Going out of my mind...

UndeadScottsman · Dec 9, 2001

Alright.. First of, sorry if this is a tad off-topic but there really isn't a general computers forum (That I saw at least) plus this forum seems to have the most traffic. Anywho, I've recently put together a new computer and it works terrific and all, except for the fact it has a habit to freeze at VERY random times. And by random, I do mean RANDOM. I'll give some examples.

-Loading up ICQ
-Clicking on an internet link
-Playing Return to Castle Wolfienstien
-Watching a DVD
-Watching an AVI
-Playing Diablo II singleplayer
-Playing Diablo II multiplayer
-Listening to MP3's

These can happen at any time. I could have just booted up my computer after having it off for 12+ hours only to have it freeze when it loads ICQ from the starup menu, and on the other hand, I could have had it running idle for the past day or so and then use it activly for four or five hours until it freezes. I'm postive it isn't an overheating problem, nor a bad memory chip problem. And these are "I have to reboot my machine freezes" too. Here are my system specs

Windows XP (More than likly my problem there, eh? =)

-Athlon XP 1800+ CPU
-Abit KG7 (No RAID)
-Vantec CCK-6035D Heatsink/Fan
-Crucial PC2100 DDR RAM 256MBx4 (Only have two in right now.. still the same problem)
-ENLIGHT 72370X3C4 CASE W/ 1 internal case fan and 300 watt power supply
-IBM 60GB Harddrive
-Creative Soundblaster Audigy
-TDK VeloCD 24x10x40x CDRW
-Another Case Fan that I forgot the name of
-Pioneer 116 16x DVD-ROM
-Some generic Floppy Drive
-3com 10/100T NIC
-Visiontek Xstacy Geforce3 Ti200

I have the latest drivers for the VideoCard, Motherboard, and the soundcard, but the problem still persists. I haven't touched any of XP's default memory and processor settings though.

Any help would be EXTREMLY appreciated!!! And thank you so very much for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Dunn

Guest · Dec 9, 2001

try making sure u have no irq conflicts

lhgpoobaa · Dec 10, 2001

juding by what u have said...

firstly,
test your ram with Memtest86. freeware proggy.
this should detect any hard to spot ram errors.

then test your CPU under load with seti@home, prime95, or toast!

excessive lockups under load, should u get them, suggest overheating, or possibly insufficient power.

lastly, PSU problems are hard to diagnose. though they often, but not always, occur more often when your doing lots of stuff.
for this i suggest Motherboard monitor. another free proggy.

then watch your voltages as your doing stuff,
particularly the 3.3v, 5v and 12v lines.
any excessive fluctuations (greater than about 0.2v) indicates a insufficient, poor or failing powersupply.

hope this helps.

Excuse me for a moment. I need to drive my ergonomic wheely chair over a sheet of bubble wrap!

Crashman · Dec 10, 2001

ICQ you!

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

Kelledin · Dec 10, 2001

What I've found is that lockups are generally not caused by memory errors. Memory errors usually cause random reboots, but rarely lockups.

The most likely culprit in this case would be some IRQ conflict. It could very well be insufficient power or overheating--maybe not overheating of the CPU, but overheating of the gfx card or the like. GF3 cards and SoundBlaster cards have a habit of running rather warm.

Kelledin
[dave@discovery ~] kill -9 1
init: Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?

MeTaLrOcKeR · Dec 10, 2001

I have to incist on the Audigy Conflicting with something (IRQ wise) AS if anyoen notices everything he mentioned as to when it randomly locks up involves Sound....

ClickinG a Link (You Hear the clicking sound)
DVD (Obviously theres Sound)
Playing a Game (Agaain, obviously sound)
Playign an MP3 (Self-Explanitory AGAIN)

Anyways, try taking yoru soudn card right out of the computer.......boot her up...try and do stuff and see if its working properyl now, if it is, you know the problem is tyhe Crappy VIA Chipset.......

If it makes no difference, i'd suspect a power supply instability problem.....anyhoo...

Please mind my typo's if i have any I can barely see, i've been up since 2:30pm Sunday as I work Midnight shift aty my new work and I just got home....anyways, good luck....

-MeTaL RoCkEr

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=13597" target="_new"> My Rig </A>

Guest · Dec 10, 2001

Yup - or anything PCI related. Check your mobo, or irq's

Techie2001
(Forum Techie)

svol · Dec 10, 2001

This lets me think back to all those Via 686b Southbridge problems...

My case has so many fans that it hovers above the ground

.

FUGGER · Dec 10, 2001

I just love posts like these! Testimonials on why NOT to buy AMD!

Well all the money you saved sure is coming in handy now? ROFL @ U!

AmdMELTDOWN · Dec 10, 2001

AMD platform is known for retarded IRQ's, plug n play ceases to exsist on AMD platforms, plug n pray if you add or move any cards.

"AMD/VIA!...you are still the weakest link, good bye!"

vader1882 · Dec 10, 2001

funny i haven't had any irq/mobo problems with my computer
800mhz duron
256mb ram pcc-133
2 hd 1-10gb 1-20gb
hercules sound card
radeon 64mb vid card
cd-rom
dvd-rom
modem
funny i thought all amds are unstable.
but i have not had any problems with it.

intel amd the ultimate deathmatch

FatBurger · Dec 11, 2001

Me either. I wonder what we're doing wrong...

Quarter Pounder Inside

AMD_Man · Dec 11, 2001

ok...........sure..............

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the ULTIMATE PC processor

AMD_Man · Dec 11, 2001

I'm running an AMD system without any problems. No overheating, no crashes (well, at least no BSOD, app crashes don't relate to the hardware), no IRQ conflict, no incompatible hardware or software. Hmm, maybe I'm not stressing my system enough? Maybe Prime95, Toast, AutoCAD 2000, Borland Delphi 5, IE, MS Office XP, Windows XP, ICQ, Windows Messenger, Adobe PhotoShop Elements, Easy CD Creator 5, Quake III, UT, Messiah, Star Trek: Armada, etc don't stress the CPU enough? Hmm, I guess I need to stress it more... Hmm, AMDMeltdown, maybe you can help me?

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the ULTIMATE PC processor

lhgpoobaa · Dec 11, 2001

as usual. your decisive help has been greatly appreciated by all.

AMD - Anti Monopoly Devices
AMD - At Massive Discounts!

FUGGER · Dec 11, 2001

Im sure AMD_MAN posts helps this guy.

The brutal truth might help others in the future when they make their CPU choice.

Tell me did he make a good investment? how much money is he saving? is the aggravation worth the money saved? is he enjoying his superior performance?

Hell no, he is sitting around with his thumb up his ass wondering what to do next. GG

lhgpoobaa · Dec 11, 2001

well at least amd_man and other try to help.
what do u do?
....
....
well?

and what of all the others we dont see?
u may notice the cpu section rarely gets posts like:
"hi! im a newbie, and im having no problems what so ever with amd/intel/nvidia/ati/via etc"

im hope you realise that boards only see the worst of things. rarely the best.
and as such, AMD has been coined the "enthusiast" cp, rightly or wrongly. thus with more homebuilds one would expect more people on such boards than the thousands of dell/gateway/compac P4 users.

users who are, no doubt, enjoying the P4/sdram combo. i feel sorry for the folks manning their helpdesks.

hey.. i got a useful idea...
instead of whining at people who have allready purchaced AMD computers, why no be proactive and try to get em before they buy...

make your own anti amd site or somethin...

now...im off to help someone. u?

AMD - Anti Monopoly Devices
AMD - At Massive Discounts!

Kelledin · Dec 11, 2001

That must be why I have four PCI cards and an AGP card, and nothing locks up (even when everything is on IRQ11).

Plug-n-Play problems happen to all platforms. Competent technicians resolve them before blaming them on the CPU. :tongue:

Kelledin
[dave@discovery ~] kill -9 1
init: Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?

Guest · Dec 11, 2001

seems to be a lot of problems with drivers other than those that came with xp,suggest you roll back drivers one at a time till your problem goes away

flamethrower205 · Dec 11, 2001

Odd, I remove cards like every week from my comp and it's fine. And how does the fvcking processor affect IRQ- I could swear teh user sets that. Well, I guess for douche bags like u, u don't know how. Right off the bat, I have somthing against Intel- idiots like u endorse it. Are u one of teh blue men? Maybe the guy on teh scooter who got flung, causing head injury?

NOS and a Ferrari can be fun!

flamethrower205 · Dec 11, 2001

Yo, metalrocker, haven't seen u in a while- how's everything dude?

NOS and a Ferrari can be fun!

AMD_Man · Dec 11, 2001

OK, sorry for not answering you right anyway. These trolls were in my way. Have you checked your temps? I doubt this is caused by IRQ conflicts. It's probably either due to overheating or a weak PSU or believe it or not, it could be due to a buggy USB peripheral. I've had a USB device (Laser Printer), that would sometimes cause the computer to freeze for no apparent reason. Once I reinstalled the drivers, it was fixed. I highly doubt it's a heat issue but it could be a weak PSU? Is it generic or made by a manufacturer such as Enermax or Antec?

AMD technology + Intel technology = Intel/AMD Pentathlon IV; the ULTIMATE PC processor

Matisaro · Dec 11, 2001

There have been some problems reported with nvidias latest BETA BETA BETA BETA BETA (for the ati fans) drivers 23.11, go back to the whql ones on the nvidia site and that should clear things up.

(btw, the beta drivers cause random lockups and reboots on some via chipsets).

"The Cash Left In My Pocket,The BEST Benchmark"
No Overclock+stock hsf=GOOD!

UndeadScottsman · Dec 11, 2001

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's not a heating problem. I had the case panel off and a normal kind of fan (The kind for cooling people off) blowing in there and it still kept freezing. Plus, as I said before, there is no relation to time the computer has been on and to when it freezes. If it was an overheating problem, I think it would have occured on a regular bases X amount of time after starting Y game. Running Seti@home manages to eventually freeze my machine, but not at the same time, each time. I haven't had a chance to diagnose my PSU yet, either.

I switched around IRQ settings and nothing changed so I'm guessing it's not that either.

The ram checking program is still running on that computer (How long do you think 1024mb of ram would take to check with that proggy on a Athlon XP 1800+?) It's been running for at least 8 hours (Started it around 10:30pm, checked it around 6:30am and it was still going.. Not sure where it's at now since I'm at school)

I'm gonna try to run it without my audigy for awhile and see if that helps, I think I already tried that though.. I can't remember. But it can't hurt to try again.

I've been getting these freezes since I first put my computer together a month ago, so I don't think it's because of drivers for anything, but I'll keep it in mind as a last resort. (I'm not to far away from reformatting and putting a copy of 2000 on there anyway =)

Also, there are no USB devices connected to my computer at all.

So I'm guesing it is a bad PSU. The PSU is a 300 watt Enlight that came with my case. Here is a shot of it
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp

Anywho, thanks for the help. Plenty to leads to go on now.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Dunn

flamethrower205 · Dec 12, 2001

Wait- 23.11 is beta? I though 23.10 were.

NOS and a Ferrari can be fun!

Going out of my mind...

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