Vista home premium randomly freezes

[Brownman]

Hi All,

I hope I have posted in the correct NG, apologies if I haven't.

I have just changed a q6600 processor for an e6850 processor on my xfx 680i
sli mobo.
Before I changed the machine was running well with all settings at stock.
After changing the processor I am now getting random freezes of the system.
I just don't know where to start troubleshooting this one.
I changed the processor so as to take advantage of the 1333 fsb to enable
the OCZ 1150Mhz reaper memory to run at it's designed speed and not be
restricted by the 1066 fsb of the q6600.
I have ample power with a 850w power supply, (can't tell what make as the
case makes it difficult but not a budget one) in an Antec P180 case with 2
8800 GT's in sli.
The BIOS has been flashed with the latest available and when the new
processor was installed the cmos was cleared and all settings in the bios are
stock.
I have Windows Vista home premium which is updated to this months updates.
I'm thinking it is a windows problem as I have run memtest for 10 hours
without errors or freezing.
I don't know where the problem lies but someone has suggested that perhaps
that the hardware abstraction layer may be the problem.
I'm lost here, can the hardware abstraction layer be updated? Is it a total
reinstall or will a repair suffice?
Has anybody experienced this problem and could anybody give pointers as to
how to cure this problem.

Hopefully waiting,

Tony

 

[BigJim]

I would try increasing the power to the memory chips in small increments if
you can, to see it that helps.
Not knowing the kind of board you are running limits help.

 

[Brownman]

Hi BigJim,

Thanks for your reply, as I said below the motherboard is a XFX 680i sli
motherboard and the memory chips are running at the OCZ voltage of 2.3v. The
only increment is to up the voltage to a max of 2.35v which doesn't help.
In any case I can't see that the memory is at fault as I ran memtest for 10
hours without any freezes or errors.
This is why I am questioning the Vista installation.

regards,

Tony

 

[Curious]

You might also try slowing down the memory as a test.

 

[BigJim]

sorry you did list the board, my bad. how about a slight voltage increase to
the cpu, have you tried that?
You may be right could be the video drivers. I have had problems with them
even though I am not running sli.
Right now I am back to running xp, maybe with SP1 coming out soon the
problems may get fixed.
There maybe a hot fix on MS site for sli.

 

[Carlos]

The new processor might be overheating.
Is the heatsink+fan combination the one recommended for that processor?
Is the fan connected to the mobo.
What thermal grease did you place between the processor and the heatsink?
Carlos

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I don't see how it can be a memory problem unless you have increased the
dram speed. The memory controller is not on the cpu and should not be
affected. Are you able to monitor the cpu temps? Did you also change the
cpu heatsink when you changed cpu's? I concur with Carlos's advice.

 

[Brownman]

I don't see how it can be a memory problem unless you have increased the
dram speed. The memory controller is not on the cpu and should not be
affected. Are you able to monitor the cpu temps? Did you also change the
cpu heatsink when you changed cpu's? I concur with Carlos's advice.