USB device while gaming makes system unstable

[Richf]

I have my e6300 on a Gigabyte S3 clocked to 3.2ghz. I can run Orthos for hours with all three settings (large/small/mix) with no issues. I can run TAT for hours with no crashes. I can play Unreal for hours without my Nostromo (game controller) plugged in.

However, once I plug it in, Unreal will crash within 10 minutes. Frozen with the last sound repeating like an IRQ crash.

If I bring the overclock down to 3ghz, I am stable throughout Unreal with the Nos plugged in.

Now, logic would say maybe plugging in this USB device pushes my PSU to the edge but I have a 630watt PSU and am nowhere near putting a strain on it. I've calculated that even at full draw the MOST I could pull is 480watts.

Perhaps there is something I am missing as I am no overclocking expert but is there any chance a USB device would be affected by the FSB speed?

[Soulburner]

In my experience I would say that is not a PSU issue. The fact of the matter is a stressful game will need lower clocks to run stabily than an artificial "stress" test.

I have also noticed USB devices affecting max clocks when I used to bench. I wouldn't expect it to need 200mhz less on the CPU though. They seem to interfere with FSB/memory clocks somehow.

[Richf]

Hey soulburner, nice car... yours?

MINE: (http://rhf3.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=378)

http://rhf3.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=390&g2_serialNumber=2

Thanks for your input on this... while Unreal is not really a taxing program anymore (hell I could run Max everything on an XP3000+ w/X800) I am sure I'll run into this on other games so finding the cure would be nice.

[LagunaX]

I know what you mean. It happens to me if I try playing a FPS game while running dual orthos in the background, especially if I have my usb laser mouse, lighted keyboard, etc. connected. Methinks that it is not your psu issue, but the power routing of the motherboard. Most newer mobos have 3 power connections, plus an eight pin NOT 4 pin cpu power connection meant to provide for the big power drains of dual core cpu's. Note that my and your mobo only has 2 power connections and a 4 instead of an eight pin. What do you think?

[Richf]

Hmmm... you may be onto something there. Now that you bring it up, I remember reading something in another thread when going for extreme overclocking, these guys disconnect all USB devices. Maybe I could yank all other USB devices and see if it's more stable.

[Soulburner]

Yes the car in my sig is mine. Nice Formula. Not a big fan of that hood, but I like the wheels.