Troubleshooting my PC

[og954]

I am having issues with my PC. It sometimes goes into a freezing fit for about 5-10 seconds where the mouse moves but you cannot click on anything. And then it unfreezes and everything runs smooth and normal/fast.

A couple weeks ago I got a blue error screen the computer started dumping and restarted and did not reboot. I tried turning the PC on and the fans and lights come on the computer, but my monitors showed no signal and stay off.

After a couple of unsuccessful tries at rebooting, I opened the PC box and dusted off some of the components (there was not much dust) and I took out the RAM sticks and put them into the DDR3 3 and 4 slots (the manual says it is better to put them in slots 1 and 2) and the computer started up successfully.

About a month ago I also acquired a new monitor. I always had a dual monitor set up, but the new monitor is a little bigger. I have an onboard graphics card which is ATI 4200.

So, I am trying to find out what is causing the freezing.

Should I try putting the RAM back into slots 1 and 2?

Should I buy new RAM?

Should I buy a dedicated graphics card?

Is the motherboard going bad?

 

[mosox]

What RAM? If it's rated for more than 1.5V you need to set the appropriate voltage in the BIOS. Try with only one stick at a time.

Also read this and test the PC
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

 

[og954]

I am current running the Latency Checker. I did not know that you have to set the appropriate voltage in the BIOS. This could be a problem since I built the computer myself. Although the computer has been running find for a little more than a year already. Is there any way to check how much voltage is required for my specific memory? And how do I set it up? I never really messed with the BIOS screen for any reason before.

Thanks for the help.

 

[og954]

Also the Latency Checker now says

"Some device drivers on this machine behave bad and will probably cause drop-outs in real-time audio and/or video streams. To isolate the misbehaving driver use Device Manager and disable/re-enable various devices, one at a time. Try network and W-LAN adapters, modems, internal sound devices, USB host controllers, etc."

 

[og954]

OK on the Latency checker I noticed that every time I open a new web page the bars jump to a little above the yellow bar.

Test interval 1000
Current Latency is around 250ish and the absolute maximum was 14122

 

[mosox]

That's not a big jump. You need to find out exactly what RAM you have. Try some other mouse, PS2, do you use any USB devices? .

 

[og954]

My keyboard is plugged in via usb. I have a webcam that is also usb. An Ipod cable that I keep plugged in even when the ipod is not attached.

My mouse has been acting up lately...

This is the exact RAM I am using.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148262

 

[mosox]

Well the RAM voltage is standard. Possibly one of your USB devices.