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[mattx5]

Ok, here's the specs -

Windows XP
AMD Athlon 64 3200
1 gb RAM
Radeon x800 Pro
Two 80 gig HDs

For the past two days, my PC has been going slower than usual. It locked up 2 or 3 times yesterday, and 3 times today, twice while at the desktop, once while playing the HL2 demo. It also rebooted itself once while playing the HL2 demo.

Twice when I restarted it, it said it recovered something from a log/registry file or other. When it rebooted in the middle of the HL2 demo it said a fatal error had occurred.

I checked the CPU Usage, nothing seems out of wack and I have plenty of HD space free. The case is fairly cold, I don't think it could be an overheating issue. Could there be anything loose inside?

I'm not very computer savvy, so I have no clue what the problem could be. Help please GAF, you're my only hope

PS: Reformatting isn't the best option right now, I'm in the middle of several projects....

 

[keeblerdrow]

I find the best way to keep a computer running smoothly for the longest period of time possible is to shoot the user.

 

[automagnus]

Post your heat specs please.
how powerful is your power supply?

 

[Biff Hardbody]

Have you run a test on your memory?

 

[mattx5]

The PSU is an Antec 350W.

The last reading has always been out of wack, ever since I installed the program. I'm guessing it's just a misreading of something that's not there?

Have you run a test on your memory?

Good idea.

 

[SpoonyBard]

Check for spyware.

 

[The Shadow]

^^^

What he said. If you could, post a list of the programs that are running via Task Manager. just take a pic of it or two if needed.

 

[automagnus]

350 is too low for an x800

There is an obvious problem with the +5v, there isn't enought voltage.
There also appears to be something bad going down on the -12v which has only -5v
and the -5v isn't looking to goo either. I suggest atleast 450 watts.

what exactly does temp 3 check?

 

[SpoonyBard]

Wow, I didn't notice those voltaeges at first, you should check if bios setup shows same kind of numbers.

 

[mattx5]

I have no clue what temp3 checks, but it's been there since Day 1. My guess is a false reading.

I'll doublecheck for spyware and run a memtest overnight.

As for the voltage, I'm surprised. When I was making the checklist for my PC, I figured 350w would be more than enough, and it had worked fine up until yesterday. I'll look into it, I'm not too savvy on voltage/power supply aspects.

Edit - My PSU came with the case (Antec). How much will a new, decent PSU cost me?

 

[DJ Sl4m]

BSOD usually give a brief description of what the problem is, if/when it happens again make note of the cause, even if you have to jot it down on paper to relay the info.

 

[automagnus]

I didn't know XP had BSOD.

 

[DJ Sl4m]

I didn't know XP had BSOD.

Oh yea........ "kernal Fault Error".

 

[mattx5]

I'll be sure to take it down should it happen again.

Thanks for the advice everyone

 

[Dilbert]

Your power supply is WAY too low for your specs. I'd start there.

 

[mattx5]

One question -

Why now?

I've had the PC since June, I've played hundreds of hours of heated UT2k4 matches, done serious video editing, 3d animation, etc. etc. but I never encountered any problems.

So why are all the problems occuring now?

 

[xsarien]

I didn't know XP had BSOD.

The default is to reboot the system before it displays, so you never see it. If you turn that "feature" off, you'll see the BSoD.

 

[SpoonyBard]

One question -

Why now?

I've had the PC since June, I've played hundreds of hours of heated UT2k4 matches, done serious video editing, 3d animation, etc. etc. but I never encountered any problems.

So why are all the problems occuring now?

Maybe it's happening only when both of your HD's are writing at the same time, and your other HD was empty earlier.

But you should check if bios setup shows similar voltages than that SpeedFan program, it looks like it's not working right.

 

[mattx5]

I'm not sure if there's a more advanced way to check voltage in the BIOS?

This is what I got -

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VCore - OK
DDR25V - OK
+ 3.3V - OK
+ 12V - OK

It was set to supply voltage to the CPU and AGP as required.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anything in specific I should be looking for?

 

[SpoonyBard]

Hmm... if that's all the information you get then it's not going to help much. Did your motherboard come with a CD that has some kind of monitoring software? Like Asus Probe or something? That SpeedFan looks unreliable.

 

[mattx5]

*rummages through discs*

Came with a program called EasyTune, a monitoring program. I'll install it now.

Edit: Funny how when I came to GAF for advice when I was building this PC, no one mentioned the power supply......

 

[mattx5]

This is really ****ing bizarre.

 

[SpoonyBard]

That looks a bit better, the voltages are only slightly lower than normal.

Are all the fans working? If you only have one fan that may not be enough...

I'd also open the case and make sure that all the cables, PCI/AGP cards and memory are plugged in correctly. If that doesn't help, then get the new power supply....

 

[mattx5]

I think the fan reading is off, because with Speedfan and in the BIOS, it says it's going approx 3375 RPM.

I'm going to have to get a new PSU anyways, especially if the problem persists.

 

[automagnus]

Maybe its refering to a chassi fan.

 

[Shogmaster]

Your power supply is WAY too low for your specs. I'd start there.

Fuck no. I friend's running X800 Pro, 3500+ A64, 512MBx2 DIMMs, and two 120GB HDs on the Antec Phantom, and that's only 350W (and fanless).

 

[mattx5]

Fuck no. I friend's running X800 Pro, 3500+ A64, 512MBx2 DIMMs, and two 120GB HDs on the Antec Phantom, and that's only 350W (and fanless).

..... so I guess my problem could be any number of things. I think we've ruled out overheating. I checked for spyware using Spybot, so it can't be that. I don't know what else it could be besides the PSU??

 

[Shogmaster]

..... so I guess my problem could be any number of things. I think we've ruled out overheating. I checked for spyware using Spybot, so it can't be that. I don't know what else it could be besides the PSU??

My money's on the RAM, especially if they are running in dual channel.

 

[mattx5]

I'm starting to think it's the RAM too as it's freezing at no specific times, I could have no programs open and it will still freeze, so I don't think it's an issue that I'm taxing the system resources.

I'm not sure if my RAM are running in dual channel, what is it and how would I know?

This pisses me off that one stick would just stop working only 5 months in.

 

[Crow]

It sounds to me like RAM, then again most of the problems I come across are RAM related. Check to see how many sticks of RAM you have on your mainboard. If you have two, it is likely that one of the sticks of RAM is faulty or having compatibility issues. Pull a stick out, boot up windows and open up your HL2 demo...play into it and see if you have a problem. If you do, put that stick back in and pull out the other.

If you find this stops the stalling then you have isolated the problem and should take the faulty RAM stick back to the store for replacement.

Can't promise my suggestion will work, but it's a start to the process of elimination.

 

[MmmBeef]

Good lord Crow, I've been staring at your avatar for a good five minutes. It's mesmerizing.

mattx5, I second the "yank one of your sticks" recommendations. If it is your ram then it probably has a lifetime warranty (provided it's a reputable vendor).

I think the fan reading is off, because with Speedfan and in the BIOS, it says it's going approx 3375 RPM.

Wait, I thought your CPU fan was going 3375 (based on that EasyTune screenshot). How many case fans do you have?

 

[Shogmaster]

Run MEMTEST86 already?