[Help Needed!]

[junjian]

Hey guys, need some advise here.

My game keeps crashing back into desktop. There will be a distortion of sound, black screen and then minimise to desktop. When you try to Alt+Tab back into the game, it just shows a black screen. But the audio and the game is still running. The game still responds to mouse input etc. Just no visual.

The only way to end the game is to use task manager.

I used MSI Afterburner to monitor the issue as I tot it was an overheating issue causing the GPU to crash.

But end up I see the Power,% chart maxed out at 500+ immediately after the crash.



My PSU is only 330W. Is it too low to power up my GPU?

I got this com from Dell 1.5 years ago. This problem is persistent from the day I bought it. Dell replaced the GPU once already.
Dell support is virtually useless as the TSO will keep blaming the OS and won't send technician down to fix the problem.

I tried a lot of methods like setting TDR delay, updating new GPU drivers, rolling back to older drivers, reinstall OS, unplugging ext hdd from usb 3.0.

Nth seems to work.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

System Specs
Alienware X51
Win 7 64bit
i7-3440 @3.40GHz
8GB ram
GTX 660 1.5GB (Non-OC)
PSU 330W

 

[killerslayer92]

Hey guys, need some advise here.

My game keeps crashing back into desktop. There will be a distortion of sound, black screen and then minimise to desktop. When you try to Alt+Tab back into the game, it just shows a black screen. But the audio and the game is still running. The game still responds to mouse input etc. Just no visual.

The only way to end the game is to use task manager.

I used MSI Afterburner to monitor the issue as I tot it was an overheating issue causing the GPU to crash.

But end up I see the Power,% chart maxed out at 500+ immediately after the crash.



My PSU is only 330W. Is it too low to power up my GPU?

I got this com from Dell 1.5 years ago. This problem is persistent from the day I bought it. Dell replaced the GPU once already.
Dell support is virtually useless as the TSO will keep blaming the OS and won't send technician down to fix the problem.

I tried a lot of methods like setting TDR delay, updating new GPU drivers, rolling back to older drivers, reinstall OS, unplugging ext hdd from usb 3.0.

Nth seems to work.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

System Specs
Alienware X51
Win 7 64bit
i7-3440 @3.40GHz
8GB ram
GTX 660 1.5GB (Non-OC)
PSU 330W

eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

i calculated for u using best estimate (there is no such thing as i7 3440) minimum 300w, recommended 340w.

go calculate yourself for more accuracy.

there is this thing called capacitor aging so 330w power supply after 1 year will lose ~10% of output so ur psu is now 300w.

psu by oem like dell or hp are also not efficient so dont know whether 330w is peak output or average output

seeing that the x51 is a compact pc nt sure if the psu is replaceable

 

[allhomme]

A reference GTX660 need 450W PSU

GeForce GTX 660 | Specifications | GeForce

Dell give you 330W only how to support. Call Dell ask them if under warranty if not just replace the PSU should be good. Test out with another PSU 1st to isolate the prob if possible

 

[junjian]

eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

i calculated for u using best estimate (there is no such thing as i7 3440) minimum 300w, recommended 340w.

go calculate yourself for more accuracy.

there is this thing called capacitor aging so 330w power supply after 1 year will lose ~10% of output so ur psu is now 300w.

psu by oem like dell or hp are also not efficient so dont know whether 330w is peak output or average output

seeing that the x51 is a compact pc nt sure if the psu is replaceable

Hi there, you are right, the psu is very difficult to be replaced as it is kinda of like just a board built into the casing.

I just did the power requirement calculation as advised.
Minimum is 319W
Recommended is 369W.
And I was being prudent with my calculations by setting load at 90% only and 10% ageing only.

A reference GTX660 need 450W PSU

GeForce GTX 660 | Specifications | GeForce

Dell give you 330W only how to support. Call Dell ask them if under warranty if not just replace the PSU should be good. Test out with another PSU 1st to isolate the prob if possible

Omg, I didn't know about that. This actually make sense since my GPU has been crashing to desktop since day 1.
The PSU very hard to replace cos it is partially built into the casing. The only way is to buy a new casing and PSU. But the mobo is a mini-ITX. I understand that most casings are not designed for that right?

Sorry, very noob with PC DIY. Have been using macbook most of my life.

 

[Jian19]

That system run on 330w no issue...

 

[junjian]

That system run on 330w no issue...

Hi there, by any chance you are also using it too with the same set-up??

I just don't understand why the MSI afterburner always register an off-the-chart power % after the crash.

The GPU Usage chart also maxed out.

Considering that I wasn't playing any graphic intensive game, this shouldn't be happening right? (Eurotruck Sim 2)

 

[Jian19]

No idea ~ but I see reviews they say the psu will run well with the system..could it be drivers issue ?

 

[junjian]

No idea ~ but I see reviews they say the psu will run well with the system..could it be drivers issue ?

Ya, I initially tot it was drivers issue.
But when I first got the com, the drivers was from Dell and the games just keep crashing.
So I updated to the latest non-beta drivers from Nvidia but it still keeps crashing.
So I rolled back to an older driver which forums say is more stable. It still crashes.

The 1st time the tech came down, he reinstalled my OS and replaced the GPU. But the problem persist.

I tot it was a background process causing the conflict so I used Razer game booster to turn off non-essential processes.
It didn't work.
So I used msconfig to turn off all non-windows processes.
It didn't work.

I tried using the microsoft TDR Delay fix and it helped slightly. The crash frequency drops by maybe 10-20%.

I tried mem diag test to check if it was ram issue. Test came back fine.

I updated my BIOS to the latest from Dell.

I plug out and re-seat my GPU in the PCI-E slot in case it was due to that.

I did a virus scan and no virus nor torjan was found.

My win 7 is fully updated with windows update.

I tried everything and anything possible but nth seems to work.

 

[Jian19]

Have to get back to dell for such issue

Replacing the psu will not be easy since its a pretty small case..

 

[junjian]

Have to get back to dell for such issue

Replacing the psu will not be easy since its a pretty small case..

Yeah, I tot of buying a new casing + psu to replace the old casing. But totally noob in this. I scared later buy wrong casing type or wrong PSU.

I only know my mobo is mini-ITX.

Or should I just go and get a new mobo + casing + psu and use back my old processor, gpu, ram, hdd etc?

 

[lucian90]

Yeah, I tot of buying a new casing + psu to replace the old casing. But totally noob in this. I scared later buy wrong casing type or wrong PSU.

I only know my mobo is mini-ITX.

Or should I just go and get a new mobo + casing + psu and use back my old processor, gpu, ram, hdd etc?

actually if ur not sure what casing is good for u u can just ask the shopkeeper in SLS for a casing that supports ITX....or do a little googling before u go down

if u bring ur whole rig down, u could probably ask them to help u xfer the stuff to ur new case although they might charge extra

 

[killerslayer92]

That system run on 330w no issue...

i watch review online, the x51 suppose to come with nvidia gtx545, if u buy the more expensive model u will get gtx555.

the reviewer claim that with the gtx555 the power draw about 210w
660 is a more powerful card. nt sure why they even offered it

 

[Jian19]

The 660 oem draws around 130w, diff from normal retail 660...

 

[killerslayer92]

The 660 oem draws around 130w, diff from normal retail 660...

i meant total system draw 210w including sandy bridge i7 gtx555

in his case ivy bridge i7 with gtx660 he calculated 320w

choosing a case is easy since m-itx is the smallest mobo so most will fit, transferring the components is the hard part for inexperienced

 

[junjian]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I think what I will do now is bring my rig down to SLS and let them help me out.

Option 1
If my m-ITX mobo can be transfered, I will just get a new m-ATX/m-ITX casing with 600W PSU and transfer the rest of my components over to the new casing to save money since the rest of my components are still working fine.
I am assuming most m-ATX casings can handle m-ITX mobo right? Or it depends on the casing also?

Option 2
If not, I will just get a m-ATX mobo that is compatible with my i7-3440, m-ATX casing and 600W PSU.
Then mount all my existing components onto it.

Budget
m-ATX mobo - $180
m-ATX casing - $120
600 W silver/gold PSU - $150
Is this budget reasonable?
I am quite interested in the Sharkoon MA-M1000 M-ATX Casing. Its only $55 (from bizgram) and the fans are pre-installed.

 

[hengheng220]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I think what I will do now is bring my rig down to SLS and let them help me out.

Option 1
If my m-ITX mobo can be transfered, I will just get a new m-ATX/m-ITX casing with 600W PSU and transfer the rest of my components over to the new casing to save money since the rest of my components are still working fine.
I am assuming most m-ATX casings can handle m-ITX mobo right? Or it depends on the casing also?

Option 2
If not, I will just get a m-ATX mobo that is compatible with my i7-3440, m-ATX casing and 600W PSU.
Then mount all my existing components onto it.

Budget
m-ATX mobo - $180
m-ATX casing - $120
600 W silver/gold PSU - $150
Is this budget reasonable?
I am quite interested in the Sharkoon MA-M1000 M-ATX Casing. Its only $55 (from bizgram) and the fans are pre-installed.

Your budget reasonable ba:
In your case should get
Asrock b75m-dgs $8x (not sure still in stock)
M1000 $55
Superflower hx500 $10x

 

[DeenzX]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I think what I will do now is bring my rig down to SLS and let them help me out.

Option 1
If my m-ITX mobo can be transfered, I will just get a new m-ATX/m-ITX casing with 600W PSU and transfer the rest of my components over to the new casing to save money since the rest of my components are still working fine.
I am assuming most m-ATX casings can handle m-ITX mobo right? Or it depends on the casing also?

Option 2
If not, I will just get a m-ATX mobo that is compatible with my i7-3440, m-ATX casing and 600W PSU.
Then mount all my existing components onto it.

Budget
m-ATX mobo - $180
m-ATX casing - $120
600 W silver/gold PSU - $150
Is this budget reasonable?
I am quite interested in the Sharkoon MA-M1000 M-ATX Casing. Its only $55 (from bizgram) and the fans are pre-installed.

Alienware x51 sucks.
I have helped my friend transfer the parts to a new case before, and all I can say is x51 sucks. Alienware has successfully sold a sub-standard piece of PC for an unreasonable price.
You are going to need a new DVD-RW drive, sata cables and a wireless adapter (usb or card) on top of you casing and PSU.
You can reuse your mobo though.
Just PM me, I can help you with that if you donno hw to assemble.

 

[killerslayer92]

Alienware x51 sucks.
I have helped my friend transfer the parts to a new case before, and all I can say is x51 sucks. Alienware has successfully sold a sub-standard piece of PC for an unreasonable price.
You are going to need a new DVD-RW drive, sata cables and a wireless adapter (usb or card) on top of you casing and PSU.
You can reuse your mobo though.
Just PM me, I can help you with that if you donno hw to assemble.

dont think he needs so many things...

juz change the casing to a mitx one and a power supply can liao.

can save $$$ then dun spend $$$

 

[DeenzX]

dont think he needs so many things...

juz change the casing to a mitx one and a power supply can liao.

can save $$$ then dun spend $$$

Need DVDRW because x51 stock DVDRW cannot be used on a normal atx casing.
Need Sata cables because x51 dont have sata cables that he can reuse for his HDD and DVDRW.
Need Lan adapter cause x51 don't have. If he already got, then use that.

Mobo can reuse.. I tried.. Save a few hundred bucks on mobo..
I have transferred x51 system once before.. almost everything is custom made for x51 except for the hdd, gfx & mobo.

 

[killerslayer92]

Need DVDRW because x51 stock DVDRW cannot be used on a normal atx casing.
Need Sata cables because x51 dont have sata cables that he can reuse for his HDD and DVDRW.
Need Lan adapter cause x51 don't have. If he already got, then use that.

Mobo can reuse.. I tried.. Save a few hundred bucks on mobo..
I have transferred x51 system once before.. almost everything is custom made for x51 except for the hdd, gfx & mobo.

seriously?! no sata cables?! the dvd drive not slim 5.25inch?! no on board lan?!