Issue with Asus Striker Extreme LGA775 freezing occurs due to software or hardware problems.
Issue with Asus Striker Extreme LGA775 freezing occurs due to software or hardware problems.
I own an old HP Voodoo Blackbird dedication edition with full water cooling on the QX6850 and dual 8800 ultra cards. It starts up and functions properly, though only briefly. I’ve verified the temperatures are normal—mid-30s on the BIOS side—and inspected the radiator for dust, confirming everything is clean. The pump operates smoothly. Since it’s still freezing after removing non-essential components like the Wi-Fi card, sound card, and extra drives, it seems cooling isn’t the issue. I’ve considered updating the BIOS, but there are reports that the Striker series can behave poorly after such updates. Given the price tag of the Striker Extreme board, I’d prefer to keep it intact while ensuring my Voodoo Blackbird remains unique. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
All systems are operating at normal speeds and voltages. The unit does include an overclock feature, which suggests it may have been running overclocked for a long time. I’ll check if I can locate an older dual-core processor to replace it and confirm the board’s status.
It's quite plausible you're dealing with this setup. Two 8800 Ultras sound like a lot of power components. The hardware could fail if you think about it. CPU, power supply, graphics card—everything is vulnerable. The hum isn't always a sign of imminent failure; it's just the current vibrating at a noticeable frequency.
I'll check if I can install MSI Afterburner and lower the GPU speeds further for extra stability.
I reduced the CPU speed by lowering the multiplier from 9 to 8, ran it in power saver mode, and it lasted long enough to complete the installation process. I checked temperatures with hwinfo—CPU stayed around 37°C and GPU around 47°C, which is cool enough indicating the cooling system is still functioning well for its age. When it froze, I cleaned the GPUs and checked the PSU, which has a 1100W top power option. The GPUs were dusty, so I used compressed air to help them breathe better. It seems they weren’t dirty enough to cause overheating or the freezing issues.
I successfully resolved the freezing issues! Missing VRM heatsink pushpins were the cause, preventing proper mounting pressure. The old thermal paste on the north and south bridges was extremely hard. I replaced the motherboard VRM heatsink pins and applied fresh thermal grizzly compound. Now everything works correctly! This should help others facing similar LGA775 problems.