Clunky PC

[Godlik3]

I have a rig with a 7970 and a i7 3770 but it has a subpar hdd and some older ram. It feels awfully clunky despite keeping IT clean and reformatting every few months. I game on basically all genres and I want to be able to max everything out with 60 plus fps.

Should I buy a new pc or try something with my current one?

 

[Charlie98]

Probably need to list your entire PC specs.

Why are you reformatting every few months?

 

[Ken g6]

I'd probably start doing things with your current PC. But can you list all the specs for us? Including your monitor resolution?

Reformatting every few months doesn't sound normal. Are you doing this just to try to improve game speed, or are you experiencing other system issues that this fixes?

The first suggestion that comes to mind is "get an SSD". But that won't help game framerates. It'll just improve the overall "clunky" feeling.

The second thing you might consider is overclocking that 3770. You didn't list a "K", but the non-K's can still overclock ~400MHz if you have a "Z" motherboard. You should monitor your CPU temperatures if you do this, and if they're too high get an aftermarket cooler too.

Your CPU is still very good, and your GPU is better-than-average too - it's the same as an R9 280X. I'd wait until the new AMD GPUs come out in a couple of months before upgrading your GPU.

 

[Godlik3]

I upgraded a Acer prebuilt so I have some weird shitty parts. Intel mobo, Seagate 2TB HDD and Kingston 8GB ram. I reformat just to clean stuff up as all I do is game. Also I was looking at the GTX 970 benches and they seem very good to me. My overall framerate for most games is good but I want to really max them out good.

I play in 1600x900 currently.

 

[Essence_of_War]

You have a 7970 in acer pre-built? :hmm:

Are you having PSU issues? Usually those prebuilt power supplies do not come with the expectation of having high-end GPUs dumped into them.

 

[Charlie98]

I upgraded a Acer prebuilt so I have some weird shitty parts....

Should I buy a new pc or try something with my current one?

If you are a gamer, I would consider building your own, even if it's using a used Z77 mobo with your 3770, which is a decent chip, and some of the other parts you might have (RAM, GPU.)

I still don't understand why you are reloading your OS every so often... there are ways around that.

 

[sm625]

Does it feel clunky outside of games or is it actually stuttering and droppign frames in games? If the problem is mainly an outside-of-game problem then put your OS and system files on a 64-128GB SSD. Keep your games on the HDD.

 

[piasabird]

I was reading up on chipsets and the new SKY LAKE chipset is going to be coming out to desktops probably around September. It will use the 1151 socket and probably also be able to use DDR4 RAM. Keep that in mind if you plan on upgrading.

 

[Godlik3]

Essence, I bought the PC a few years ago and just upgraded it because I had no clue what I was doing, haha. What would be a good build for a new pc that fits my req? I can spend around 1400 CAD. I live in Canada so if you are listing something make sure I can get it here

EDIT: Also to answer the reformatting thing it's just from me liking a fresh start with nothing messy etc it's pointless but I just felt I needed to put it in there so people knew I didn't have a 2 year old pile of viruses or something.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Essence, I bought the PC a few years ago and just upgraded it because I had no clue what I was doing, haha. What would be a good build for a new pc that fits my req? I can spend around 1400 CAD. I live in Canada so if you are listing something make sure I can get it here

EDIT: Also to answer the reformatting thing it's just from me liking a fresh start with nothing messy etc it's pointless but I just felt I needed to put it in there so people knew I didn't have a 2 year old pile of viruses or something.

Reformatting a drive and reinstalling the OS falls into the category "drastic-action-of-last-resort." Repeating an observation made elsewhere -- Maximum PC magazine, which caters to enthusiast DIY-builders, recommends a "fresh start" reformat and re-install annually. Those inclined to follow that maxim are not likely to have invested as much in software and software-collection. IT would be a weekend-long task; the user would need to make an inventory and take stock of software downloads and installation optical discs, then rank-order them for reinstallation. I'm still using the same, original OS installation on a machine that's been running now for 4 years 24/7.

So I have a fair idea of "where you're comin' from." My dentist went the opposite direction: He was building his systems from scratch for a long time, then realized he could get Dell Xeon hex-core refurbished workstations for a decent price and little hands-on trouble with them. He never needed the latest and greatest.

I don't know what I'd recommend to someone who is planning to build their first DIY system. I started klooging together parts in the 1980's -- it's become a matter of principle -- a choice -- a habit. But not that difficult.

Choose a processor: maybe a Devils Canyon quad-core. Then pick a motherboard -- deciding whether you plan to become an overclocking obsessive like some of us, or just build a machine configured to run at default specs. There are plenty of comparison reviews for each essential part: motherboard, RAM-kit, graphics card, HDD or SSD, power-supply . . . computer case -- even cooling fans and CPU-coolers.

I've taken months to make plans and choices before I ever hit the "Check-out" button at the first reseller's web-site. When I first started building my systems, I never anticipated overclocking. Very little effort went into choosing a motherboard in those days -- the mid-1990s. But I had the experience of klooging together parts in OEM systems I'd purchased in the 80s.

A spreadsheet program -- Excel -- comes in handy for gathering your information, comparing prices, evaluating reseller options -- price, tax, shipping expense. Again, the primary focus would be processor, motherboard, RAM, storage and graphics adapter. But never -- never -- scrimp on a PSU. You don't need a 1,000W PSU, and these days, you could power two GTX 970 cards in a system with a 650W unit. But I'd advise choosing "Gold" or "Platinum" maximum efficiency of reputable manufacture with a 5-year warranty. An unlikely company like Rosewill has started producing PSUs with great reviews, and they have models with 7-year warranties. In that regard, you get what you pay for.

 

[illram]

That i7 should be perfectly fine for a few more years. I doubt your RAM is the problem either. I think building a brand new rig would be a waste, honestly, although I understand the temptation.

Instead, do two things: buy an SSD, and buy a new GPU. A 970/290x or above. You will see a big improvement in performance across the board and you will increase the life span of your current PC for years.

Buy an SSD. Seriously, it is the single upgrade that will make everything seem smoother and better and faster, if you are coming from the spindle world. Games will certainly load faster (wont do much for frame rates, probably.)

The 7970 is still a decent card, but if you are not satisfied with FPS an upgrade to something like a 970 or above will show better frame rates.

 

[mfenn]

Does it feel clunky outside of games or is it actually stuttering and droppign frames in games? If the problem is mainly an outside-of-game problem then put your OS and system files on a 64-128GB SSD. Keep your games on the HDD.

This. We need to know some more details about what feels "clunky". Sure, building a whole new PC might "solve" your problem, but it would cost a lot and, it might not depending on what exactly the problem is.

 

[Godlik3]

Alright, I'll try to explain it the best I can. Currently things like games freezing multiple times on startup until they finally work, and sometimes they freeze/crash mid game. Loading things in Windows Explorer takes forever and sometimes even having multiple windows up (Itunes, Chrome, Teamspeak) will lock up my computer. I've bluescreened twice since I reformatted last (About a month ago) and I think the message was 'Cannot reviece message from video driver" or something along the lines of that.

The main reason I want to build a new system is I just love running everything perfectly. I've been playing GTA with High-VeryHigh mixture of settings and I do dip sometimes, but I just want it to run seemlessly.

If I were to build a new computer, is it possible to keep some stuff? I can keep my CPU and my case, probably even my PSU and save a ton of money and focus on other parts.

 

[Ken g6]

Oh, so you're not saying your PC is "clunky", you're saying it's a "clunker". So, time to do hardware diagnostics.

Things likely not to be a problem: your CPU.

Things likely to be potential problems: Mobo, RAM, GPU, GPU drivers, HDD, PSU, cooling.

Here are some diagnostics to try:

- Are your GPU drivers the latest ones from AMD's website? If not, update them.
- What temperatures are your CPU and GPU running? Anything above 90C under load is probably bad.
- Run Memtest.
- Run a S.M.A.R.T. utility. Usually one from the company that made your HDD will be best, but almost any will do.
- What brand and model is your PSU, and how old is it?

 

[XavierMace]

I've bluescreened twice since I reformatted last (About a month ago) and I think the message was 'Cannot reviece message from video driver" or something along the lines of that.

That's a good place to start troubleshooting. First recommendation typically would be to run a driver cleaner to nuke all the AMD drivers then install the latest drivers from AMD's website. But if this has persisted across multiple reformats, that's a less likely issue. Set it to run at stock clocks, even if it's a factory OC'd card, and keep an eye on temps.

Do this only happen under load? If so, power supply could be a concern as well. As others mentioned, posting your full specs would help.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Alright, I'll try to explain it the best I can. Currently things like games freezing multiple times on startup until they finally work, and sometimes they freeze/crash mid game. Loading things in Windows Explorer takes forever and sometimes even having multiple windows up (Itunes, Chrome, Teamspeak) will lock up my computer. I've bluescreened twice since I reformatted last (About a month ago) and I think the message was 'Cannot reviece message from video driver" or something along the lines of that.

The main reason I want to build a new system is I just love running everything perfectly. I've been playing GTA with High-VeryHigh mixture of settings and I do dip sometimes, but I just want it to run seemlessly.

If I were to build a new computer, is it possible to keep some stuff? I can keep my CPU and my case, probably even my PSU and save a ton of money and focus on other parts.

You should've told us about the blue-screens earlier. I assume you at least use a surge-protector between computer and wall-socket. I always tell folks that a UPS system is really the only way to go -- an investment to protect your hardware.

But no OEM system would display these symptoms out of the factory, unless it was a real lapse of oversight or judgment.

Do you check your windows Event Logs? What sort of errors and warnings do you find there?

Everyone else here is spot-on about diagnosing your hardware. The event logs may also suggest something -- no less about that hardware.

A computer doesn't have even that frequency of BSODs unless something is amiss, or your electrical power has the uncertainty of Baghdad during the war. What is the blue-screen Stop Code -- last three digits -- reported?

 

[crashtech]

Specs of the PSU could be helpful.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If programs are freezing up, it could be the HDD too. How old is it? A readout of the SMART data, especially "Pending sectors", "Re-allocated sectors", and "Interface CRC errors" would be helpful. You can get those using HDTune (free edition), or CrystalDiskInfo.

 

[Godlik3]

I blue-screened last night actually during a game of CSGO, everything freezes, then a message I stated before. I have a CX750M PSU. I've had multiple blue screens these past few days, which is odd. I upgraded my drivers for GTA V but I also had blue screens before I did that.

 

[crashtech]

OK, then, I agree with Larry that having a peek at the SMART data might be helpful.

Following that, switching to a different GPU may point to the source of the problem.

 

[mfenn]

If programs are freezing up, it could be the HDD too. How old is it? A readout of the SMART data, especially "Pending sectors", "Re-allocated sectors", and "Interface CRC errors" would be helpful. You can get those using HDTune (free edition), or CrystalDiskInfo.

:thumbsup: I agree. A failing HDD fits all of these symptoms.

 

[XavierMace]

I always tell folks that a UPS system is really the only way to go -- an investment to protect your hardware.

Do you work for Best Buy?

That was uncalled for. Keep your arguments to the facts instead of attacking the person.

mfenn
General Hardware Moderator

 

[VirtualLarry]

Do you work for Best Buy?

Why? Do you disagree with the advice? If you can afford it, if you care about your PC hardware or your data, you really, really, should have a UPS.

Then again, I've had UPSes fail, and subsequently cause the PC to power-down abruptly.

So that solution isn't perfect, but it's helpful. It also keeps SSDs from corrupting. If you run a pair of Samsung SSDs in RAID-0, a UPS is *essential*.

 

[sm625]

I would first try a new SSD. Do not install the old suspect HDD. If everything works then get a new HDD once the SSD fills up.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Why? Do you disagree with the advice? If you can afford it, if you care about your PC hardware or your data, you really, really, should have a UPS.

Then again, I've had UPSes fail, and subsequently cause the PC to power-down abruptly.

So that solution isn't perfect, but it's helpful. It also keeps SSDs from corrupting. If you run a pair of Samsung SSDs in RAID-0, a UPS is *essential*.

Puzzled by Xavier's remark. I think Best Buy has a decent inventory of UPS options. I've certainly bought a couple there.

I'd had the electronics in this or that UPS just "go south:" replacing the battery and expecting the UPS to communicate properly with the computer may have been a bad investment. Lately, I've no problem with UPS longevity except for battery longevity, and you can get good battery replacements easily. I think last summer, I just replaced the batteries in four of the household UPS units all at once.

Personally, I think that any "cold" or unmanaged PC shutdown is a risk. I think it's about par for the course for a machine to cost as much as $2,000 in a modest enthusiast budget. Even for half that, it's probably worth the $80 to $150 you might spend on the UPS with its first set of batteries in the bargain. I think you can expect the batteries to last between 3 and 5 years.

But they won't last that long if the UPSes aren't configured to trigger an orderly computer shutdown in -- say -- 5 minutes "on battery," and perhaps turn themselves off to avoid drain due to any other parts connected to them.

Did I ever tell the story about the basement of Norfolk Southern's Bluefield WV facility? Wall-to-wall, and floor-to-ceiling wet-cells . . . . The "Thoroughbred" takes no chances!

So -- no -- didn't ever work for Best Buy. I DID have a consulting contract for a short time with the railroad, though.