Crashing, Rebooting.. Not a clue!

[Javalin]

Hi all.

 

I built a new system at around the end of May (Since it was the first one I'd built myself) - Which up to now.. has been a total success. Here is my hardware listing:

 

Motherboard: ASUS M5A99X EVO (Socket AM3+)

CPU: AMD 8-Core (FX-8120) 3.1ghz

RAM: 8gb Corsair Vengeance (DDR3) 1600mhz

Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX560 Ti (1gb DDR5)

Power Supply Unit: MODXSTREAMPRO 700W from OCZ Technologies

 

Unfortunately; it has now started to develop problems. Now I've no idea whether that has something to do with driver updates. Which, I have come to rule out completely; and here is why.

 

1. BIOS Settings Screwing up.

 

Primarily after I removed the Power lead from the back (Much like what happened with the Original Xbox if you disconnected the system from the Power completely). After replacing the BIOS battery on my motherboard; problem 1 was solved. The BIOS settings do save properly, and I don't have to keep setting up the sodding Boot device everytime I disconnect it from the Power.

 

However, this hasn't solved my problem of my system rebooting

 

2. Downloading a bogus Blacklight: Retribution copy

 

I didn't even think to check Steam -Do not mistaken this for Piracy, as the game is Free to Play. Needless to say I did end up downloading what happened to be a Worm; immediately picked up by Firewall and Anti-Virus; removed it. No more traces are found by any security software I have installed. By far the dumbest thing I have done in a long time.

 

This was around when problems started occurring.. Oh Joy.

 

3. BIOS was not recognised the fact I have 8gb of RAM installed, and was only showing I had 4gb. (DXDIAG was picking up 8GB)

 

 

Usually restarts are caused by RAM which is for example: Putting DDR2 with DDR3 RAM. Solved this issue which crept up by pressing the MemOK! switch on the Motherboard

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Anyway.. I am well untruely out of ideas as to why my system keeps either: Crashing (To a point where it is completely unresponsive - I.E. Mouse cursor doesn't move, CTRL+ALT+Delete doesn't work) visually, totally unresponsive.

 

The Restarting. Usually caused either by RAM not being compatible with each other or overheating. I don't have that problem with compatibility. and the temperature of my hardware is low - and on top of that, I don't even have the "Increased Performance, More Heat" option enabled in my BIOS.

 

Hardware Temperature Listings (According to my BIOS):(I believe the shutdown temperature it must exceed nearly twice that of the CPU listings below (As minimum setting)

 

CPU: 42 C (107.5 F)

Motherboard: 24 C (75 F)

Graphics Card: 37 C (99.5 F)

 

My computer case has a lot of cooling within it.

 

1x 3.5" Fan at the front,

2x 3.5" on the side detachable panel (The part you take off to get at the hardware itself)

1x 3.5" on the back of the case (next to all the peripheral ports on the back)

1x 2.5" on the Graphics Card

1x 2.5" on the CPU (Including the Cooling Paste) that comes with the standard CPU these days.

1x 4" within the Power Supply

1x 2.5" on the back of the Power Supply

 

 

Note: IT DID, crash and reboot when making this post.. I love Firefox. I have now detached the cable which is linked to the Reset Button (Granted should only solve the reboot problem). If this doesn't work.. I've REALLY no idea what else to do. I have tried pretty much everything I can possibly think of. (Note: Turns out detaching the Reset SW cable stops the Power button from functioning aswell despite being COMPLETELY seperate)

 

Could I be wrong about the drivers my system uses? I know Nvidia have had some really shoddy driver releases over the last few months. But I can't think of anything else; it's beyond frustrating now!

 

Thanks

 

Javalin..

[samadchaz]

1) Battery change problem = solved (if you drop the battery accidentally on the board, problem = occurred)

 

2) try Latest Mbam free scan one more time(Anyway.. I am well untruely out of ideas as to why my system keeps either: Crashing (To a point where it is completely unresponsive - I.E. Mouse cursor doesn't move, CTRL+ALT+Delete doesn't work) visually, totally unresponsive.)

 

3)reseat ATX cable (Note: IT DID, crash and reboot) you dont want to try this one but try shaking/touching the cable/s when computer is running(in Bios) if its happen then loose atx cable may be the problem

 

check this post too (have asus/amd/560Ti)

http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/736475-computer-hangs-at-random/page__pid__5869400#entry5869400

[JimboUK]

Disable automatic restarts, now when it crashes you'll get a BSOD with a clue to what the problem is.

[bben46]

System rebooting is usually caused by a hardware problem. Something is pulling the +5 volts down. - the reset button does this by pulling the +5 volts to ground causing the power supply to reset. As just about every device in the computer uses that +5volt line, it could be anything - and it could be a power supply problem.

 

Based on your BIOS only showing 4G instead of 8, I would start with the RAM - remove half of the ram and test. If it still fails, swap the ram and test the other half. If it still falis, then RAM is not likely the problem. If it cannot identify all of your ram, and that ram checks good - it is most likely a bad ram socket on your MB.

 

Remove everything you can and run a diagnostic. If you can, put the computer under as heavy a load as possible.

 

Here is a free stress test diagnostic

http://majorgeeks.com/Stress_My_PC_d7238.html

[Javalin]

1) Battery change problem = solved (if you drop the battery accidentally on the board, problem = occurred)

 

2) try Latest Mbam free scan one more time(Anyway.. I am well untruely out of ideas as to why my system keeps either: Crashing (To a point where it is completely unresponsive - I.E. Mouse cursor doesn't move, CTRL+ALT+Delete doesn't work) visually, totally unresponsive.)

 

3)reseat ATX cable (Note: IT DID, crash and reboot) you dont want to try this one but try shaking/touching the cable/s when computer is running(in Bios) if its happen then loose atx cable may be the problem

 

check this post too (have asus/amd/560Ti)

http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/736475-computer-hangs-at-random/page__pid__5869400#entry5869400

 

I'll tried MemTest86+ and it simply just refused to boot at all; both CD and USB Versions of the software. I will have to get back to you on these ones.

 

Messed around with the ATX Cable - Only very minor changes (0.003-0.007v changes) on the 4 which were listed- But still exceeded the minimum required to run.

 

Listings: 1.5V, 3V, 5V, 12V

 

Disable automatic restarts, now when it crashes you'll get a BSOD with a clue to what the problem is.

 

Just switched this off.

Didn't do anything - It's not the BSOD though.

 

System rebooting is usually caused by a hardware problem. Something is pulling the +5 volts down. - the reset button does this by pulling the +5 volts to ground causing the power supply to reset. As just about every device in the computer uses that +5volt line, it could be anything - and it could be a power supply problem.

 

Based on your BIOS only showing 4G instead of 8, I would start with the RAM - remove half of the ram and test. If it still fails, swap the ram and test the other half. If it still falis, then RAM is not likely the problem. If it cannot identify all of your ram, and that ram checks good - it is most likely a bad ram socket on your MB.

 

Remove everything you can and run a diagnostic. If you can, put the computer under as heavy a load as possible.

 

Here is a free stress test diagnostic

http://majorgeeks.com/Stress_My_PC_d7238.html

 

Voltage - If I remember correctly; isn't it a little different in the UK than in the US?

My BIOS - It is correctly showing 8GB RAM, same with DirectX Diagnostics and the "Windows Experience Index"

Stresstest - It capped between about 80-89% CPU Usage (Left it for half hour - and nothing happened) - Let me point out; I do not have photosensitive epilepsy.. But i did feel weird looking at it, and received a headache within 5 seconds. :)

 

 

I have a feeling that it is my Power SW and Reset SW cables which are faulty.

 

Power Switch will not work at all without additional pressure on the connector to the motherboard.. When I try to switch the machine on.. I don't feel a desire to earn a shocking experience. So, if it turns out to be that.. I'll just remove the cooling within the case itself and buy a new one.

 

Edit: I tweaked the RPM's of the CPU Cooling as it was running at only 2600 (which is about 45%) - Increased the RPM's to 3000. Seen a temperature drop of about 2C

 

Appreciate the assistance so far :)

 

 

Jav'

[samadchaz]

I'll tried MemTest86+ and it simply just refused to boot at all; both CD and USB Versions of the software. I will have to get back to you on these ones.

try the inbuild win 7 memory test

->Start Menu->Run->type mdsched->select "Restart now..."

 

Voltage - If I remember correctly; isn't it a little different in the UK than in the US?

Active PFC,your PSU should have this

 

I have a feeling that it is my Power SW and Reset SW cables which are faulty.

Power Switch will not work at all without additional pressure on the connector to the motherboard.. When I try to switch the machine on.. I don't feel a desire to earn a shocking experience. So, if it turns out to be that.. I'll just remove the cooling within the case itself and buy a new one.

Don't put any pressure on the connector or you will damage the two-pins as well as cable. Check your power strip for proper Grounding, its not good to power on in such case)

 

Messed around with the ATX Cable - Only very minor changes (0.003-0.007v changes) on the 4 which were listed- But still exceeded the minimum required to run.

Listings: 1.5V, 3V, 5V, 12V

your ATX cable pins are OK if its not restarted

[Javalin]

I'll tried MemTest86+ and it simply just refused to boot at all; both CD and USB Versions of the software. I will have to get back to you on these ones.

try the inbuild win 7 memory test

->Start Menu->Run->type mdsched->select "Restart now..."

 

Voltage - If I remember correctly; isn't it a little different in the UK than in the US?

Active PFC,your PSU should have this

 

I have a feeling that it is my Power SW and Reset SW cables which are faulty.

Power Switch will not work at all without additional pressure on the connector to the motherboard.. When I try to switch the machine on.. I don't feel a desire to earn a shocking experience. So, if it turns out to be that.. I'll just remove the cooling within the case itself and buy a new one.

Don't put any pressure on the connector or you will damage the two-pins as well as cable. Check your power strip for proper Grounding, its not good to power on in such case)

 

Messed around with the ATX Cable - Only very minor changes (0.003-0.007v changes) on the 4 which were listed- But still exceeded the minimum required to run.

Listings: 1.5V, 3V, 5V, 12V

your ATX cable pins are OK if its not restarted

 

Did the Memtest with windows - Came up blank, everything seems to be in order with that.

 

The Power SW/Reset SW Cables (Pressure)- I am referring to the extender connection which I had to use (which comes as standard with the motherboard) - Removing these will not power down the system, it will just stop the buttons from working.

 

My PSU does have an Active PFC with Surge Protection.

[samadchaz]

I am referring to the extender connection which I had to use (which comes as standard with the motherboard) - Removing these will not power down the system, it will just stop the buttons from working.

 

lol I know that

I mean try to short the power pins to see if the buttons are faulty(Don't short anything else! :)

 

Do below to check your PSU

 

 

 

try your friends ram and psu on your motherboard for the restart problem

[Javalin]

I am referring to the extender connection which I had to use (which comes as standard with the motherboard) - Removing these will not power down the system, it will just stop the buttons from working.

 

lol I know that

I mean try to short the power pins to see if the buttons are faulty(Don't short anything else! :)

 

Do below to check your PSU

 

 

 

try your friends ram and psu on your motherboard for the restart problem

 

I have decided to reseat some of the cabling, replacing the extender connection, aswell as tidy up the cabling to improve air flow... So far so good - Temperature dropped by 5c :) and the power switch now works without me having to put my hand in the case.

 

The power supply is fine, and functioning properly.

[Javalin]

Just an update..

 

Power issue is fine now - I realised it was probably the ATX Cable as the computer was pushed too far back (Leaving extremely little space for the cable to enter the power supply)

 

 

There is still a crash issue.. I did actually get a Blue Screen today shortly after i switched my computer on; including one or two full crashes (everything freezes and unresponsive) - Got a feeling it's the graphics drivers.