HELP! new pc, crashing with lines or black screen while sound working!

[trickled]

I assembled a desktop 3 days ago. The config is:

motherboard: ASUS|M5A97 970 AM3+ SB950 R
CPU: AMD|PHENOM II X6 1075T 3.0G AM3 RT
Graphics Card: XFX|HD-679X-ZRFC HD6790 1G R
(note. this is not the dual fan Radeon 6790 from XFX, instead it has a single fan and only one 6 pin pci-e power port unlike other 6790's!.. here is the link to it..http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150564)
RAM: Patriot Viper II Sector 7 3x2GB 2000Mhz PC3-16000
PSU(came with chassis): COMPUCASE - Orion Xpower585 585W
HDD: Seagate 1.5TB 5900rpm sata

I started playing warcrat III dota as soon as I got it running. It worked fine in the beginning. After a while when I am loading a game it started giving black screen and won't take any keyboard gesture. But the sound would keep playing! And i would have to reset. Now it does this more frequently and even when i am not playing at all. Sometime its a black screen and sometimes its shaded red lines or grey lines or just yellow. And sometimes the sound after a bit

I installed hwmonitor, GPU-Z, CPU-Z, all the temperetures are below 50 degree all time, although i have to check the cpu temperature again. My RAM is only running at 1066Mhz. I have the updated driver for the graphics, I'll try reinstalling the drivers today. Please help!! Nothing seems to work so far, I tried changing RAM timing, and then brought it back to auto. I also took out the graphics card and installed it back again! Took out the power chord from my optical drive in an attempt to reduce load on PSU (if its an issue). :$.. HELP!!

 

[COLGeek]

I would start with the PSU. Sorry to say, but that one probably isn't putting out any where it is rated. Swapping with a known good PSU would help isolate the problem.

 

[trickled]

I would start with the PSU. Sorry to say, but that one probably isn't putting out any where it is rated. Swapping with a known good PSU would help isolate the problem.

lets see if i can get the psu tested by the hardware stores before buying one.. that would be nice.. if possible

 

[trickled]

I would start with the PSU. Sorry to say, but that one probably isn't putting out any where it is rated. Swapping with a known good PSU would help isolate the problem.

but i'm not really sure how this relates to psu though.. do you know any software that might give me a real time wattage value of my psu!?

 

[COLGeek]

There is no software method to test PSU hardware. It requires specialized testing devices. To answer your other question, flaky power will cause components, particularly GPUs to do odd things. You are describing classic power/heat symptoms. Since your temps are okay, power is the most logical area to consider.

When you put your GPU under stress (like during gaming), it requires more power (as does your CPU). If the PSU can't keep up with the demands, symptoms such as yours pop up.

The easiest way to check is a simple swap. You can get a very good PSU for $50-60 if you look.

 

[trickled]

There is no software method to test PSU hardware. It requires specialized testing devices. To answer your other question, flaky power will cause components, particularly GPUs to do odd things. You are describing classic power/heat symptoms. Since your temps are okay, power is the most logical area to consider.

When you put your GPU under stress (like during gaming), it requires more power (as does your CPU). If the PSU can't keep up with the demands, symptoms such as yours pop up.

The easiest way to check is a simple swap. You can get a very good PSU for $50-60 if you look.

any idea if the Corsair cmpsu 600cx 600W any good?

 

[COLGeek]

Better than what you have. If I may, I would suggest this as a better alternative:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

 

[trickled]

Better than what you have. If I may, I would suggest this as a better alternative:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

too late 😛.. i got myself an OCZ ZS 650W, just tested it, its still crashing. No change at all!

 

[trickled]

UPDATE: 1. I forgot to mention, i have been using an HDMI cable to connect to my monitor all the time.
2.*** so i have been doing some experiment, and i have found out that my computer crashes twice as fast when i have the speakers plugged in.. weird, i know.. i timed the crashes 4 times.. twice without sounds, twice with sound.. each of the time with the speakers plugged in the comp crashed in 6 minutes and without speakers plugged in 12 minutes!! approximately around the same time :S:S:S:S:S:S:S!!!

 

[COLGeek]

UPDATE: 1. I forgot to mention, i have been using an HDMI cable to connect to my monitor all the time.
2.*** so i have been doing some experiment, and i have found out that my computer crashes twice as fast when i have the speakers plugged in.. weird, i know.. i timed the crashes 4 times.. twice without sounds, twice with sound.. each of the time with the speakers plugged in the comp crashed in 6 minutes and without speakers plugged in 12 minutes!! approximately around the same time :S:S:S:S:S:S:S!!!

Have you tried reloading your video and HDMI drivers?

 

[trickled]

Have you tried reloading your video and HDMI drivers?

Yeap, tried that last night. Didn't help.

Do you think reinstalling the OS might change anything?!?! :S I tried restoring it to a point towards the beginning when i just set my pc up. I'm confused why it was working fine in the beginning and slowly the crash times became shorter and shorter!!

 

[COLGeek]

You know, you are describing what might be a grounding problem. Are your speakers powered? Or, are you using speakers built into the monitor?

Also, if you started the system in safe mode, how long will it run?

 

[trickled]

You know, you are describing what might be a grounding problem. Are your speakers powered? Or, are you using speakers built into the monitor?

Also, if you started the system in safe mode, how long will it run?

heyyyyyy!!! really?!? :$.. ok, i bought a dell monitor last month, and it was flickering like crazy! so after a lottttt of searching someone told me its a grounding issue and asked me to take off the ground pin from the 3 pin connector for the monitor.. and so i did,, and it solved the problem!! so i have that monitor connected to the pc now!!

ok, i'll go home and connect a 3 pin connector again, and see whats happening! and i haven't tried running on safe mode for long, i'll try that too. but the problem is the desktop fails quickly when i'm playing warcraft, otherwise it took about an hour to fail without playing games.

oh, and my speakers are powered, 2 pins.

any other suggestion to try?

 

[COLGeek]

Removing the grounding plug from the power cord is NEVER a good idea. More likely than not, the issue is with your PC and not the monitor given the issues you are having.

I recommend you disassemble your new rig and make sure you don't have any bad contacts being made somewhere.

If your monitor has speakers, try connecting to those, vice your external speakers to see if something changes. That would help confirm the possible ground issue.

 

[trickled]

Removing the grounding plug from the power cord is NEVER a good idea. More likely than not, the issue is with your PC and not the monitor given the issues you are having.

I recommend you disassemble your new rig and make sure you don't have any bad contacts being made somewhere.

If your monitor has speakers, try connecting to those, vice your external speakers to see if something changes. That would help confirm the possible ground issue.

i will go by testing with a grounded monitor first and then if it's not solved i'll disassemble the PC and test it again. But what do you mean when you say 'bad contacts'? what am i to look for?

and my desktop does crash even if the speakers aren't connected at all.

 

[trickled]

lol, and i'll remember not to take off the grounding pin! :$

 

[COLGeek]

i will go by testing with a grounded monitor first and then if it's not solved i'll disassemble the PC and test it again. But what do you mean when you say 'bad contacts'? what am i to look for?

and my desktop does crash even if the speakers aren't connected at all.

You are looking for metal on metal contact where none should be, like with stand-offs or pinched cables. Pay close attention to the ATX (aka I/O) Plate and how it makes contact with your case and the motherboard.

 

[trickled]

YAYYYY, fixed it.. it was a ram issue... the timing and that 1T 2T thing had to be perfect... it was just the entire combination.. the 4 timing and the last thing and the volt!! everytime before the combination i tried were wrong

 

[trickled]

now how do i put this as solved?

 

[sawyrick]

YAYYYY, fixed it.. it was a ram issue... the timing and that 1T 2T thing had to be perfect... it was just the entire combination.. the 4 timing and the last thing and the volt!! everytime before the combination i tried were wrong

Hi I am having a similar issue with the same card. I simply removed it and am using the hd 3000 built into my i3 2105. No crashed so far. Crashed a bunch with the xfx 6790 installed. Could you detail what your fix was? Sorry but your description is vague for someone with my limited experience. =)

 

[sawyrick]

Is not crashing so far. "No crashed so far" ?? More coffee please..

 

[saint7269]

You have the wrong ram for an AMD set up. RAM: Patriot Viper II Sector 7 3x2GB 2000Mhz PC3-16000. AMD is duel channel not Triple Channel. So you need 2 sticks or 4 sticks not 3.

 

[sawyrick]

Im back to add specs

Mobo - Gigabytes z68 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502)

Ram - Gskill Ripjaws 8 Gigs (2x4) ddr3 1066 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308)

graphics - XFX 6790 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150564)

PU - RG530-S12 530W Continuous @40°C, 80 PLUS Certified

 

[COLGeek]

now how do i put this as solved?

Just select a "best answer" and you'll be good to go. Have fun!

 

[saint7269]

Ahhh there you go Ram - Gskill Ripjaws 8 Gigs (2x4) ddr3 1066 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308). 😀