FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Need backup

Post Date: 2012-03-08
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Smallville View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28 Feb 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		  Quote Smallville Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Need backup
    Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 8:32am

About a year ago, I purchased my first DS computer.  During the past year, DS has replaced three graphics cards for me.  I get reboots during games, black screen freezes, and errors and windows has encountered an error and has stopped working.  These could happen five seconds into a game or an hour.

 

After the third card DS decided that the computer should come into the shop.  They played my games (D3 beta, WOW, DC Online, STWOR).  They had the computer close to a week and found nothing wrong with it.  They even swapped out the PSU and power cord to be sure.

 

The computer came back to me, and after several weeks the black screen reboots started again.

 

I called and tech support started running me through a series of tests.  We did everything from, turning off overclocking; power cord plugged into the wall, unplugging the mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer (used different ones).  We ran crash programs and I still had crashes.

 

I said, I’m going to send it in again.

My computer is on day seven and they have not been able to duplicate the problems (even in my games). 

I am posting on the boards to see if the community has some solutions.

DS has been very good to me!  I have been working with Robert and he has been going way above the call of duty to help me.  DS customer support is the best I have ever seen, in a computer company.

I am just frustrated.  My son said there is a ghost in there…I wish it was.

Help,

Smallville

My specs.  From memory

i5 2500k @ 2.00 GHz

NVIDIA 570HD 1.5

8GB DDR3 2000MHZ RAM

ASUS P8P86 Motherboard

PSU 750 (DS one)
Back to Top
bprat22 View Drop Down
DS ELITE
DS ELITE

DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!)
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 08 Jun 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 9:02am
Hi Smallville  Sorry to hear of all the headaches.
 
Do you live in an apartment or house, etc.  My thoughts are, the only thing different is the electtrical to your rig.  Get a outlet checker from Home Depot, etc and check for good ground and outlet wired correctly.
 
Try an entirely different outlet off of a different circuit.  Even monitor the electrical 120v with a multi-meter to see id it drops under load.
 
Try a new surge protector, one borrowed or buy and return.  The psu should filter it, but ya never know.
 
Any high electrical noise nearby, like heavy transformer, unfiltered equipment, etc.
 
Long shots for sure, but sometimes ya get lucky.Big%20Smile
Back to Top
FrankW View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 22 Feb 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2254 		  Quote FrankW Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 9:08am
Hi Smallville,

I am really sorry that you are having so much problem. I commend you on your attitude and composure.

Now as to your memory of your system, I think it works about as good as your computer.

You are lucky to be working with Robert. Lets look at this from another angle. Have you considered that it might be environmental or power related? Here are some thoughts. Of course I am just shooting in the dark.

1. How hot is it in the room with the computer. Do you monitor the temps of your CPU and GPU to see if that is relevant to the failure.

2. Have you checked the AC power in the computer room and the house. I would check the voltage. Check the freq and look for drop outs or lowering of the voltage. What else is going on in the house when the failure happens. TV on, microwave running, drying running. Just look for any extra load happening when you have a failure.

I have to leave and will be back.

Frank

Edited by FrankW - 08 Mar 2012 at 9:09am
Back to Top
Smallville View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28 Feb 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		  Quote Smallville Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 9:25am
Thanks for the quick responses!
 
I live in a house that is brand new (3 years old).  I thought it may be the AC...but its not. 
 
I never thought about the memory...
Back to Top
Kael View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 14 Feb 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 53 		  Quote Kael Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 9:45am
What other items do you have plugged into outlets in your room? It sounds like what bprat22 was saying, try a different circuit. 
Back to Top
Smallville View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28 Feb 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		  Quote Smallville Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 9:55am
I did try a different outlet (actually Robert suggested this).  I tried outlets in separate rooms and on different floors.  I still had the restart.
 
Maybe memory
Maybe temperatures?  I did check the temps.  67 plus was the highest.
Back to Top
bprat22 View Drop Down
DS ELITE
DS ELITE

DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!)
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 08 Jun 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 10:27am
Another thought.....When you sent it in, did you sent them, and are they using the same ac chord that came with your pc.  If not, then try another chord from an old pc, etc.
 
 
67 degrree centigrade under stress is a great temp for cpu cores and gpu.


Edited by bprat22 - 08 Mar 2012 at 10:29am
Back to Top
kenage View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 03 Mar 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 59 		  Quote kenage Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 10:42am
You may want to consider getting a different surge protector, as mentioned, or even a UPS. You want something that's gonna do some voltage regulation going into the computer, as it sounds like it's dipping just below what the PSU needs to keep the switch telling the motherboard to power on open.

Temperature would be the only real other factor at play that DS wouldn't be able to duplicate. If the memory was bad, it would've shown up in their testing, as with the PSU itself.
— Kenage
MCTS, MCP, Security+, Network+
Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid doing entirely.
Back to Top
Smallville View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28 Feb 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		  Quote Smallville Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 11:12am
Thank you for the responses!
 
I did send the power cord with the computer. 
 
I have been using the AC outlet in the wall.  With eveything else plugged into the power bar.  I could try a high end surge bar.
 
DS has a great community:)
Back to Top
FrankW View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran


Joined: 22 Feb 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2254 		  Quote FrankW Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 1:34pm
Smaliville,

I am back. If DS can't get it to fail I am very suspicious of your power. Just getting a high end surge bar won't help if your voltage is dropping. Do you live in a rule setting on in a congested city? Does this happens any time of day or night or is it always evening or the same time of day?

What I would do is get a VOM and do some measurements on your AC. Your power company probable has a meter to test your power. It would be a recording meter that they leave in the house for a period of time. Talk to the power company and tell them something is going on. Make them prove to you that it is not their power.

The power company could be having brown outs in your area. Not enough to put the power off but just so the voltage drops. Do you ever see lines in your TV? Once you know that the power is good into your home then it still can be a wiring problem with the house wiring. This usually happens between floors or room additions. I know you said you tried different floors.

Lets hope that DS finds something.

Frank
Back to Top
Smallville View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28 Feb 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		  Quote Smallville Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 7:31am
Thanks for all the replies...the computer is coming back home.  It passed all of their tests.  The problem is on my end.
 
 
I do want to give a shout out to DS' tech. Robert.  He has been great, helping me through this process.
Back to Top
bprat22 View Drop Down
DS ELITE
DS ELITE

DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!)
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 08 Jun 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 8:07am
When you get the rig back, you have to decide...What is more important, my brand new house or my DS rig??
 
The DS rig, right?LOL  Time to moveBig%20Smile
 
Seriously, if the problem happens again, I guess I would take it a friends or family's house and try it, assuming it happens very regular.
 
Good Luck.Big%20Smile
 
 
 
Back to Top
chasblock View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 15 Feb 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 74 		  Quote chasblock Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 8:44am
Just a wild thought here.... some homes have whole house surge protectors installed in them. They are supposed to protect against spikes and brown outs. It should be installed somewhere between the meter and circuit breaker box. I don't even know what they look like. Maybe it's possible that could be causing a problem.

Maybe plugging in something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4460-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B000RGF29Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331311266&sr=8-2

and then plug the PC into that.

Could provide some electricity monitoring capability.

Or get a hold of a licensed electrician and have him check out your system. Could be neutral and hot wires are crossed.

Just thowing some suggestions out here... I have no idea what I'm talking about.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.0390625 seconds.