Random slowdowns

[Plan B]

K, my 8800 gts video card died on me, so I bought a new one (gts 250).
Seems to be the equivelant, performance/power consumption wise.
However, now I get frequent slowdowns in 3d games, no matter how low the settings, where the fps drop and the audio stutters from time to time. Doesn't crash, though.

When I run 3dmark06, I get satisfactory results, consistent with the system I run.

I'm thinking the video card dying is just a coincidence, and that there's something else amiss.
Because I also noticed temps on my cpu (q6600) are quite high: 44C idle, 80C loaded.

I did a memtest, but mem seems to be ok.
Could it be the PSU is dying? (450 watt, kinda low but should be enough).


I realise this is all kind of vague, but maybe someone experienced something similar.

[Plan B]

Oh yeah, I replaced the thermal paste on the cpu.
Bit of a drop in cpu temps, but problem persists

[^misantropia^]

OS?

[Plan B]

xp 32bit

[bitWISE]

Maybe your psu can't put enough amps onto the 12v rail your card is on?

[^misantropia^]

What does the system load look like when the slowdowns happen?

[AmIdYfReAk]

Another note, did you run the nvidia driver cleaner after you took out the 8800? or did you do a dirty install for the 250?

[bitWISE]

I used this when I got my ATI card. Handy little tool:

http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D---Dr ... -1655.html

[AmIdYfReAk]

Both ati and nvidia offer their own tools, its in the add/remove programs listing

[Plan B]

OK, I uninstalled the 196.21 drivers, because I read people were having all kinds of trouble with them, regarding clock speeds.
Then I used Driver Sweeper, and did a clean install rolling back to the 191.07 drivers.

Alas the problem still persisted.

However, I'm now pretty sure it's the cpu overheating:
I ran realtemp and then played some Dirt 2, until a slowdown occurred.
When I then alt-tabbed out, I saw the cpu reached 97C at that certain point.

So I guess I'm going to have to look into some better cooling...

[Plan B]

BTW, here's a Speedfan pic showing PSU stats at the bottom =>

[AmIdYfReAk]

Planb :S

Thats nuts man, it doesn't catch up with my 125C but stupidly hot none the less.

What cooler are you running? is there thermal paste in it? fans in the case? Removing the side of the case do anything?

[Plan B]

What cooler are you running? is there thermal paste in it? fans in the case? Removing the side of the case do anything?

Yeah, just running the stock cooler that came with the system, at the mo.

I again cleaned everything out and applied a fresh dollop of thermal paste, just for good measure, made sure the heatsink was seated properly, etc.
It's all touch and go right now. CPU temps are still unacceptable when running demanding apps (read somewhere 71C is max temp for q6600, and I'm way over that).
So I'm convinced the CPU overheating is the culprit, because it's obvious it automatically downthrottles when reaching too high temps, in self defense.

At this point I'm just pondering whether I should invest in a better cooling solution, or just keep pushing this baby until it really dies, and then upgrade, which I was planning to do anyway.

[AmIdYfReAk]

Why kill it when you could buy a ~$40 cooler that will do the trick?

Can you run hwmonitor and check to see if the temp readings are the same.

Also, did you clean off the thermal pad before putting thermal paste on? and did you clean the Surface with a Alcohol based cleaner and a lint free cloth?

[Plan B]

Yeah, I meticulously scraped off the old thermal shit (razor blade scrubbing first, then rubbing with cleaning alcohol) before applying the new dollop of thermal paste.

I agree with you it may be worth investing the relatively small amount of money on better coolage to keep this rig going.
It's just I'm not 100% sure it will do the trick, and I feel I spent enough on it this POS as it is, and maybe I should just let her go.

At any rate, thanks for the knowledge and information. I think I'll give it a last go with an improved CPU cooler and report back on how she fares.

[Scourge]

Is is possible that you put too much paste on? I've done that and had my temps rise like that.

[Plan B]

Well, I installed a new cheapo cooler, and that appears to have done the trick: idle cpu temps are samish, but loaded show a ~25C drop from high 90s to low 70s.
Resulting in no more slowdowns, so I'm a happy camper \o/

After 3 years, this rig still runs everything I throw at it, so I'm glad I didn't just let it die.


@scourge: I just apply a dime sized dollop of paste in the middle of the cpu, trying not to get air caught in it.
I read how it might be better to apply a diagonal stripe of paste, but yeah.

Funny how you become an expert at these things when you run into trouble

[AmIdYfReAk]

Good to hear man!

Funny how you become an expert at these things when you run into trouble

Quoted for truth man...