I think my hard drive(s) are turning back on and off (during Prime95 test)

[Axsuul]

During a Prime95 Torture Test (Small FFTs) after about a minute into the test, something kept clicking in ~7 second intervals. I opened my case, and noticed that they were coming from my two hard drives (80GB EIDE, 250GB SATA). Apparently it seemed like they (or maybe it was just one of them?) were turning on and off (whirling, click, no whirl, click, whirling, click, no whirl) and while they weren't whirling, my computer screen would lock up including mouse control, but when the hard drives started to whirl again I regained control. ANyways, the reason why I ran the Prime95 test was because while using the computer, I would get a click and my computer would lock up. Does anyone know what the problem could be? I just replaced my 80GB hard drive too since I thought that was the problem but I guess it wasn't. Could it be the processor (Small FFT test stress tests the processor right)? THanks

 

[Operandi]

I would guess that either one or both of the drives is starting to fail (more likely) or your PSU is not able to supply them with adequate power (less likely).

 

[Axsuul]

Hmm i have a 430W PSU, but if it were not able to supply enough power, wouldn't the hard drive not even start up in the first place. Also, I just replaced one of my hard drives sinec I suspected hard drive failure but I think I've eliminated that problem.

 

[w00t]

please tell us the brand and series of that 430W

 

[thescreensavers]

ya pls tell us the brand it is

 

[bfonnes]

Originally posted by: Axsuul
Hmm i have a 430W PSU, but if it were not able to supply enough power, wouldn't the hard drive not even start up in the first place. Also, I just replaced one of my hard drives sinec I suspected hard drive failure but I think I've eliminated that problem.

Clicking and lock ups are usually what happens right before a drive fails or is failing... unless these drives are in a RAID array, you could just unplug the power cable from one of them, then see if the clicking and lock ups have stopped... Or try each of the drives, separately, in another system, and see if the clicking stops... That would eliminate your suspicion of power if it's in another system altogether...

BFonnes

 

[Axsuul]

Power Supply is Antec TRUPOWER430, also I forgot to mention that if I use CAD programs such as Solidworks which are video card and processor intensive, my screen would lock up as well.

I will try the hard drive suggestion

 

[Axsuul]

Problem solved: it wasn't my hard drives, it was the memory controller driver in my Forceware. It took me many hours to finally diagnose this. Hopefully it saves other people the trouble.