New PC issues....

[Infidelitas]

I decided to buy an SSD to make my PC just that little bit faster. And ever since then, this has been running like a piece of shit.

First of all, I had NO issues before I installed the hard drive.

When I play The Sims, 3/4 of the time, when I start it up, the sound gets all distorted. It make is nearly impossible to do anything.

At first, the PC would boot up in about 15 seconds. It was that fast for about 2 boots, and then it slowed down to about 30 seconds. I have no idea why the boot time has slowed down. I thought the fucking things were supposed to be fast.

Another problem is that it has been crashing about 5 times per day. No BSOD or anything, the display just cuts out and the computer re-boots. I have tried re-installing the driver software, and even trying to re-install Windows 7, but it still does that.

That's about all I can think of at the moment, but could anyone give me some insight as to what could be causing this? I didn't spend this much money on a PC just for it to fuck up.

There well be a small reward for who ever successfully helps me out.

Cheers :)

[darkwoon]

I've heard the word "reward" ? :)

Ok, the very first thing to do is - if you still can - to remove the SSD and put back your previous hard drive. If it still doesn't work, you can rule out the SSD. Don't simply disconnect the SSD - unscrew it, so you're sure there is no short-circuit or other similar weird things happening.

Random reboots with no BSOD may (notice the conditional here) indicate an hardware issue. What needs to checked out (I suppose it is a desktop computer, so you can ignore, say, the PSU test if it's a laptop):

- Your RAM: Burn the iso of memtest86+ on a CD, reboot on it, and let it run for at least two passes. If you have more than a single RAM element, unplug them all, plug a single one, test both with memtest and under Windows. Then do the same with each RAM module separately;
- Your PSU: Check that all your power plugs are properly plugged - in case of doubt, unplug and replug them all. Try also to disconnect anything that is non-essential: any hard disk outside the system drive, any DVD device, any internal card/floppy reader (unplug both the power plug and the data plug);
- Your peripherals: unplug anything internal or external that is non-essential: any USB device (except the keyboard+mouse), reader, non-system disk, etc;
- Your CPU: Boot into safe mode, try running something like SuperPi for at least one hour, and see how it goes.
- Visually inspect the motherboard and any PCI/PCI-Ex card for anything suspicious. What you should check are melted plastic parts, loose plugs, or leaking/inflated capacitors.

If you can, try to check the gfx card as well - for that, either switch it with another one (provided you have a spare one) or remove it and use the mb integrated one (if you have one). Unless you have a spare gfx card and/or an integrated gfx chipset, unfortunately, you cannot test much.

If you got one with your motherboard, install a temperature monitoring software, and check if it stays in the normal range. Do the same with the GFX card if you can. If none is available, try running with the case wide open and with enough free space on sides for proper ventilation. Of course, check that all the fans are properly running (in particular the CPU, GFX, and chipset ones).

I don't think it is a software issue, because as you said, you reinstalled Windows already without any change in result.

Those are the things I'd check first - Sorry, I don't have a single answer that can be performed in a couple minutes, so you'll have to test every element one by one. Oh, and of course, never touch anything inside without ALL external plugs disconnected (yeah, even the screen/ethernet/audio ones. Every self-powered device should be physically disconnected. You risk nothing with your screen still connected, but electronics on the board DO.)

[Infidelitas]

Ok, the very first thing to do is - if you still can - to remove the SSD and put back your previous hard drive. If it still doesn't work, you can rule out the SSD. Don't simply disconnect the SSD - unscrew it, so you're sure there is no short-circuit or other similar weird things happening.
It was working really well before I started using the SSD, so I know there isn't really an issue with anything else other than the SSD

Random reboots with no BSOD may (notice the conditional here) indicate an hardware issue. What needs to checked out (I suppose it is a desktop computer, so you can ignore, say, the PSU test if it's a laptop):

- Your RAM: Burn the iso of memtest86+ on a CD, reboot on it, and let it run for at least two passes. If you have more than a single RAM element, unplug them all, plug a single one, test both with memtest and under Windows. Then do the same with each RAM module separately;
- Your PSU: Check that all your power plugs are properly plugged - in case of doubt, unplug and replug them all. Try also to disconnect anything that is non-essential: any hard disk outside the system drive, any DVD device, any internal card/floppy reader (unplug both the power plug and the data plug);
- Your peripherals: unplug anything internal or external that is non-essential: any USB device (except the keyboard+mouse), reader, non-system disk, etc;
- Your CPU: Boot into safe mode, try running something like SuperPi for at least one hour, and see how it goes.
- Visually inspect the motherboard and any PCI/PCI-Ex card for anything suspicious. What you should check are melted plastic parts, loose plugs, or leaking/inflated capacitors.[QUOTE]
I have just done all of this also, nothing out of the ordinart occured O.O

[QUOTE=darkwoon;1923791]If you can, try to check the gfx card as well - for that, either switch it with another one (provided you have a spare one) or remove it and use the mb integrated one (if you have one). Unless you have a spare gfx card and/or an integrated gfx chipset, unfortunately, you cannot test much.
Both the intergrated and the PCi graphics card work fine also.

If you got one with your motherboard, install a temperature monitoring software, and check if it stays in the normal range. Do the same with the GFX card if you can. If none is available, try running with the case wide open and with enough free space on sides for proper ventilation. Of course, check that all the fans are properly running (in particular the CPU, GFX, and chipset ones).

What I might do it nuke both of the drives, and start from scratch. Extreme? Yes, but I am out of ideas.

Thankyou for your help :)

[Axw_JD]

My first SSD was the same. If it crashes without any explanations to the point that reinstalling Windows is required, its a defective unit without a doubt. Contact the manufacturer and if its within a year, they will replace it for free.

(Fun unrelated fact: 15 seconds? my laptop boots faster than that, on an HDD :P)

[Magus]

Random reboots is an indication of somekind a loose connection.