HELP!!! New Build is crashing/stalling/etc

[pottsy523]

I recently made my first build with these specs:
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 922
Mobo: ASRock 880G EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
GPU: GIGABYTE GV-R687D5-1GD-B Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP
PSU: XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W ATX12V 2.2 / ESP12V 2.91 SLI
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996781

I am also re-using my HDD and DVD from my Dell XPS. (Had to reformat the HDD with Win7 in order for it to work with new build.)
CD/DVD: HG5894D VEG622Z SCSI
HDD: WDC WD2500JS-75NCB3 Serial ATA SATA-300
Once the new OS was installed (and all related drivers, excluding dell driver for DVD, keyboard/mouse), everything worked fine. Start-up was slow (upwards of a minute), but I wasn't too worried about that.

Then everything went to hell. Upon start-up, several processes failed to initialize, different memory references couldn't be read, and blue screens abounded. To the point that the system blue screened before the OS fully loaded. I reformatted and reinstalled everything. Same result - worked for a couple days, then crapped out.

Several errors were memory related, so I though the problem was the RAM. I moved the 2 sticks to the other slots, and everything worked normally (immediately after blue screens upon startup before changing slots). I ran mem diagnostics and no problems were found. So I thought the issue was the mem slots on the mobo. To prove that, I moved the sticks back to the original slots, but everything STILL worked. I ran mem diagnostics and no errors were found.

EDIT: Failed to mention that in the midst of the above issues, checkdisk ran a couple times on start-up and a TON of indexes, etc were corrupted/removed/fixed, etc.

Once again, the system worked for a couple days, but now it is starting to crap out again - blue screens (although not as many as before), mainly just system freezing and apps stalling. Problems seem to abound when I play Crysis (the only game I have on the PC right now).

I now wonder if the problem is my HDD, but possible culprits could be the mem slots on the Mobo and/or the RAM.

What are your thoughts?

 

[T_T]

My first thought is RAM voltage. My second thought is that you're probably running your default or [Auto] settings in the BIOS. What you've described suggests that there is some instability issues in your configuration.

Here are a few things to try:

1. Manually set your RAM timing, frequency, and voltage
2. Check to see if the Mushkins are on the ASRock QVL for RAM
3. If after performing step 1 you still get the BSODs, disconnect non-essential devices to reduce load on your PSU, and then monitor the performance of your system.
4. If after performing step 3 you still get BSODs, test your PSU for deficiancy.

 

[pottsy523]

My first thought is RAM voltage. My second thought is that you're probably running your default or [Auto] settings in the BIOS. What you've described suggests that there is some instability issues in your configuration.

Here are a few things to try:

1. Manually set your RAM timing, frequency, and voltage
2. Check to see if the Mushkins are on the ASRock QVL for RAM
3. If after performing step 1 you still get the BSODs, disconnect non-essential devices to reduce load on your PSU, and then monitor the performance of your system.
4. If after performing step 3 you still get BSODs, test your PSU for deficiancy.

Yeah, I've noticed a few places that say to configure the BIOS. Again, this is my first build, so I guess I was naive enough to assume I could plug n' play the components. I was planning on looking into that tonight, so thanks for the confirmation on that.

I don't know if this changes anything, but I failed to mention this (have added the below line to original post):
EDIT: Failed to mention that in the midst of the above issues, checkdisk ran a couple times on start-up and a TON of indexes, etc were corrupted/removed/fixed, etc.

 

[pottsy523]

My 2. Check to see if the Mushkins are on the ASRock QVL for RAM

A-ha. Yet another newbie mistake apparently...according to the QVL for the mobo on ASROCK's site, Mushkin isn't even on the list...anywhere. Guess at I might need to change the RAM. I'll try BIOS configs first though.

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[T_T]

Not necessarily. Just because an item is not on the QVL, that doesn't mean it is guaranteed to fail. The QVL is there as a guide, not a requirement. Now, if you're wondering why the QVL is important, this is because you would typically build a computer from the motherboard up. Checking the QVL on the mobo will aid in the selection of other devices.

So, before you get new RAM, play with the BIOS a little more. Stability can often be increased with voltage. Good luck.

 

[pottsy523]

Not necessarily. Just because an item is not on the QVL, that doesn't mean it is guaranteed to fail. The QVL is there as a guide, not a requirement. Now, if you're wondering why the QVL is important, this is because you would typically build a computer from the motherboard up. Checking the QVL on the mobo will aid in the selection of other devices.

So, before you get new RAM, play with the BIOS a little more. Stability can often be increased with voltage. Good luck.

Got it. Now, what about the checkdisk errors I mentioned? Could faulty configurations cause corrupted and orphaned indexes? Or might this be an entirely different issue?

 

[T_T]

Chkdsk errors are hard drive problems, which could also be reasons for BSOD. Use the WD utility disc to run a diagnosis on your HDD.