i need to ask a computer related question.
 

background:
i need some help resolving a problem i've been having for months that i've tried to resolve without success. around easter i went on vacation for a week or so, only to come back to a computer that would restart out of nowhere. it got gradually worse. at first, it seemed random at first. now, whenever i do something stressful to my computer (and sometimes things that are not stressful) it just locks completely.

*please note: i can change the way the computer acts by checking "automatically restart". if this is checked, when the system fails for whatever reason this is happening, it will just restart. if it isn't checked, the computer completely locks indefinitely*

things i've noticed and suspected:
i noticed that whenever i'd play a game that would stress my computer, it would lock so i suspected the graphics card. however, switching it out with another did not fix this. then i went into my bios's hardware monitor, and i could clearly see my cpu temperature rising steadily. so i went and applied more thermal gel, cleaned the fan and the heatsink out, and applied a box fan to the side of my case to try and keep the temp down. after this, it still did not fix my problem. to this day, i suspect either the mobo for giving false readings, or the cpu being shorted. (that happens sometimes, doesn't it?)

solutions i've tried:
switching ram (that was the first hunch i had, however both sticks of ram are good)
switching power supplies
applying new thermal paste to my cpu
switching hard drives
using new cables

solutions i haven't tried:
switching cpu
switching mobo

for educational purposes, i will list:
things i can run without freezing (all the time):
internet explorer (froze once or twice)
mozilla (froze once, just today)
nnnesterJ - nes emulator
cuteftp
winamp
photoshop (only froze one time ever)
macromedia flash (froze once)
aim
visualboy advance - gba emulator (froze a few times)
snes9x - snes emulator
fruityloops studio producer (froze when rendering a song)

things i definitely can't run:
counter-strike
battlefield 1942
zsnes - snes emulator
hitman 2
bomberman online
mame32k - arcade emulator
anything that trys to render a video for more than a minute or so

basically, when i hear my harddrive start to spin up, and it spins for about a minute and a half, it will all of a sudden lock and the hard drive will stop spinning. however, the hard drive seems to not be the problem, considering i've switched hard drives 3 times to try and fix the problem, and i've switched the cables also.

to avoid the problem, i've just been chatting, posting on forums, messing around in flash, photoshop, and fruityloops, and playing emulators. of course, i own all the games i have as roms.

can anyone provide a possible solution outside of switching my mobo or cpu? although that may be the culprit, i'll have to wait to attempt something like that.

Edit:

i suppose computer specs would help: shuttle av41p (mobo) 2.6ghz p4 500fsb (cpu) /w stock intel cpu fan+hsink 1.5gb pc2100 ddr (ram) 80gb maxtor (hd) radeon9200 se (vid card)

Sounds like definite overheating. Add case fans.

What kind of power supply are you using? You already said you tried a different one, but I'm still curious.

Now, for a few easy cooling solutions. Make sure your wires are tightly binded and out of the way. Maybe cut a blowhole in the top of your case. Oh, and install yourself some more fans like your boyfriend Grav said.

would a fucked up cpu overheat even if adequate cooling was added?

What kind of Motherboard do you have? There have been cases of bad caps on Motherboards about a year or so ago. Check the caps and make sure they aren't bent out of shape or deformed.

How much cooling? You shouldn't need more than a few fase cans and the stock CPU fan.

You might need to get some Arctic Silver 3 to put between the heatsink and CPU..

Case fans didn't help me. I got a 6000 RPM uber-CPU-fan. Still, I'm running faster than I should be, so I suspect a short in the processor. Yes, that can happen.

I'll bet if you replaced your processor, that would fix your entire problem.

Anyhow, the problems you're experiencing are almost exactly what I had. My computer restarted (very rarely) by itself. It got worse over time. I had a hard time booting up sometimes. Eventually, it wouldn't make it to Windows when booting. It would just shut itself off during the boot process.

I tried different cables. I tried a different video card. I tried swapping ram. I bought a new power supply. I bought a new mobo. Finally, a big motherfucking CPU fan fixed the problem. I kept all the gear though. It was all a nice upgrade over what I had.

i just recently dumped a new packet of thermal paste and cleaned out the heatsink and fan, so they're running optimally. that seemed to keep the temperature down a bit. i have the side of the case open and the back of the case has empty holes where the pci slots are, so i have a big box fan blowing air into it and the air is certainly circulating. please note that it is very cool in my house, as the air condtioning is on. i definitely don't think it has to do with air circulation as much as cpu corruption.

i have a shuttle av41p, by the way.

Then it's possible that

A) Your motherboard has broken transistors or snapped off capacitors.

B) Your CPU is on crack.

C) You're a liar, and need to die.

My CPU did that once. I just moved it and havn't had the same problem in a year...

Open your computer, get the compressed air, and fucking SPRAY THE FAN. Open it and SPRAY THAT SHIT. It helps, trust me. Also move it higher, or make it so its not so cramped. Think of it like this: If you're in a small place, and you cant breath the well, you're going to spaz out and start moving around. Thats how your comp is.

grav, why the fuck would i spend all that time writing that if it was a lie?


CAN YOU READ? I SAID TWICE THAT I JUST RECENTLY CLEANED MY FAN AND HEATSINK. I'M NOT SAYING IT AGAIN.

Edit:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...06-032&depa=1p thinking about ordering this.

"Highest Performance" 6000 RPM

That should help your problem. It may not fix the problem, but there is a good chance it will remedy the symptoms of it. As I stated before, though, it still may be a problem with your CPU.

i'll order it and see if it helps any. thanks for the feedback Bob.

Thread cleaned of spam and flames. Try to keep it on topic. If you don't have anything to contribute or haven't read the entire thread including the introduction, do not reply.

thanks bob.

does anyone have anything else they can think of that would possibly solve my problem?

Then you may want to clean out the part where he states:

CAN YOU READ? I SAID TWICE THAT I JUST RECENTLY CLEANED MY FAN AND HEATSINK. I'M NOT SAYING IT AGAIN.

Being off topic giving advice on how to moderate is not normally recommended. Besides, I left it because the second half of his post links to something relevant to the thread.

Is your processor overclocked at all? Maybe there was some damage done to it if it was....

Not sure, I know shit about this aspect of computers.

no, i've never in my life tried to over clock a processor. i've never had the need for it.

I never overclocked mine, and I think something's wrong with it nonetheless. Overheating due to dust or poor air circulation can damage the processor. Even after improving cooling and circulation, the damage is still done.

You order that CPU fan yet?

na, i didn't get a chance to call my dad last night. by the time i remembered, he would have already been long asleep. that lazy bastard. :p

Sounds a lot like what my pc did.

My powersupply was faulty and it stopped working(slowly stopped) without any indication anything was really wrong. PC kept freezing and restarting. Took it in under warrenty, replaced power supply and now it works just like new.

* The thing just didn't shut off or anything, it rebooted to windows, shut down and such after time. I couldn't run anything. GL though.

He already said it wasn't the power supply

Before you replace the proc take it out and try it in a friends PC that is working. See what happens. Your 2.6 is still plenty fast so no need to upgrade if you don't need to.

pretty sure none of my friends have a socket 478 mobo, so is there a way for a local computer company to be able to test my processor?

You might could get someone at Fry's to do it for you, but they'd charge ya $10 or $15. I say might because they'll test mobo/cpus you buy there for a fee, but... you already own this CPU. Anyhow, I'd just go ahead and get the new CPU fan. Even if your CPU is broken and needs to be replaced, a big, badass CPU fan is always worth the money.

Hey you should build yourself a new computer from the ground up, and input a water-cooling system in. Those things never let your computer overheat, so i've heard. This way you can be sure what goes in and if anything gets fucked up, just remember back to the time when you built the thing and you will think to yourself, "Oh yeah, I dropped the mother board a few times, well better change that out!" or whatever the case may be.
________
extreme vaporizer review

what the hell are you talking about, dropping the mother board? i've never done such a asinine thing in my life. and no, i won't be implementing a water cooling system. that's ridiculous. i don't overclock, and i have no reason to.

by the way, bob, i ordered that fan. it should be here in a few days. i'll let you know how it goes.

Ack.

You dont get what he's saying.

He's saying build your own computer, and pimp it out.
Let's use this as an example:

You are placing your motherboard in. You accidently fall, and drop it. Nothing looks broken, so you place it in as it goes. A week later shit starts messing up. You then realize " Well, I dropped my motherboard, that may be the problem." This way you dont have to hastle around saying "Fucking Dell! Fuck Them!" and you can always know what's going on in your PC.

Also, he's saying that overheating is sometimes a probelm, not to your situation but just incase you should add a water-cooling system. This way you'll never have that as a problem. Make your comp with a tight- ass case, add tons of ram, and you've got the most pimped out computer there is.

That's basicly what he's saying.

i did build my own fucking computer. i wish i hadn't. if i had a fucking dell of the same speed, i wouldn't be having these problems. because the parts that a major manufacturer uses are all meant to be used in conjunction with eachother. they check for those sorts of things. and no, a water cooling system isn't going to make the most pimped-out comptere there is.

i do have tons of ram. and unless anyone has a workstation, does insane graphic design, or just went overboard, i probably have the most ram out of anyone on this board. :/

Download mIRC

Go to the cored server

go to channel

Ratio-free-movies or free-ratio-movies

Rfm clan needs a LOT of ram to store their movies, they will give you free movies for it..

slaynish that makes no sense whatsoever. i can't host anything anyway cause of this shit router.

Dude, it sounds like your getting butt bent on this subject. If it pisses you off that much just buy a new computer. We are trying to help us and you go flipping out and shit. Just calm down and we can discuss this like civilized human beings. Now...If those fans have come in yet and your problem still isn't resolved, then you messed something up or spilt some kind of drink on it or something your not telling us, because I think we have tried every trick in the book.

And Slaynish, you were right about what I meant.

P.S. Reply to slaynish saying to have Buttloads of RAM, and you replied with a snide remark, maybe you could be making this up to brag about your specs. Who knows.

What'd i'd do to check if its overheating is take the damn case off. Just unscrew the sides and top or whatever, and remove them. Then boot the computer (or however you rigged it to work) Then hit * del * and go into CMOS. Then go to the right side, its like (Hardware monitor , or some shit) and It'll tell you a few things that you need to know.

You should be able to see how hot your computer and CPU are running. I think the max temp the computer is supposed to be is 113 F. Mine runs at about 138*F and has had some of the same problems as you've been having.

What my teacher has told me to do if your having possible hardware problems, remove all excess shit you don't need.
Modem
NIC card
any other bs you don't need, etc

Thats if you can't boot at all.

You may be using too much power for your power supply, you should find some of the manuals for each of components you have in your computer (Video card, Sound card, CPU, everything.) Get the watt requirements and add them up, make sure your power supply can hold all of them.

But what I did to fix my problem which was similar to yours was just format the HD. I don't know why, but my computer was doing the same shit as yours (Locking up, having bullshit errors all the time) But I don't recommend doing that. I could get onto my computer for about 20 minutes and it'd lock up. Reboot, repeat.

Taking off the case isn't going to help a processor overheating problem. There's simply not enough air flow to prevent it. He needs a new CPU fan to fix that.

It's also not a wattage problem unless his power supply is going out. Guess what. It's not his power supply. He already tried a swap.