[Dyre Straits]

Originally Posted by dogwalker

I'm consolidating all these comments into some notes to try when I get home.

Just curious if any of you have dual core intel systems and run Sony Vegas 8? And if so, what video card...

BTW, what do you think about the motherboard I have - the ECS PT890T-A? It's been fine, far as I can tell, but now I'm starting to see its shortcomings in BIOS and lack of Windows utilities (nothing to monitor temperatures or voltages).

Since you asked. I will never again purchase a motherboard based on a VIA chipset. I've had way too many issues with the ones I've owned previously. I spent way too much time troubleshooting issues than actually enjoying the use of the PC.

So, if you can swing it, there are some really nice mobos for a little more money and a lot less headaches. Intel-based chipsets, and Nvidia-based chipsets are highly recommended. I'm using an ASUS P5N-E Sli presently with my ATI X1950 Pro. I've only recently had the use of Nvidia based mobos, and they have both performed well.

[dogwalker]

I agree, Dyre, the more I've read, and I'll say I'm really frustrated with ECS support, as well as the fact that the mobo doesn't support good investigation (i.e. can't get voltages and temps within Windows; I've even asked ECS, and they confirm this). I doubt I'll ever buy ECS or VIA again.

Last night, I didn't get to do much, but I did check the capacitors, and they're ok. I think my PSU specs are good, but I'm going to try another one, in case there's something flaky on the rails.

I ran CCleaner, and was really surprised to find lots of orphaned or missing dlls. I have to admit, I was hesitant to "fix" those without first looking some of them up.

I've run prime95, but haven't tried that passmark tool yet. I'll try that as well.

I just saw on the sony forums where another fellow is getting lockups in Vegas Movie Studio 8, but he didn't get them in any earlier versions. He has a core 2 duo chip (E4300), but differs from my setup in all other ways (he has an Intel chipset, nvidia video card, better psu). Maybe it's just something with VMS 8 and dual core, although you'd sure think more people would be having problems.

[dogwalker]

Hey, one thing I've never done is install drivers for my monitor (Dell 2407WFP). I mention this because I noticed Windows Update listed them as optional. Does that matter at all?

[temeteus82]

Originally Posted by dogwalker

Hey, one thing I've never done is install drivers for my monitor (Dell 2407WFP). I mention this because I noticed Windows Update listed them as optional. Does that matter at all?

Nope.

[dogwalker]

I downloaded and tried SpeedFan. Looks like a nice tool. Shows my temps as ok. The cpus are both 50C and the hard drives are 40 and 44. Are those ok, or are the hard drives too hot?

Here are the voltages. It shows only one +12v rail, although I supposedly have two.

Vcore1: 1.30v
Vcore2: 1.81v
+3.3v: 3.23v
+5v: 5.00v
+12v: 12.03v

Well, I'm heading camping this weekend. I guess I'll mess with this Sunday or next week, although I'm about ready to try Premiere Elements and knock on wood.

[Dyre Straits]

I'm kind of partial to PC Wizard 2007.

PC Wizard

Using its Temp module, the hottest of my four HDDs is 38C. They are all in the front lower part of the PC case with a 120 MM Fan right in front of them blowing air onto them. Are yours being air-cooled in any way?

[Necrosis]

Originally Posted by dogwalker

I downloaded and tried SpeedFan. Looks like a nice tool. Shows my temps as ok. The cpus are both 50C and the hard drives are 40 and 44. Are those ok, or are the hard drives too hot?

Here are the voltages. It shows only one +12v rail, although I supposedly have two.

Vcore1: 1.30v
Vcore2: 1.81v
+3.3v: 3.23v
+5v: 5.00v
+12v: 12.03v

Well, I'm heading camping this weekend. I guess I'll mess with this Sunday or next week, although I'm about ready to try Premiere Elements and knock on wood.

Wow man those are bit high if you ask me.

[dogwalker]

What's high, the hard drive temps and/or the cpu? I looked, and I can mount a 120 mm fan just inside the cage where they're mounted.

They're mounted at the bottom, with the backs facing out. I'm going to buy the 120mm fan (Antec TriCool) Sunday and see if it cools them.

The case does have a TriCool in the back, which I was running on its lowest setting. I've turned it up to its max and now the temps are:
cpus: 50 and 50
hd0: 29
hd1: 38

I'm suspicious that they'd drop that much, so I'm going to try the PcWizard Dyre recommended.

[edit]
rebooted, just curious, and now they're
cpus: 50 and 50
hd0: 40
hd1: 42

How about the voltages? They look fine to me, although I wish I could see the second 12v rail (I imagine I can't, because it's attached to the video card?)

[dogwalker]

Hey,when I look for memtest, I see two separate sites, [COLOR=#0000ff]Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool and [/COLOR][COLOR=#0000ff]Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic. Which do you recommend?[/COLOR]

[temeteus82]

memtest86+ since it has pre-built iso images

[dogwalker]

I'm at work, was talking to a fellow, and another difference occurred to us. I connect to my Dell 24" monitor through DVI, while my other computer (the one which works) connects through VGA. Is there any chance this could be an issue? I forgot to try turning down video acceleration, so I plan to do that tonight.

[temeteus82]

I think it has nothing to do with your issues. Since it's just different method to transfer the signal to display. And I also think that Video Acceleration wont solve this issue.

[dogwalker]

I hope I'm not jinxing myself, but I thought I'd give you an update. First of all, thanks for all the suggestions here. I learned a lot, including how to run memtest (I wound up putting it on a floppy and letting the tests run twice, with no errors).

I bought a new power supply (an Antec NeoHE 550w), and ran my computer all weekend, running Sony Vegas for many hours, and never locked up once. It's hard for me to understand how this can be (and I'm still nervous that it's a fluke), but I suppose there may have been just enough instability in power that somehow was exhibited only in video editing, even though games ran fine.

So, I'm skeptical, but so far, indications are that I'm good to go! If so, I've learned something valuable - namely, that the power supply cannot be overlooked as a source of strange, erratic problems. I'd always thought lockups were temperature, then ram, then drivers.

I also found what I imagine my next motherboard will be, when I upgrade in a few months - an Asus P35 board with onboard eSata and firewire.

Thanks so much for all your time and suggestions!

[temeteus82]

Yeah since the encoding takes all the power that CPU got it means that it will need good and steady PSU to power all. That's why I got this 600W PSU from Seasonic. It was the only one that managed to finnish Tom's Hardwares steer test in 2004 and it's still running stable.

[dogwalker]

Ah, thanks for explaining that, and that makes good sense. I imagine these apps do push the cpu much different than any other apps I've used. This was a tough experience of trial and error, but now I have another arrow in my quiver of known solutions. And you can be darned sure I'll get good power supplies for any other upgrades I do!