My PC is possessed by demons. (No seriously, I don't know what to do).
9 replies, posted
Hi guys, I don't know if this is the right place for this types of questions but I'm having problems with my PC beyond my comprehension. And believe me I've tried everything.
So, I started with the following build:
Motherboard: ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3
CPU: AMD Phenom II (can't remember the details, they are out of my pc)
RAM: 4GB (x2 Corsair)
GPU: ATI Radeon 5700 HD PCIe
HDD: Samsung 1TB (can't remember here)
PSU: 630W
OS: Windows 8.1
All the components listed above are about 5 years old. (bought in 2011)
Anyway - my ordeal started the 1st of June when I had the first blue screen.
I don't remember exactly what the blue screen message was but it was something related to memory corruption.
After that, the blue screens prevailed for a long time, with different, memory related error messages all the times.
PC would sometimes freeze mid blue screen, or even freeze during the windows RAM diagnostic utility. Safe mode was the same, and it sometimes didn't even boot.
For example, I would reset the PC after a blue screen, it would turn on, I'd hear the main fans starting but none of the other components were starting.
This situation was only fixable when I'd shut down the PC and would turn it back on. However it was just a matter of time till the next blue screen.
[B]Things I tried to diagnose the issue:[/B]
- Ran the windows memory diagnostic tool - detected no RAM errors - problems persisted.
- Reinstalled Windows 8.1 on an old IDE 80GB HDD. It worked fine - even played some CS:GO on it and then after a couple of days or so I started having blue screens again (didn't format this disk).
- Moved back to the old Samsung Sata disk. Tried Windows 7 to see if it was some issue with drivers (there are no windows 8.1 drivers for my ASUS motherboard) - Same problem after that.
After discussing the issue with a friend of mine, concluding it could not be (just) a HDD problem, and given the booting issues after the blue screens we decided the problem would be either in the Motherboard or CPU. So we either thought about bringing the components to the store to diagnose them with proper tools or just buy a new set.
We took the second path and I spent €200 on the followingwas on a budget):
CPU: Intel Core I3 4170 3.7Ghz 3MB BOX
MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte B85M-D3H Intel B85 SK1150 (much more economic in terms of energy than my previous one)
Then I did the following:
1 - Formated my hard drive and installed Windows 8.1 again - Legit copy if you're wondering.
2 - Installed all the up to date drivers
3 - Even installed the integrated Graphics Drivers for the Intel processor
4 - Updated the BIOS
5 - Started installing all my stuff again.
I installed CS GO and Borderlands 1 via Steam and after a while playing CS:GO I would start noticing my game would freeze occasionally for about 1 to 2 minutes and then would go back to normal. No blue screens, no nothing.
I found it very strange because [B]I would also hear a clicking sound coming from my HDD[/B], and that clicking sound would also be followed by small breaks in performance or even freezes.
Played Borderlands 1 to try to see if it was a game related issue or hardware related and I had a huge freeze during a boss fight. However, since today there haven't been any blue screens.
I commented this with my friend. He said the clicking noise was because a HDD is mechanical, and since the new motherboard is way more silent I would start to feel it more often. However, I still didn't feel it was normal. He also argued with me because I used the windows memory diagnostic tool instead of the real memtest - and because of that I got really afraid I spent so much money for nothing since the possibility of faulty RAM was still on the table.
So, I got memtest into a usb drive and booted it from the usb:
1) Tested both RAMs with 10 passes each (approximately 6 hours), running all tests - No errors.
2) Tested 1 RAM stick with same parameters - nothing
3) Same for the other Stick - Nothing
RAM issues were excluded at this point.
After that I brought my PC to my friend's house after being shut down for some days. We turned it on and did some stress tests on the GPU. I don't remember which tests exactly but they were the top ones everyone uses - One of them even had huge Eye animation.
It froze a bit here and there, but nothing like before. We concluded it wasn't a GPU problem so we moved on to testing the PSU voltage sensors and everything looked pretty normal.
We also left out the possibility of being using the integrated GPU by mistake.
So me and my friend left with the conclusion it could be the PSU but none of us had a spare one we could try on my machine.
So, I went on vacation for 2 weeks - PC was left home - shut down.
I came back and tried the possibility of it being driver related issues again so I installed Windows 10 from scratch. So far so good. I made sure every driver was installed correctly.
I played CS:GO, Company of Heroes 2, Dota2, Far Cry 3 and no freezes whatsoever. Until one day I was playing CS GO again and my monitor shuts down, sound completely loops, and the monitor just starts shutting down and turning on again in a loop and when it turned on it displayed graphical glitches - artifacts. Big square chunks displaying weird pinks and blacks and all that.
I reseted the PC - thinking it could have been a blue screen but no crashdump files could be found. I even used "Who Crashed" - Started checking temperatures - everything was normal 30ºC on idle - 40 to 60 when playing.
Later on I'm on the internet on my PC listening to music, I'm opening tabs again and it happens again. The only weird thing was that I could still listen to whatever I was listening to on Youtube and I could still hear people sending me messages on facebook, so I concluded this was a GPU problem, so I took it out and started using only the integrated intel GPU.
No problems whatsoever - CS GO a little slow, but that was because the GPU didn't meet the minimum requirements of the game. But everything in top shape again.
So, my conclusion after that was - It was the GPU all along.
Until the clicking sound started again. And I would notice that every click from the HDD was consistent with a freeze on CS GO, or my screen getting gray squared all over whenever I was watching a movie (also consistent with the clicking).
I googled HDD clicking for a while and found out that the clicking means the HDD is dying a slow death.
Needless to say I think It might have died today because this morning I was clicking my desktop items and nothing happened - When I restarted the PC it said that Windows couldn't launch - diagnose wouldn't work so I tried reseting Windows 10.
It clicked at 66% and got stuck there. Then it popped up a message saying it wasn't able to reset or fix any problems.
I clicked reset my computer and astonishingly there's a boot message saying that there's no drive on with an operating system on my computer.
So my HDD died today.
So I have no clue what my PC has now:
It makes me wonder if my previous motherboard+CPU were working fine all along or if it's actually a PSU problem that's slowly destroying all my components, or, by the most rare coincidence, everything decided to break down at the same time.
I have no clue, my PC seems to be possessed by an evil spirit.
[editline]3rd September 2015[/editline]
Also I would try and bring it to a professional, but I'm very distrustful of them here. Most people who fix computers are guys with no education that just search for stuff on google. So my policy here is: If I'm spending money on my PC and I'm spending €50 for someone to tell me "you need a new X" or "you need a new PC" I'd rather squeeze those €50 into a new component's budget. Needless to say, the store where I buy my components is pretty cheap they do really thorough diagnostics on components there too, but they cost money - 25€ for motherboard and CPU diagnostic. But like I said, I'd rather spend my money on new stuff rather than diagnosing outdated hardware.
Sounds like everything went to shit, could've been from the non-brand name psu, could have been coincidence.
Wouldn't be a bad idea if you have the money to just build a brand new PC.
I don't have the money to build a new PC right now, though. I do have the money to spend about €200 every month on a new component. Which means - New PC in 2/3 Months. I'd have it by Christmas (I have to pay tuition this month).
To be honest It kind of bites me not being able to pinpoint the exact problem of the PC. RAM's good, Motherboard and CPU are brand new, and I do have money to bring the components to a store to try and diagnose them for selling them online (if they're good). I'd probably get €20-€40 out of each. component. However doing the diagnose in each part costs about €25. Might as well throw them in the trash.
[editline]3rd September 2015[/editline]
[QUOTE=Mobon1;48607011]Sounds like everything went to shit, could've been from the non-brand name psu, could have been coincidence.[/QUOTE]
It does have a brand, actually. It's this one:
[IMG]http://www.vmodtech.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20/nox-urano-ii-630w-power-supply-review/main.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://static1.troca-se.com/uploads/items/2014/08/08/21/986712/3753e531645fe6f.jpg[/IMG]
A series of unrelated failures can be caused by a bad PSU, especially if it's old. Voltages aren't the only thing to check - there's also the max current output they can provide compared to your system load, the resistance on the PSU under load, and the "jitter" on the rail - how much that voltage fluctuates which again, can only be measured while under load. I can't say replacing it will solve your problems as the damage may already have been done - but replace it before considering any other new components, and never cheap out on the PSU.
Another reason can be that without the GPU in the system, the PSU isn't under as much load. Your GPU can draw up to 85W alone - equaling a CPU's power draw.
Having said that, your suspicion may still be correct and it was just the GPU, and the HDD merely came to its' end at the same time. HDD's fail all the time, any computer repairer will have piles of dead HDDs, myself included. I don't expect that to be related to anything. I would replace the PSU no matter what - and even if it doesn't solve your problems just to feel safe in knowing your parts are getting a good power feed. If the problems do continue then I strongly agree that a new GPU will finally solve this for you.
Try viewing a SMART test on your hard drive to see if that's shitting out (use Speccy or something)
Your problems sound like a bad GPU / HDD in general, which are two components which usually have the least service life in a computer anyway.
Your PSU has 2 12v rails - make ABSOLUTELY sure you're not loading the same rail with both your CPU and GPU.
[QUOTE=Behemoth_PT;48607247]I don't have the money to build a new PC right now, though. I do have the money to spend about €200 every month on a new component. Which means - New PC in 2/3 Months. I'd have it by Christmas (I have to pay tuition this month).
To be honest It kind of bites me not being able to pinpoint the exact problem of the PC. RAM's good, Motherboard and CPU are brand new, and I do have money to bring the components to a store to try and diagnose them for selling them online (if they're good). I'd probably get €20-€40 out of each. component. However doing the diagnose in each part costs about €25. Might as well throw them in the trash.
[editline]3rd September 2015[/editline]
It does have a brand, actually. It's this one:
[IMG]http://www.vmodtech.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20/nox-urano-ii-630w-power-supply-review/main.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://static1.troca-se.com/uploads/items/2014/08/08/21/986712/3753e531645fe6f.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
it's not IED levels, but it's pretty pretty bad
Sounds like your PSU is shatting out and is taking some other components with it, I have seen it happen before way too many times. Never skimp out on your power supply.
[QUOTE=LordCrypto;48607347][B]it's not IED levels, but it's pretty pretty bad[/B][/QUOTE]
Thank you guys for the imput!
[QUOTE=subenji99;48607343]Your PSU has 2 12v rails - make ABSOLUTELY sure you're not loading the same rail with both your CPU and GPU.[/QUOTE]
I have mounted everything according to instructions. Even then, the plugs have ID Tags for CPU, PCIe, etc, it's really hard to miss.
-----
If it is in fact the PSU I sincerely hope it didn't fuck up my new motherboard and CPU.
I just called my friend and he said it was a big mistake to be using the PC despite all the problems, since we concluded at the time that it was probably the PSU eating my other components alive. GPU's gone HDD too.
I'm gonna keep it shut down and power off. My friend's gonna lend me his spare PSU just to rule out further energy related issues until I get a new one. And then I'll start rebuilding up my PC from there.
I'm just praying it didn't fuck up my new components.
Once again thanks for the input on this subject, guys.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.