pc not upto par

hi I bought this custom build pc from ebay
XW6600 workstation--HP XW6600 Workstation -2 x Xeon E5450 Quad core processors -Uprated heatsink/fan -32Gb of memory with heatsink -4Tb Storage -120 main SSD hard drive -Sata 3 controller for ssd -nVidia GTX480 graphics card with 2 DVI and 1 HDMI connector -Sundblaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card -2 x DVD Rewriters -Multi card reader -Windows 7 Ultimate X64 preinstalled

the pc freezes often and dosent seem that fast compared to my previous quad core i7 2630qm I had on my laptop.the pc seems unstable like the multlicard reader works when it feels like it same thing with the dvd drives.also the pc has slower internet when using torrents for some odd reason. ive used cccleaner spybot and Norton.also defrag and fixed errors but to no avail??!

and when watching movies the video is lagging. I use vlc with gpu acceleration enabled but no good it seems the cpu cant cope with it.i downloaded all windows codecs.??!

next time im getting an apple imac.

 

Welcome to Majorgeeks.

That workstation should compare reasonably well with my more recent single Xeon and the GPU should be well in excess of any normal video playback requirements on a screen of say, 1920x1200.

I would guess that the chipset drivers haven't been loaded, that it's running on the standard Windows drivers; that would account for the poor video playback, and probably, some of the networking and other slowness.

The 'freezes', are they more like a stutter, brief halts, or full lock ups where you need to reset?

Which SSD is in it, exactly?

 

regarding the chipset drivers that haven't been loaded ,is there anything I can do to resolve that issue?


the freezes are just brief halts not too major but was a surprise when I first got this pc as I was told it was an ultra fast pc.

its got 120gb ssd drive installed made by OCZ Vertex on which he has installed the win 7 os loader

 

That sounds like one hellova powerful machine...
to solve your problem, take it one step at a time;

What size PSU do you have?
use Speccy http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/speccy.html
or CPU-Z http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html#directiontouse
to get your motherboard type and chipset, and then just download and install from the manufacturer or intel if it's an intel chipset.
Or you can go to device manager and right click on unknown devices or chipset if detected an see if windows can find it for you automatically.

Windows 7 and 8 are good at finding drivers on their own if allowed to use windows update.

I see you've tried to scan for malware, if you suspect malware is causing your slow pc, take a look at the malware removal thread;
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

 

If the word 'loader' signifies what I think it does, malware is very likely.

For the Intel drivers, first try the Automated version - use IE: http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/

Once updated, check for and install any firmware updates for your model from the OCZ support site.

 

hi
my psu is a 650watt .

and so i went to intel website and there was an automatic update detection software and it detected that there was a new driver for my sata controller but the link to download the driver was not available and i was unsuccessful in finding it.

 

this was a curious one for me.
when I turn on the pc it choose windows 7 xeloader? which is odd as ive never heard of xeloader win7 ultimate so i have doubts it could be a dodgy OS.

 

what is window 7 xe loader?

 

I have a feeling i have a dodgy OS and maybe it will help if I purchased a genuine OS.
would it be a good idea if i purchase windows 8 and install it on top of windows 7 xe loader.

 

Looks like the auto-installer is only for consumer-type products.

Try the most recent 3, RST first: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Se...p+Board+D5400XS&OSVersion=Windows+7+(64-bit)*

Specs are here: http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/...html#spectype=worldwide&type=html&docid=12848

 

I would go with windows 8.

 

I suspected under powering from your problems and the fact that people like to skimp on the PSU, which is why I asked you about your PSU rating.

I used the PSU calculator here; and input the specs you gave, and estimated the others. You can recheck it with your actual specs, which may reduce it a bit,
the rating I got was between 720 W and 780 W depending on what I estimated.

The point is, 720 is less than 650, which means your PSU is underrated.
I would suggest at least an 850W PSU for that monster of a machine!

And make sure the new PSU you're getting is rated 80 plus!

 

If i upgrade to win 8 will it solve all my issues im having because if not then i wouldnt get it. Also you made a good point on the psu thanks

 

The PSU is most important, you NEED to get it! That may solve all your problems.

 

When? Is it still under warranty? If so, send it back before you do something to void your warranty.

Frankly, I have to say you have some huevos. I would never buy an expensive system like that off eBay.

 

Hi guys i forgot to mention that the seller also modded the stock 650w psu. I mean theres wire coming from within it including a wire to an extra fan attached to it.the other wires are connected to other pc components which im not sure which parts because of the way he has done the wiring it looks too complicated for me.

I want to put a corsair 1000w psu replaced the current one. But i dont know who can do it for me.

Reason why im skipping from 750 to 1000w is because next year i want to put a powerful nvidia gpu on it and install watercooling aswell and turn this into a gaming machine aswell.

 

I sure don't like the idea of someone modifying a PSU. The ATX Form Factor standards dictate how PSUs should be configured in terms of the type connectors used, shape of the PSU, voltages and even the precise location of the 4 mounting screws. The same ATX Form Factor standard dictates the power connections used by the motherboard, drives and other components, as well as mounting points in the case - to ensure virtually all ATX PSUs, ATX cases, ATX motherboards and add-ons can be installed and connected with complete electrical and physical compatibility.

Depending on the model of the PSU, one may have more connections than the other (to power more drives, for example, without having to use power cable splitters), but any connection will conform to the ATX Standard. If a PSU does not have the necessary connections, the builder should have used a different model PSU to match your motherboard and devices. Yours sounds like a Mickey Mouse job - not good, especially if the modifications were not properly documented.

Replacing the PSU is really one of the easiest upgrades a user can do him or herself. This is because that ATX standard ensures you have the right connectors which can only be inserted one way. The PSU mounting points ensure the PSU mounts to the case only one way. If you can use a standard #2 Phillips screwdriver, you can swap out a PSU. Except for missing a connection (like forgetting power to a hard drive, or to a graphics cards that requires extra connections) there is really nothing that can go wrong. You cannot, for example, accidently connect 12V to a 5V circuit. The connectors will not match.

You MUST ensure ESD control but that is as simple as touching bare metal of the case interior before reaching in to discharge any static in your body.

A 1000W PSU is likely way overkill. I recommend you use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your minimum and recommended power supply unit (PSU) requirements AFTER you have selected your new graphics card - not before. There's no harm in way overkill, except to your budget.

And I would discourage you from using any alternative cooling. This is because alternative cooling solutions require regular maintenance and frequent inspections - the frequency of which needs to increase over time as the various liquid carrying components age. In other words, if swapping out PSUs concerns you, you don't need to deal with alternative cooling. You just need to ensure your case is providing a sufficient flow of cool air through the case, and that you keep the interior clean of heat trapping dust.

 

I thought liquid cooling was fit and forget. Oh well .thanks for the heads up

 

Absolutely not! That's what the makers would like you to believe, but it is not the case. You have a flowing water-based liquid running through hoses and connections on top of and near live electronics. No way can that be a fit and forget situation. Too many times have I seen alternative cooling solutions where the user was super diligent during the first year, then as time moved on, and the novelty wore off, regular inspections became fewer and farther between, when in reality they should increase.

It is like people and new cars. After the newness wears off, they skip checking the oil, stretch out oil changes, and tire rotations, etc.

Hoses become ridged, less flexible, connections and hose fittings work loose due to vibrations from fan and drive motors, fluid flow, bumps and heavy footfalls. Then there's the issue of evaporation, not to mention the very real possibility of mold and fungus.

Then there is also the problem of cooling the heat sensitive and heat generating components that were intentionally centered (by design) around the CPU socket so they too could benefit from the expected cooler fan.

Alternative cooling is for the hardware enthusiast willing to stick it out for the long haul.

 

What if i fit two gtx nvidia cards onto my pc im sure il need 1000watts psu

 

Nah! Not likely. 1KW is a huge amount of energy and graphics cards (and CPUs, RAM, etc.) rarely demand maximum power and don't demand maximum power simultaneously. Remember, the more capable the graphics solution, the faster and more tasks the CPU can hand off to it. And it takes very little CPU horsepower to hand off tasks.

But to be sure, use the calculator and plug in a second, or even third card and find out.

 

If you are going to replace the PSU, which, as been said, is one of the easier upgrades/modifications you can do, do pay attention to what type and how many connectors you have currently and think you might need in future.

Also, I think it's a good idea to take pictures of the inside of your rig if you need to remember what it was like (how it was configured) after you have taken it out and it is 'on the floor' beside you, and before you have succeeded in installing the new one....

Dumb_Question
9.August.2013

 

If on the floor, make sure it is a bare floor and not carpeting. Carpeting, for one, is often a source of very high potentials of static electricity therefore poses a significant risk for ESD damage. For another, a rug or carpet will block cool air from getting under the board.

So I recommend using a plain (no printing) piece of cardboard or a large, bare wood cutting board instead of the floor. While wood dinning room or kitchen tables can be used, it should be noted that some wood finishes can conduct electricity too - hence my reason for saying "bare" wood.

A picture is nice, but I really don't see the point, except for insurance purposes. This is because drives, motherboards, graphics cards, and fans all use unique data and power connections/cables. Drives are mounted in drive cages. Cards in expansion slots. Fans in fan mounting locations, and the motherboard can only go in one way to properly line up in back, and over the mounting points. So it is not like you can mix them up

And extra cables, and excess cable length should be tucked away behind the motherboard, if case provides decent cable management, in open drive bays, and out of the way of good front-to-back air flow. So following a cable in a picture would be difficult, at best.

 

Quick update. Ihave installed windows 8 GENUINE and so far the pc seems mucb more stable. I had a mate check my pc and he said my pc can accept two gpu but it wont work because it dosent have sli.and he said my psu is fine for time being

 

Sorry, but your friend is wrong. SLi is the brand name for the multi-GPU solution developed by NVIDIA for linking two or more video cards together to produce ONE output. It establishes "parallel processing" with the two GPUs to increase performance.

Crossfire is the AMD's equivalent feature.

While your motherboard does not support SLi or Crossfire, it has two PCIe slots that will accept two graphics cards to support 2, 3 or 4 monitors with no problems.

 

Thanks for the advice.

So can i still add another gpu to improve gaming performance further or not? This is the cause of why i am intending to add an additional gpu.

 

This is the first you have mentioned improving gaming performance as one of your goals. No, adding a 2nd GPU will not improve gaming performance. Since your motherboard is a workstation board (designed to be used in engineering and design computers - not general purpose of gaming systems) it does not support parallel GPU processing (SLi or Crossfire) to improve graphics performance. But you can add another monitor to improve your gaming experience (if your game supports multi-monitor displays or extended resolutions).

I have to say, in reading back over your comments, I am concerned about your "safe computing practices" - or rather lack of. You said above,

Understand, using torrents for filesharing is, by far one of the most risky practices a user can participate in as it is one of the most common methods badguys use to distribute malware - and in particular, newly released malware - malware the anti-malware companies have yet to create signature/definition files for.

Then the use of an illegal copy of Windows is a problem because that is another common source of malware, plus illegally obtained software is often not kept updated, or secure, and the system becomes a threat to you, and to everyone else on the Internet!

Did it come from eBay with an illegal copy of Windows installed?

You say you have now installed "windows 8 GENUINE". How was this copy obtained? What makes it "GENUINE"?

With your use of torrents and unauthorized software, I would be very concerned that you might have picked up a very nasty rootkit or other malware - or a bunch of malware.

Personally, since you are using the wrong hardware for your intended purpose, if me, I would get a different motherboard, a standard motherboard and get rid of that workstation board and workstation CPUs. Then, with a legally obtained authentic Windows license, build a real gaming rig instead of trying to turn a workstation into one. Then you buy a second graphics card to run in SLi or Crossfire mode.

 

In regards the motherboard ,im told my socket is 771and il need the corresponding motherboard to allow my xeon e5450 cpu's to work with it.

As for the win 8 i needed a full version but ms told me they dont do full version except oem version .im afraid i had no choice but to get a sealed oem full version from ebay of course as im not a manufacturer.i have fully activated it and its working as it should.i must say my pc is much more stable and works without, any issues.plus it has lower temperatures. I originally bought this workstation for work purposes but am also realising the gaming capabilities of it and therefore ditched my ps3 and xbox for it.

 

Well, not sure what they mean by "full". They sell retail and OEM versions, but doesn't matter as long as it is a legal copy, and the OEM version you got is 64-bit. Retail boxes include both 32-bit and 64-bit disks (though you can only install one on one machine). 32-bit and 64-bit OEM versions are sold and packaged separately.

But no workstation can match the gaming capabilities a machine designed for gaming.

It is like trying to use pickup truck as the family car. Or the family car to haul a load of manure to the farm. You can do it, but ideally, you want a farm truck and a family car.

 

Hi there again

Wherever i searched for windows 8 its always an upgrade version for windows 7. So if you was to build a computer from scratch i dont know how your supposed to install windows 8 as where ever you look to buy windows 8 it will be an upgrade version which is no good .

 

If you build a computer from scratch, get OEM. That's what it is for.