Sudden video problems

Bertminator

Bertminator

New Member
I have a P3-733 computer which works ok, it being what it is! However about 2 1/2 weeks ago, games started getting choppy, and watching videos from the hard drive (or youtube) also were very choppy. I did EVERY check I could on this system and even did a fresh format/install of xp, and still videos are choppy. Could this be that the video card is shot? or RAM? I have 896 MB's of ram, (512 + 256 + 128). I fail to understand why after all this time, it would get bad like this. My guess is RAM or Video Card. On visual inspection, everything looks to be fine...nothing seems to be burned out, and capacitors are not exploded, or show any signs of damage.

What should I do next to test this system to find it's flaw? I even flashed the Mobo's bios to the latest one available on Asus' website.

Help me save this system!!!!

...Bert
 
Try removing the 256 and 128mb dimms and run the videos then. If the problems disappear buy a second identical 512 to see a full 1gb. Hard drive wear won't effect youtube but Windows itself.

Lately I've been called in on two different systems where repair installs of XP would freeze up. On the first with second pending a swap of drives saw XP go right on. Download the drive manufacturer's diagnostic tool as well as running the check disk tool found in Windows.

The video card isn't ruled out as one thought there. Have you cleaned the case with a can of air cleaner lately? I just went through that first case to pull a blanket of dust off of everything due to the owner's neglect there.
 
I do regular case cleaning on both my computers, and the P3, was VERY clean, as I just blew it out not that long ago. I did remove the 128 MB stick, but not the others. I did try an OLDER video card (ATI rage fury128 pro), and the videos seemed a bit better, but still were choppy. Funny that the older card seemed smoother compared to my Nvidia fx 5200, which I purchased not that long ago. The ATI card came with my system back in 2001. :cool: I did run a hard drive diagnostic tool for the Maxtor diamondmax drive I have on the system, and all tests passed, so I guess the HD can be ruled out?!

...Bert
PC eye said:
Try removing the 256 and 128mb dimms and run the videos then. If the problems disappear buy a second identical 512 to see a full 1gb. Hard drive wear won't effect youtube but Windows itself.

Lately I've been called in on two different systems where repair installs of XP would freeze up. On the first with second pending a swap of drives saw XP go right on. Download the drive manufacturer's diagnostic tool as well as running the check disk tool found in Windows.

The video card isn't ruled out as one thought there. Have you cleaned the case with a can of air cleaner lately? I just went through that first case to pull a blanket of dust off of everything due to the owner's neglect there.
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Apparently you can rule out the hard drive. Being that is an older system that was one thing to look at for signs of wear. The FX5200 cards are pretty much outdated and not actively supported at this time. Those were actually new in 2004. Meanwhile the old ATI cards were top gaming cards some years back. The swap of cards tends to rule that out as well.

Being new in 2001 points at a number of possibile items that could be going on you. Most people would have already upgraded the system or gone newer in 6yrs time. If the battery on the board was never replaced that would be one simple low cost item to see replaced. Generally the max on those is 5yrs. while you've been running the system for over that. That leaves you with the board, bios, and cpu even supply to look at there.
 
Ok, problem solved :):). I basically removed ALL the peripherals except Video, mouse & keyboard, and added each peripheral one at a time, and found out that my new Samsung CLP-300 Laser printer was the HOG. When it was plugged in the videos went VERY choppy. Guess it requires more CPU power than my P3 - 733 can muster...so I put back the Samsung 1610 Mono laser printer back on that computer and moved the color laser to my newer computer. Thanks all for the input & advice! :);):D
 
Probably time for a new system anyways if you can't even run a new printer on it. But that sounds typical where a device attached pulls down the small supply or slower cpus seen on an older system. A lazer printer will usually pull on a system harder then some basic HP deskjet usb model would just to note that.
 
PC eye said:
Probably time for a new system anyways if you can't even run a new printer on it. But that sounds typical where a device attached pulls down the small supply or slower cpus seen on an older system. A lazer printer will usually pull on a system harder then some basic HP deskjet usb model would just to note that.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you caught this in my post, but i do have a newer computer ..I have a P4 3.4 with H/T. That one can handle the new printer. The P3 is my second "kids" computer.:D

..Bert
 
The older P3 system for the kids is the one that would need upgrading there. I figured you were talking about a second older build when you made the statement "I do regular case cleaning on both my computers, and the P3, was VERY clean," earlier. :P
 
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