New System Crashed while running NS2, Not starting up.
epsilan47
Join Date: 2011-03-20 Member: 87553Members
Join Date: 2011-03-20 Member: 87553Members
Hey guys I recently purchased a new system (specs below). I installed Windows 7 64-bit without issues, connected my old hard drive and copied some files over (including NS2). Today I hooked it up, ran NS2, played a game (which by the way was very fun) and then went for a break. A couple hours later, I come back hoping to play another round. I run over to the 'Join Marine' room and run over to the armory, as soon as I press e (use key) my screen goes black, a message pops up 'Resolution not optimal, recommended 1440 x 900' and my computer crashes. I start it up again, all fans come on, LEDs lights come on, I hear the windows starting sound but my screen is black, the power button is turning on and off on the monitor which it does when there is something connected but the computer is off.
So I plug my monitor into the motherboard VGA and the same result, screen black, everything starting up, sounds, LEDs. Then I disconnect my graphics card, plug the monitor in and it works?
My theory is the power supply isn't sufficient, although how would it work in the first place?
Please help!
MOBO: Asus M4A885-M LE
RAM: 4 x 2 GB Corsair XMS 3 DDR3
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5850
CPU: AMD Phenom II x6 1055t
Power supply: Corsair CX500, 500W
Case: CoolerMaster 690 II
As for my cooling, I am using the heatsink and fan that came with the CPU, and there are 2 fans in the case as well. I haven't even had a chance to install software to check the temperature.
EDIT: For the monitor, it is a VGA monitor so I use the DVI-to-VGA adaptor that came with the GPU.
So I plug my monitor into the motherboard VGA and the same result, screen black, everything starting up, sounds, LEDs. Then I disconnect my graphics card, plug the monitor in and it works?
My theory is the power supply isn't sufficient, although how would it work in the first place?
Please help!
MOBO: Asus M4A885-M LE
RAM: 4 x 2 GB Corsair XMS 3 DDR3
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5850
CPU: AMD Phenom II x6 1055t
Power supply: Corsair CX500, 500W
Case: CoolerMaster 690 II
As for my cooling, I am using the heatsink and fan that came with the CPU, and there are 2 fans in the case as well. I haven't even had a chance to install software to check the temperature.
EDIT: For the monitor, it is a VGA monitor so I use the DVI-to-VGA adaptor that came with the GPU.
Comments
Just asking as this also sounds like a bios crash (OC related), resulting in needing to reset it to default...
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Screen_of_Death" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Screen_of_Death</a>
A few security updates in Windows 7 actually triggered this at one point, so it's possible that if your computer installed some updates then crashed, you could get this. It's just one of many problems that could cause it, but I'd be looking right at that one now simply because it's a new build and likely to have started those updates and not completed them on shut down due to a crash.
The problem isn't with NS2 what so ever, black screens are rarely ever to do with a specific application.
There were also no red indicators, it was just a beep my computer makes when it starts up everytime, infact there was only a green indicator on the motherboard.
As for BSOD, is there anything I can do to fix it?
In this case, if there is something wrong with the graphics card ie:
- card not plugged into the PSU, heh I've had this happen once :P
- card borked
It will at least do a "<i><b>beeb boo beep</b></i>" thingy to tell you something is wrong with the GPU card installation
Odd, very odd indeed...
to test:
turn on your system and plug in a different, modern monitor. (dvi)
if no POST is displayed and its just black then you know its not your monitor.
with no POST screen then its either your power supply or mobo. and if you've already tried resetting the CMOS battery, then you need to download BIOS drivers onto a usb stick and look up your motherboard's method of installing drivers with solely a few key presses on a fresh restart.
else, if you can get to POST you know its definitely not your hardware thats in your case. so you should attempt to get to the OS to see if this is the issue. if you cant get into windows its not your monitor or card its your OS or a setting / registry thats been changed and you'll need to recover or reinstall.
goodluck
Also, kouji_san, I checked multiple times and there are no red LEDs, only a green from the motherboard, and there are no distinctive sounds coming from it.
Hopefully this doesn't happen to my replacement card. Loey, do you know if your sister's cards fan still spun when it wasn't showing any video?
EDIT: In response to ironhorse, as soon as I plug out my graphics card and plug the monitor into the motherboard VGA it works and Windows 7 starts up and runs fine. I also tried clearing the RTC RAM, which resets the BIOS I believe, does the CMOS battery reset do something else and how do you reset it?
Also, kouji_san, I checked multiple times and there are no red LEDs, only a green from the motherboard, and there are no distinctive sounds coming from it.
Hopefully this doesn't happen to my replacement card. Loey, do you know if your sister's cards fan still spun when it wasn't showing any video?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
how did you come to this conclusion??
if your mobo is beeping it may have nothing to do with a video card?
also, have you tried reseating the card? shut down, take out carefully, and re seat it securely.
my 295gtx the other day kept messing up on me while playing games. i thought the card was dead finally.
turns out somehow it came loose slightly.
still, you should try a different modern monitor being assuming its the gfx card.
I've come to that conclusion because I tried a lot of methods and the user who has experienced the same problem had it solved by just replacing the card.
EDIT: I've reinstalled the card multiple times, and I also do not have another monitor to test on.
I'm about to plug it in, install drivers and run tests. Does anybody any utilities to measure power supply usage, graphics card usage, power consumption, etc.?
i'd recommend at least a 750W from Corsair or someone equally trustworthy to go along with your new card..
a killer rig can be made into a dead heap if the power supply is bad or sometimes insufficient so never cheap out on it. :)
goodluck
I dont want to say that it wasnt the psu, but in theory the 500w is enough - even for a little overclocking. (so if its not already changed - send it back and get a new one, just in case)
I made some calculations with your setup + added a few pci cards (sound, tv, internet), used 4 slots ram, 5 harddisks, 6 fans, fan controler, 6 usb devices, and changed your gfx card to a crossfire 5870 setup etc + overclocking (cpu at 4ghz @ 1.5 volt)
I ended up with 700watt (xfire 6970 or sli 580 would be 860W)
Note that this are recommended numbers - so already adjusted that your psu stays around 50-80% load MAX.
<a href="http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/Power" target="_blank">http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/Power</a>
So if you want the option to put in another 5850 card for a xfire setup take 600-700w (+ overclocking)
If you stay with a single slot card 500-600w (+ overclocking)
If you dont overclock even 400-450w would be enough. (if voltages are set by hand(maybe even undervolted[means under the recommended voltage]) - not on auto in bios which is usually a LOT higher than needed)
Maybe a defective GPU then? It might have only showed up with NS2 because it was the first game that pushed it hard enough for the defect to show.
Enermax MODU87+ 700W ATX 2.3
Seasonic X-Series X-650 650W ATX 2.3
be quiet! Dark Power Pro P9 650W ATX 2.3
Cougar SX S700 700W ATX 2.3
I have serious power surges and micro powercuts where I live so I have gone through a few PSU's before finally gettin a 1000 Watt PSU with 3 Rails, Had this for years now.
Also i got a multi socket power bar with surge protection.
A Corsair CX500 is a pretty good PSU already, it has 34A on its 12V lane - much more than my Enermax 500W, which has only 22A - still works fine with a setup that burns about as much energy as yours (about 300W max).
I'd recommend checking your gpu and cpu temps with programs like gpu-z and core temp while running stress tests such as prime95 for the cpu and furmark for the gpu. Just google those, you'll fine them.
Also note the error codes you get when your computer crashes - put those into google and you might get an idea what's causing it.
Got no bluescreen w/ error codes? well then check the 'event viewer' built into windows 7 - it'll log the error there.
So I plug my monitor into the motherboard VGA and the same result, screen black, everything starting up, sounds, LEDs. Then I disconnect my graphics card, plug the monitor in and it works?
My theory is the power supply isn't sufficient, although how would it work in the first place?
Please help!
MOBO: Asus M4A885-M LE
RAM: 4 x 2 GB Corsair XMS 3 DDR3
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5850
CPU: AMD Phenom II x6 1055t
Power supply: Corsair CX500, 500W
Case: CoolerMaster 690 II
As for my cooling, I am using the heatsink and fan that came with the CPU, and there are 2 fans in the case as well. I haven't even had a chance to install software to check the temperature.
EDIT: For the monitor, it is a VGA monitor so I use the DVI-to-VGA adaptor that came with the GPU.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Since it was NS that broke your new system, I feel it is only right that UWE buys you a new replacement. :D
Hey um, yeah... My GPU/CPU/PSU/HDD's/IDE-Drives also somehow got smashed, when I threw the thing out of the... *<i>AHEM!</i>* I mean when I was running NS2.
UWE owes me a new system!
NS2 never broke the system. The user did.
*ahem* I believe the Poneh was utilizing irony.
Also, I tried overclocking my video card to 850, 1200 (HD 5870 clocks) and it worked fine but as soon as I put on a youtube video, the driver crashed and then I got the blue screen. Again, is this a result of the PSU not being powerful enough or something else?
P.S. 850, 1200 is easily achievable with this card and has even gotten as high as 1000, 1500 for some people.
Thanks in advance
Do this by either looking at the sticker on the side of the PSU or if you know what you have you can look it up online. Check the requirements of your card and you should know if your PSU is suitable for the card. If you are overclocking then the card obviously needs a better unit if you are at bare minimum with your PSU before the over clock.
When I bought my girlfriend a whole new computer and video card back in January of 2010 I made one vital mistake. I forgot all about a new PSU for the system.
At first it ran fine but every now and then games would begin to crash. The GPU was not getting the right amount of power needed to run the high powered games.
It ran fine until the action heated up in the game and the GPU was doing what it was built to do. The game crashed and brought her back to the desktop. It dawned on me that I forgot to upgrade the PSU. Ran a rush order and in 2 days I had the new PSU. Installed it and everything has run fine since.