OH MY FRICKIN' GOSH, HELP!! SYSTEM FREEZING!

[TechnicalNewbie]

Okay, now that I've gotten your attention (many thanks for it, by the way), I can get down to brass tacks. The stinking system that I've put together recently keeps locking up at the most off-pissing times. Usually it will lock-up during a video-taxing moment, but not always. Every now and then it'll do it while I'm browsing the internet.

It'll lock up while I'm playing pretty much any of the more modern games that I play (Star Wars Battlefront 2, Battlefield 2, GTA San Andreas, etc.). While playing the game, the screen will simply freeze--sometimes with an annoying high-pitched sound coming from the speakers (not the hardware), but once again, not every time. Only shutting off the power and restarting will get it back up and running--no ctrl-alt-delete action here.

The point at which it resets is pretty inconsistent. Sometimes it'll happen right after the game starts, sometimes after 15 minutes of play.

Now, I've tested the memory, re-formatted the HD and re-installed Windows XP (sp 2), disconnected any extra power-draining peripherals and much, much more. The CPU temp. consistently is at/around 32C, and the video card is usually near 40C.

Here are my system specs:

-Thermaltake Tai-Chi case with liquid cooling
-Pentium D 830 Dual-Core
-Twin 512 MB Corsair DDR2 5400UL modules
-GA-8N-SLI Royal mo-bo
-BFG 7800GTX 256MB (manufacturer OC'ed)
-Soundblaster Audigy Platinum (whoopie!)
-Hitachi Deskstar 160GB + Maxtor 250 GB HD (of course not striped)
-Memorex DVD R/RW
-Windows XP Professional w/service pack 2
-Dell 2405FPW LCD (guess this doesn't really matter--durrrr)
--ULTRA XConnect 500W power supply

Guess that about does it. I've done no overclocking on the system myself and no weird/sophisticated modifications either (other than using the @BIOS utilty to flash the BIOS via the internet). I just assembled this sucker within the past week and have had no issues with it other than this. No worms, Trojans, viruses. . . nuthin'. Runs like a charm--fast and efficient. So, what could it be?!?

Could it be possible that all this just stems from a faulty power supply? I hope to goodness that's what it is. <sigh>

Thank you for your patience and your help (if you choose to give it).

 

[montag451]

Yes, it could be a faulty psu, if you fancy changing it, then posting back with the result, that would be fantabidosi.

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: montag451
Yes, it could be a faulty psu, if you fancy changing it, then posting back with the result, that would be fantabidosi.

Yep - power supply could definitely be causing the issue

 

[montag451]

Though - we are not saying it is that -
It is possible.

 

[TechnicalNewbie]

Thank you spherrod and montag for replying. I'm glad that the PSU being the problem is a distinct possibility. I'll order a new and better one from Newegg within the next few days, so I'll be able to tell sometime toward the middle of next week. Hopefully that'll be the end of my worries! I'll write back then. Take care.

 

[TechnicalNewbie]

Okay, I have a little extra info on my situation:

My vcore2 voltage is pretty darned high, and I haven't done anything that would cause it to go that high. The first CPU vcore is usually between +1.39 and +1.43. Not bad. But the vcore2 is always between +1.72 and +1.75! Why the frack is this happening? Bad capacitors on the motherboard?? Or could it be the power supply like I mentioned before? Remember, I haven't OC'ed the thing, so the voltage shouldn't be that high. And strangely, the CPU temperature is quite low, which is odd since increased vcore voltages usually mean hot hot hot! Oooh! And I forgot to include that my system shuts down when I'm transferring large amounts (about a gig or more) of data from one HD to the other. <sigh> I hate comps sometimes.

 

[Slikkster]

Take a look at your "Event Viewer". XP logs all kinds of system events and errors in the Event Viewer. Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer.

You'll see logs for Application, Security, and System. You're most interested in the System and Application logs.

Look at System first. The logs are incremented by time/date, so most recent are at the top. Look for Red icons (error messages) and Yellow icons (Warnings). But also take a look at the white icons to get a gist of what they say. Any Red/Yellows? Do they coincide with the crash times?

Also, look at the Application log. Same deal.

The Event Viewer is not perfect; some times crashes occur before events can be written to the log. But it can be a valuable diagnostic tool for problems, and from what I see on this forum and others like it, it's frequently overlooked.

Also, your motherboard is an Nforce-4 board. There's been a lot of reports of data corruption and other anomalies with this chipset.

Here's one major thread about some people's issues with the Nforce 4 chipset:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=8171

But first, look at the Event Viewer and report back on what you find.

 

[wildwilly]

I have the exact same problem as you. Its def not my memory or hard drive. I'm thinking either mobo or PSU

 

[TechnicalNewbie]

Man, I'm relieved that I'm not the only one with this problem (though with the gazillions of computers in the world it would be odd to be the only one), but I'm sorry you're going through this crap as well. Misery loves company, I guess. I'll let you know if I figure it out--hopefully we can help resolve it for one another.

 

[aGreenAgent]

They're right, though. It sounds VERY power supply-ish.

PLEASE tell us with PSU you're buying before you buy it. Especially if you're not familiar with power supplies, one that looks awesome could actually suck.

 

[montag451]

Tagan, Enermax, Antec are amongst the good name brands - there are others but if you are having probs, I would definitely go for the Tagan480. Whisper quiet

 

[Slikkster]

I don't know, but I'm not convinced that this is a power supply problem. It would be easier, of course, if you had a PS you could swap in to test the theory.

After a little searching, it's pretty obvious that what you have is a syndrome with a name attached. It's called the "Audigy Squeal of Death". Google that phrase, and you'll see it's exactly what you are experiencing.

Now, that doesn't mean it's an Audigy problem, per se.

Take a look at this Google results page:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n...05-41,GGLG:en&q=audigy+squeal+of+death

Read the extremetech page that's first on the results list. Sound familiar? I know, I know...you might want to say " but the squeal doesn't always happen". The fact that you mentioned it, though, is enough to steer me in that direction.

Did you ever look in the event viewer?

What I would do if I were you is this: Put the soundcard in a different pci slot for starters.
That's the easiest thing to check.

Also, get the PCI latency tool (freeware) http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=951

Chances are you have a PCI-Express videocard, so you wouldn't be able to change latency settings for that. But you can still change latencies for your soundcard and see if the problem goes away. Read the "readme" file for info on how to use it.

Edit: I just googled "Squeal of Death" and "Nforce4", and came up with an interesting page. Seems Creative is also advising that you alter the pci latency of the souncard. Here's the page:

http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/msi-k8n...queal-of-death-vt60584.html?highlight=

Read the Creative Email to the guy with the problem. Then, use the PCI latency tool linked above to make the change to latency they suggest, and test your system.

 

[wildwilly]

I have a Neo4 Platinum Sli board with the SB Live 24bit built in, and I have the squeal of death. Aparently the Live cards ARE affected, contrary to what that article says

 

[tangotracker]

Can you relax your memory timings?

I'd agree that the PSU is a possible suspect... and you stated you'd done no overclocking so I assume that means the CPU or Video Card... because either could cause your issue as well.


The other possible is the memory is simply choking, faulting, and causing the dump.

Even if it's running in spec that can happen.

I've got some OCz memory that on an Athlon 64 setup, running within spec and right at 500Mhz will cause reboots in games, however on an Abit KV8 with a Sempron 64 3000+ it runs at about 550Mhz and faster timings than it should without a glitch.

Of course on the other board even if I relax the timings it won't run.... so that actually may not tell you anything. In the example I gave, the memory and the motherboard just don't get along.

 

[wildwilly]

My Ram timings are set at the factory defaults, 2225 at 200 mhz I have the Corsair XMS Low Latency

Today I ran prime95 AND the HRDL demo at the same time and it still didn't freeze.

 

[wildwilly]

However, I am getting a rounding error in prime95 now Sometimes after a short while sometimes after 6 hours. Probably my memory?

 

[montag451]

Prime stresses cpu.
Try upping the voltage a teeeeny weeeny bit in BIOS - the smallest increment.

 

[wildwilly]

Originally posted by: montag451
Prime stresses cpu.
Try upping the voltage a teeeeny weeeny bit in BIOS - the smallest increment.

The blended test stresses the CPU, memory, and other stuff I thought

Also, which voltage, the memory or CPU?

 

[wildwilly]

My comp is now freezing while on the desktop, during POST, and everywhere in between. I'm thinking its either my CPU or motherboard now

 

[TechnicalNewbie]

Originally posted by: Slikkster
I don't know, but I'm not convinced that this is a power supply problem. It would be easier, of course, if you had a PS you could swap in to test the theory.

After a little searching, it's pretty obvious that what you have is a syndrome with a name attached. It's called the "Audigy Squeal of Death". Google that phrase, and you'll see it's exactly what you are experiencing.

Now, that doesn't mean it's an Audigy problem, per se.

Take a look at this Google results page:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n...05-41,GGLG:en&q=audigy+squeal+of+death

Read the extremetech page that's first on the results list. Sound familiar? I know, I know...you might want to say " but the squeal doesn't always happen". The fact that you mentioned it, though, is enough to steer me in that direction.

Did you ever look in the event viewer?

What I would do if I were you is this: Put the soundcard in a different pci slot for starters.
That's the easiest thing to check.

Also, get the PCI latency tool (freeware) http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=951

Chances are you have a PCI-Express videocard, so you wouldn't be able to change latency settings for that. But you can still change latencies for your soundcard and see if the problem goes away. Read the "readme" file for info on how to use it.

Edit: I just googled "Squeal of Death" and "Nforce4", and came up with an interesting page. Seems Creative is also advising that you alter the pci latency of the souncard. Here's the page:

http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/msi-k8n...queal-of-death-vt60584.html?highlight=

Read the Creative Email to the guy with the problem. Then, use the PCI latency tool linked above to make the change to latency they suggest, and test your system.

Cool, Slikkster, thanks for the recomendation. I did check the event log and it unfortunately provided no more insight. I'll check out the link on the squeal of death. . . it may be contributing. <sigh>

 

[TechnicalNewbie]

Originally posted by: tangotracker
Can you relax your memory timings?

I'd agree that the PSU is a possible suspect... and you stated you'd done no overclocking so I assume that means the CPU or Video Card... because either could cause your issue as well.


The other possible is the memory is simply choking, faulting, and causing the dump.

Even if it's running in spec that can happen.

I've got some OCz memory that on an Athlon 64 setup, running within spec and right at 500Mhz will cause reboots in games, however on an Abit KV8 with a Sempron 64 3000+ it runs at about 550Mhz and faster timings than it should without a glitch.

Of course on the other board even if I relax the timings it won't run.... so that actually may not tell you anything. In the example I gave, the memory and the motherboard just don't get along.

I really think that it is the power source, but I may be wrong. There was one point right after I put the thing together when I checked the BIOS and it said vCore voltage monitor (I think it's the term) failure. I was baffled. I turned it off and checked the PSU. I unplugged the cord and switched the voltage to 230 and then back to 115 and then turned the comp back on. Voila! No more vCore voltage monitor failure. I think after so many times unplugging and replugging the PSU in while assembling the computer may have fried out the poor thing. Dummy me.

 

[TechnicalNewbie]

Oh, and I bought a SilverStone Zeus ST65ZF 650W PSU. It's approved by nVidia, particularly for an SLI configuration (which I have no immediate plans on implementing). I did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews, so here's hoping it's a good one!

 

[Lothar1974]

I am having the same issue. It only seems to happen when playing F.E.A.R.
It also seems random, some times I'll play for a hour or two with no issues, other times it will happen after several minutes. I check my event viewer and dint see anything pointing to the issue. The "screech of death" that is occuring from audigy cards sounds like what I am experienceing. I tried another new power supply and get the same issue.

 

[wildwilly]

Last night I removed my heatsink/CPU, took off the old thermal paste and put on new stuff, put it back in. I reseated the graphics card, memory, power connectors. It ran prime95 for 11.5 hours before getting a rounding error, however it hasnt froze yet

 

[wildwilly]

froze again when playing bf2