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Xieflokes
02-21-05, 10:29 PM
ok. I tried to do some searching, but because this computer crashes so frequently, I couldn't find anything.

I was recommended this site as I hear you guys are like the masters at hardware, so... here goes.

Just bought and built a new PC this weekend (all new components : DFI nF4 Ultra-D motherboard, X700 Pro, Athlon 3000+ 64 bit processor, western digital hard drive, toshiba DVD dual layer writer drive thing, Antec's Sonata case)

Put it all together... and it runs, kinda. I slapped XP on it, and got some games installed, but...

It likes to crash. A lot.

I get a Windows XP blue screen that stays up so short I can't catch what it says. One time it actually let me wait, so I wrote down part of what it said.

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA"

Did some googling, and found a few sites like this : http://www.sanx.org/stopCode.asp?stopCodeRef=43

I've tried a bunch of fixes, too. Formatted and reinstalled Windows, downloaded the newest ATI drivers, downloaded the Omega drivers, put the card into the other PCIEx slot, tried reseating all the components.

No change. It still blows up a lot. When I play a 3D game (Doom 3, Dawn of War, City of Heroes), it'll blow up after about 5 - 15 minutes of gameplay. Sometimes it'll just crash the game and exit out, one time I got something about the VPU shutting off the graphics card, and most of the time it'll just crash and reboot the computer entirely.

I'll post more in a sec, but I want to get this posted before it crashes again.

edit:

ok. I've also tried reinstalling the software, drivers, et cetera. I've tried asking people all over. Finally someone recommended these forums.

I am not a hardware guy, unfortunately. I would have bought a Dell, and should have bought a Dell, but I thought I could get a more powerful machine set up cheaper on my own... but I couldn't, it seems like.

I can't think of anything else, and any help will be appreciated. Again, I am sorry for not searching the forums for a similar issue, but like I said, it is tough to do because this computer likes to crash a lot.
maxxoverclocker
02-21-05, 10:50 PM
hmmm i would suspect your memory being bad, have you swapped it with a different stick?
Xieflokes
02-21-05, 10:54 PM
I can't really swap the memory because I only have two sticks of ram, and it's a dual channel motherboard, and I don't think it will boot if I don't have it in dualchannel mode.
maxxoverclocker
02-22-05, 12:22 AM
it should boot with one stick it should automatically switch to single or virtual channel memory mode, try only having one stick of ram in and if it still crashes try the other stick if both make ur computer crash you can most likely rule out a memory problem.
Xieflokes
02-22-05, 01:52 AM
OK, I'll try that. I'm also going to try some of the tools from the system stability thing.

Also... I left this comp up and running, and it ran fine for the past two hours. However, I was playing Shattered Galaxy on my laptop and all I had running on this comp was this window in Firefox.

So I am pretty sure something is wrong with the video card now... as it really likes to crash when I do 3D.
Gnufsh
02-22-05, 05:50 AM
You can use memtest86 to test your memory. I would think that is is probably a ram or PSU issue (what psu do you have?).
Xieflokes
02-22-05, 11:21 AM
ok, ran Memtest 86+ overnight, no fails and all passes.

I'm using the 380 watt PSU that came with the Sonata case.

After work today I plan on returning the X700 to Fry's for another X700...
Gnufsh
02-22-05, 11:29 AM
A 380 watt generic PSu may not be enough, I bet your graphic card eats a lot of power during 3d intensive things. If the new video card doesn't fix it, take a look at your PSU.
Xieflokes
02-22-05, 11:53 AM
Is there any way I can check the power use by my video card?

I went with the Sonata case because I only heard good things about the case and PSU it came with, and a new PSU will be a bit expensive.
maxxoverclocker
02-22-05, 06:01 PM
Is there any way I can check the power use by my video card?

I went with the Sonata case because I only heard good things about the case and PSU it came with, and a new PSU will be a bit expensive.

Its pretty hard to check your power usage on your videocard without a multimeter but I would say get a new non generic power supply around 400-450 watts and would recommend the Antec True430 ~ 80 bucks @ newegg Link (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0)
It may seem like alot but the power supply is probably the most overlooked parts of the pc an would recommend getting a good one.
Xieflokes
02-22-05, 07:17 PM
ok, just got back from work, and the memtest86+ program had errors.
maxxoverclocker
02-22-05, 07:39 PM
ok, just got back from work, and the memtest86+ program had errors.

with what memory configuration? 1 stick? both?
Xieflokes
02-22-05, 08:50 PM
ok. Just tried with just one stick of ram in. Worked fine. With both sticks individually.

Sound like a bad mobo, then?
Gnufsh
02-22-05, 08:57 PM
Could be... It could also point to PSU issues. 2 sticks is going to draw twice as much current as one.
JerMe
02-22-05, 10:55 PM
Eh, that's not a generic PSU you're using... it's an Antec TruePower 380W. If you're not OCed, you shouldn't be having that much difficulty with that PSU at this stage of the game, though it I'd highly recommend a more powerful PSU (like a Fortron 530W.)

You memtested with each stick individually, and it passed? You said earlier that youu memtested and it passed... then it failed... then it passed... which one is it? =)

When you have the time, head over to the actual DFI support forums (http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=22), I'm sure they'll have more answers for you regarding your board.
Xieflokes
02-22-05, 11:28 PM
OK.

The problem was, my memory slot on the board was broken or something.

Went back to Fry's, exchanged the board, and now everything works fine now!

Thanks for your help, guys.
Xieflokes
02-23-05, 12:42 AM
crap crap crap. Problem NOT solved.

However, with the exchanged motherboard, it does last a lot longer before crashing.
Gnufsh
02-23-05, 06:01 AM
Eh, that's not a generic PSU you're using... it's an Antec TruePower 380W. If you're not OCed, you shouldn't be having that much difficulty with that PSU at this stage of the game, though it I'd highly recommend a more powerful PSU (like a Fortron 530W.)
Oh. I just assumed it was generic...
Electron Chaser
02-23-05, 06:30 AM
It sounds like a memory problem. Nothing like a bad stick of RAM to give you a nice wide variety of errors to have you chasing your tail for days and changing parts out faster then a NASCAR pit crew.
Gnufsh
02-23-05, 06:33 AM
Didi you do the default test with memetest, or did you switch it to all tests?
diehrd
02-23-05, 07:02 AM
If it dont error on 1 stick have you used the system with just 1 stick and experenced any crashes ? Have you tested both by themsleves ?

Can you look in bios and tell us what temp the processor is running at ? Also the voltages it reports ? And when in Bios let the system sit for 5 minutes or so to be sure the temp is maxed out...
Xieflokes
02-23-05, 07:49 PM
When you have the time, head over to the actual DFI support forums (http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=22), I'm sure they'll have more answers for you regarding your board.

That fixed it!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT LINK!

One of the threads at the top of that board ( http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5844 )
had some motherboard settings to use... Although at first I was confused because any rules of grammar were thrown out the window on that DFI forum.

However, once I decifered it, I set my bios settings like they recommended, and it ran Prime95 without any errors since I went to bed last night (so nearly 20 hours).

Thanks a lot, guys! Now my new PC is up and running thanks to your help!