what would cause this?

superrandall64

superrandall64

New Member
my computer will boot up and run for a minute or so... sometimes. sometimes it won't even power on... sometimes it will power on, but wont boot up. i have the money to replace one part or the other... but not all. and if i take it to a professional... probly couldn't afford to replace anything. (that's just an assumption) no warranty... built the thing myself... mostly oem parts... ran fine for a few months. so... boots up fine sometimes... then blue screen pops up for a split second (windows is shutting down to prevent....) i dont know what the rest says because the freakin things shuts off to quick. i'm suspecting the RAM. it was budget ram in the first place, plus it was oem. kingston value ram 2x256mb pc3200. maybe the hard drive... but i doubt that. it did let me install windows at one point... right before shutting down. maybe the mobo... i have no clue how to test that. no error codes. sometimes i get a post... sometimes i dont. i definitely believe it's a writing error. this is the only machine i have where the parts are this current... so i dont have multiple sticks of ram available to tinker around with and see what happens. so... any input would help... thanks always, randall. p.s. anyone interested in some video game consoles? not really trying to sell... more interested in seeing the value. i'd gladly trade in my console collection for a mid-level gaming pc. except for SNK and turbo grafx... i've got just about all of them. no xbox360 either. well... that's it for real this time.
 
Sounds like PSU is dying or your CPU is overheating for some reason. What are the specs of your computer?
 
Bestmiler said:
hey yasu, how can u tell theres something wrong with the psu or cpu?
Click to expand...

1. If you have a psu sitting around, try plugging that one in and if it fixes the problem then you know its the PSU.

2. Download a program such as Everest, it will monitor you CPU temps to tell you if its too hot.
 
my computer's specs...
intel mobo... i forget the model number - lga 775 socket type 800 fsb.
p4 630 3.0ghz
512 mb pc3200 kingston value ram
300w psu +12v~ i think it was like 16 or 18A
bfg geforce 5500 oc (i know it's crappy... but it did work)
200 gb samsung sata hd 3.0gb/sec
creative sound blaster live 5.1

anything else you need to know?
the case is really old. probably the origional custom pc case.

do you really think the cpu could have overheated? it wasn't oc'd and it had the origional fan and heatsink.
 
Im thinking its your PSU, looks kinda weak....try a new one with 400W-450W and 20A-30A on the +12v rail and see if it works.
 
guess what? i found the culprit!! it was one of my sticks-o-ram. one was completely bad and the other was good. after a few configurations i found the good one. so now i'm running on 255 mhz of ram. so here's the new deal... i'm ram shopping. i was using probly the standard ddr 400 pc 3200. now that i've pretty much learned my "you get what you pay for" lesson... what should i have gotten? through the ram 101 sticky i've learned alot... but what i think i want to hear is what ram do you use that stood the test of time? i was looking at patriot and crucial... and i want a gig. maybe two gigs. i'd spend about 100-150... the size is the depending factor. i'll spend 150 for two gigs... not one. get it? so... opinions?
 
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