My new PC isn't so fast..Why??

[chandradhar]

Friends, I've built a new PC last week and it isn't as fast as expected..

Issues (I think):

1.My motherboard supports SATA 6gb/s and My HDD also does but I'm not getting more data transfer rate. (I'm getting 30 MB/s while copying files using default windows copy.
2.My friend with 1st gen i3 with veryold gpu gets more framerate for GTA 4 while I don't get frame rate (average 15 fps in benchmark).
3.For win XP, when I connect my monitor using HDMI cable, The desktop isn't appearing full screen.(I mean there isn't display on entire monitor. borders are in black colour upto 1 inch)
4. The startup times and shutdown time is looong..(more than 1 minute)

My PC specs:

Intel i5 2500k Processor
Asus p8h67 M LX Mother board
Seagate Barracuda 1 TB HDD Internal Hard Drive (ST31000524AS)
Transcend 4 GB DDR3 RAM
Nekolo 700w PSU
Acer 22 inch monitor Resolution 1920 x 1080
Nvidia GT 520 GPU

I've inserted the HDD cable in 6Gb/s slot in Mobo and Even after inserting HDMI cable, Realtek doesn't show HDMI output option.Why?????
Guys help me out

 

[RetiredChief]

I looked back, did not see if you have tested your Ram, or Your HDD - Outside of windows.
I'd start from scratch, by first verifing your Ram and Your HDD.
A) For Ram - download the Memtest 86 ISO and create a Bootable CD - test your memory - will need to let run for at least ^ hours.
B) go to segate and download their HDD ustilitys should also be an iso so that you can run from a bootable cd - outside of windows.

If Both the above show you have error free memory, and Your HDD does not have a problem Then; 1) you have a driver problem or 2) Your installation is corrupted.
In either case I would start from scratch, and RE-INSTALL windows 7. Select Custom Install so that you can delete all partitions.

 

[diablo34life]

I've changed many settings but my boot time is horrible. It is stuck at welcome screen for about 30 seconds and later to load gadgets and get into proper state it takes about 15 seconds(I've nothing in startup except Daemon tools and Norton AVP)
The firefox hangs for a while........shows Not Responding for a few seconds(5-10) and gets back to normal position.
I tried to copy:

1. 1.5 GB movie to another partition.. shows 30 MB/s
2. many songs(each song around 5 MB) shows 19-23 MB/s
3.File around 3.5 GB, copies for a while and windows explorer crashes..says not responding and stays forever until we cancel it.
WTF shud I do???

ur transfer rates are fine. but if there crashing then u probably have a bad harddrive. probably was thrown around in shipping. u should try reformatting your harddrive and do a clean install of windows. make sure u have everything on startup that u dont need disabled. even tho it says nothing is in start up there 99% chance is. go start/ type in system configuration/ go to the startup tab and disable them. sounds like u have a messed up harddrive tho

 

[chandradhar]

My harddisc is displayed in the 'Safely remove hardware Menu and when I tried to boot seagate utility, I says No HDD found..WTF is this now?

 

[chandradhar]

And when I try Memtest86 It boots, displays a screen in blue color which has something like L1,L2,L3 the screen is displayed for 1-2 seconds and system restarts..
What do you say guys?

 

[chandradhar]

A) For Ram - download the Memtest 86 ISO and create a Bootable CD - test your memory - will need to let run for at least ^ hours.
B) go to segate and download their HDD ustilitys should also be an iso so that you can run from a bootable cd - outside of windows.

Both results aren't proper..The results are given below.

 

[aviconus]

Buy a memory card that is designed for gaming, and get more than 4gb of ram. That's like the bare minimum now days.

 

[RetiredChief]

^ Getting more ram is not the solution.

Most likely a CPU or memory problem or PSU.
I would:
.. Remove Graphic card. Removes GPU as a source and This reduces the load on the PSU.
Remove one stick of ram and try reruning memtest 86. Doesn't work, try the 2nd stick by itself. Still no memtest, try different slot. Still no-go you have a MB problem or both ram sticks are bad.
.. If one stick works then add 2nd stick back in - still works, add GPU back in - No work then most likely PSU

Have you ruled out the PSU, that is all voltages look normal at idle, and when under load?
Check voltages at idle (use MB utility if it shows voltages or a 3rd party utility such as HWMonitor - Caution, if HWMonitor displays <10V or >15 v then it is NOT accurate), then run prime 95 and check voltages.
+12 V min is 11.4, but I use 11.6 V as a min
+5 V min is 4.75V
+3.3 v min is +/- 0.16 V

Added Have to add a faulty DVD drive - which could have corrupted windows 7 installation and drivers - but normally this would result in frequent Blue screens.

 

[braincruser]

Things i recommend:
For GTA 4:
Get version 1.0.7.0-thats latest i have seen. Most performance issues were solved.
Get a better graphic card, my suggestions are these:
- HD 6870
- HD 6850
- GTX 560 TI
- GTX 560
- HD 4850 or GTS 550 (this is worst case if you want to play on your monitor's native resolution)
For the rest of the system:
The issues you listed indicate that you forgot some of the drivers and updates:
i always go in this order so i know i dont miss anything:
1. Chipset driver from disk
2. Network card driver
3. Latest VGA driver from online
4. Latest chipset driver (online)
5. Latest Network card driver (online)
6. Windows update and if not already on windows disk, latest service pack
7. Stability test and game test...and after the game i forget everything else

 

[RetiredChief]

^ while good sugestions for poor performance, None would explain Memtest86 failure and problems booting to HDD utilities as 1 ->7 are not a factor as windows is NOT loaded.

 

[aviconus]

^ Getting more ram is not the solution.

Wasnt saying it is. For gaming though, gl with 4.

 

[chandradhar]

+12 V min is 11.4, but I use 11.6 V as a min
+5 V min is 4.75V
+3.3 v min is +/- 0.16 V

I've recorded them using Asus MB utility and here it is:

+12 V - 11.930-12.030
+5V - 5.145-5.166
+3.3V - 3.319v

I don't know what they are so tell me about it..
I think there is something to do with Harddisk.. Saving is taking time in games, accessing files is slow and most importantly
after trying Seagate utility and tried to install AHCI/Raid Drivers from MB CD, it says NO HDD FOUND!!! I've plugged the HDD in sata 6 Gbps slot properly but why does this happen

 

[RetiredChief]

I'm guessing you did this with no real load on the +12 V so they are at idle and are OK. the real test is placing a load on your +12 V and verify that they do not drop below specs. Load = runing Prime95 or running furmark. BUT would suspect they are also fine.

You only have the intel sata II port, not a Intel + marvel controlled sata III port.

HDD not recognize ar start up:
Bad HDD
Bad Cable
Bad MB sata III port.

The first tow can be checked by tryng (A) new Sata III Data cable and (B) trying a KNOWN GOOD HDD.

With a Known good HDD try it in both the Sata II and Sata III ports.

NOTE verify no jumpers on HDD that is "forcing" it to Sata I config.

 

[chandradhar]

I'm guessing you did this with no real load on the +12 V so they are at idle and are OK. the real test is placing a load on your +12 V

The system was idle when I tested it. Isn't is normal??

You only have the intel sata II port, not a Intel + marvel controlled sata III port.

I don't understand what you are speaking but I've interest to know.Please elaborate..

HDD not recognize ar start up: I'll verify it.. by getting another HDD

NOTE verify no jumpers on HDD that is "forcing" it to Sata I config.

Again, did not get you.

Sorry, I'm pretty good at programming but this was the first time I've built a PC and poor at hardware

 

[RetiredChief]

1) YES your voltages look good @ idle, But also need to verify that they are good under load. Some PSU the voltages will be good at idle but when the load increases their output drops, a sign of poor voltage regulation.
2) You have a MB based on the Intel Chipset. The chipset on your MB provides for 4 Sata II devices and 2 Sata III devices. Some MB, like Mine, place a 2nd controller on the MB (Normally a marvel chip) to provide an addition 2 SATA III ports. Looking at your MB it DOES NOT have the marvel added chipset.

3) Some HDDs have a jumper on the back of the drive.
This is a "block of Pins - 2 rows " on the back that that DO not connect to the MB (ie the data and power connectors).
For Old IDE (PATA) drives this jumper specified "Master, Slave, Master Only, or cable select.
For the newer drives Master/slave is NO longer applicable. But Some, not all have the ability to force the drive to into a select mode. For example a sata II or III drive may (key word may) have a jumper for forcing the drive into sata I operation, it may also have a jumper for diagnotics. Most likely it will not have a jumper.

 

[chandradhar]

Found something worse.. I used to play Unreal tournament 3 on my dualcore PC with Geforce 210 GPU... with a good frame rate Now on i5 with GT 520 I'm not getting even average framerte. I cannot exactly tell my frame rate but I cannot even play.
This surely will not be because of GPU as GT 520 is better than Geforce 210

 

[chandradhar]

1) YES your voltages look good @ idle, But also need to verify that they are good under load. Some PSU the voltages will be good at idle but when the load increases their output drops, a sign of poor voltage regulation.

You said check the voltages when system is in load- I opened Unreal Development kit and Maya 2011 with adobe reader x and two tabs of firefox opened.Is it sufficient?? Let me tell you the condition of my PC. Now after I type a word and wait for 2-3 seconds, the letters are displayed on the screen. The right click menu on desktop opens after more than 6 seconds..

Yes and the results are same!!!
+12 V - 11.930 to 11.880
+5V - 5.166
+3.3V - 3.319 v

The only change was CPU temperature. It was around 39 but now went to 49 degrees Centigrade.

 

[RetiredChief]

What you opend does NOT really put much load on your system.
Heavy load from most to least (for the +12V) is: Furmark, Prime 95, a modern Graphics intensive game (not a gamer so can not tell which one) might use the such as 3DMark vantage)
http://www.3dmark.com/.

My self, I'd probaly get a new HDD and reload windows + programs. Rational.
The HDD to rule out HDD itself
Reload windows: If HDD is failing then you may have some corrupt program/drivers.

 

[chandradhar]

Reload windows: If HDD is failing then you may have some corrupt program/drivers.

I've formatted my computer 6 times (Complete Cleanup) from the start of this thread.. This was the most stable condition for the PC.

My self, I'd probaly get a new HDD and reload windows + programs. Rational.
The HDD to rule out HDD itself

I had to wait for 2 weeks to get this hard disk.. In my city nobody(I'm speakin' about Computer Dealers) knows what sata 3 Gbps or AHCI means.. There are only 2 kinds of HDDs according to them:
1. Old (IDE)
2. New Model (SATA)

So, cannot experiment much. I only have limited resourses..

RetiredChief please consider this:
HDD is too bad- May be HDD problem but
RAM and HDD diagnosis not working- Why can't it be Mother Board problem ?
P.S. I've only one 4GB RAM stick and I've changed the memory slots but no luck with memtestx86

 

[RetiredChief]

YES, in fact since you have both a HDD and a Memory problem
It could well be the MB r the Ram.
If your memory is producing errors that could also explain corrupted Files on the HDD.

The easyest and cheapest is to replace the ram. If that does NOT cure the memory errors then RMA the MB.

Note you do not want to run with a single ram module, that will mean runing in single channel mode. 2 x 2 gig memory is only <30 bucks:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006050%20600006066&IsNodeId=1&name=4GB%20%282%20x%202GB%29

NOTE concentrate on first fixing your memory problem - No HDD connected, use memtest CD

 

[chandradhar]

Tried using two RAM modules and even used my friend's RAM.. Memtest86 not running.
One thing I can say is that HDD is slow because while playing games, saving and loading takes long time, Access of files is taking long time and Loading of OS is also taking longtime.

May be MB problem..Is there any test to diagonise motherboard problems?