A backstory, a realization, and a feeling of humiliation!
The backstory~
As you can read through this thread, I have spent a considerable amount of time tweaking and tech-ing this new computer. New Fans, new PCIe cards for a hot drive, new radiator add ons with fins. Each step of the way running HWMonitor (or Info), taking note while running various stress tests. They all met with Motherboard beeps. About a week ago I got all my drive temps within range, but the beeps persisted. Sometimes Long Short, other times Long Long Short. All of it sounds exactly like cranky motherboards do. The only thing still showing that it was running hot was the PCH chip on the motherboard and there is simply no way to pull the cover off of it and replace the thermal pad with a better one. It’s been said Gigabyte uses cheap thermal pads to keep costs low. So, after the final power up last week, and the beeps persisting, I threw up my arms and resigned that something had to change. I did NOT do a final stress test on this new computer after all those new mods were done. I simply gave up. THAT is when the M4 Mac discussion began. A new shiny object, neat, so my attention was diverted from the battle scars and disgust of this new PC build. Then this week I decided to revisit this old forum seeking advice on Macintosh computers. Okay, so you are caught up.
Last launch of the new PC, beeps happening with the piezo speaker removed, MacGyver mods done and continued random beeps. Especially when I’d push the computer hard with a heavily loaded down project.
The Realization~
As I was about to start decommissioning the new 2025 PC and getting ready to sell for parts to recover some of my losses, I climbed under my studio desk to access the back of the computer to check something. ~Not desk as in console, but a wooden desk that I built to fit my needs for my workflow. ~
In this thread @mducharme made a comment that burrowed itself in my brain, but I didn’t think much of it. He said “It is old fashioned now to hear a beep when booting up. Other people thought their computer was beeping but it was their UPS instead (sitting by the computer).”
So I turn the Studio power on via my Furman rack mount and I decided to hit the power button on the computer and let it power up as I was going to do some file clean up and get things in order in preparation for the M4’s arrival. SO, I pushed the computers power button, crawled under my desk. In that exact moment, my left ear was pointing at the computer, and my right ear was right NEXT to my battery backup. In an instant the backup beeps. Same short beep and tone that endless motherboards have beeped over the years. I sat frozen, sprawled out on the floor. The blood left my head and a cold bead of sweat appeared on my upper lip and the realization of what just happened had just happened. Then a couple more short beeps. I look at the back up battery (APC) and the power light goes from green to yellow. I now grimace in anger as I stare down this APC unit.
Now, when every other battery backup I have owned (I own and run a company with many computers and battery back ups) starts to die, they scream this high pitch scream and its steady, loud, long and does not stop till I physically power it down. It will scream till the battery is drained and then die. I have never once seen a battery backup light go from green to yellow. It’s always green to red. This APC is the first of its kind for me. It’s never given me a problem. I fully expected when it died, it would scream constantly like the other battery backups I have owned. The one comment from @mducharme that stuck with me earlier suddenly became the loudest thing in my head.
My head dropped into my hands as I lay on the floor while the reality sank in. That is when I started to get physically ill. In a moment I realized it was not a rogue hidden speaker somewhere on my MB or case AND that my new PC is most likely fine. But stress tests would need to be run to make sure. I ran HWMonitor in logging mode and then pushed this new computer with Prime95, CrystalDiskMark (each drive), and then I ran my latest mix that is heavily loaded down (track, buss, and plugins). My drive temps were happy during the stress tests. Prime95 pushed my CPU to the red zone occasionally but would quicky drop back down. For the most part it was staying within ideal range for heavy lifting. With each test being run and seeing the GREAT results, I started to feel more and more disappointment with myself.
So, I cancelled my M4 order as it was still being processed by apple.
I should be happy that I am not having to spend more money. I was going to lose a ton of cash by parting out this brand NEW computer and selling it on Marketplace. Which was a tough pill to swallow.
My libraries are already loaded on drives, temps in range and now I can get back to making music.
The Humiliation~
I wanted to post my experience because I think others can learn from my stupid mistakes!
And I deserve a good mocking, so have at it. I own this dumb mistake!
I have helped pals wire their personal studios. I have soldered patch bays, swapped an MCI console and MTR’s for Otari Console and MTR and helped with wiring at the local university. I have soldered countless XLR connections while building custom snakes. I have built a PAiA Mic Pre. I’ve soldered an upgrade chip on the PCB of an Eventide H3000. I have opened up a Lexicon 224, pulled out the bowed waferboard PCB and desoldered an old, busted battery and soldered a brand-new rechargeable battery in its place.
I HAVE BUILT MANY DAW COMPUTERS!
I should have, SHOULD HAVE, thought of exploring the battery backup as a possibility.
I should be happy about this but since I woke up, all I feel is disappointment in myself.
I sent myself on a snipe hunt!
I hope others learn from my experience.
I stand here, hat in hand, waiting for the mockery to begin!!! There is nothing you can say that I have not already said to myself.
Needless to say, a new Battery Backup is on order. I am getting one twice the power than the one I had. What I also realized is this new computer draws more power than the previous one and that possibly contributed to the backups sudden demise.
And for any nerds wanting specifics, I fed both logs into GPT and had it create a summary.
Stress Test Report: Prime95 & CrystalDiskMark
1. CPU & System Stress Test (Prime95)
• Prime95 was used to stress all cores and threads of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.
• CPU Package temps peaked at ~95°C with hovering temps in the 87–89°C range under load.
• During idle or low activity, CPU temps dropped to 40–55°C.
• No thermal throttling was detected, and clocks remained stable.
• AMD PCH #2 temps peaked at 54.2°C – within acceptable limits.
• System stayed stable throughout the full duration of testing.
2. M.2 Drive Thermals During Prime95
• Crucial 4TB (Audio/VSTi drive): 63°C max
• Crucial 2TB (OS drive): 66°C max
• WD SN850X (Mass Storage, in PCIe adapter): 49–50°C max
• Crucial 2TB (Video drive): ~54°C max
3. CrystalDiskMark Results & Drive Temps
Each drive was hit with a full 64GiB test in 5-pass mode:
• WD SN850X 4TB (PCIe Adapter - Mass Storage):
- Temps peaked at 48°C, returned to 44°C quickly post-test.
• Crucial 4TB (Audio/VSTi):
- Reached 79°C peak, hovered in 70–75°C range, cooled to 66°C.
• Crucial 2TB (OS Drive):
- Peaked at 70°C, average around 63–66°C.
• Crucial 2TB (Video Drive):
4. Final Analysis
• All system temps are within spec. No signs of instability or performance loss.
• The WD SN850X performed best thermally thanks to the new Sabrent adapter and location.
• Crucial 4TB Audio/VSTi drive runs hottest under sustained disk load (up to 79°C).
• CPU cooling is effective. Clock speeds remained stable, and thermal spikes were short.
