Advice needed

[inoan]

Hello all.

Posting here because I'm really stumped. Last week purchased a new rig:

CPU: Core Duo E6750 (2.66)
MB: ASUS P5K SE
RAM: 2GB 800MHz
GPU: Foxconn Geforce 8800GT 512MB
OS: XP
PWR: 550W

This was a pre-selected setup (as in choose the GPU & CPU) available from the local specialist.

Got XP installed, fully updated XP, updated Chipset Drivers & Forceware.

Games lock & freeze. Windows is perfect but games lock/freeze within 5-15min. No Alt-Tab, Ctrl-Alt-Delete etc., just a hard reset. Have tested a few games (Crysis, BF2142, Dawn Of War, Warcraft 3), and regardless of screen res (800x600-1680x950), effects, AA, anything the game locks, even during intros, all in the same fashion (sudden full freeze with the sound set to drone) and at utterly random times.

Like I said, Windows is perfect.

I am assuming at this point it is the 8800GT.

I don't believe it to be:

1. Temp - ~85Deg (~60Deg @ idle). Used nTune to hard set the fan @ 100%, produced ~70Deg (~50 @ idle) with no change at all in game. The case also has a large chassis fan which effectively is centred on the GPU.

2. ASUS BIOS setting - another similar problem (with another person) was solved by setting the 'Memory Remap Feature' a 64bit OS function producing problems in 32Bit.

3. Sound Card - have read of suspected Realtek/nVidia compatibilty issues. Disabled card with no change.

4. Also lowered (thru nTune) GPU speed by 50 and mem by 100 (fixed yet another persons similar-sounding-problem) to no effect.

5. Any obvious compatibility (ram speed, cpu & mb FSB speed etc.) but can't be positive.

The machine will run BurnInTest (tester) ad nauseum, 3DMark06 runs back-to-back without a single problem.

This avo' I formated the drive, put a clean XP on, and installed with nothing but the supplied graphics & mobo drivers, the thing, on all games, acts indentically.

Could this be a Power Supply issue? Is this likely to be a physically defunct card? Is it likely to even be the graphics card?

My main question tho is what to do now. It's unusable as is, the shop has offered to swap for another Foxconn 8800GT to see if thats it.

At this point do I:

Swap the card and see, ask to swap the box- bits and all - for new of the same, or swap the 8800GT for a GIGABYTE RX3875 512MB?

I've read a fair chunk of 8600-8800GTX compatiblity/stability issues and nVidia's dodging/ignorance to make me want to switch to ATI, but have read enough '8800GT vs. 3870 - 8800!!' sentiment to second guess myself.

Sorry for the absolute ramble, but I'm really stumped.

 

[badge]

Set the memory timings and voltage to Mfg. specs in BIOS. Try running games with a different video card. PSU is suspect too. Different RAM.

 

[evongugg]

Run memtest86+ and check for errors also.

 

[jay2tall]

You bought it from a local specialist? Take it back and let him/her figure it out. You paid for a pre-built machine, it should work.

Temps sorta seem high, but then again its a GT not GTS, so im not totally sure what it should be. 60 at idle seems high to me. 85 at load does to.

What brand 550W PSU is it, that might be a kicker to. If its a good PSU no sweat, if its some crap job, that could be an issue.

 

[inoan]

Thanks for the advice guys, cracked it this afternoon.

MemTest86+ found errors in the twin RAM. Each chip (and in each slot) works fine but together throws up errors. Had one chip out and have been gaming successfully all evening. RMA'ing the RAM on the weekend.

Thanks all, g'nite!