OT: Hardware problem?

Will · #1 April 2nd, 2006, 04:58 PM

Yeah, and in general, you will want to keep open space around the video card to let the ventilation do its work. Try running with the side off the case, stick your hand in empty spaces to see how air flows under idle conditions, then try something more graphics-intensive and see how the video card fan changes things. If I remember, the fireworks screensaver here (linky) can get really graphics intensive by changing some of the settings on it. You'll want to be sure that the path air is taking is forcing hot air out, repacing it with cooler air from outside the case. If there's a space that feels warm, and isn't being covered by fans, try to re-arrange or add fans to take care of it. Or... set up a liquid cooling system

General rule: if a fan is close to a component that will generate a lot of heat, you want it pointing out. If it isn't, point in to balance airflow and reduce ambient temperature.

Saber Cherry · #2 April 2nd, 2006, 09:06 PM

I'm going to guess that your motherboard was made in Taiwan with defective capacitors. Look at the board and see if any are bulging or leaking. They should be perfect cylinders. Of course, even if it looks fine, I'm still going to guess that's the problem.

If there is a heat problem, you can probably solve it by underclocking the CPU or video card, which is a lot easier than messing around with stuff inside the case.

NullAshton · #3 April 2nd, 2006, 09:24 PM

OR, he could just be using ATI, and has VPU recovery on. Which is resetting his video card, and locking it up, or something.

Renegade 13 · #4 April 2nd, 2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Saber Cherry said:
I'm going to guess that your motherboard was made in Taiwan with defective capacitors. Look at the board and see if any are bulging or leaking. They should be perfect cylinders. Of course, even if it looks fine, I'm still going to guess that's the problem.

If there is a heat problem, you can probably solve it by underclocking the CPU or video card, which is a lot easier than messing around with stuff inside the case.

I actually checked the capacitors on the motherboard a while ago once I heard about that fiasco. Nothing seems out of place. I also don't think my motherboard was manufactured by one of the companies that were using the cheap, stolen electrolyte solution, so it shouldn't be an issue in any case. But I think I'll check again just to be sure.

Personally, I quite enjoy mucking around with the hardware.

I'd rather get a bit more ventilation in there rather than underclock anything. More fun!

NullAshton, I don't have an ATI video card. I have a Nvidia 6600 GT manufactured by BFG. Good steady card, no problems so far except for this heat issue if that's what it is.

Thanks everyone for suggestions so far. I think I'll work on the assumption (for now) that it's a heat issue, but also check the motherboard angle. If anyone has any other suggestions for the cause, please feel free to let me know!

NullAshton · #5 April 2nd, 2006, 09:47 PM

Oh yeah, a 6600GT? I recall having problems with that and overheating. It's possible that you don't have enough power going to it, as well, and need a better power supply.

StarShadow · #6 April 2nd, 2006, 10:37 PM

I was thinking that myself. It'd be easy enough to test for, run the comp with the side off (in a reasonably cool room), if it still locks, it's likely to be a power supply issue.

Atrocities · #7 April 2nd, 2006, 11:31 PM

I am with everyone else, you system is over heating.

Renegade 13 · #8 April 2nd, 2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

NullAshton said:
Oh yeah, a 6600GT? I recall having problems with that and overheating. It's possible that you don't have enough power going to it, as well, and need a better power supply.

I doubt power supply is the issue. Put in a new 500W PSU recently, so there's plenty of juice to go around.

Quote:

StarShadow said:
I was thinking that myself. It'd be easy enough to test for, run the comp with the side off (in a reasonably cool room), if it still locks, it's likely to be a power supply issue.

I took the side cover off and ran the most graphics-intensive game I could think of. It ran stable for the hour I spent on it, whereas it usually would have crashed well within that hour. Idle temperature of the card was 66C, after the hour it was hitting 85 or so. I think it'll be alright, as long as I leave the side panel off. Hopefully. We'll see.

Fyron · #9 April 3rd, 2006, 12:50 AM

If you have to have the side panel off to get stability, you have a bad cooling system. Your system should really be cooler with the side panels on than off, if you have a good cooling setup. Install more or better case fans and such, as posted previously.

Also, make sure all the cables are tied up and off to the sides, so they are not obstructing air flow.

Renegade 13 · #10 April 3rd, 2006, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Imperator Fyron said:
If you have to have the side panel off to get stability, you have a bad cooling system. Your system should really be cooler with the side panels on than off, if you have a good cooling setup. Install more or better case fans and such, as posted previously.

Also, make sure all the cables are tied up and off to the sides, so they are not obstructing air flow.

True, but having the side off works as an interim measure. I have one case fan (120mm) which moves a lot of air, but I guess it's not enough. Either that, or cables are interfering since I do have a few of them sprawling around...