NZXT Phantom Enthusiast

[SamCR3]

Very nice build. I like it.

[rickss69]

Minor problem arose after Win 7 install...machine would bluescreen at the drop of a hat lol. I remembered the old rig would randomly bluescreen for no apparent reason just before I dis-assembled it to swap out parts. The good news is I finally determined the culprit...it is these junky Zotac 560 Ti video cards. Jerked them out and replaced with a trusty 5850 and she runs sweet. Now on to updating the new ssd.



Just a quick OC before bed shows the air cooler is holding it's own.

[realneil]

Did the problem occur with just one of the GTX cards installed?
If your PSU is using a dual rail power setup, (or more) you have to load balance across the rails with multiple cards.
So maybe the Zotacs were not getting enough power to them? (Being fed by one rail instead of two)

Also, maybe just one of them is bad?

[rickss69]

Did the problem occur with just one of the GTX cards installed?
If your PSU is using a dual rail power setup, (or more) you have to load balance across the rails with multiple cards.
So maybe the Zotacs were not getting enough power to them? (Being fed by one rail instead of two)

Also, maybe just one of them is bad?

The Zotac's have been a problem since arrival. When first installed they would crash the OS no matter what slot or which card was used, single or tandem. Have a rma started thru Zotac (which I have heard nothing to date). Messing with them one day they magically began to function normally and have been up until a few days ago. All other cards here work fine including the GTX 460's and GTX 295's in SLI.

[realneil]

I had a Zotac card years ago that had problem after problem. Their support people were no help at all.
I ended up selling it on E-Bay with no guarantees, for next to nothing.
I have never bought that brand again.

I remember that it was one of the ~best looking~ cards I had ever seen.

[rickss69]

New rig is crunching away nicely with the single 5850...temps are great.

[realneil]

That is some good temps. Hope that the RMA goes well for you.

[rickss69]

Well, ratspit...I think the cpu cooler may be bearing against the NB heatsink enough to cause problems with contact. NB temps are way too high...looks like I get to take this apart for diagnosis.

[realneil]

Once you get this fixed, it may be a good idea to try those Zotac cards out again. (just for the hullavit)

[rickss69]

Once you get this fixed, it may be a good idea to try those Zotac cards out again. (just for the hullavit)

I know where you are going, but that is a completely separate issue. It sat and crunched for hours at 4GHz with both a 5850 and one of the Zotac cards installed without issue. It would most likely be fine as well if both Zotac's were in...as long as there were no sli bridge joining them.

[realneil]

So you don't think that an overheated NB (107C is 224.6F) could cause problems elsewhere in the system?

Is the SLI bridge known good?

[rickss69]

So you don't think that an overheated NB (107C is 224.6F) could cause problems elsewhere in the system?

Is the SLI bridge known good?

There is always that possibility, but the fact remains that with the gtx 295's and GTX 460's sli'd the rig ran forever without a hitch. Got a half dozen bridges here. Good news - Just got a email from Zotac approving the rma...guess my second attempt was worth the effort.

[rickss69]

More good news - NB temps are now under control. I'll post pic's of what I changed once I get it back on the table. It's in the floor atm crunching away at 4GHz with the other Zotac card. I'll try them sli'd again one more time.

[rickss69]

Not entirely happy with the solution...I had to change the cpu cooler orientation. After benchmarks I go back into bios and see the NB temps have climbed to the mid fifties...probably a little higher before I get there. Is there any monitoring software I can use to view the NB temps in real time?











About the Zotac cards - I ran a single in 3Dmark11 with no problems. Adding the second card in sli I ran the bench again (cards at default settings and fans auto) and it crashed half way thru. Put the fans at maximum and ran it again...it managed to complete the bench that time. I am still leery of these cards and I'm not convinced I should not rma them asap.

EDIT: The machine has now reverted back to bluesceen mode with both Zotac's installed...they are absolutely coming out for good.

[realneil]

So why are the ferrite filters on the PCI-E cables?
Did the PSU come with them?
Attachment 4216

[rickss69]

So why are the ferrite filters on the PCI-E cables?
Did the PSU come with them?
Attachment 4216

Yeah, that is a feature of the Quattro's... http://www.anandtech.com/show/3807/a...-quattro-1200w