HELP! something horribly wrong with my computer (hardware issue)

**Justinian the Great** · May 05, 2007, 08:49 PM

My graphics card has always been messed up. it used to crash whenever I tried to play anything graphics intensive, it would just start blocking up and freezing, if I manage to make it back to the desktop, it would just go black every 5 seconds.

I recently sprayed my whole computer out with a can of compressed air (especially the graphics card) and it worked again. I was free to play all my good graphics intensive games, and I have been. today, I sprayed the card out again because it started crashing again. it worked fine for a while, then it just stopped working altogether (no blocking up, the screen just went blank and said NO SIGNAL). I shut off the computer and sprayed it out. This time I accidentally left the graphics power cord unplugged. when I turned the PC on, in BIOS I got a message saying that the graphics card's power was too low. I turned the PC off, and plugged the cord back in. this time I got a message saying that the CPU fan had failed or wasn't working well enough. I also noted that the fans are EXTREMELY quiet now. I can't even hear them unless I put up my ear against the case, even with everything in my house that makes noise turned off (TVs, etc). Usually, they are so loud that they sound like an IT room at a large company (with all the fans going). I have a water cooling system. I'm looking for a solution to this problem - both the fan problem AND the graphics card problem.

Before I'm done though, I would like to add that I think this problem is rooted in the power supply, because the messages say that the parts aren't getting enough power, and because the fans are quiet (not getting enough power from the PSU would mean that the fans would have to work at low efficiency).

I have a 7800GT, a water cooling system for my CPU, and an X2 3800+ AMD proc. Feel free to ask any more questions - I would do near anything to get this fixed.

**sdjenkyn** · May 05, 2007, 10:18 PM

What Psu are you running?

**Justinian the Great** · May 05, 2007, 10:23 PM

Fortunately I've saved the email that the compute dealer sent me when I ordered. It says that the power supply is an Aspire 600W DARK SIDE POWER ATX Power Supply

**sdjenkyn** · May 05, 2007, 11:09 PM

should be plenty of juice unless its burning out. unfortunately brands seem to make a big difference in psu's. Are you running the latest drivers for your 7800? My moneys on your Psu tho and would recommend an OCZ OR ASUS PSU. your psu may not have had the right rail voltage from the start and has been causing issues with your graphics card all along.

**Justinian the Great** · May 05, 2007, 11:24 PM

I'm pretty sure that the video card was just a malfunct part from the beginning- something is probably wrong with the fan. The reason why I think so is because that when it does crash, I get all kinds of symptoms for overheating - the most notable of which is pixel stretching. if I look at a high quality image when it's crashing, the image will have pixels stretched out in all directions, making the thing look like it has huge spikes. The screen will flash off and on, parts of the screen will turn different colors, usually the screen will start having lines rapidly going downwards, yet the lines are crooked. the lines will usually just be an assortment of randomly colored dots (mostly beige), until the monitor blacks out and goes to a screen that says "No Signal".

Is there any way that I can check the voltage output of my PSU?

Also, what graphics cards would you guys recommend? Are the DX8 cards stable enough to enjoy yet?

**sdjenkyn** · May 05, 2007, 11:38 PM

DX8? Do you mean dx10? Its your PSU thats the problem I just fixed that issue on my kids machine. They are using a 7800 gt from bfg and was running into the spike and stretch and clip/blocking in oblivion. I got them a 550watt replacement with stated 12v per rail and the system works like a charm now. Even overclocked there 1.6 P4 to 2.6 with no issues.You may be able to get your info off of the manufacturers website but my experience has been when you buy a case typically the psu that comes with it is garbage.

**Justinian the Great** · May 06, 2007, 02:42 PM

Ah, DX10 I meant =P I keep thinking DX8 because the DX10 supporting cards (at least from nVidia) are 8800's and such. Anyways, I'll do what you said there and I'm gonna buy me a new Graphics card probably.

**Justinian the Great** · May 06, 2007, 02:57 PM

Also, since I have a liquid cooling system, am I supposed to refill the cooler with whatever liquid every so often? Because I haven't done so, ever, and I've had this computer for a year or so.

**Justinian the Great** · May 06, 2007, 05:53 PM

My other specs are

1GB Corsair RAM (don't know what kind, ddr3 or something), with cooling plates

2 - 80 GB SATA 2 hard drives / raid 0 configuration

eVGA 7800GT video card (not overclocked)

X2 3800+ AMD athlon proc. (dual core)

ASUS SLI Deluxe (I think) motherboard

It's been forever since I've listed my specs so I've forgotten some...

**OTZ** · May 06, 2007, 02:45 PM

Why not list the rest of your specs as well?

**OTZ** · May 06, 2007, 08:11 PM

Since you've only had the thing for a year, your parts might be under manufacturer's warranties still...no sense spending money trying to figure out which part is not working properly.

HAve you tried the latest drivers? Tried reinstalling Windows?

**sdjenkyn** · May 06, 2007, 08:25 PM

Agreed ^ but chances are its the power supply and I would replace with a better branded one. The vid card should be plenty for awhile at least until something dx10 comes out thats worth playing in a year or two.

**Aristocrat** · May 06, 2007, 08:42 PM

Your ram is just plain DDR, most likely high spec DDR, but still just DDR.

Ok, firstly, it does sound like your PSU is either dying, or just plain crappy. (Can you smell any burning coming from it? If so...don't turn the computer on again as you may kill it).

Secondly, does your motherboard have the little fan to cool the chipset? The one that spins incredibly fast all the time?
If so you might want to think about replacing that...as it will die (or might have already).

**Justinian the Great** · May 06, 2007, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Aristocrat

Your ram is just plain DDR, most likely high spec DDR, but still just DDR.

Ok, firstly, it does sound like your PSU is either dying, or just plain crappy. (Can you smell any burning coming from it? If so...don't turn the computer on again as you may kill it).

Secondly, does your motherboard have the little fan to cool the chipset? The one that spins incredibly fast all the time?
If so you might want to think about replacing that...as it will die (or might have already).

YES!!! I've noticed this. there is a fan on there, and it sounds as if something is stuck in it or something (makeing a crackling noise). This is the source os most of the sound that my computer fans make, because I noticed wthat when i first turn the computer on, the fans are all loud as normal, but then once the computer loads up, that fans slows down (possibly stops).

How can I replace this?

**Aristocrat** · May 07, 2007, 12:45 AM

I just put one of these on mine when the fan started to fail.

You can take off the tall bits if they are blocking your video card (I've taken 4 rows off mine...) and it still performs better than the fan.

The bad news is to put it on you have to take the computer apart and take the motherboard out of the case, so you can take the old small fan off.
This can be an issue to those who are scared of breaking something, but it's real easy to take the old fan off and put this on, you just have to be a little careful.

If you do go this route (and you will have to most likely, as the fan will die, they all do on this motherboard), make sure you get some artic silver 5 to use when you put the passive cooler on.
Of course, you have to clean the chip on the motherboard (under the fan) before you seat the cooler, so you can either use this, or some rubbing alcohol.

Or heck, you could go to a computer store and get them to do it for you if you are fearful of breaking something.

It sounds difficult but took me 10 minutes tops to put mine on. (Admittedley I may know my way around the inside of a computer better than you).