- Sep 27, 2013
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Like a number of people on these forums my high end machine is shutting down. A month ago I thought I fixed the machine when I took it off an old extension cord that could not supply the power (it was connected to TVs, another machine, lamps, etc...and there was a burning rubber smell). See previous Tom's Post here. Time went by and I thought plugging directly into a socket with a new beastly surge protector was the fix; then about once a week the shutdown. Then, like some of you, after installing Nvidia drivers it started happening a lot. The PSU may be the issue! It’s a 1200 Watt - NZXT HALE90V2 1200W - 80 PLUS Gold, Full Modular PSU. The manufacturer was short with me and insisted nothing was wrong.
Do you think that it could be the PSU? Given that things got much better when I nixed the old extension cord I am thinking about replacing the PSU even if they won’t do so under warranty. If wiser users than me think it could be worthwhile I have two questions.
1. Is the NZXT HALE90V2 1200W compatible with my ASRock X79 Extreme9 -- 5x PCI-E x16, 8x SATA 6Gbs motherboard?
2. What is a strong PSU that I could use with my motherboard?
There is not much else to swap out! I’ve done a lot to correct for this including replacing the video card, the motherboard, the RAM, the media card reader, and reinstalling windows 8.1. I have posted on forums threads here and here but now that I found the same Kernel-power 41 and Task Category (63) errors I had something new to search, which brought me here.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
PS: Previous Tom's Thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2487969/lock-problems-killing-dead.html
----------------------
This next part probably does not have to be read but it’s a list of problems I’ve been keeping. Systems specs are at the bottom.
Problems in approximate order of occurrence:
1. Flash Media Reader Return– 12.30.13
Flash Media Reader-Writer-12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader-Writer would not read cards. It was replaced. Thank you.
2. Error Messages & Symptoms – 13.02.14 (approximate start date – continued for months)
• USB Device Not Recognized (This error message is displayed from the system tray and continually pops up). No idea which USB port it’s referring to. This may have been the first sign of problems.
• Reference Memory Error (I don’t remember the exact error message. It showed up in a windows dialog box).
• NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM (During blue screen crash & windows install and temp video card replacement. See this page that says it’s HD issue: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff557433%28v=vs.85%29.aspx)
• DRIVER_OVERRAN_STACK_BUFFER (got this once while watching a video).
• Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal. Windows 8.1 (During blue screen crash & after the fresh windows install).
• Icon on the desktop disappeared after the machine locked up and was rebooted.
3. Computer Lock-Ups – 13.04.14 (approximate date)
The computer locks/freezes many times per day; sometimes frequently but other times it is hours between lock ups. It often “sticks” (the mouse cursor and windows stutter/stick when moving them) prior to locking up but often sticks just for fun and does not lock up. It most often locks up when running videos or games. However, it also does so when in Photoshop, Word, and just browsing the web. The problem has persisted for over a month. During that time I have received a number of error messages and attempted numerous fixes as listed below.
Tom’s Hardware forum link about the problem: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2480539/onboard-graphics-asrock-mobo.html#15076511
A list of some of my efforts to resolve the problem (none of which has worked).
I talked with iBuyPower technical support many times during this process.
1. Updated drivers manually and with SlimDrivers.
2. Scanned for viruses with basic Windows Protector.
3. Reinstalled Windows 8.1.
4. Swapped out the keyboard (it was blinking prior to locking up).
5. Reseated all the components in the computer - twice.
6. GPU test with FurMark 1.11.0 (Ok after 30 minutes).
7. HD analysis on both drives with SeaGate tools (PASSED).
8. Windows Memory Diagnostic (Both sticks in differing slots always found problems. Awesome Corsair replaced both sticks. Reran the tests. Both sticks again tested as bad).
9. Video card test with LinX software v0.6.4 (Stopped due to error “Memory 772” after 43 seconds. MSI has been kind enough to do an RMA but I am waiting to send it in until after your diagnosis).
10. Purchased an inexpensive video card (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MIYKRC2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to get me by – currently installed in the machine. It did run games and video but after a couple hours of stress testing the system crashed to blue screen with the NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM error message.
5. RAM tested as bad using the windows memory test.
• Corsair replaced both sticks under warranty since both tested bad.
• It ends up they were probably okay as the motherboard later was found to have a bad slot.
6. Sound won’t work through speakers or headphone. Sometimes works via the computer monitor speakers.
• Updating drivers did not work.
• While the video card was being exchanged by MSI the replacement card had not HDMI; I had no sound with the other cable for weeks.
7. Video card melted.
• A sharp plastic, burning smell emanated from the machine as it turned off. It would not restart. The local computer servicer confirmed it was fried.
4. Sudden Shut-Downs with Immediate Reboots – 07.04.15.
The day it was returned from the local computer shop (third visit to the store) it began shutting down and immediately rebooting. It did so when working in Word, surfing the web, and gaming.
The machine had been at the repair shop exactly 1-week while we waited for the replacement motherboard. During this time I had to use a machine from 2008 to do my work.
Other Things of Note:
5. CPU Fan Interferes with RAM Placement
The CPU fan does not allow for the recommended A1, B1 placement of the RAM. Instead it must be seated in the A2, B2 slots or another configuration that does not use A1.
Full System Specs:
• Operating System - Windows 8.1.
• Processor - Intel® Core™ i7 4820K Processor - 4x 3.70GHz/10MB L3 Cache - Intel Core i7 4820K.
• CPU Cooling - Liquid Intel - ARC Dual Silent High Performance 2 Fans.
• Memory - 16 GB (8 GB x2) DDR3-2133 Memory Module - G.SKILL Ripjaws X. P: Heatspreader, X79, XMP1.3, 1.5V.
• Video Card - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 - 3GB - Single Card.
• Motherboard - ASRock X79 Extreme9 -- 5x PCI-E x16, 8x SATA 6Gbs, 4x USB 3.0.
• Power Supply - 1200 Watt - NZXT HALE90V2 1200W - 80 PLUS Gold, Full Modular.
• Primary Hard Drive - 512 GB ADATA SX900 SSD - Read: 540MB/s, Write: 465MB/s - Single SSD Drive.
• Data Hard Drive - 3 TB HARD DRIVE -- 64M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s - Single Mechanical Drive.
• Optical Drive 1 - 12x Blu-Ray LG BLU-RAY Reader, DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive.
• Optical Drive 2 -2nd Optical Drive - 12x Blu-Ray LG BLU-RAY Reader, DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive.
• Flash Media Reader-Writer - 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader-Writer.
• Internal Expansion - 6-Port NZXT Internal USB Expansion System.
• Sound Card - 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard.
• Network Card - None - Onboard LAN Network -Gb or 10/100.
• Overclocking - 10% Overclocking.
Do you think that it could be the PSU? Given that things got much better when I nixed the old extension cord I am thinking about replacing the PSU even if they won’t do so under warranty. If wiser users than me think it could be worthwhile I have two questions.
1. Is the NZXT HALE90V2 1200W compatible with my ASRock X79 Extreme9 -- 5x PCI-E x16, 8x SATA 6Gbs motherboard?
2. What is a strong PSU that I could use with my motherboard?
There is not much else to swap out! I’ve done a lot to correct for this including replacing the video card, the motherboard, the RAM, the media card reader, and reinstalling windows 8.1. I have posted on forums threads here and here but now that I found the same Kernel-power 41 and Task Category (63) errors I had something new to search, which brought me here.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
PS: Previous Tom's Thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2487969/lock-problems-killing-dead.html
----------------------
This next part probably does not have to be read but it’s a list of problems I’ve been keeping. Systems specs are at the bottom.
Problems in approximate order of occurrence:
1. Flash Media Reader Return– 12.30.13
Flash Media Reader-Writer-12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader-Writer would not read cards. It was replaced. Thank you.
2. Error Messages & Symptoms – 13.02.14 (approximate start date – continued for months)
• USB Device Not Recognized (This error message is displayed from the system tray and continually pops up). No idea which USB port it’s referring to. This may have been the first sign of problems.
• Reference Memory Error (I don’t remember the exact error message. It showed up in a windows dialog box).
• NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM (During blue screen crash & windows install and temp video card replacement. See this page that says it’s HD issue: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff557433%28v=vs.85%29.aspx)
• DRIVER_OVERRAN_STACK_BUFFER (got this once while watching a video).
• Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal. Windows 8.1 (During blue screen crash & after the fresh windows install).
• Icon on the desktop disappeared after the machine locked up and was rebooted.
3. Computer Lock-Ups – 13.04.14 (approximate date)
The computer locks/freezes many times per day; sometimes frequently but other times it is hours between lock ups. It often “sticks” (the mouse cursor and windows stutter/stick when moving them) prior to locking up but often sticks just for fun and does not lock up. It most often locks up when running videos or games. However, it also does so when in Photoshop, Word, and just browsing the web. The problem has persisted for over a month. During that time I have received a number of error messages and attempted numerous fixes as listed below.
Tom’s Hardware forum link about the problem: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2480539/onboard-graphics-asrock-mobo.html#15076511
A list of some of my efforts to resolve the problem (none of which has worked).
I talked with iBuyPower technical support many times during this process.
1. Updated drivers manually and with SlimDrivers.
2. Scanned for viruses with basic Windows Protector.
3. Reinstalled Windows 8.1.
4. Swapped out the keyboard (it was blinking prior to locking up).
5. Reseated all the components in the computer - twice.
6. GPU test with FurMark 1.11.0 (Ok after 30 minutes).
7. HD analysis on both drives with SeaGate tools (PASSED).
8. Windows Memory Diagnostic (Both sticks in differing slots always found problems. Awesome Corsair replaced both sticks. Reran the tests. Both sticks again tested as bad).
9. Video card test with LinX software v0.6.4 (Stopped due to error “Memory 772” after 43 seconds. MSI has been kind enough to do an RMA but I am waiting to send it in until after your diagnosis).
10. Purchased an inexpensive video card (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MIYKRC2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to get me by – currently installed in the machine. It did run games and video but after a couple hours of stress testing the system crashed to blue screen with the NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM error message.
5. RAM tested as bad using the windows memory test.
• Corsair replaced both sticks under warranty since both tested bad.
• It ends up they were probably okay as the motherboard later was found to have a bad slot.
6. Sound won’t work through speakers or headphone. Sometimes works via the computer monitor speakers.
• Updating drivers did not work.
• While the video card was being exchanged by MSI the replacement card had not HDMI; I had no sound with the other cable for weeks.
7. Video card melted.
• A sharp plastic, burning smell emanated from the machine as it turned off. It would not restart. The local computer servicer confirmed it was fried.
4. Sudden Shut-Downs with Immediate Reboots – 07.04.15.
The day it was returned from the local computer shop (third visit to the store) it began shutting down and immediately rebooting. It did so when working in Word, surfing the web, and gaming.
The machine had been at the repair shop exactly 1-week while we waited for the replacement motherboard. During this time I had to use a machine from 2008 to do my work.
Other Things of Note:
5. CPU Fan Interferes with RAM Placement
The CPU fan does not allow for the recommended A1, B1 placement of the RAM. Instead it must be seated in the A2, B2 slots or another configuration that does not use A1.
Full System Specs:
• Operating System - Windows 8.1.
• Processor - Intel® Core™ i7 4820K Processor - 4x 3.70GHz/10MB L3 Cache - Intel Core i7 4820K.
• CPU Cooling - Liquid Intel - ARC Dual Silent High Performance 2 Fans.
• Memory - 16 GB (8 GB x2) DDR3-2133 Memory Module - G.SKILL Ripjaws X. P: Heatspreader, X79, XMP1.3, 1.5V.
• Video Card - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 - 3GB - Single Card.
• Motherboard - ASRock X79 Extreme9 -- 5x PCI-E x16, 8x SATA 6Gbs, 4x USB 3.0.
• Power Supply - 1200 Watt - NZXT HALE90V2 1200W - 80 PLUS Gold, Full Modular.
• Primary Hard Drive - 512 GB ADATA SX900 SSD - Read: 540MB/s, Write: 465MB/s - Single SSD Drive.
• Data Hard Drive - 3 TB HARD DRIVE -- 64M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s - Single Mechanical Drive.
• Optical Drive 1 - 12x Blu-Ray LG BLU-RAY Reader, DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive.
• Optical Drive 2 -2nd Optical Drive - 12x Blu-Ray LG BLU-RAY Reader, DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive.
• Flash Media Reader-Writer - 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader-Writer.
• Internal Expansion - 6-Port NZXT Internal USB Expansion System.
• Sound Card - 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard.
• Network Card - None - Onboard LAN Network -Gb or 10/100.
• Overclocking - 10% Overclocking.
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