PC blacks out constantly

I

Irishwhistle

New Member
I built a PC recently with the following specs:

AMD 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz
ASUS M3A78-CM
2GB DDR2 RAM
500GB SATA HDD
500W OCZ StealthXStream
Integrated ATI 3100 Graphics

The problem is that every time I start Windows up it's not long and the screen goes completely black and nothing responds (meaning the issue is not the monitor.) The caps lock light won't even go on when I hit caps lock (meaning it did really crash.) But the computer it's self doesn't act like it crashed... the fan keeps spinning like normal.

The only way I'm able to use the PC is on a Linux live CD (that's how I'm using it now.)

So, any ideas? Thanks guys! :)
 
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Well, the issue seems to be that the CPU was overheating... it seems to be solved for the moment by taking off the side of the case. Still, it's sitting right next to an old CRT monitor that's generating a good deal of heat. That should at least explain the problem. :P
 
ramodkk said:
I would consider an after-market CPU cooler.
Click to expand...

yeah, fortunately that computer is gonna be moved anyway so it won't be right next to that big CRT monitor... it'll be replaced by an i7 rig with 2.5TB HDD space and 12GB RAM with dual 22" LCD monitors. :D

Obviously, it's not my rig. :P
 
You could try bringing the CPU down a bit , I see your running @ 3.1ghz

Do you have anything else overclocked? What are your HD, MB, GPU temps ?

ram voltages ?
 
Mr soft said:
You could try bringing the CPU down a bit , I see your running @ 3.1ghz

Do you have anything else overclocked? What are your HD, MB, GPU temps ?

ram voltages ?
Click to expand...

No, they're to separate computers... the one I'm talking about isn't overclocked. I'm gonna get temps for everything later today. :)
 
You can download SpeedFan to check out your temps, that what I use. Also, what OS are you using? When you built the computer did you pull the HDD out of another or was the HDD new? If you did pull it out an older system, did you format the drive and reinstall your OS? Also, are you doing any OC'ing on the rig your working with?
 
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Bob692006 said:
You can download SpeedFan to check out your temps, that what I use. Also, what OS are you using? When you built the computer did you pull the HDD out of another or was the HDD new? If you did pull it out an older system, did you format the drive and reinstall your OS? Also, are you doing any OC'ing on the rig your working with?
Click to expand...

I'll have to check the temps later, but it's Windows XP Home 32-bit. It was a new 500GB WD SATA HDD.Nope, no oc'ing. :) Thanks for any help!
 
Aastii said:
does it happen regardless of what you are doing or is it only when you start using the system?
Click to expand...

Regardless, it generally only does it right after it starts up if the side of the case is on, but if it's not on it can take a day's use to do it. If you start it up right after it went black it does it again (whether the case is open or not.) That's why I think something is overheating.
 
Bob692006 said:
You can download SpeedFan to check out your temps, that what I use. Also, what OS are you using? When you built the computer did you pull the HDD out of another or was the HDD new? If you did pull it out an older system, did you format the drive and reinstall your Operating System? Also, are you doing any overclocking on the rig your working with?
Click to expand...

Do what Bob92006 suggested.

How hot is your heatsink? (Be careful as you might get burned touching it.)

I don't think this is the answer (but assume nothing when troubleshooting), but have you tried pulling out the RAM modules and running the system with just one module at a time?

Have you combined different models of RAM or is it a dual-channel set? Run Memtest86 yet and tested the RAM?
 
Here ya go!

temps.jpg


:)
 
So all the temps look good there, was that with the side of the case off or on? Also, noticing that your core voltage is up at 1.38, mines at 1.376 right now but I'm overclocking. You might want to try resetting your BIOS and then booting it up with the case closed and see if it still happens.
 
Bob692006 said:
So all the temps look good there, was that with the side of the case off or on? Also, noticing that your core voltage is up at 1.38, mines at 1.376 right now but I'm overclocking. You might want to try resetting your BIOS and then booting it up with the case closed and see if it still happens.
Click to expand...

The case is open. I've reset the BIOS several times (and also flashed it), but it didn't make any difference. Last night I plugged the HDD into a different SATA port on the mobo and it hasn't happened since... maybe there was something wrong with that port. Not sure what it would be, but it's possible, isn't it?
 
Irishwhistle said:
Last night I plugged the Hard Drive Disk into a different SATA port on the motherboard and it hasn't happened since... maybe there was something wrong with that port. Not sure what it would be, but it's possible, isn't it?
Click to expand...

It is possible the Serial ATA port is bad on the motherboard. Test the suspect port with a different hard drive and see what results you get. Is the motherboard still under warranty?
 
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