CPU or Mobo problem?

[taikamya]

Hi everyone, recently (6 months ago) I bought a new rig hoping to use Bulldozer.(I know. Big mistake, right?)

As we all know, the CPU was a big let down and now Im stuck with a 2007-performance computer.

However, I didn't even get to buy the Bulldozer CPU, I bought an Athlon II X2 260 just as a temporary thing but some money problems have surfaced and I couldn't change the CPU yet.

The rig is as follows:

OCZ Modstream 750W PSU
MSI 990FXA-GD65
Athlon II X2 260 CPU
16GB(4x4) DDR3 2133mhz Corsair Vengeance
AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB

"Ok new guy, so what's your problem?"

Well, here's the thing. As of some weeks ago, I started to notice that my computer was struggling slow and that every game I tried to run on fullscreen, the computer just "blocked away". The screen says "input not recognized" and went black, however the machine keeps running even though it doesn't respond to any of my commands.

I have to power it down FROM THE PSU (yes, nothing works except for that).

I tried updating the BIOS version to the newest one, I've updated the videocard driver.

First I thought of a PSU problem. The PSU is not fine.

But then after re-installing Windows 7(64-bit) And the new installation still runs flawed. Slow, and full screen games just locks up the computer.

So I started to look on the BIOS and to configure it again. I downloaded some applications like CPU-Z and GPU-Z so that I could know what was going on from the OS.

And here's the weirdest part. My CPU boots with multiplier from 4 to 16, and FSB from 200(normal) to 230. RANDOMLY.

I know about the power-saving features. I DISABLED THEM.

Also, if the CPU boots normally (200x16) wich never happens(yes, NEVER) the clock doesn't come down, even at idle state and with power-saving features on.

The CPU basically overclocks itself to 3500mhz most of the time (220x16) or if my computer boots with 220x4(this is a regular case scenario) everything is slow as hell and if I start an application like Prime95 to stress test or any benchmark, the multiplier doesn't change. It dont go up.

So here's the facts that I have until now :

1) Everything is updated accordingly.

2) Fullscreen gaming and windowed-screen gaming locks up my computer.

3) Locked up it doesn't answer to anything except to the complete lost of power.

4) FSB changes randomly and never obeys to what's in the BIOS, also always is higher than what it's set-up to be.

5) Multiplier changes only randomly, even if I change it into the BIOS or in Windows, the command does not work, and it does not change.

6) I'm guessing this is not a GPU problem or a PSU problem as I first thought. Now I'm guessing the CPU or the Mobo.

Can someone please help me? Or at least try to...

Thanks in advance, any help is really appreciated.

 

[SSri]

Temps now are lower. CPU at 30ºC and GPU at 40ºC on Idle. CPU @ 50ºC on Load and GPU @ 65ºC on Load. However it's night here. 10PM.

The temps look fine.


Some more thoughts

(1) Do the games use direct x? Did you install direct-x that came with it? May be, you need to install separate instances of it for the games to work
(2) try maximising the fan speed
(3) May be the GPU is attempting to restart the card and getting stuck
(4) defrag the HDD
(5) Prime 95 runs stable as it stresses the CPU only.
(6) How old are your PC and PSU? The latter would lose efficiency as the year passes by. Perhaps, the wattage is not sufficient when the GPU loads the full power for playing games. Please check this.
(7) see if you can run a benchmark that would stress the GPU.

 

[taikamya]

The temps look fine.


Some more thoughts

(1) Do the games use direct x? Did you install direct-x that came with it? May be, you need to install separate instances of it for the games to work
(2) try maximising the fan speed
(3) May be the GPU is attempting to restart the card and getting stuck
(4) defrag the HDD
(5) Prime 95 runs stable as it stresses the CPU only.
(6) How old are your PC and PSU? The latter would lose efficiency as the year passes by. Perhaps, the wattage is not sufficient when the GPU loads the full power for playing games. Please check this.
(7) see if you can run a benchmark that would stress the GPU.

1) Yes, new games only. Yes I installed the one that it came with, and then Windows updated it.

2) I tried it, lowers temps, still locks up.

3) I didn't even knew that it could do that.

4) defragged a couple of times already.

5) -

6) 6 months old. The PSU is a OCZ ModXstream 750W.

7) I downloaded the PCMark 7 basic edition to run the benchmark in every part of the system. Whenever it started that Taxi's video scene, the computer locked up after a few seconds.

 

[SSri]

I downloaded the PCMark 7 basic edition to run the benchmark in every part of the system. Whenever it started that Taxi's video scene, the computer locked up after a few seconds.

I think it is fairly clear that it is your GPU. The only way to test it is running the GPU on a different PC or try with a borrowed card.

If your PC is 6 months old and you purchased the GPU for the new build, the GPU would still be under manufacturer's warranty. Contact your manufacturer for trouble shooting and replement.

 

[SSri]

If your PSU is as new as your PC, it is unlikely to be a source of the problem. I am unable to find a review at Johnnyguru, who is a reputed PSU reviewer. So, I am unable to comment if that is a good PSU.