Problem with new PC (red screen)

[cotis]

hey guys,

finally got my PC built and everything though I am running into an issue.

Pictures (taken with cell phone):
http://img704.imageshack.us/g/img00005201001101338.jpg/

I can just be sitting here then BAM all of a sudden this takes over my monitor. Red bars running vertically.

Here are my specs...

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz 7.4
Memory: MEM 8GB (2GB X 4) MUSHKIN
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series 
Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D EVO P55 LGA1156
Power Supply: ROSEWILL RX850-D-B 850W


Any help is appreciated....

[w.axl.rose]

I still say its your video card.

[Genesis]

It's either the video card or your memory. Try taking out different sticks and see if you find if one is faulty. If the RAM is okay, it's almost certainly the card.

[cotis]

Just found out that it's the memory (more than likely) as I checked the compatibility chart on their website and the memory I have are not listed on it as being compatible.

I filed a RMA with these memory sticks, and am sending these back tomorrow.

The only ones "compatible" are combinations of 6GB or less. Will I really notice that in dealing with video editing?

[Genesis]

You might want to confirm that it is indeed the RAM.

The only ones "compatible" are combinations of 6GB or less. Will I really notice that in dealing with video editing?

No. 6GB should be plenty for whatever you might want to do now.

[cotis]

You might want to confirm that it is indeed the RAM.

The only ones "compatible" are combinations of 6GB or less. Will I really notice that in dealing with video editing?

No. 6GB should be plenty for whatever you might want to do now.

Sending the RAM back today, and am going to order a new set to replace that. I read that chart and since the RAM that I have aren't on it, I'd rather just be safe. If that fixes the problem, great. If not -- still got some stuff to do.

I was just sitting here and it randomly shut down and restarted. No red screen, just decided to shut down.

[Genesis]

It's most definitely some faulty RAM then.

[pilferk]

I'm with everyone else on the RAM being the most likely culprit..

www.memtest86.com

The above is the "old reliable" in terms of RAM testing options...but it will only work on 4GB's or less.  You could just mix and match to get it all testetd, though.  It would pick up any issues (parity problems) you might be hitting.  If you can't get it to run, it's DEFINITELY your RAM.

There are a couple other options:

There could be a short somewhere on your mother board.  If the board is faulty, if you didn't install the board in the case quite right, tightened the screws a little too much, or didn't use the proper spacers when installing the MB...you can see some WACKY stuff go on.   I've seen screen garbage, phantom reboots, memory erros, BSOD (which, of course, with Vist have gone away)...all sorts of stuff because the board was shorting out somewhere. And if the board, itself, is actually faulty....you can increase the "weirdness factor" by about 10.

Could also be a bad vid card.  They can exhibit some of the symptoms you're talking about (especially the red screen garbage).  They don't tend to cause PC's to reboot, though, but if it's a power issue, or if it's shorting somewhere....it COULD because it'll cause issues within the power supply.

Which brings us to the 3rd, and final, likely culprit: The Power Supply.  USUALLY, they just fail (and their fused to function exactly that way).  But every once in a blue moon you get one that goes all poltergeist and causes the PC to act oddly.  It's the least likely culprit,though.

[cotis]

Thanks for all the tips everyone, sending the RAM back today. Getting new stuff shortly, will see if that fixes it!

Would you guys want me to take some pics of the inside? Maybe show some connections and stuff and possibly one of you can pick up on something?

[Aero]

Thanks for all the tips everyone, sending the RAM back today. Getting new stuff shortly, will see if that fixes it!

Would you guys want me to take some pics of the inside? Maybe show some connections and stuff and possibly one of you can pick up on something?

I had this problem on a friend's computer, it was the video card. Did you notice if your motherboard does a sound code before the screen ?

[cotis]

A sound code? Usually I'm just doing crap and it locks up and goes right to the red bars.

[pilferk]

A sound code? Usually I'm just doing crap and it locks up and goes right to the red bars.

Your PC speaker (not your REGULAR speakers) would beep a certain number of times and/or in a certain pattern (depending on the MB).  Of course, nowadays some people disconnect the speaker (or never connect it to power) OR have their PC speakers loud enough that it overpowers the "beep code".

[Sin Cut]

I, too, had a random booting issue when I had RAM that weren't compatible.

Does your powersuply have enough juice (it should only reboot if this is the case)? Does the cpu cooling work? I had once a wire from the cpu-fan loose and had some weird booting/display issues.

Also if the display fades into the red bars it could be a display issue, I had a friend who had this.

Can you test this with another videocard?

[cotis]

I'm awaiting the memory, and will give that a try. Then if it persists, I'll try my old video card I have. If that fixes the problem then I've got an RMA from TigerDirect to send the video card back.

I've got an 850W power supply, so that should be more than enough juice.

As for the "code" thing Pilferk, there was nothing. I was listening to music, it froze up and I looked at the screen and it was red bars.

[cotis]

Fixed it! Changed the memory, double checked all connections (a few were "loose") and everything appears to be working right now.

Fingers crossed!!