP]

When you copy your ISO file to your CD you need to make sure your CD software will copy your file as an ISO image. Most CD burning software will do this. If not there are free programs on the net to do this for you. Once you have burned your file as an ISOimage it will boot and you can do your bios update. Just copying an ISO file will not do it.