Okay im on the verge of dropping PC and turnin to consoles!!

[Avadann_Kedeth]

That's what I was thinking. It sounds like viruses or spyware. What AntiVirus, AntiSpyware, FireWall do you use?

 

[rHy0]

I use Spybot search and destroy (anti-spyware), trial version (only 1 day left!) of Kaspersky anti-virus and im using just plain Windows FireWall. What do you think? Also im fed up of having to buy anti-viruses.... can you recommend any free, good, SAFE ones?

 

[1Tanker]

I use Spybot search and destroy (anti-spyware), trial version (only 1 day left!) of Kaspersky anti-virus and im using just plain Windows FireWall. What do you think? Also im fed up of having to buy anti-viruses.... can you recommend any free, good, SAFE ones?

AVG is good, and free.

 

[sojrner]

I agree w/ stranger... probably not a virus. avg is great. small footprint on the system and very solid. Have been using it for a few years now w/ no regrets.

 

[choirbass]

i didnt see that anyone else had brought this up... and im wondering, but, in all the times you reformatted... had you done a least 1 low level format?... or were they all quick formats... im just saying, because if youre only doing quick formats, all that happens is any data that was on there, is wiped, but isnt truely gone... fragments of data can still remain (personal information too)... but with a low level format, its all gone... but what im wondering, is if any of the pre existing data, might be interfering with your windows installation after a new install... not saying to go and reinstall just for this, but if you do need to for whatever reason, a low level format might just possibly remedy an unexplained performance problem, or unprovoked windows issue

 

[angry_ducky]

I use Spybot search and destroy (anti-spyware), trial version (only 1 day left!) of Kaspersky anti-virus and im using just plain Windows FireWall. What do you think? Also im fed up of having to buy anti-viruses.... can you recommend any free, good, SAFE ones?

AVG is good, and free.I'll second that. I use AVG, and I'll never go back to Norton.

 

[mitch074]

Actually, each chip revision has its favourite driver revision; I know for a fact that a ti4200-8x chip (nv43) just LOVES revision 56.72: highest framerate, best game compatibility, highest quality rendering, most stable... I tried most 3x, 4x, several 6x and 7x, and only 56.72 ever gave me satisfactory results on that chip.

I'm still out on the GF6600, I'm not using it much - under Windows, I mean.

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

One, you have no clue about computers. not to be a jerk but don't pretend you do so listen up.

1) memory of the bad or broken nature will cause your computer to reboot or lockup hard.

2) it is impossible for sudden drop of performance with NO REASON. there is a reason.

Possible reasons:

You don't have adequate cooling causing your processor to overheat and throttle down.

You have tons of spyware from using internet explorer. If you use IE i don't care you have spyware. www.lavasoft.com and download the personal edition of ad-aware and actually check instead of assuming.

if you have windows xp, install service pack 2!!! sp2 is like a whole new operating system and will improve security and prevent some really nasty spyware and viruses.

All in all it sounds like after 2-3 weeks software is being installed that is running in the background which will reduce overall performance.

However, this sounds more like a joke/troll post than an actuall "i need help" post. It's impossible for a computer to suddenly lose performance for no reason.

Im just fed up of having to re-install (windows) my gaming system literaley every 2-3 weeks when the performance just suddenly drops (only on gaming) and i cant play my games at max detail ant more!!!!! It just dosnt make sense! How can a PC, after a certain amount of time passed, just suddenly slow right down and give me unacceptalbe 7800GTX framerates just like that!!? Of corse when i do a clean install (which i have to do aprox. every 2 weeks) the gaming is back to the right speed..... for 2 weeks, when it starts again!! I take such good care of my system and have never, ever had any spyware or viruses so what is going on!? All this is starting to make me hate pc gaming!! Plz help!

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

low level format is bad. If your computer were to lock up or power off any time during a low level format your hard drive is done.

Low level format is only necassary if you have a really really bad virus or some very sensitive information on your drive.

i didnt see that anyone else had brought this up... and im wondering, but, in all the times you reformatted... had you done a least 1 low level format?... or were they all quick formats... im just saying, because if youre only doing quick formats, all that happens is any data that was on there, is wiped, but isnt truely gone... fragments of data can still remain (personal information too)... but with a low level format, its all gone... but what im wondering, is if any of the pre existing data, might be interfering with your windows installation after a new install... not saying to go and reinstall just for this, but if you do need to for whatever reason, a low level format might just possibly remedy an unexplained performance problem, or unprovoked windows issue

 

[choirbass]

low level format is bad. If your computer were to lock up or power off any time during a low level format your hard drive is done.

Low level format is only necassary if you have a really really bad virus or some very sensitive information on your drive.

...thats what i was wondering about though... if there IS a harmful virus, or other malicious malware of sorts still residing on his harddrive (if there was any to begin with)... a quick format might not be getting rid of it

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

grow up there was no insults. you however have reduced yourself to insults.

Now if you think about what a computer is its impossible for a computer to suddenly lose performance.

Pretending you know everything about computers doesn't help your cause. low level formats, reinstalls, or anything of that nature will not fix a "sudden loss of performance"

A sudden loss of performance is only possible through spyware, viruses, software of some nature. Another possible cause is the cpu is throttling down because its getting so hot due to lack of cooling.

Now ahh go ahead and pretend you know everything about computers because you don't if your suggesting low level formats and memory...

go to hell you little POS. the guy is only needing help. there could be something seriously wonrg with his hardware. this is not a new problem. he has been asking help about his new build for a while on these forums.

now it could be him worrying about nothing but if its not he should check it out. no one asked you to come on here and insult him.

 

[choirbass]

...you seem to have some anger issues to work out, and thats fine... but dont take it out on anyone else

 

[xxsk8er101xx]

your assumptions ...

It annoys me when people give some really poor advice that won't even come close to fixing the problem.

...you seem to have some anger issues to work out, and thats fine... but dont take it out on anyone else

 

[choirbass]

your assumptions ...

It annoys me when people give some really poor advice that won't even come close to fixing the problem.

...what i suggested, might not be plausible... and certainly wouldnt be the first thing to try... but if hes eliminated all other likely culprits (proper cooling, malware, software and hardware configurations, lack of power, poorly seated hardware, multiple different drivers, instability from overclocking or otherwise, faulty hardware, and anything else along the common troubleshooting dilemmas)... and you still dont have an answer... start to look where the answer is least likely, but still possible... and maybe what i suggested wont help at all... but its a possibility.

 

[rHy0]

Pretending you know everything about computers doesn't help your cause.

[/quote] When did i ever say that i know everything about Computers?..... Infact on the previous page i admitted that i have never OC'd before... Like Stranger said, i have been asking for help with my system on these forums for a while now so if i was pretending to know everything about computers then why the hell do you think i would be asking for ppls advice??

 

[sojrner]

ya, I wouldn't worry about it man. Some ppl on here just like to rip others apart. Many times there are a-holes that still give good advice, but some are just the hole w/o the advice. You are fine in what/how you are asking man. No worries.

No-one here knows everything. If they did, they would be making big $ and would not have enough time to be here in the first place. 😉

 

[rHy0]

Many times there are a-holes that still give good advice, but some are just the hole w/o the advice.

Lol, couldnt of put it better myself

 

[Alpha_Magnum]

Did you flash the BIOS? You mentioned that you may have flashed the wrong BIOS a ways bacK?? So what BIOS version is in it now and why don't you flash the BIOS?

Did you enter the BIOS and set the areas that you need to? RAM PROC?

Are the RAM moduels in the correct slots?

Did you download the NForce Drivers from Nvidia along with the video drivers?

When you look in the device manager are there any yello or red warnings if so what are they?

Did you disable quiet cool in the BIOS?

What version of Windows are you installing every other week?

Tell me how you do a clean install? And do you you add all of the Windows updates after you set up the drivers?

Your Raptor is SATA so what SATA socket is it added to the red or black?

Do you add the RAID drivers from a floppy @ F6 and set the drive as a JOB?

Did you install the Nvidia Lan Guard (hope not)?

What nic are you using one is marvell the other is nvidia? Did you know that disabling features like unused RAIDs and NICs in the BIOS frees up resources?

In your Computer Managment / Services can you list what is manual, disabled and automatic?

When you reinstall are you doing a full format to NTFS or FAT32 or are you installing in place on a existing file system?

In your system event viewer look for reds and yellows in both Application and System tell us what you have?

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun in your registry and tell us what is running there?

 

[Alpha_Magnum]

Low level format is from the olden days of PCs. There is a Windows format and you choose FAT32 or NTFS. The full format or quick format do 2 different things. The quick format builds a new partition table while a full format checks the whole disk. Another type of format is called a ZERO fill this is where ZERO bits are written to the entire drive.

 

[rHy0]

Did you flash the BIOS? You mentioned that you may have flashed the wrong BIOS a ways bacK?? So what BIOS version is in it now and why don't you flash the BIOS?
No, i have not flashed the latest BIOS as i do not think that is the area of the problem so i will leave it to being the last resort.

Did you enter the BIOS and set the areas that you need to? RAM PROC?
No, i still feel uncomfortable and will not feel confident to do this until i know the absolute exact settings i should be setting them.

Are the RAM moduels in the correct slots? Umm... let me just check...Yes.

Did you download the NForce Drivers from Nvidia along with the video drivers?
Yes, i have the latest nvidia BETA 91.28 graphics driver and chipset (nForce) driver v6.70.

When you look in the device manager are there any yello or red warnings if so what are they?
Yes, always been a yellow :?: for RAID driver but i purposely left that out cause i dont use a RAID array (only have 1 HD). Also an X over my second cordless mouse which i disabled to avoid conflicts with my current mouse (Razor Copperhead).

Did you disable quiet cool in the BIOS? Assuming you mean Cool & Quiet, Yes i have always left that disabled as i am aware of its issues.

What version of Windows are you installing every other week? XP Pro

Tell me how do you do a clean install? Restart PC, and startup of XP disk. I delete my old Partition and create new install in the Unpartitioned space. Okay em iv forgotten the terms used but anyway when it comes to cleaning everything off (best discribed as the loading bar) i usually select the long Format, except on my last re-install i selected the quick one. To the next question... Yes i add the Windows Updates usually after the drivers and neccessary software.

Did you install the Nvidia Lan Guard (hope not)? No, never have, never will.

What nic are you using one is marvell the other is nvidia? Marvell Yukon Network connection.

In your Computer Managment / Services can you list what is manual, disabled and automatic? Dont feel like doing that right now but if its really neccessary i will do so. Let me know.

When you reinstall are you doing a full format to NTFS or FAT32 or are you installing in place on a existing file system?
To be honest i really dont know for certain but i think its NTFS, although i did remember seeing the text FAT32 come up on the screen just before the windows load during POST so not really sure....


In your system event viewer look for reds and yellows in both Application and System tell us what you have?
Through this windows install i have had mostly had warning - 'Tcpip' (source) messages. Also had 2 or 3 'Dhcp' warnings and error alerts. On Application iv a a larger variety, Mostly Userenv warnings. Had bout 6/7 'Application Error'(s), Also a few 'WinMgmt' warnings.

 

[Alpha_Magnum]

I have every confidence that you can flash your BIOS ... (As you boot you will see the version on the post screen)

I have every confidence that you can set your RAM as you must since it must be set manually (there have been nothing but complaints about that the other complaint is that 4 gigs will not run CAS1 or at 400Mhz)

Here are your RAM settings again top down::
DRAM Configuration:
Manual
400Mhz
3
8
4
4
11
14
5
3
1
S/W DRAM Disabled


Here are your JumperFree settings again top down::
JumperFree Configuration:
Manual
Disabled
Disabled
200.0
100Mhz
2.70V
+1.5V
+1.20V
Auto
Auto
Auto

On the other page are the links for the BIOS & FLASH TOOL get those and I will tell you how to do it in short order.


Now the running services issue can be an issue.

There happen to be several rather small settings like error reporting etc that need to be disable.

Disable al things not used in the BIOS and move to the NVIDIA components like RAID & NIC

Install the RAID and set up a JOB

If you are seeing the RAID BIOSEs during boot they are enabled. You must go through every section of that MB BIOS By default many things are enabled that you don't use.

Here is a guestion do you see a RED device in the device manager that is Unknown? Regardless You have to install AI NOS then remove it from the start up group to get rid of it. In the device manager it is looking for the drivers for the sensors like temp etc.

The rest is good till that REG entry to check. Nvidia adds a few things that get auto updated. Windows has several updaters to disable too.

 

[rHy0]

For your question on do i format to NTFS or FAT32, i checked in Computer Management and its NTFS.

 

[Alpha_Magnum]

Good going though you will have to start over with the drive when you set up a JOB on the NVraid later

 

[rHy0]

Okay well i checked my current BIOS version and it says; 5.1.39 (during POST)...

 

[Alpha_Magnum]

Sorry about the delay I needed to lay down I am so frikkin sick...
Now back to you and your ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Its current non beta BIOS is 1009 the current beta is 1302. I could find no 5.1.39 listed for it so....... you located the wrong ## or there is another issue. So restart the system and look for the version on the post screen (upper left area) or enter the BIOS and it is there. You will need to flash it though!