Computer problem\question

bigboywooly · 12-22-07, 03:51 PM

Ok guys need some help here as doing my head in

My computer has just recently started freezing on the display - cant move mouse - HDD seems to go on working as light flashes
Sometimes it will reboot others I have to do it
No error messages given

Sometimes will happen 30 seconds after starting the comp sometimes half hour later

Have updated bios since it started and also re installed windows XP
Still happening
All drivers are up to date

Have ran memtest on the memory and threw up no errors
Also ran a stability test in the nvidia control panel - no errors again
Temp isnt a problem for GPU according to the software installed - running at 52 degrees celcius

Running XP Pro
Intel Pentium D 3.20 Ghz dual core
2Gb RAM
Nvidia 7300 SE\7200 GS
250 Gb Maxtor SATA
80 Gb WD ATA

All help grateful before I explode

Lzs von swe · 12-22-07, 04:03 PM

My guess is the graphics card. Do you have another nVidia card laying around? Try replacing your current card with it, the drivers should work with practically any nVidia card, and try to run the PC.

bigboywooly · 12-22-07, 04:07 PM

Tis PCI-E so dont have another Nvidia lying around
Do have an ATI X1050 - pretty sure was still happening when tried that one
Will try that again though

SUBMAN1 · 12-22-07, 04:16 PM

I'd guess CPU or PSU (Power Supply Unit). One of the two. The PSU, if it is outputting sloppy power due to its slow death, will cause this kind of issue. It will be completely random.

The CPU could also be the issue. If it is overheating, it may just lock the system up.

The Graphics card, though possible, is the last thing I'd suspect here.

-S

bigboywooly · 12-22-07, 04:25 PM

Thanx Subman

Happens regulary
As I said sometimes just after boot up - could the CPU get that hot that quick ?

Am running some benchmarking software ( SiS) as I write which just had the CPU up to 97% lol and still going :hmm:

Will replace the PSU I suppose as the cheapest first

:rotfl:

SUBMAN1 · 12-22-07, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

Thanx Subman

Happens regulary
As I said sometimes just after boot up - could the CPU get that hot that quick ?

Am running some benchmarking software ( SiS) as I write which just had the CPU up to 97% lol and still going :hmm:

Will replace the PSU I suppose as the cheapest first

:rotfl:

Yep - you just probably found your problem. If the CPU is 100%, and no problem, then I'd say 90% chance you have a bum PSU.

-S

Lzs von swe · 12-22-07, 04:44 PM

Yes, a bad PSU would be my next guess.
I´ve had a PSU slowly dying on me, to the point where the PC would not boot at first try but then boot at second try. Only to stop working again...
Go for some extra power, a new GFX and a new sound card etc. and a cheap PSU will soon be overstressed.

bigboywooly · 12-22-07, 05:18 PM

Thank you both
A new PSU it is then

Chock · 12-22-07, 06:55 PM

Assuming it definitely is a hardware issue, PSU dying would be my first guess.
After that, maybe poor seating of a component or dried out thermal paste where the CPU mates with the heat sink, also possibly dust on the CPU or GPU heat sink vanes causing it to get hot, probably worth checking the vents and fans too to make sure they are free of dust and cooling stuff adequately. If it's none of that, I'd try replacing RAM, then GPU, then CPU.

Chock

kiwi_2005 · 12-22-07, 10:10 PM

You never gave your Uboat a refit last time you were in port did you Woolyboy! Because of that your PC is suffering the consquences. Either that or tone down the AI in GWX

Just kidding.

Like others have said here faulty PSU or your cpu is overheating.

GT182 · 12-22-07, 10:34 PM

Yep BBW, sounds to me like it's the PSU. My stepdaughter just went thru the same thing with her pc..... and it was the PSU.

sonar732 · 12-23-07, 11:44 AM

Something of note was that I didn't see how many watts your PSU was. When you do upgrade, make sure that you have in mind your future needs.

Jimbuna · 12-23-07, 05:09 PM

I appreciate funds don't grow on trees, but if finances allow BB, I'd go for 850 WATT minimum.

SUBMAN1 · 12-23-07, 06:54 PM

Wattage is not important. Amperage is, specfically the +12 Volt rail. If you have plenty of amps on the +12 volt rail, you will also have plenty of watts automatically. I'd say go for a minimum of 38 Amps on the +12 volt. That should power any dual CPU you want, and should power an SLI or Crossfire rig no problem.

Of utmost importance to me personally when building a box is noise. If you need help on quiet PSU's with good amperage, look at a company by the name of Seasonic. They may be a little more exotic than some of the more mainstream PSU's, but they deliver the goods with no sound at all.

If RAW power is what you want, look no further than Silverstone. Expect to pay a mint for Silverstone PSU's though. They are what I would consider industrial PSU's. These will not be as quiet as the Seasonics though.

-S

antikristuseke · 12-23-07, 06:58 PM

So far everyone has given out good advice, but i have to say this and i cant stress this ennough, when buying a PSu STAY THE **** AWAY FROM Codegen and ColorsIT. That is all.

12-22-07, 03:51 PM	#1
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Computer problem\question Ok guys need some help here as doing my head in My computer has just recently started freezing on the display - cant move mouse - HDD seems to go on working as light flashes Sometimes it will reboot others I have to do it No error messages given Sometimes will happen 30 seconds after starting the comp sometimes half hour later Have updated bios since it started and also re installed windows XP Still happening All drivers are up to date Have ran memtest on the memory and threw up no errors Also ran a stability test in the nvidia control panel - no errors again Temp isnt a problem for GPU according to the software installed - running at 52 degrees celcius Running XP Pro Intel Pentium D 3.20 Ghz dual core 2Gb RAM Nvidia 7300 SE\7200 GS 250 Gb Maxtor SATA 80 Gb WD ATA All help grateful before I explode __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

12-22-07, 04:03 PM	#2
Lzs von swe Ace of the Deep Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Norrkoping, Sweden Posts: 1,074 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	My guess is the graphics card. Do you have another nVidia card laying around? Try replacing your current card with it, the drivers should work with practically any nVidia card, and try to run the PC. __________________

12-22-07, 04:07 PM	#3
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Tis PCI-E so dont have another Nvidia lying around Do have an ATI X1050 - pretty sure was still happening when tried that one Will try that again though __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

12-22-07, 04:16 PM	#4
SUBMAN1 Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,866 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'd guess CPU or PSU (Power Supply Unit). One of the two. The PSU, if it is outputting sloppy power due to its slow death, will cause this kind of issue. It will be completely random. The CPU could also be the issue. If it is overheating, it may just lock the system up. The Graphics card, though possible, is the last thing I'd suspect here. -S __________________

12-22-07, 04:25 PM	#5
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Thanx Subman Happens regulary As I said sometimes just after boot up - could the CPU get that hot that quick ? Am running some benchmarking software ( SiS) as I write which just had the CPU up to 97% lol and still going :hmm: Will replace the PSU I suppose as the cheapest first :rotfl: __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

12-22-07, 04:44 PM	#7
Lzs von swe Ace of the Deep Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Norrkoping, Sweden Posts: 1,074 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	Yes, a bad PSU would be my next guess. I´ve had a PSU slowly dying on me, to the point where the PC would not boot at first try but then boot at second try. Only to stop working again... Go for some extra power, a new GFX and a new sound card etc. and a cheap PSU will soon be overstressed. __________________

12-22-07, 05:18 PM	#8
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Thank you both A new PSU it is then __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

12-22-07, 06:55 PM	#9
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Assuming it definitely is a hardware issue, PSU dying would be my first guess. After that, maybe poor seating of a component or dried out thermal paste where the CPU mates with the heat sink, also possibly dust on the CPU or GPU heat sink vanes causing it to get hot, probably worth checking the vents and fans too to make sure they are free of dust and cooling stuff adequately. If it's none of that, I'd try replacing RAM, then GPU, then CPU. Chock __________________

12-22-07, 10:10 PM	#10
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	You never gave your Uboat a refit last time you were in port did you Woolyboy! Because of that your PC is suffering the consquences. Either that or tone down the AI in GWX Just kidding. Like others have said here faulty PSU or your cpu is overheating. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

12-22-07, 10:34 PM	#11
GT182 Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Castle of Delaware Posts: 3,231 Downloads: 658 Uploads: 0	Yep BBW, sounds to me like it's the PSU. My stepdaughter just went thru the same thing with her pc..... and it was the PSU. __________________ Gary No Borders, No Language, No Culture =s No Country I'm a Deplorable, and proud of it.

12-23-07, 11:44 AM	#12
sonar732 The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Central MO Posts: 1,562 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Something of note was that I didn't see how many watts your PSU was. When you do upgrade, make sure that you have in mind your *future* needs.

12-23-07, 05:09 PM	#13
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,552 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I appreciate funds don't grow on trees, but if finances allow BB, I'd go for 850 WATT minimum. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-23-07, 06:54 PM	#14
SUBMAN1 Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,866 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Wattage is not important. Amperage is, specfically the +12 Volt rail. If you have plenty of amps on the +12 volt rail, you will also have plenty of watts automatically. I'd say go for a minimum of 38 Amps on the +12 volt. That should power any dual CPU you want, and should power an SLI or Crossfire rig no problem. Of utmost importance to me personally when building a box is noise. If you need help on quiet PSU's with good amperage, look at a company by the name of Seasonic. They may be a little more exotic than some of the more mainstream PSU's, but they deliver the goods with no sound at all. If RAW power is what you want, look no further than Silverstone. Expect to pay a mint for Silverstone PSU's though. They are what I would consider industrial PSU's. These will not be as quiet as the Seasonics though. -S __________________

12-23-07, 06:58 PM	#15
antikristuseke Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Estland Posts: 4,330 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	So far everyone has given out good advice, but i have to say this and i cant stress this ennough, when buying a PSu STAY THE **** AWAY FROM Codegen and ColorsIT. That is all.