Bad problem

I

Insomnia

New Member
Hiya!

Just signed up in the hope that my terrible problem will get fixed.

Recently, there has become around a 50% chance that when I unpack a file, install a program, or just about anything else that I think involves the size of the data on my hard-drive being modified, the computer randomly restarts.

In the case of this happening, I will hear a distinct *click* noise come from my computer case as the screen goes black. About 1-2 seconds later I hear another click as the computer begins whurring back into action. It will then proceed to start up normally and work fine, until I want to unpack a file, or install a program etc.


Now, this problem has become worse and worse as of late. It first occured around a month ago when I was unpacking an ISO file, and since then it has become a more and more common problem. I wouldn't usually be so worried, but due to the fact that I read on another forum that the *click* noise I heard is a telltale sign that my computers hard-drive is dying, I couldn't help but wonder.

Notes:

- I installed and began using Raxco Perfect Disk 9 around 1-2 months ago.
- I have 2 hard-drives, both using Serial-ATA. One is a Seagate 80GB, and the other is a... well, it's 250GB is all I know.
- Since beginning use of two 7600GS's in SLi, the problem has become worse.

I was thinking that this may just be a power supply problem, and if you think so too, please say! Thanks in advance! I hope the problem can get fixed...

- Insomnia
 
Last edited:
This sounds quite a bit like a hard drive problem. Might be that it's about to go to Nirvana. Do you have another HD with the OS on it to test that?

What I would do is to disconnect the HD with the OS, install the OS on the other HD (since those are Satas, you don't even need to jumper it differently) and see how it does. You can get rid of the OS later again.
 
Last edited:
It could be the hard drive, but I doubt it. When you turn off a system "hard" you will here a click, but that's just the arm on the hard drive going back to it's "rest" position.

How many watts is your PSU? What it sounds like to me is that when you are doing intensive tasks you are drawing to much power and shutting down your PSU. Does this happen when you play games to? The sli cards will draw a lot of power, so if it shuts down while playing, and when doing intensive file transfers, that could be your problem.
 
Erdhexe: Sounds like a sound idea, but I think I'll use it as a last resort. I would prefer to start from the smaller changes and then work my way up to the larger ones.

Paratwa: My PSU is a CoolerMaster running at 550 watts.

My system basically consists of:

- 4 fans, 2 large and 2 small
- AMD 5600+ Athlon X2
- 2 7600GS's running in SLi
- 2 DVD drives
- 2 hard-drives, one is 80GB and the other 250GB, both using SATA
- A Gigabyte motherboard, model: GA-M55SLI-S4 Rev2.0

I have often wondered whether the cables within my case could be impeding the flow of air from the front to the back. Could this be contributing to the problem if it is a case of overheating?

It doesn't seem to happen while playing games, but I have only had the system in SLi for 2 days. I haven't really had a chance to play much. I first thought it to be a power problem due to the fact that the random restarts became more common after inserting the second graphics card.

It basically only seems to restart while unpacking or installing something. Sometimes it happen when I open an .exe file it restarts, but this isn't as common. Everything else on my system seems to run fine. I had an adware/malware attack several months ago if that helps.

Thanks for the help so far!
 
Last edited:
It could be an over heating problem, that would defiantly cause a restart.

It looks like your PSU is fine for what your running. Coolermaster makes some decent power supply's. But take a look at how many amps your cards require and see if your power supply can supply that much.

Or list the model # PSU you have and we can take a look.


"edit" I took a look at a couple of coolermaster power supplys and it looked like the supply 16 amps to the 12v, I think your video cards require 18 amps. So depending on what model PSU or 7600 card you have it could be not getting enough amperage. That would cause you to shut down.
 
Last edited:
If you're not sure about the temperatures, you could install "thermometers" like Everest or free ware like CPUCool, HDD Thermometer, Motherboard Monitor, etc. There are other progs out there... :)
 
A friend of mine installed Everest on my computer a while ago, so I'll take a look at that in a while. I'll also look into the amount of amps required by my cards, and see if the power supply is good enough.
 
Paratwa: Couldn't really find any information about the amperage required for a 7600GS, or the amperage provided by my PSU. All I was able to find was a section in the graphics card manual advising you to provide a wattage of at least 350W for SLi enabled graphics cards. Could the other components within my computer be pushing my PSU above the 550W threshold?
 
Last edited:
What brand of 7600gs are you using? Also, what is the model of your PSU? 350 watts along with all your other stuff would be way to small. You would need at least a 430 watt model with at least 20 amps to the 12v rail
 
Last edited:
Ahhh! I can't find the exact mode, but after opening up my computer and having a look at the PSU I found these numbers, which I presume will help fix half the problem.

- +12V1 - 16A
- +12V2 - 16A

I presume this means that each of the 12 volt rails is provided with an amperage of 16? Now all that stands to be found out is how much exactly my graphics cards need.

Graphics card model: GV-NX76G256D-RH from Gigabyte Technology
 
My 7600gt, same as your 7600gs', just reduced clocks, needs 18amps on the +12v for a single. For SLI it need not be doubled, but the current (ampere) requirement does increase alittle. 20-24amps should be sufficient, and you meet that.

It's sounds like PSU problem when you say it's gotten worse with the adding of the second card, so regardless of specs the PSU may still be going, or as the others have said, heat is affecting it. Don't rule out the HDD either, as it could also be the culprit.

Does gameplay display the same problem? If it doesn't it takes some heat off the PSU.
 
No, funnily enough gameplay does not seem to make the problem any worse. It usually only reboots when I open/unpack/install something large.

I'm beginning to have a feeling that it may be that I am just short of power. I think I will try several things:

1. Remove one of my DVD drives, and see if this helps alleviate the problem.
2. Use some tape to make sure all of the cables/cords within the case are not impeding the flow of air from front to back.
3. Clean all air filters and remove dust from inside the case.
 
Update: Just in case anyone else decides to reply, I have installed the latest drivers for all of my computer components, sadly enough to no avail.

My PC is currently open having had all of its filters cleaned and its cables/cords tidied up. I will shortly provide another update on whether or not this has fixed the problem.
 
A Dvd drive utilizes 12v Dc power, same as the video card and HDD, but to a lesser degree. It shouldn't help any to take it out, considering the Video card draws more 12v current than both of the other components combined. Overheating could be the problem, but I still suspect the HDD itself. If all else fails try a defrag on the hard drive.. Stick it in the freezer in an airtight bag, Reorient it upside down or on it's side, give it a whack, whatever, just try some sort of revitalization of the drive and then quickly try to unzip/install something. If it goes more smoothly you can safely chalk it up to a bad or malfuntioning HDD. Also consider a HDD monitoring app,

http://www.hddlife.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...&hs=aSK&q=HDD+monitoring+freeware&btnG=Search

Just my confuzzled idears.
 
Well, it didn't seem to fix the problem. I'm leaning towards a complete re-format and system re-install. I will then proceed to properly install every single last driver.

I'm not going to let this thread die until this problem is fixed!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top