PC Discussion Thread II - All PC related discussion goes here.

[PuFu 4600]

another problem, my PC are now having random shuttering, the PC will have a 1 to 2 smooth run followed by a shutter, and may sometime resulted in BSOD, since i enabled auto restart after system fail(which is now disabled) I still cant get to see whats going on

what will be the major reason for this to happen?

1. failing GFX drivers (card overheat for instance can lock up card)

2. overheating CPU (hence the stuttering)

3. failing HDD..

[4 IN 1 0]

so this means:

update GFX driver

change GFX card

change CPU cooling system

and change HDD?

Time to spend some money:yay::yay:

[PuFu 4600]

so this means:

update GFX driver

change GFX card

change CPU cooling system

and change HDD?

Time to spend some money:yay::yay:

no, it means that you should check it before changing it/those...:) like what are the temps (stress test) for both gpu and cpu...do you have bad clusters? do you just need a defrag and so forth

[4 IN 1 0]

speaking of stress test, what softward should I use?

[bangtail 0]

For CPU, Intel burn test (IBT), Prime, or Everest CPU test.

For GPU stress, OCCT, for video driver stability, Vantage or 3DMark 11 (Call of Pripyat Benchmark is another good one).

[RedDragon 10]

For GPU stress, OCCT, for video driver stability, Vantage or 3DMark 11 (Call of Pripyat Benchmark is another good one).

In addition the older 3DMark 06 is applicable. FurMark is also a valid alternative.

[froggyluv 2136]

Hi, I just replaced my trusty old Samsung 19'' with a newer Samsung 23" -wow what a difference :) Should have done this a long time ago.

Question: HDMI vs DVI for picture performance. I did a little research before buying and generally what I found is that video-wise, they are the same with the only difference being that HDMI provides audio as well.

I dont really understand this? Audio to what? My monitor? Also is this true as all of the salesmen at the store said that HDMI would provide better, faster video especially for fast games.

The monitor I got has both apparently but didnt come with an HDMI cable -should I get one or is it all hype and stick with my DVI default setup?

[maddogx 13]

You'll be fine sticking with DVI. No difference.

Btw. HDMI audio is needed for things like hooking up an HD capable reciever to a TV.

[froggyluv 2136]

Thanks - I picked one up last nite and they are obscenely expensive $30.00-$200.00 -for a cable...:j:

It actually worked worse for some reason and I lost all options to go above 1280x720. Taking it back.

[echo1 0]

HDMI == Single Link DVI with audio. No quality difference.

Single link DVI (and by extension HDMI) only supports up to 1920x1200, for anything above that, you need dual link DVI or Displayport. Dual link DVI is standard on any graphics card made over the past few years AFAIK.

[froggyluv 2136]

My monitor max's at 1920X1080 so looks like Im fine with the single -but good to know nevertheless :)

Another question: Although my current machine has served me well and even plays Arma2 well I'm currently future proofing (oxymoron I know) my system since I have a little extra cash around that my wife cant track:

Current system: E8500 stock -doesnt like to OC with ARma2 at least

Asus P5-Q Mobo

4 Gigs ddr2 (had 8 but 4 went bad or slots went bad)

nvidia 460 gtx 1gb (2 months old)

...so, I currently did some research on cpus and decided to buy

I5 2500K (unlocked version)

Asus Sabretooth Mobo (goofy armor but got good deal on it)

8 gigs Corsair Vengeance DDR3

and was wondering about SLI. I really know very little about it and am wondering if it is worth it to get another 460 GTX or is it a major hassle and little payoff to run 2 video cards?

[Colossus 2]

I've just moved from Windows XP to Windows 7, but it seems the font sizes has been drasticly reduced on some parts, which is why I can't just change the DPI. Most problematic is BI Forums so far.

To be more specific, it's mostly anything that isn't the post messages (I think..).

So what and where do I need to change this font to get it more like Win XP?

Edited April 12, 2011 by colossus

[Tonci87 163]

Guys I have a serious Problem, My two DVD Drives don´t get recognized by my PC since the todays Windows Update

I use Win 7 x64 professional by the way.

I already tried looking in the regedit for lower and upper filters or something like this, but there are no entries with upper or lower. What else can I do?

EDIT: They are not even listed in the BIOS

Edited April 14, 2011 by Tonci87

[SteveJA 12]

Hav ya tryed turrning it off ann on again? /(irish accent)

Haha sorry could't resist :)

[maddogx 13]

Open the case, unplug both DVD drives, start the computer, shut it down again, plug the DVD drives back in.

That's the first thing I would try.

Btw. are they SATA or IDE?

[Tonci87 163]

Problem solved. While you posted some really good suggestions, I did what MaddogX said. Surprisingly it worked...

EDIT. Problem not solved, they disapeared again....WTF?

EDIT: Repeated same as before, they are back. Seriously WTF?

Edited April 14, 2011 by Tonci87

[Tisman 10]

Hello everyone.

For quite a bit of time now, my computers performance seems pretty slow compared to what it should be. I have long suspected the gpu to be the culprit, but the other day i ran a benchmark with the free version of 3d mark vantage and the cpu result seemed a tad low.

I ran it several times and the cpu score always averages beetween 17 000 and 18 000, while other people with silimar configs (HD5870 and I7 930) all get a cpu score of above 20 000. At first i thought that it was because they overclocked their cpus, but when i look in the details of their benchmarks, while indeed some are overclocked for the majority it says that their processor' s frequency is 2800mhz, the stock frequency.

So my question is: Is the 3d mark vantage benchmark detail spewing bullshit and are the comps with cpu scores of above 20 000 overclocked even though the benchmark detail indicates the default clocks, or is the benchmark detail indicating the right clocks and then how come my cpu score is so low?

My config is Cpu I7 930, MB Asus p6t deluxe v2, GPU HIS Radeon HD5870, 6gb Corsair ddr3 1600 and alim Corsair tx850.

Thanks in advance for any help that you guys could give me.

Edit: Here are the details of 2 of the benchmarks that i ran:

With speedstep http://3dmark.com/3dmv/3079166 activated and without speedstep: http://3dmark.com/3dmv/3080686?key=JCJd8MZ9zZF6rE5wyeQ62UfpqNNmhQ

Edited April 14, 2011 by Tisman

[Tonci87 163]

OK guys, I have another big Problem. My PC doesnt Boot anymore.

What happens:

I turn it on, the fans and the drives are starting to work.

No Boot Screen, no Beep sounds, nothing

What I tried so far:

unplugging all DVD Drives and everything else that isn't required to start the PC

unplugging the HD

Taking out the Ram sticks, trying every Ramstick in every Slot

unplugging the GPU

Cmos Reset

Nothing helped. If I only could get to the boot screen....

Any Ideas?

[larsiano 12]

@ Tisman: Me and alot of other peeps also have the same missing points after a mark has been preformced, besides this score the system functions perfectly so this fact does not represent the speed of your system as good as you would like.

The i7 930 should be great for Arma2 sinds its still one of the fastest CPU's available. What are your results in Arma2 & OA any stutter etc? How is the cooling and temps of your system? Did you try another driver for your GPU? Have you preformed a BIOS update and Intel INF / Chipset driver update? There has also been a new MS DirectX driver update in april tht you could try

@Tonci87: Try another GPU or a motherboard i'm afraid this problem demands some nasty tests. CPU's don't fry that easy so biggest chance is that eighter the mobo or GPU is busted and or the PSU has gone for good.

Edited June 1, 2011 by larsiano
added more replies

[Tonci87 163]

Well the GPU and the PSU are a few months old. I tried unpluging the GPU, the damn thing should at least boot and make some beep sounds if it is GPU related. If it would be the PSU (a high quality one!) then the damn thing wouldn't run at all, or would at least run when I unplug everything else that consumes power. (Note CPU fan, GPU fan and Drives are working.) Am I missing something?

I really start to think that it might be the mobo....

[maddogx 13]

I really start to think that it might be the mobo....

Yeah, the mobo would at least be doing some kind of beeping. Normally there are different sequences of beeps if there is an error in any of the other hardware.

I see you've already tried a CMOS reset, which is what I would have suggested next.

Looks to me like your mobo may have bitten the dust.

Edited June 1, 2011 by MadDogX

[steevn606 10]

Well it comes in tomorrow, I can't wait! I want to play Arma again! I have not played it for over a year! But you guys have any tips on making my computer live longer? What do you do with your pcs?

Do you leave it on?

And one more thing the power supply is an extremegear brand and I know they suck but, after a year I will change it to a cosair brand.

https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Gamer_Xtreme_XT/

P.s everything is the same but I changed the psu too and 800 one.

[-)rStrangelove 0]

Keep them cool & dust free. And tap them once a day and say 'you did good honey'. Uhm, although rather dont if your GF is around, she might hear it and get the wrong idea.

[Beagle 684]

Shut your PC off as often as possible, keep it cool and dont run it on hot days...keept it dry, dust it off with compressed air once a month and DO NOT OVERCLOCK.

Thast way it can last 10 Years...albeit you won't be able to run anything modern on it in 10 years.

my current PC is from 2006, I just had to upgrade CPU and GPU two times since to keep up.

PS: keep girlsfriends and Wifes away from PC...mine once typed "format c:" after having found porn on it. At night they creep up onto your PC and start researching what you do with it and whom you send e-mail.

Edited June 1, 2011 by Beagle

[celery 8]

dust it off with compressed air once a month

Lol. I just vaccuum it. :p