Legit Reviews

Hi All,

I am having major issues with stability on my new build. Here are the following:

Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P Bios revision f7 (latest version)
AMD Phenom II x4 965 BE at 200x17 and 1.425 voltage (all default)
Cooler Master V8
OCZ OCZ3BE1600C8LV4GK Black Edition DDr3 1600 2x2gb at 8-8-8-24 voltage 1.65 (factory settings. Had to manually set in bios)
Cooler Master HAF 932
Ultra X3 850 Watt psu
Windows 7 64 Bit RC

So here is the deal. Anytime I run Prime 95 and stress the cpu, I get a gray screen and the system locks up. I try running AMD Overdrive Stability test or OCCT and those fail as well. CPU temps (according to AMD overdrive) idle is ~40c and full load is ~55c.

I have run memtest 86+ on my ram for 8 hours with no problems.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Is it just crashing during Prime95 or what? If it is only that application then don't run it ;)

Does it crash when gaming or doing say video transcoding?

Thats the only one that makes it gray screen so far. Actually dring OOCT the computer just froze (with the desktop and everything still visible, just no gray screen).

That was a question I asked in another forum. As long as it does what i want everyday and doesn't crash, should I just ignore the prime 95 errors?

Also, I hear there is a problem with AMD procs in that some do not like ddr3 in dual channel. http://www.amdzone.com/phpbb3/viewtopic ... 2&t=136555 Do you think that may also be the problem?

Okay the computer just finished a 10.5 hour Prime95 test, 439 tests to be exact, on a Small test which stresses cpu with no errors. Im going to start a blend test and see what happens.

Nope... getting fatal rounding errors.... Hum... I dont get it.

Sounds like its a memory issue. What happens if you run only 1 stick?

XstollieX wrote:Sounds like its a memory issue. What happens if you run only 1 stick?

Im going to try that next.

Hi, what is your BIOS settings? I have that same board so I might be able to help.

Hum. So I decided to run a stress tet on the Radeon 5870. As soon as the test starts, a wierd crackling noise comes out of the PSU. Eventually the whole computer shuts off in mid test. I took video/audio of the crackling. Could a bad PSU be causing all these problems? What do you think of the noise in the video?

http://www.solvetechnology.com/temp/MVI_1740.AVI

EDIT: This is a modular PSU. I took it out of the case and reconnected all the pieces. I think of the cables was not connected great. Now the computer does NOT turn off, but I still get the odd crackling sound.

DL13 wrote:Hi, what is your BIOS settings? I have that same board so I might be able to help.

What would you like to know? Most only thing I have changed is the memory settings.

That crackle happens every time you stress the PC and you don't get a blue screen? If so you need a new PSU, the only thing you should hear is the fan. That crackling is the capacitors under load.
One of these two PSU's is the best ones to get.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco ... 6817207001

DL13 wrote:That crackle happens every time you stress the PC and you don't get a blue screen? If so you need a new PSU, the only thing you should hear is the fan. That crackling is the capacitors under load.
One of these two PSU's is the best ones to get.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco ... 6817207001

I need a PSU today so I have to go to frys. Out of these (200 or lower), which do you recommend: http://www.frys.com/search?query_string ... er_by=p04d

I was also told "Get a UPS backup too, it will in turn condition the line and give you steady power." Do you think this is necessary?

I need at least 4 pci-e connectors to run crossfire.. I guess that will determine what I get... maybe I will just get http://www.frys.com/product/5598360?sit ... IN_RSLT_PG

shaxs wrote:I need at least 4 pci-e connectors to run crossfire.. I guess that will determine what I get... maybe I will just get http://www.frys.com/product/5598360?sit ... IN_RSLT_PG

All you need is a 850W PSU the two I show you do have 4 pci-e.

shaxs wrote:
I was also told "Get a UPS backup too, it will in turn condition the line and give you steady power." Do you think this is necessary?

A UPS is only for when you have a power outage so yes it's worth getting one, I have one and it saved my PC more than once.

DL13 wrote:

shaxs wrote:I need at least 4 pci-e connectors to run crossfire.. I guess that will determine what I get... maybe I will just get http://www.frys.com/product/5598360?sit ... IN_RSLT_PG

All you need is a 850W PSU the two I show you do have 4 pci-e.

Thanks for the *recommendation. I ended up getting the Corsair 1000w one. I dint have time to wait for Newegg..... Fry's is right around the corner. So far I have not heard the crackling sound and the gpu seems to be working under full load.

Oops! I meant recommendation!

shaxs wrote: Thanks for the *recommendation. I ended up getting the Corsair 1000w one. I dint have time to wait for Newegg..... Fry's is right around the corner. So far I have not heard the crackling sound and the gpu seems to be working under full load.

That's all right, you still got a rely good PSU. Any Corsair HT is ratted one of the best.
Good to hear your up and running. good luck with it.

Thanks for the help!

So, what kind of frequency are you able to eek out on your board? Anything above 205 and I crash....

Your welcome.
I don't use the frequency I use the ratio to increase the speed. When you use the frequency the ram gos up to so you have to readjust the ram to compensate the speed, which could be one reason why you crash with such a small increase.