Nvidia GTS 250 1GB Driver & Performance Issues

[swifty_morgan]

here's your on board video

Integrated Chrome9™ HC IGP

look around the bios and see if you can disable it.


It's a dual core processor not 2 processors.

 

[Sokoprok]

here's your on board video

Integrated Chrome9™ HC IGP

look around the bios and see if you can disable it.


It's a dual core processor not 2 processors.

Had a look in the Bios but couldn't find anything relating to it unfortunately.

 

[Sokoprok]

I doubt it'll handle the heat of a Pentium D but if it's a similar size it can't hurt.
But is the fan working on your current heatsink and does it feel fully attached?
Is the motherboard I linked to the one you actually have?
What is your favourite colour?
What is the maximum airspeed of an unladen swallow?
Where were you on the night of the 9th?

Edit, sorry, got carried away😉

It is the motherboard that I have. Having had a quick look at the CPU I can't find any looseness at all although in between the cooling metalics there is a slight build up of dust.

I just checked the garage and I do have another cooler which I forgot about. It is designed for Quad cores so should be able to make a difference. I'll switch it over and let you know how I get on.

Do you know what the temp should actually be?

 

[coozie7]

The highest I've seen on the Intel site is 72C I would expect to see an idle temperature of under 40C unless you are living in Death Valley or somewhere else very hot.
You seem to know a bit about computers, but I'll ask anyway; You know to put new thermal grease on the replacement cooler and clean the old stuff off the CPU and cooler with alcohol?

 

[Mousemonkey]

As has already been pointed out, you do not have dual Pentium D's. I just thought I would show you why we queried.

 

[Sokoprok]

As has already been pointed out, you do not have dual Pentium D's. I just thought I would show you why we queried.
http://www.theinquirer.net/img/3560/skulltrailtop.jpg?1241332016

http://www.theinquirer.net/img/3561/skulltrailcpu.jpg?1241332016

No probs, I don't doubt you but for informational purposes, in the 'Processors' drop down, why are there two Pentium D's 3.40Ghz listed?

 

[Sokoprok]

The highest I've seen on the Intel site is 72C I would expect to see an idle temperature of under 40C unless you are living in Death Valley or somewhere else very hot.
You seem to know a bit about computers, but I'll ask anyway; You know to put new thermal grease on the replacement cooler and clean the old stuff off the CPU and cooler with alcohol?

Yeah, I've installed a couple of CPU's before so I know what to do and expect.

Although, I wonder how long I have to wait before I can change the cooler. I don't wanna burn my fingers off if this thing is cooking!

 

[swifty_morgan]

Anything in the bios pointing to initial display device ? ( or vga ) Set it to PEG or to pci.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Yes, mine lists four Q9550's but I still only have one. It's just that confusion can be started when a Dual core CPU is described as two CPU's that have two cores each.

 

[Sokoprok]

mousemonkey - ahh okay.

swify_morgan - There was actually but the options were PCI or PCI Express. It was set to PCI...

 

[coozie7]

@ Sokoprok: No worries, had to ask.
I think it would be best to take it off when 'warm' the thermal paste is a little less inclined to hang on like a limpet.

It's a bit confusing, my C2D shows two processors as well (chance would be a fine thing), but Windows counts the cores, not the physical package. I think.

 

[Mousemonkey]

the options were PCI or PCI Express. It was set to PCI...

No worries, and set to PCI Express.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Well if your CPU is going to 90 C, that can be the cause of your lag.

 

[efeat]

Well if your CPU is going to 90 C, that can be the cause of your lag.

That's precisely the cause of the OP's problem.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9QQ
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9QB

Your CPU is one of those two I just linked, depending on which stepping you have. Either way, your thermal specification is 63.4 C. You are hitting 90+C at load, so you are going nearly 30C over your thermal limit. Your CPU is lowering its work load to save from frying itself. Fix your cooling and you'll fix your performance 😉

Try opening your computer case and aiming a box/floor fan at the innards of your computer. Watch speedfan and see how much your temperatures drop. Then try playing prototype and see what your temperatures do. You may need to end up re-applying thermal paste to your CPU and/or getting a new heatsink . There are lots of walkthroughs/guidelines on this process available online if you google it.

 

[Sokoprok]

Now I've come unstuck, I changed over the heatsink and fan last night to a better one I had on another computer. I turned the computer on and went into the BIOS, before I could select anything the computer turned itself off.

Now it won't turn back on...

When I unplug the power lead and put it back in again a push of the power button does turn the lights and fans on for a millesecond but it goes dead straight away. I could smell no burning from the motherboard when it first went.

And before anyone points out, yes I did wipe the old thermal paste off with alcohol and attach the new one with fresh thermal paste...

My brother has a similar computer and his Power Supply went a couple of months ago and showed similar symptoms so I'll get another one tonight but does anyone have any opinions that it may not be the power supply?

 

[coozie7]

It is possible, a lot of electrical failures occur during startup but I have a horrible feeling that disturbing the CPU may have been its final undoing.
If the new PSU fails to solve the problem, try to boot the system with the CPU taken out, most motherboards will tell you but at least you'll get POST beeps and a disply to tell you the rest is OK.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Did you check the fan power connection? Some BIOS instantly shuts down if there's no CPU fan detection.

 

[Sokoprok]

Final undoing? You make it sound like an evil villain, lol. Which I suppose it will be if it has gone!

Fan power connection is fine, during the millesecond that the computer does power up for, the CPU fan begins to spin and was spinning when I first changed it over. I have put the original back but the same problem occurs now.

My brothers computer actually caused a burning smell but replacing the PSU worked straight away for him as though nothing had happened, so I have fingers crossed that it will be the same for me. We are both running off the same motherboard although my PC has a few higher specs than his.

I do have another dual core chip but it's a 1.8Ghz 🙁 but at least it works.

 

[coozie7]

Depends on how much time you have, I'd seriously consider swapping the CPUs first, it's quite easy and will eliminate that as a cause, and as a bonus you can check around the socket for signs of motherboard damage.

 

[Sokoprok]

Exactly the same problem with a new 580W PSU. 🙁

At one point though I did forget to plug in the 12V cable to the motherboard, and the computer came on and worked although the display didn't come on. There were no beeps or anything and I could hear the HD working away while it loaded.

This seems to me to be a motherboard problem relating to the 12V socket but if anyone has any other ideas I am all ears

 

[Sokoprok]

Depends on how much time you have, I'd seriously consider swapping the CPUs first, it's quite easy and will eliminate that as a cause, and as a bonus you can check around the socket for signs of motherboard damage.

I did swap the CPU's first but it was the same.

There is no visual damage anywhere on the motherboard or around the socket in question.

 

[coozie7]

OK.
Is there any way you can put either of your CPUs' into another machine and check they are actually working and undamaged?
This is starting to look like a motherboard problem now🙁
Then again, maybe it was a MB problem all the time, try resetting the BIOS by taking the battery out for a few hours or shorting the reset jumper and trying again.

 

[coozie7]

Still here?

 

[Sokoprok]

I've actually ordered a replacement motherboard now. The system is the same with both CPU's tried and an attempted boot without the CPU present and with an brand new power supply, it can be only one thing. I've taken the Graphics card out as well as swapping out the RAM and it's the same problem so it must be the mobo.

Will keep you posted and let you know what happens when it comes on Tuesday.

Thanks for all your help

 

[coozie7]

Sorry to hear it's being such an expensive pain, mate.
Still, you've more patience than me.
I'd have jumped on it, foaming at the mouth with frustration by now.

GL