Questions about my PC's stability

[bulletz]

So my Dad built me the PC I use at the moment in October 2013. (Started with an APU and added a GPU)

I've had a lot of problems in the PC when it comes to hardware and am wondering if the build is stable.

 

CPU: AMD A8-6600K APU        Stock Cooler

MOBO: MSI but I didn't buy it so no idea (MATX)

GPU: AMD R9 380 (Sapphire Nitro) ( also wondering CPU bottlenecks my GPU)

RAM: 2x4gb Crucial Ballistix Sport (no idea on Mhz)

PSU: Thermalite TR2 430watt

CASE: Something from the 90's that according to my Dad cost $100 and was "State of the art" (MATX case)

 

Storage:

Seagate Barracuda 1 TB HDD

Hatachi 1 TB HDD ripped from an External HDD

 

If needed I have pictures of my build!

[Cereal_Killer]

What problems were there, exactly? Is it slowing down? Is it randomly turning off? We need more info

[DaltonM]

What issues are you experiencing? I bet that external HDD is usb 2.0 and it's slowing your system down. 
 

 

I don't know much about AMD CPUs but the specs on that seem okay, and intel CPU at those specs wouldn't bottle neck that GPU.

 

But honestly, you've not given us enough information. Can't tell what's wrong just from some random specs. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

What are these problems your talking about. BSOD's? random frezes?

Id run memtest86+ for a few hours to check ram. 

Then run prime95 for a day to check cpu,

then run furmark for a day to check gpu.

If there all fine you may have a bad driver and maybe try linux on a usb to see if you are getting those same problems and ifs it a driver problem.

[bulletz]

Just now, DaltonM said:

What issues are you experiencing? I bet that external HDD is usb 2.0 and it's slowing your system down. 
 

 

I don't know much about AMD CPUs but the specs on that seem okay, and intel CPU at those specs wouldn't bottle neck that GPU.

 

But honestly, you've not given us enough information. Can't tell what's wrong just from some random specs. 

 

Just now, Cereal_Killer said:

What problems were there, exactly? Is it slowing down? Is it randomly turning off? We need more info

 

I've generally ran into a lot of problems running games on the system over the 2 years.

 

I'm also fairly sure that the HDD is fine because I get good transfer speeds on it when using it.

 

such as:

 

My PC running unstable when playing games as my frames will jump around a lot in some games

 

Have had a few problems with CPU Intensive tasks

 

Also have had slowing down problems

[DaltonM]

Just now, bulletz said:

 

 

I've generally ran into a lot of problems running games on the system over the 2 years.

 

I'm also fairly sure that the HDD is fine because I get good transfer speeds on it when using it.

 

such as:

 

My PC running unstable when playing games as my frames will jump around a lot in some games

 

Have had a few problems with CPU Intensive tasks

 

Also have had slowing down problems

When applications load files that on the external HDD they're slowed down by the speed. Transfer speed doesn't mean anything. Try unplugging it and see if that helps. My old external HDD was slowing the shit out of my PC a year back.

 

Have you kept an eye on your temps? That AMD chip runs really hot, you could be thermal throttling. 

 

Also your PSU is kind of weak for running AMD parts.

 

Also reinstall windows. 

[bulletz]

16 minutes ago, DaltonM said:

When applications load files that on the external HDD they're slowed down by the speed. Transfer speed doesn't mean anything. Try unplugging it and see if that helps. My old external HDD was slowing the shit out of my PC a year back.

 

Have you kept an eye on your temps? That AMD chip runs really hot, you could be thermal throttling. 

 

Also your PSU is kind of weak for running AMD parts.

 

Also reinstall windows. 

CPU was thermal throttling from 3.9/4ghz down to 3.7ghz

 

PSU was going to be changed in future PC build I'm still creating at the moment.

 

May consider re-formatting Windows!

[DaltonM]

Yes, a fresh install of Windows helps a lot. And you got an ext HDD so back ups will be easy 

 

Run the battery of tests the other guy suggested.