TL;DR:
The build
This is my first time building a PC, after having been a laptop person for almost a decade.
To prevent compatibility issues I decided to follow a recipe and take a build from somewhere else.
The build is the 600$ build here:
http://newbcomputerbuild.com/gaming-pc-builds-of-the-month-2/october-2013-600-1000-1500-budget-gaming-pc-builds/#600-pc-build
The only difference is the case (slight upgrade) and optical drive (the one listed was hilariously expensive in my country).
Just to keep it neat, here are all the items:
Motherboard: MSI ATX Motherboard 970A-G43
CPU: AMD FX-6300
GPU: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7870
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Kit (4GBx2)
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB
PSU: Antec VP-450 450 Watt
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95
All parts are new and bought within the last 2-3 weeks.
All encountered issues (however minor)
I will list all issues I noticed, in case it helps with troubleshooting.
- Build was posted on US-based site, I am in Germany; PSU is the same model, but for European voltage/frequency settings
- Case had minor, almost unnoticeable bends where PSU installs, had to apply some force to screw it in properly, but otherwise no problems
- CPU heatsink had one slightly bent fin, not sure if it was there from beginning or if it happened during installation
- CPU is at 45°C right after system start, and heats up to 55-59°C, where it stays stable; not sure if this temperature is too high; heatsink came with pre-applied thermal compound and instructions said to use this pre-applied compound
- Rear case fan cable too short to reach motherboard, does not spin when plugged to PSU, regardless of which molex connector I use
- Plugged top case fan to PSU; I could plug it to the motherboard, but short cable and multiple connectors create cable managing issues, I wanted to prevent cables touching motherboard
- Multiple reboots and freezes, occur almost always during windows installation/boot/function, rarely in motherboard BIOS settings, frequently while running USB-bootable DBAN, sometimes and always at specific parts when running Memtest86
- When the system reboots after saving BIOS settings (save and reboot option), there is no video output, and I must manually reset
POST and Windows install: Major issues with freezing and random reboots
Built it on Saturday, took anti-static measures in the form of wristband, frequent case touching, and cotton clothes.
The build turns on and POSTs fine (although I don't have a motherboard speaker), CPU fan spins, upper case fan spins, rear case fan does not spin (DOA? tried different connectors, no dice), the motherboard recognizes CPU and RAM correctly.
Graphics card obviously works otherwise I'd have no video output (no built-in graphics).
When I tried installing windows 7 64 bit, it rebooted at the part where it's supposed to, but then I got a "BOOTMGR missing" error. After tinkering around with DBAN and boot order and several attempts at windows installation, I managed to pull off a clean windows install.
However, all my attempts were plagued by freezing and random rebooting of the system, which I at first believed were software issues (corrupt install, DBAN freezing/getting non-fatal errors).
Now that windows is installed, though, I still get random freezing and reboots. It often freezes when windows is starting, needing power/reset switch reboot. Often the screen goes black and the system reboots.
Troubleshooting
- I checked all the cables again, improved cable management; issue remains the same
- Switched SATA cables of HD and optical drive; issue remains the same
- Unplugged rear fan that was not working, removed optical drive to reduce PSU strain, in case that was the problem; issue remains the same
- Removed and reinserted RAM; issue remains the same
- Started running Memtest86 using different RAM stick/slot combinations; changes in freezing/rebooting behavior!
Memtest86
I'm using an USB-bootable Memtest86 (newest version), and found a reproducible pattern of freezes, but without errors. I'm still running tests, and will have to stop to go to work soon, but wanted to give an overview already and ask for advice.
As my motherboard manual instructs, I have installed both sticks into DIMM2 and DIMM4.
Windows almost always freezes at "starting windows" screen. If it manages to boot, it may reboot on its own.
Memtest tests 1-5 run fine, no errors.
Memtest test 6 freezes right after it starts, but gives no error. Tested twice with same result. Needs manual reboot.
Removed stick in DIMM4.
Windows boots fine, and appears stable if I don't touch anything. Gets slow, freezes, and reboots when trying to run an application (solitaire, system performance check).
Memtest tests 1-5 and 7-10 run fine, no errors.
Memtest test 6 freezes with no error. Needs manual reboot.
Removed stick in DIMM2 (stick #1), and installed stick that was previously in DIMM4 (stick #2) into DIMM2 slot.
Windows freezes at boot. Needs manual reboot.
Memtest freezes right before any tests load, no way to enter configuration. Needs manual reboot.
Left stick #2 in DIMM2 slot, and manually adjusted voltage to 1.492 V, and frequency to 1600 MHz (manufacturer default recommendation).
Windows freezes at boot. Needs manual reboot.
Memtest tests 1-8 and 10 run fine with no errors.
Memtest test 9 reproducibly freezes after a variable amount of time.
Will underclocking the RAM damage it in any way?
I'd like to try underclocking to see if it works better, since manually adjusting to manufacturer settings slightly alleviated the freezing (only memtest, not windows).
Should I try something specific next?
Sorry for the lengthy post, I appreciate any help!
- System reboots and freezes often while starting windows or running applications.
- More rarely, freezes occur in BIOS settings.
- Memtest freezes at test 6 or 9, but no errors.
- Still going through different RAM stick/slot combinations and memtesting, thus far no errors, only freezes.
Will underclocking the RAM damage it in any way?
I'd like to try underclocking to see if it works better, since manually adjusting to manufacturer settings slightly alleviated the freezing (only memtest, not windows).
The build
This is my first time building a PC, after having been a laptop person for almost a decade.
To prevent compatibility issues I decided to follow a recipe and take a build from somewhere else.
The build is the 600$ build here:
http://newbcomputerbuild.com/gaming-pc-builds-of-the-month-2/october-2013-600-1000-1500-budget-gaming-pc-builds/#600-pc-build
The only difference is the case (slight upgrade) and optical drive (the one listed was hilariously expensive in my country).
Just to keep it neat, here are all the items:
Motherboard: MSI ATX Motherboard 970A-G43
CPU: AMD FX-6300
GPU: Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7870
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Kit (4GBx2)
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB
PSU: Antec VP-450 450 Watt
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95
All parts are new and bought within the last 2-3 weeks.
All encountered issues (however minor)
I will list all issues I noticed, in case it helps with troubleshooting.
- Build was posted on US-based site, I am in Germany; PSU is the same model, but for European voltage/frequency settings
- Case had minor, almost unnoticeable bends where PSU installs, had to apply some force to screw it in properly, but otherwise no problems
- CPU heatsink had one slightly bent fin, not sure if it was there from beginning or if it happened during installation
- CPU is at 45°C right after system start, and heats up to 55-59°C, where it stays stable; not sure if this temperature is too high; heatsink came with pre-applied thermal compound and instructions said to use this pre-applied compound
- Rear case fan cable too short to reach motherboard, does not spin when plugged to PSU, regardless of which molex connector I use
- Plugged top case fan to PSU; I could plug it to the motherboard, but short cable and multiple connectors create cable managing issues, I wanted to prevent cables touching motherboard
- Multiple reboots and freezes, occur almost always during windows installation/boot/function, rarely in motherboard BIOS settings, frequently while running USB-bootable DBAN, sometimes and always at specific parts when running Memtest86
- When the system reboots after saving BIOS settings (save and reboot option), there is no video output, and I must manually reset
POST and Windows install: Major issues with freezing and random reboots
Built it on Saturday, took anti-static measures in the form of wristband, frequent case touching, and cotton clothes.
The build turns on and POSTs fine (although I don't have a motherboard speaker), CPU fan spins, upper case fan spins, rear case fan does not spin (DOA? tried different connectors, no dice), the motherboard recognizes CPU and RAM correctly.
Graphics card obviously works otherwise I'd have no video output (no built-in graphics).
When I tried installing windows 7 64 bit, it rebooted at the part where it's supposed to, but then I got a "BOOTMGR missing" error. After tinkering around with DBAN and boot order and several attempts at windows installation, I managed to pull off a clean windows install.
However, all my attempts were plagued by freezing and random rebooting of the system, which I at first believed were software issues (corrupt install, DBAN freezing/getting non-fatal errors).
Now that windows is installed, though, I still get random freezing and reboots. It often freezes when windows is starting, needing power/reset switch reboot. Often the screen goes black and the system reboots.
Troubleshooting
- I checked all the cables again, improved cable management; issue remains the same
- Switched SATA cables of HD and optical drive; issue remains the same
- Unplugged rear fan that was not working, removed optical drive to reduce PSU strain, in case that was the problem; issue remains the same
- Removed and reinserted RAM; issue remains the same
- Started running Memtest86 using different RAM stick/slot combinations; changes in freezing/rebooting behavior!
Memtest86
I'm using an USB-bootable Memtest86 (newest version), and found a reproducible pattern of freezes, but without errors. I'm still running tests, and will have to stop to go to work soon, but wanted to give an overview already and ask for advice.
As my motherboard manual instructs, I have installed both sticks into DIMM2 and DIMM4.
Windows almost always freezes at "starting windows" screen. If it manages to boot, it may reboot on its own.
Memtest tests 1-5 run fine, no errors.
Memtest test 6 freezes right after it starts, but gives no error. Tested twice with same result. Needs manual reboot.
Removed stick in DIMM4.
Windows boots fine, and appears stable if I don't touch anything. Gets slow, freezes, and reboots when trying to run an application (solitaire, system performance check).
Memtest tests 1-5 and 7-10 run fine, no errors.
Memtest test 6 freezes with no error. Needs manual reboot.
Removed stick in DIMM2 (stick #1), and installed stick that was previously in DIMM4 (stick #2) into DIMM2 slot.
Windows freezes at boot. Needs manual reboot.
Memtest freezes right before any tests load, no way to enter configuration. Needs manual reboot.
Left stick #2 in DIMM2 slot, and manually adjusted voltage to 1.492 V, and frequency to 1600 MHz (manufacturer default recommendation).
Windows freezes at boot. Needs manual reboot.
Memtest tests 1-8 and 10 run fine with no errors.
Memtest test 9 reproducibly freezes after a variable amount of time.
Will underclocking the RAM damage it in any way?
I'd like to try underclocking to see if it works better, since manually adjusting to manufacturer settings slightly alleviated the freezing (only memtest, not windows).
Should I try something specific next?
Sorry for the lengthy post, I appreciate any help!
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