Gaming PC Diagnostic

[Rogean]

I'm going crazy with this and could probably use some fresh eyes on it.

I built a new PC for a friend recently. Specs:

CORSAIR HX series HX650 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770
EVGA SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling 02G-P4-2774-KR GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Western Digital WD AV-GP WD10EURX 1TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW180A3K5 2.5" 180GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

Built it perfectly fine. Originally got 2x of the RAM (so 4x4GB), but one of the sticks was preventing the BIOS from posting, so it was RMA'd. After removing it, the PC boots.

Installed Windows 7. Run into some issues during that.. it freezes during it's bootup after initially installing some drivers. Have to hard reboot it. Then it intermittently has freezing issues every once in a while.

Here's the really confusing part. It won't launch ANY games.

Everquest - It actually gets to the server select. As soon as it starts loading in.. music comes on and you can see the loading screen for maybe 2-3 seconds, then it crashes without an error, straight to desktop.

Star Wars - Won't even get past the launcher. Soon as you hit Play, about 10 seconds later you get a SWTOR has encountered an error. MSVC100.dll or whatever.

We installed DX9.. all drivers are correct and latest versions, straight off manufacturing website. Latest NVidia driver was installed.

We tried the following diagnostics...

Removed a stick of RAM.. still issues.
Placed RAM stick back, removed the other stick... still issues.
Removed video card and used onboard HD 4000... still issues.

Updated BIOS to latest.. still issues.

Tried launching games from different hard drives.. still issues.

We completely blew away Windows 7, started all over again... still issues.

At this point I'm thinking it's a defective motherboard.. possibly one of those tiny little bulbs got knocked somehow? I'm not sure, but something is definitely wrong.

Anyways, let me know what you guys think.

[JackFlash]

I would have to agree with a bad motherboard. If it's an easy thing to RMA or exchange I would start there.

The only other thing I noticed is the 650W power supply. That VID card alone is going to pull at least 250 watts. I think 600W min. is the rec. for that card. That said; I've had weird freezing issues when a PS is starting to fail.

Good Luck!

[radditsu]

Bad board. Most cpu issues would have it not boot at all at least once.

[Rogean]

Hmm.. When we tested it without the video card, we only unplugged it from the motherboard, but the power connectors were still there. However, if it was running into a power issue, wouldn't it shut the whole PC off if it passed threshold? The game is just crashing at that point, to desktop.

[citizen1080]

Sounds like Mobo sir

[Ghostfaced]

If you're using the SSD, ensure that AHCI mode is enabled.

Make sure you have Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package installed.

For a 64 bit OS: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=18471

The next thing we would like you to do is go to your EverQuest directory and delete the following files:

defaults.ini
eqclient.ini
eqgame.exe
EQGfx_Dx8.dll
EQGraphicsDX9.dll
eqlsClient.ini
eqmain.dll

Once the files have been deleted, open the EverQuest launcher, log in, and click the Advanced Tools button (the small button with gears on it) in the lower left hand corner of the launcher. From there click Validate Game Assets > Validate and try accessing the game once the validation process has been completed.

[Knuckle]

I'm going crazy with this and could probably use some fresh eyes on it.

I built a new PC for a friend recently. Specs:

CORSAIR HX series HX650 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770
EVGA SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling 02G-P4-2774-KR GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Western Digital WD AV-GP WD10EURX 1TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW180A3K5 2.5" 180GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

Built it perfectly fine. Originally got 2x of the RAM (so 4x4GB), but one of the sticks was preventing the BIOS from posting, so it was RMA'd. After removing it, the PC boots.

Installed Windows 7. Run into some issues during that.. it freezes during it's bootup after initially installing some drivers. Have to hard reboot it. Then it intermittently has freezing issues every once in a while.

Here's the really confusing part. It won't launch ANY games.

Everquest - It actually gets to the server select. As soon as it starts loading in.. music comes on and you can see the loading screen for maybe 2-3 seconds, then it crashes without an error, straight to desktop.

Star Wars - Won't even get past the launcher. Soon as you hit Play, about 10 seconds later you get a SWTOR has encountered an error. MSVC100.dll or whatever.

We installed DX9.. all drivers are correct and latest versions, straight off manufacturing website. Latest NVidia driver was installed.

We tried the following diagnostics...

Removed a stick of RAM.. still issues.
Placed RAM stick back, removed the other stick... still issues.
Removed video card and used onboard HD 4000... still issues.

Updated BIOS to latest.. still issues.

Tried launching games from different hard drives.. still issues.

We completely blew away Windows 7, started all over again... still issues.

At this point I'm thinking it's a defective motherboard.. possibly one of those tiny little bulbs got knocked somehow? I'm not sure, but something is definitely wrong.

Anyways, let me know what you guys think.

[Ghostfaced]

Please explain why a motherboard would be selective about the games it does and does not want to operate?

[Loli Pops]

Did you try deleting the system32 folder? Usually works for me.

[kaos057]

Check your bios for PCIe x16 setting. If the setting is there and set to auto change it to Gen2.

[TerrahIncognitah]

I'd agree on MOBO, however if you want to take some extra steps here are a few angles you can try in whatever order makes sense. If you have a Kil-O-Watt (http://1000bulbs.com/product/90398/GROW-716450.html?utm_source=SmartFeedGoogleBase&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_term=GROW-716450&utm_content=Electricity+Usage+Meters&utm_campaign=SmartFeedGoogleBaseShopping&gclid=CIuNvouDnbkCFYc1Qgod_3wAJg) it may be helpful to see what happens to the wattage when you boot a game - does it spike too high?

- Try a simple memtest. One full pass.
http://www.memtest.org/

- Try a simple processor test. Normally used to test stability on overclocking.
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=205

- Try FurMark - would be interesting to see if OpenGL runs fine.
http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/

- Try Heaven Benchmark - should definitely fail.
http://unigine.com/products/heaven/

- Try taking the battery off the MOBO to cut power/reset it completely.

- Try re-seating the processor. I run an old i7 that I generally clock at 4.1GHz (stock clock is 2.67GHz). Ever so often, my computer will fail to boot and I have to set it back to stock rating to get it going. The only way I've gotten around this is to re-seat the processor, overclock - works fine after for months on end. Have had to do this 3 times so far. Never underestimate re-seating!

- Try running Furmark and Prime64 at the same time. This will cause your computer to suck up as much power as it possibly can. Good way to load the PSU.

Be wary of heat levels when using Furmark and Prime64, particularly Prime64.

[kaos057]

Removed video card and used onboard HD 4000... still issues.


Does that mean you have catalyst AND nVidia software both installed? That would cause problems for sure.

[visage]

Try underclocking the vid card. Also have you tried older drivers for the vid card ? Also could flash the motherboard and install older mobo drivers.

[Pringles]

I bet you have more bad memory. Run a memtest

[Roku]

Check the mother board for Cheetos dust. Mini-vac works.

[this user was banned]

Onboard video card meaning integrated into the motherboard?
Yeah, go get a new motherboard, even if it's a working mobo, it's fail anyway.

With the heat most video cards put out these days, I'm surprised manufacturers still build them in unless it's a shitty video card, if that's the case, see my previous statement.

[r00t]

Onboard video card meaning integrated into the motherboard?
Yeah, go get a new motherboard, even if it's a working mobo, it's fail anyway.

With the heat most video cards put out these days, I'm surprised manufacturers still build them in unless it's a shitty video card, if that's the case, see my previous statement.

is built into the cpu not the mobo

[kaos057]

Onboard video card meaning integrated into the motherboard?
Yeah, go get a new motherboard, even if it's a working mobo, it's fail anyway.

With the heat most video cards put out these days, I'm surprised manufacturers still build them in unless it's a shitty video card, if that's the case, see my previous statement.

Onboard graphics card only sucks if you use it. When it's disabled it doesn't create heat.

is built into the cpu not the mobo

Umm no. How would a graphics card be built into the cpu?

[moklianne]

Onboard graphics card only sucks if you use it. When it's disabled it doesn't create heat.



Umm no. How would a graphics card be built into the cpu?

Intel has integrated GPU's (as does AMD A series) and their latest chipsets just take advantage of that. If you plop in a CPU onto the same motherboard without an integrated GPU, you don't have access to the onboard video.

Rogean, Sounds like MB, Memory, or PSU. Order of most likely to least likely from left to right.

When it comes to testing memory, it can still be bad if it passes tests. I've had that happen quite a bit actually. You can try to time the memory down in bios and see if its more stable.

As far as the PSU, that's a great brand and I don't think I've ever had a DOA one, but its possible. You can check voltages with a multimeter, but a power supply tester I find more reliable. It also tests the grounds correctly. But, if you have another, just swap to test.

After you think you resolved it do an 'sfc /scannow' at a run prompt in Windows to try to repair any files that may have been corrupted. Bad memory may cause file corruption on write to the hard drive.

[Thulack]

Onboard graphics card only sucks if you use it. When it's disabled it doesn't create heat.



Umm no. How would a graphics card be built into the cpu?

Welcome to like 2011:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116502

Built-in visuals The visual features built into the 3nd generation Intel Core processor family deliver everything you need to enjoy a stunning and seamless visual experience. Intel Quick Sync Video and newly-added Intel Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) make media processing incredibly fast. New built-in Intel HD Graphics with DirectX 11 support delivers discrete 3D graphics performance without the needed cost and power of a discrete graphics card, and features Intel Clear Video Technology that enhances video playback, image quality, and color fidelity for a premium visual experience. What’s more, add another dimension to what you see on your PC with Intel InTRU 3D technology which supports stereoscopic 3D Blu-ray playback in full 1080p resolution over HDMI 1.4 and premium audio.

[Ghostfaced]

To support my previous theory regarding Microsoft C++.

"Make sure you have Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package installed.

For a 64 bit OS: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=18471"

This person had a similar issue with the error you got in SWTOR. I know in a lot of cases with video games in particular, not having this could restrict you from having various visual runtime components necessary for some games.

I would absolutely tackle this, if you have not.

Supporting Source: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=290107

[Yinaltin]

I bet you have more bad memory. Run a memtest

this .

[Ghostfaced]

We tried the following diagnostics...

Removed a stick of RAM.. still issues.
Placed RAM stick back, removed the other stick... still issues.
Removed video card and used onboard HD 4000... still issues.

They checked RAM.

However, with dual channel you may need to remove both, and replace with two other sticks.

[Whiteberry]

Does that mean you have catalyst AND nVidia software both installed? That would cause problems for sure.

wont that cause issues within the bios for having 2 differnt display cards software? and is that even possible to have 2 i though one might have over writed the other

[Whiteberry]

Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770EVGA SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling 02G-P4-2774-KR GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video CardASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Western Digital WD AV-GP WD10EURX 1TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW180A3K5 2.5" 180GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL


Me like that cpu and graphics card but im surprised u didnt get the 2nd gen i7 with the 6 core and hyper threading wich would have made u have 12 cores

[Pringles]

They checked RAM.

However, with dual channel you may need to remove both, and replace with two other sticks.

Thats not "checking ram" thats just removing ram and replacing it with other ram, doesnt tell you if you are working with good ram or not.

[Ghostfaced]

Thats not "checking ram" thats just removing ram and replacing it with other ram, doesnt tell you if you are working with good ram or not.

It's a pretty good test if you remove two sticks, and replace them with two new sticks. What are you suggesting exactly? I don't really want to argue, i just want to help the OP out.

[Rogean]

I had a long reply typed out, mainly yelling at Ghostface for thinking that googling everquest technical FAQ would be anything but insulting. This thread was for bouncing ideas off other advanced pc builders. I scrapped it though.

Anyways, I'm going to try a few things based on some posts in this thread, but still leaning towards a MB issue. I have a hard time thinking it's anything software related since we reinstalled the OS twice. The games themselves will install the runtimes.. and we're having freezing outside of games anyways. I guess I can't rule out that there's a particular driver fucking everything up?

[Thulack]

Now while i know not every motherboard is perfect going by the 1 star comments on newegg for that board things such as bad memory controller, bad memory slots, CPU getting overvoltage i would probably put the blame on the motherboard as you have basically done everything but changed power supplies.

[Rogean]

Ok got some interesting information.

First, my friend lives far away so I'm helping him figure this out remotely. I just built it and shipped it originally.

Ok so, we had another freeze just a minute ago and he mentioned that, typically if he hits the reset switch when the computer is working, it resets instantly, as any computer normally would when you hit the motherboard reset. However, when the computer freezes, hitting the reset switch isn't doing anything. He has to cut power to reboot it. I'm almost convinced at this point that it's motherboard related.

[Rogean]

As a side note.. would newegg take a used motherboard (it's going to have thermal grease smeared on it at this point) on RMA as a refund so we could get a different board, or would I have to get RMA for just replacement?

[Myth]

You said you built it and shipped it to him. Have you tried reseating the video card ?

[Thulack]

As a side note.. would newegg take a used motherboard (it's going to have thermal grease smeared on it at this point) on RMA as a refund so we could get a different board, or would I have to get RMA for just replacement?

That item only has a Replacement warrenty on it through newegg. couldnt refund it even if you just opened it. And to previous post i would just get a replacement and hope for best. Not sure how the shipping is going to work between you guys though. That's alot of travel for stuff.

[Ambrotos]

I have major issues with my i7 with integrated/amd/ video card, with the nvida video card. Either I freeze, or I just bsod due to drivers not playing nice. I've been trying to figure out what to do for the past month, and dell isn't any help.

This integrated cpu/video processor fad is bullshit. If I would have known the issues it would cause I would never have gone this route.

As for newegg, I had sent back a used motherboard. I had it for a week, and had issues. I decided to skip RMA process and just returned it. Just clean it up and send it back. Some stuff is labeled not returnable by newegg. So you may or may not be able to go that way.

[nilbog]

Things I would check:

-Power Supply
-[if kernelbase.dll is in your eventlog] Windows 7 related user profiles. (Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile?), java, etc.
-Motherboard

[Thulack]

The Asus version of that board just went on sale today on newegg:

http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/Aug-0-2013/GamersHigh29/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL082913&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL082913-_-EMC-082913-Index-_-E0-_-Item&

[Rogean]

Honestly if I was able to get him a new board (and the current one refunded) I'd just get him the same one I have - Asus Sabertooth Z77

[Ghostfaced]

I had a long reply typed out, mainly yelling at Ghostface for thinking that googling everquest technical FAQ would be anything but insulting. This thread was for bouncing ideas off other advanced pc builders. I scrapped it though.

Anyways, I'm going to try a few things based on some posts in this thread, but still leaning towards a MB issue. I have a hard time thinking it's anything software related since we reinstalled the OS twice. The games themselves will install the runtimes.. and we're having freezing outside of games anyways. I guess I can't rule out that there's a particular driver fucking everything up?
For starters, posting links validating my suggestions is in no way 'googling fixes'.

Secondly, it's Ghostfaced, and if you can't get my name right, then I have no difficulty in assuming why you fucked up this build... no attention to detail.

The fact of the matter is, if you want to build a PC, have spare parts you can test with after you fuck it up. If you were such an advanced builder, you could figure it out on your own. Close the thread and learn to build shit right next time.

Here's a google that you yourself may want to try: Here (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+build+a+pc+right)

[moklianne]

Its not a software issue, unless something is getting lost in the translation since he is trying to remotely troubleshoot it.

It is odd that is was working fine in your shop, but now it is not at the user's house. As someone mentioned, it is possible something got jostled loose. CPU would be nearly impossible to come loose. A video card could. It could also be related to bad power in the user's house if replacing the MB doesn't fix it.

[nabsev]

I had simliar issues with my Asus MB and had to flash the bios to fix it

[gotrocks]

I had a long reply typed out, mainly yelling at Ghostface for thinking that googling everquest technical FAQ would be anything but insulting. This thread was for bouncing ideas off other advanced pc builders. I scrapped it though.

Rog, clearly you just need to google my p99 tech faq for the fix. duh :D

Joking aside, you've already got it figured out - either the mobo itself is just straight bad, or it's not liking something you've got plugged into it. Regardless, it's time for a new board. Newegg is usually pretty good about returns, but I'd call and find out - tell them it was DOA or something like that and they *should* take it back and refund.

When someone suggested that it may be a problem with the onboard gpu + video card I thought that may be the issue, but since you popped out the vid card and the integrated was still failing, that's not it. It's still possible there's a bad driver jacking hte whole system, but since he's having trouble resetting when frozen directly from mobo... yeah, that's a dead giveaway.

Refund if possible, new mobo. I'll let you pick one out because I'm lazy and it's more fun for you that way :)

p.s. buy me a new pc, im jealous.

[gotrocks]

btw, ghostfaced (you'd be much cooler if it was just 'ghostface'), attention to detail?


Here's the really confusing part. It won't launch ANY games.


Please explain why a motherboard would be selective about the games it does and does not want to operate?


Secondly, it's Ghostfaced, and if you can't get my name right, then I have no difficulty in assuming why you fucked up this build... no attention to detail.


fail.

[Ghostfaced]

Hey Gotrocks. I know the end user and know for a fact that he can run WoW. So go fuck yourself.

[Vandy]

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

I've had 3 different ASRock motherboards and I have had nothing but trouble with them. If you can get a refund I would go with a different manufacturer.

[moklianne]

I've had 3 different ASRock motherboards and I have had nothing but trouble with them. If you can get a refund I would go with a different manufacturer.

They tend to be hit or miss depending on the model. I think I've only had one DOA Asus board in all my years of building systems, so that's who I almost always stick with.

[Chronoburn]

Have the guy run a linux live CD .. Ubuntu or something. Run wine and try to run everquest. This would rule out issues with drivers and such in windows 7 ...

[EchoedTruth]

Try a new PSU and new Mobo.

PSU might be pulling too much when intensive apps are run and it craps out?