psu problem?

robomosk · Oct 24, 2004, 09:23 AM

I've got an antec solution series case with an antec 350W smartpower. I know the prescott is a power hog, but I'd still think 350W is enough to handle everything. However, I'm getting random crashes during games, especially Call of Duty and Doom 3. I ran Memtest86 just to be sure, and I got 4 errors in 3 runs, which doesn't seem like a big deal.

Is there any way I could check to see if the power supply is the problem? And if it is, what can I do about it, besides buying a bigger psu?

Matth · Oct 24, 2004, 03:24 PM

4 Errors in 3 Memtests is "not a big deal" - WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON!

I would want to see several error free passes before I begin to trust any memory - ONE error is too many.

robomosk · Oct 24, 2004, 10:51 PM

OK, well you may be right.

Anyhow, I raised the latencies up a little bit (2-3-2-6), and now no errors.

But still, I get crashes in Call of Duty. However, now, only the game crashes, not the whole system. I guess that's an improvement...

Maybe the video drivers are the problem? I'm running Catalyst 4.10. I haven't heard of any problems with this particular game, and especially not with Doom 3. So I'm lost. Any ideas?

Nacht · Oct 25, 2004, 12:16 AM

sounds like the initial crashes were caused by faulty memory...the game crashes may be as well. if the ram returns a botched number, it will often cause errors within the game and OS, mostly resulting in reboots.

Does doom3 still crash?

robomosk · Oct 25, 2004, 06:06 AM

Yep, still does. The system doesn't reboot as a result of the crash. I just get a black screen, with the sound still going. I can't ctrl-alt-del out of it; I just have to reset.

I'm not sure if I can rule out memory, but with my current settings I'm getting no Memtest errors. My mobo/cpu temps look OK also, with a max 35C/52C during Doom3.

Lchevy79 · Oct 25, 2004, 06:59 AM

have you tryed a later cat driver like the 4.9??

robomosk · Oct 25, 2004, 07:33 AM

I don't remember having any problems with the 4.9 drivers, but it's been a month since I used them. I haven't heard of anyone having crash problems on Doom 3 with the 4.10s though. And also, it doesn't seem to be a driver problem; the crashes are random, and only after the game has been running for awhile.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 25, 2004, 07:41 AM

it sounds like it's your memory. like previously mentioned, even one error is too many errors.

robomosk · Oct 25, 2004, 09:00 AM

Would raising the vdimm help to prevent errors? I know higher vdimm makes for more stable memory, but is that what it actually does? Is it more stable because there are no errors?

Lchevy79 · Oct 25, 2004, 02:27 PM

yes errors in the memeory is a bad thing , but before you go paying out the big bucks i would revert back to an older driver. the 4.10 on my machine didnt crash it but my games such as call of duty uo and ut2k4 had some seriouse stuuuuuudering. like i would end up on the other side of the map studering

CDsDontBurn · Oct 25, 2004, 05:44 PM

how old is the memory? If it's still under warranty, i'd RMA the memory. Raising voltages only makes memory stable if you're going to be overclocking your memory, not make it stable if your memory already has errors.

robomosk · Oct 25, 2004, 06:43 PM

PQI gives a lifetime warranty, and newegg gives a 30-day warranty as well, and it would be faster to send it right back to newegg rather than deal with the company directly. I've only had this stuff for about two weeks, so I've still got time to RMA it. I'll try some other drivers, and then do that if no improvements.

However, I'm only getting the memtest errors with the lowest possible latency settings. As soon as I loosen them a little bit, it seems to be fine. Any ideas on that? If the errors are there, they should show up no matter what, right?

dogin · Oct 30, 2004, 05:04 AM

Run that memory test overnight and see what happens. I would also consider the PS as a problem if the memory checks out.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Oct 30, 2004, 06:10 AM

take a look with this months ago judas gave me a similar site

http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

Oct 24, 2004, 09:23 AM	#1
robomosk DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Cambridge Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0	psu problem? I've got an antec solution series case with an antec 350W smartpower. I know the prescott is a power hog, but I'd still think 350W is enough to handle everything. However, I'm getting random crashes during games, especially Call of Duty and Doom 3. I ran Memtest86 just to be sure, and I got 4 errors in 3 runs, which doesn't seem like a big deal. Is there any way I could check to see if the power supply is the problem? And if it is, what can I do about it, besides buying a bigger psu?

Oct 25, 2004, 06:59 AM	#6
Lchevy79 -=[DHzer0point Team]=- Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 725 Rep Power: 0	have you tryed a later cat driver like the 4.9?? __________________ msi K7N2 delta2-AMD 2800xp@2083-1gig of pc2700ram -ati x850xt 256mb -Audigy mp3+ - 1 80gig maxtor 8mb and 1 250gig 16mb maxtor -48x24x48 buslink burner-and a lite on 4x +/- dvd burner xp home samsung lcd (19") 930b monitor

Oct 25, 2004, 07:41 AM	#8
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	it sounds like it's your memory. like previously mentioned, even one error is too many errors. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 25, 2004, 02:27 PM	#10
Lchevy79 -=[DHzer0point Team]=- Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 725 Rep Power: 0	yes errors in the memeory is a bad thing , but before you go paying out the big bucks i would revert back to an older driver. the 4.10 on my machine didnt crash it but my games such as call of duty uo and ut2k4 had some seriouse stuuuuuudering. like i would end up on the other side of the map studering __________________ msi K7N2 delta2-AMD 2800xp@2083-1gig of pc2700ram -ati x850xt 256mb -Audigy mp3+ - 1 80gig maxtor 8mb and 1 250gig 16mb maxtor -48x24x48 buslink burner-and a lite on 4x +/- dvd burner xp home samsung lcd (19") 930b monitor

Oct 25, 2004, 05:44 PM	#11
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	how old is the memory? If it's still under warranty, i'd RMA the memory. Raising voltages only makes memory stable if you're going to be overclocking your memory, not make it stable if your memory already has errors. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 24, 2004, 03:24 PM	#2
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	4 Errors in 3 Memtests is "not a big deal" - WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON! I would want to see several error free passes before I begin to trust any memory - ONE error is too many.

Oct 24, 2004, 10:51 PM	Thread Starter #3
robomosk DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Cambridge Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0	OK, well you may be right. Anyhow, I raised the latencies up a little bit (2-3-2-6), and now no errors. But still, I get crashes in Call of Duty. However, now, only the game crashes, not the whole system. I guess that's an improvement... Maybe the video drivers are the problem? I'm running Catalyst 4.10. I haven't heard of any problems with this particular game, and especially not with Doom 3. So I'm lost. Any ideas?

Oct 25, 2004, 12:16 AM	#4
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	sounds like the initial crashes were caused by faulty memory...the game crashes may be as well. if the ram returns a botched number, it will often cause errors within the game and OS, mostly resulting in reboots. Does doom3 still crash?

Oct 25, 2004, 06:06 AM	Thread Starter #5
robomosk DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Cambridge Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0	Yep, still does. The system doesn't reboot as a result of the crash. I just get a black screen, with the sound still going. I can't ctrl-alt-del out of it; I just have to reset. I'm not sure if I can rule out memory, but with my current settings I'm getting no Memtest errors. My mobo/cpu temps look OK also, with a max 35C/52C during Doom3.

Oct 25, 2004, 07:33 AM	Thread Starter #7
robomosk DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Cambridge Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0	I don't remember having any problems with the 4.9 drivers, but it's been a month since I used them. I haven't heard of anyone having crash problems on Doom 3 with the 4.10s though. And also, it doesn't seem to be a driver problem; the crashes are random, and only after the game has been running for awhile.

Oct 25, 2004, 09:00 AM	Thread Starter #9
robomosk DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Cambridge Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0	Would raising the vdimm help to prevent errors? I know higher vdimm makes for more stable memory, but is that what it actually does? Is it more stable because there are no errors?

Oct 25, 2004, 06:43 PM	Thread Starter #12
robomosk DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Cambridge Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0	PQI gives a lifetime warranty, and newegg gives a 30-day warranty as well, and it would be faster to send it right back to newegg rather than deal with the company directly. I've only had this stuff for about two weeks, so I've still got time to RMA it. I'll try some other drivers, and then do that if no improvements. However, I'm only getting the memtest errors with the lowest possible latency settings. As soon as I loosen them a little bit, it seems to be fine. Any ideas on that? If the errors are there, they should show up no matter what, right?

Oct 30, 2004, 05:04 AM	#13
dogin DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: dark side Posts: 69 Rep Power: 0	Run that memory test overnight and see what happens. I would also consider the PS as a problem if the memory checks out.

Oct 30, 2004, 06:10 AM	#14
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	take a look with this months ago judas gave me a similar site http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard