Problem with older computer

[Thwiipp]

Hello all, I hope someone could help me with this issue I've been having. My Wife has an older computer, it was my old one that i rebuilt/refreshed. It's a Pentium 3 1Ghz 512MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Pro. Now it Frequently locks up, but it's random. Nothing Specific does it. It doesnt even have to be taxing work. So far I have replaced the power supply(failed anyway) Graphics card. Hard Drive reinstalled windows once and Ran Memtest on the RAM. The only things left are the processor and motherboard, I dont know if they would be to blame, Im about to preform a reinstall of XP in a couple of days. Maybe even swap the processor out to a spare. I don't know what to do anymore for this, im running out of ideas. If anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[fferree]

I would build a new system. The memory on the old system is negligible, you don't say how big the hard drive is, etc. If you took it to a computer shop they would tell you to scrap it. Someone gave me a similar system recently and I just decided to scrap it. It is just out of date.

 

[Thwiipp]

Hard Drive is 60GB Western Digital, barely used and barely filled. I know its out of date for say most of us here on the forums, but it is my wife's I actually gave her that so she can replace an even older system (P2 450MHZ) if you could believe that. She was actually ok with that, i just could stand when ever i need to use it occasionally.

 

[utaka95]

It probably has bad capacitors. You could look for the swollen/ leaking one and replace it.

 

[ffchocobo]

I would suggest the problem is with the CPU or motherboard. Last time my CPU died it kept locking up randomly, under load or idle etc etc

 

[Thwiipp]

Thanks I'll check the board, Im gonna do a reinstall this weekend and swap out the CPU to my slight slower 866MHZ, any other thoughts? otherwize i may have to consider either just getting here a new system or throw a whole new board, CPU, ram GPU in the box.

 

[Thwiipp]

OK I checked the motherboard, and noticed that what utaka95 may be correct. How could i fix this, Is there anywhere where i can still buy a good P3 motherboard to replace this board? I attached a picture of what i noticed, would this be what actually cause the lock-ups?

Thanks

 

[tdank]

Theres actually a really good article here at toms on it.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/05/18/fixing_your_motherboard/


Hope it helps.

 

[smelly_feet]

if you're in canada, 250$ will get you an emachines p4 641 system preloaded with vista home basic. I think I saw it at best buy or futureshop.

 

[smelly_feet]

oops I was off a bit on the price by 20$.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id =0926INGFS10090354&catid=20217

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.a sp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10090339&catid=20217

 

[Winly]

i think is better if u buy a new pc or build one because that pc is a little bit old. this is what i think.