My computer's started freezing!!!

Matt_91

Matt_91

Member
The title says it all, my computer has suddenly taken a habit of freezing the last couple of days. I know it isn't software because it occurs in both my windows and linux partitions. I've noticed it occurs when i increase the load on my cpu, for egsample ending a non responsive program, or stopping a screensaver, but it also happens a lot of times when I'm doing things like using the net.
I am running an MSI MS-6378 motherboard with an AthlonXP 2200+ cpu. this has only been my setup for about three months. I got the cpu from an old motherboard we had that started freezing, it turned out to be the motherboard, it seems that whatever motherboard you put this cpu on it stuffs it up. Could it possibly be the power supply? the cpu needs more power at those times and the power supply perhaps give it too much? Also note that it is summer (i live in Australia) at the moment so it does get a lot hotter, mind you when it freezes I check the cpu temperature and it's always fine (mid 30s to mid 40s (celcius)). One last question, could it be the hard drive because it's running at over 20 degrees C what it's recommended temperature, at first i thought it could be a busted sensor but the drive gets really bloody hot (late 50's early 60's).
Any feedback appreciated,
Matt
 
The cpu and hot temps seen on the drive are items of concern there! The cpu itself doesn't have to see high temps if it is on the way out. Another hardware list includes memory and the system bios to add here. How old is the cpu itself? Only 3 months on a new board doesn't say much.

At this late date and time upgrading to a Socket 939 model board with a good AMD64 3500+ single core or AMD64 3800+ X2 dual core model would be a thing to consider. Trying another hard drive in the case will show if the current one is failing on you there. A bad drive would most likely keep Windows from loading however.
 
PC eye said:
At this late date and time upgrading to a Socket 939 model board with a good AMD64 3500+ single core or AMD64 3800+ X2 dual core model would be a thing to consider. Trying another hard drive in the case will show if the current one is failing on you there. A bad drive would most likely keep Windows from loading however.
Click to expand...

I did exactly this recently. I was able to get a Socket939 mobo and AMD64 3500+ cpu for about $130. It's well worth it.

Definitely check your BIOS and jumper setting to make sure you're getting the correct voltages, though. My mobo came with a feature in BIOS that automates overclocking. I had selected 'V8' (out of V6, V8, V12), but it kept becoming unstable and freezing up. So I dropped it back to V6 and everything worked fine.

A lot of different things can create instability, but if the same CPU was becoming unstable in a different system I think the signs point to it as the failure.
 
Last edited:
I had one foobar last spring when a fan on the 3rd cooler quite and the temps reached the max. A month later the fsb had to be lowered in order for the system to even run when the new hsf went on. If the cpu there saw an overheat on the last board it is now showing the clear signs of it being on the way out. If it was oced on either board the life would be shortened if it has been in use for a few years already. I would plan on a new build there.
 
Here's some more info, the cpu is a bit over five years old, however it had a period of nearly a year of not being used, (January 06 - October) it was then put back in a motherboard and worked fine. In it's previous motherboard it detiriorated over time and eventually it could hardly make it to the desktop. I spent a few days trying overclocking and seeing what it could handle but i could only get about an extra 100mhz out of it before it would freeze so i went back to normal. I did recently add some new ram, which like the rest of my machine was second hand (forgot to say, the motherboard is second hand off ebay, not sure of it's age). I swapped the processors and so far I haven't had any problems today, but it hasn't been as hot in the house (encase that is a problem). I might run it hard tomorrow and see what happens. The hard, even though it's a few years old, had never been out of the box when i got it but it runs pretty hot but haven't seen any signs i'd expect to see. An upgrade would be nice but i'm down to my last $120(au)(i'm 15 still looking for a part time job). I'm not sure how hot it ran in the last computer but it didn't have very good ventilation so it could have been hot, i'll ask my dad when he gets home. I think i'll keep an eye on ebay and maybe get some money out of my savings account. But I have one last question, as i said in my last post, a similar thing happened in it's last motherboard and all the capacitor's looked fine, do you they could be related?
Thanks in advance
-Matt
 
When you oc anything you place heavy stress on the hardware or hardwares involved. That cuts the life expectancy over a period of time. When you are on a tight budget and laxk immediate "play money" to toss around you want to see hardwares last. With problems already having been seen run it stock until it quits is about the best advice anyone can give there. Hopefully it won't take the board along with it.

That happened with a cpu I sold only slightly used/never oced some time back. When tried on a second board the cpu did that one in too! A friend rushed into putting that in before being advised not to touch anything from the other case it came out of. oops! The cpu took a few boards with it! That was a Socket A Atholon XP2600+ there with the Barton core. At 5yr.s of age and all indications pointing at it beng the problem the cost of replacing a board there if that goes as well wouldn't be worth it.
 
Just encase it's memory I'm going to put the 2200 back in and work it hard until it starts freezing, then i'll try changing the memory and seeing if there's a difference, if it's the cpu i'll be getting myself a new setup because that cpu is the best the board can take, so i'd prefer to pay to upgrade rather then get back to were i was.
 
In that line of cpus the XP2500+ with the Barton core was the best for ocing. What happens there is that you simply bring the clock speed upto the 3200+ or 3400+ speed on the same die cast chip. The cost on an AMD64 Atholon 3500+ for a Socket 939 board is about $89 at newegg with prices having dropped sharply in the last few months on the boards too. You should note some of that effecting vendors there.
 
FIXED!!!
One of the memory modules had kicked the bucket, i swapped it with a 128mb card and it's running well, but i've lost 128mb, i'll look out for some cheap ram and maybe get a 512 card.
Thanks for everyone's help, really appreciate it
-Matt
 
When you go to replace the bad dimm you'll want to match the replacement with the speed and type. If you had a dual sided dimm make sure you buy that or it won't work out for you. What memory do you have in PC2100 or the slower?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top