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990 FX System. Am I doing something wrong?

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Hi,
I have buit a new gaming rig for BF3 when it came out. I am no stranger to homebuilds because I have built every machine I have owed since 2000. However, I feel like something is missing in my configuration. I am having studdering in BF3(other games too) and can't run it a max setteings. Here are my stats:

AMD Phenom II x 4 965 BE 3.7 GHz (auto OC'd to 4 GHz)
ASUS Sabertooth 990FX
8 gig G.SKILL Ripjaw DDR3 1333
2 x XFX 6870's crossfire
WD1 TB Caviar Black 64mb cache
Lite-On IHAS424-98 24x
Hanspree HF255 25" LCD monitor (1920x1080)
Thermaltake 850 watt Black Widow PSU
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Case
Windows 7 64

I have updated all drivers and profile applications. I have done windows updates, disabled background programs in MSCONFIG, scan disc, defrag and tested all components for defective parts. I am at a loss. Is there something in my build that is the problem? I know alot of games ship unfinished and need time pan out, but I should be able to crush whatever I play. Any advice? I was thinking I needed faster memory and was going to go with Carsair Dominator. That is the only thing I can resonably think could be upgraded. Thanks in advance!!

More about : 990 system wrong

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Homebuilt system Master

Well, if you auto oc'd it probably cranked the RAM up to 1400 something. Even so, the RAM should be able to handle it.

Have you tried disabling crossfire and ran it with one video card and see if anything happens?

Thanks for the reply. I have gone single card and have not seen an improvement. Yeah, people are having ups and downs with BF3, but Batman:AC, Crysis 2 and RAGE are all running poorly. I have thought about going back to single GPU and getting the HD 7970 or GTX 680, but from all the articles and benchmarks I have seen, my Crossfire setup should out perform them. It just sucks to dump this much money into a system and then look at Gears 3 for my Xbox and wonder why I upgraded.lol
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Homebuilt system Master

It should handle those games just fine. Its weird that it doesn't. I don't know if flashing the BIOS on the board would help or not, is it the latest version? Mine was shipped about 2 months ago and it had the latest on board already. (We have the same board)

Also check out your AI tweaker, the auto OC "guesses", maybe something isn't stable there. In your digi VRM, check out the power phase setting. When mine did auto it left it on standard.
Homebuilt system Expert


If you have a C2 PhII 965 and are running 4x2GB sticks with an OC, there are problems with stability in 64-bit Windows.

Is this one of those FXAA/MSAA things? Have you tried different combinations?

Homebuilt system Expert

recon i think i was playing BF3 with you last night... This guy had a FX 4100 and a 9800 Gt i think and someone kept saying Latency was the issue.... But anyways

If i were this guy, i'd get off of crossfire and try a different card. SInce Crossfire has had a record of having Micro stuttering. SHoot before the new drivers from NVIDIA, my SLI got Micro Stuttering but i am still gonna upgrade because most upcoming games are gonna need Horse power and more Vram.

If everyone can just hang in for another 2 weeks for the Mid range cards to come out... BF3 seems to be a heavy hitter for GPU more than CPU... Infact if you ever go in a building and look out the window the map isn't loaded until you walk back outside. The game only seems to load what your looking at.

I have basically the same Hardware as redemption. Phenom II 980, Sabertooth 990FX, my cards are a little more performing but they are still are close..
Homebuilt system Authority

Well, you obviously need to diagnose this. Remove the auto OC, check everything for stability. Check your temps, check your drivers and check that your BF3 is in the latest version for starters.

I assure you my BF3 is legit. Why spend 1,500 bucks plus on a gaming rig to steal $50 games. The ping situation makes sense. When I am in a 16 player match my performance is better (to be expected). My temps are pretty good too. I set my drivers profiles up before I play and I turn my fans on manual to about 60%. After 4 hours of play, my temps are only in the high 60's. I have thought about water cooling, but it costs allot to do it right. I can't seem to get the right temp reading on my CPU though. I know that is an issue with the mobo though.
Homebuilt system Master

Redemption77 said:
I assure you my BF3 is legit. Why spend 1,500 bucks plus on a gaming rig to steal $50 games. The ping situation makes sense. When I am in a 16 player match my performance is better (to be expected). My temps are pretty good too. I set my drivers profiles up before I play and I turn my fans on manual to about 60%. After 4 hours of play, my temps are only in the high 60's. I have thought about water cooling, but it costs allot to do it right. I can't seem to get the right temp reading on my CPU though. I know that is an issue with the mobo though.



Hold up....

Your Phenom II is running in the high 60s? Take your OC off, thats too hot, and that could be causing it to crap out and slow down.

Hwmonitor should give you an accurate read on your core temps, you should be idling around high 30s-low 40s and high 50s under load.
Homebuilt system Master

Redemption77 said:
My CPU is at 50c (idle). My GPU is 57c. Motherboard is at 30cThat is according to HWM. It is impossible that these are the correct readings.



It is entirely possible that it is the correct readings, do you have the original heatsink assembly, or an aftermarket cooler? any higher than 3.7GHZ and I'd want an aftermarket cooler. It may be worthwhile to reseat the cooler with new thermal compound. I've had a board that made certain programs throw false temp readings, but the sabertooth is dead on for me.

Set it back.. Go into Ai Tweaker in bios, set the multiplier to 17 and the reference clock to 200. Thats stock. 17x 200=3.4GHZ
Homebuilt system Master

Redemption77 said:
ok, I cannot find those settings in my BIOS. Plus, I have 3.7 gig processor stock running at 4. wouldnt I want it to be at 3.7 not 3.4 ?



It should be if you switch the EUFI BIOS to advanced mode. OR you can Restore Defaults

But the AI tweaker in Advanced mode should look like this: In your case the CPU Ratio (multiplier) should be 17 and 200 CPU Bus frequency= 3.4GHZ




No your CPU is not 3.7GHZ stock, it overclocks it to 3.9-4.0 when you hit the "Performance mode" on the EZ-Bios.

The stock settings for a Phenom II 980 are 3.7GHZ , this is achieved by an 18.5x multiplier setting, and its shipped with the same fan the 965s are shipped with, thats why I said I wouldn't go higher than that on a stock fan. Factory setting for 965 is 200 on the reference clock x 17 on the multiplier.


AS far as the aftermarket cooler, I would try to do a reapplication of the thermal compound and reseat the cooler, its possible you didn't get a good seat when you installed it. Just use a BB size drop on the center of the CPU and press the heatsink down to let it spread out, you don't have to worry about it, you dont need to cover the entire chip. Just be careful not to use too much, because you can get runoff.. (Standard disclaimer of course)
Homebuilt system Master

Redemption77 said:
Ok, I set the defaults. CPU is back to 3.7. Temps dropped to 46c. Still to high. Could you suggest a good water cooling system?

Never dabbled with watercooling, so no I personally could not. Honestly, I would try to redo the thermal compound, you shouldnt need water cooling. I'm running at 4.0GHZ and my temp ranges from where I told you. 39-42c at idle, and 58-60c under load. I'm telling you, a bad thermal compound application can make a big difference.

And these are my settings:

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2316227
Homebuilt system Master

Redemption77 said:
Absolutely. I will get some and re-apply. Again thanks for the help and I will post my results.



Good luck, yea if you want a recommendation on a watercooler, I'm sure some of the fellas around here can recommend one, not saying you shouldn't get one, just that it shouldnt be necessary to hit 4.0 stable.
Homebuilt system Master

Quote:
I use the H100 atm with some nice Phobya G.silent fans.
Cools my 2500k upto 5.0ghz, although an i5 is sweet at 4.4ghz.



Yea, the practical ceiling for a Phenom II is about 4.2GHZ, I've heard of them being pushed higher, but you don't see it too often.
Homebuilt system Master

Quote:
I have a TX650 in my AMD rig and it is the same situation.
I used my Nokia N95 for my photo :D 

LOL.. LG Lotus. Yea, I'm not cool enough for a "smart phone", in fact, I prefer a dumb phone. Odd considering I'm an IT major and like to tinker around with computers that I would prefer a simple phone? :o 

At least with the NZXT Phanom full tower, those wires can go to hell for all I care, they ain't hurtin me and its not like I care if the inside looks neat as long as they arent in a position to short circuit anything.

Just wanted to give an update to my situation. I set my BIOS to default bringing my clock speed back to the original 3.7 GHz. This morning I re-pasted my CPU with Arctic Sliver 5 ( not my first choice, but it was all that I have ). Now my CPU idles at 40-44 c and All my games run like butter!!! So I guess it came down to a stability problem. I still think it is running too hot and I should get a better cooling situation. I have researched the Corsair H100 and Antec Kuhler 620 and both seem really good for the price. I am still considering air cooling so I could really use input and what might be the best cooling system for a low price. Air or liquid. Thanks for all the help.
Homebuilt system Expert

Never experienced microstuttering with my thuban and single or dual 6970's, I have experienced latency issues with high ping though. On your setups specs, nothing there to suggest you have hardware related poor performance.
Homebuilt system Master

Redemption77 said:
Just wanted to give an update to my situation. I set my BIOS to default bringing my clock speed back to the original 3.7 GHz. This morning I re-pasted my CPU with Arctic Sliver 5 ( not my first choice, but it was all that I have ). Now my CPU idles at 40-44 c and All my games run like butter!!! So I guess it came down to a stability problem. I still think it is running too hot and I should get a better cooling situation. I have researched the Corsair H100 and Antec Kuhler 620 and both seem really good for the price. I am still considering air cooling so I could really use input and what might be the best cooling system for a low price. Air or liquid. Thanks for all the help.


No problem, but yea, 40-44 is where it ought to be idling. The max safe temp is 62 per AMD, but realistically 70 is fine, only problem is, when you get that hot, they start to flake out in performance. If you're going to end up buying a second cooler, you may as well go all out with water cooling.
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