Computer randomly locking-up

[MartinBen]

I built myself another PC last week - this being based around the Athlon X2 4800 with 2Gb ram housed in an Antec Fusion desktop case.

The machine is on 24/7 and has some CCTV cameras connected to it via 4-port connector.

Now the first week I had no problems and machine ran good-as-gold but in the last few days it has been "hard-locking" at random intervals forcing a cold restart.

I thought it might be heat but cpu temperature hovers around 39-40 with the system temperature around 34 so I'm not convinced especially as the 1st week it ran ok. I have now turned "cool n quiet" off in the bios to see if that makes a difference.

I suppose next stage would be to run machine with case open?

 

[gurusan]

I doubt it's heat related. Try running memtest86

 

[MartinBen]

Where can I download that from?

Is it free?

This new machine does not have a floppy drive.

 

[gurusan]

You can download it here, and yes it's free.

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

You can put it on a bootable CD, or a bootable USB key.

 

[MartinBen]

OK have burned it to a CD and the computer is now running memtest from it - seems to take ages!

I've noticed it says the ram installed is DDR717 - never heard of that - it is Crucial Ballistix and says it should be DDR667 so I am wondering if this is causing a problem?

 

[Cob]

717mhz is probably due to the ratio the memory speed is set to. And Memtest should take 30-40mins to complete a full cycle.

Have you set the Ballistix to 2.2v?

Tho PC5300 Ballistix and sudden lock-ups rings alarm bells for me. It has a nasty habit of dying suddenly.

 

[MartinBen]

Memtest finished but said "no errors found"

I've had a look in the bios and the bios does not have any setting to over/under volt the ram so I'm stuck on that front

Its a Gigabyte GA-M61SME-S2

I have installed the EasyTune option that comes on a CD from Gigabyte but that does not allow you to over/under clock the system.

I might try to run it on just 1 stick of ram to see if that cures the problem. If not I could always "borrow" a stick of ram from my main PC - Crucial Ballistix PC8500.

 

[Cob]

Try hitting Ctrl and F1 together on the main BIOS screen to see if it unlocks any extra options within any of the sub-menus.

 

[gurusan]

if memtest didnt pick up any errors then I doubt its the ram

 

[MartinBen]

Yes hitting CTRL+F1 did bring up a secret menu where you can manually alter the ram timings.

I have under-clocked the ram to 533 from 600.

In the PC Health Status there is a line that says DDR2 1.8v however this is in blue and won't let you change it.

My other PC has an extra menu in bios called MB Intelligent Tweaker but this board does not seem to have it.

Next step is to run it with 1 ram stick then the other then 1 from my other PC I think.

Edit - Underclocking the ram made no difference - still locking-up so now running with just 1 stick in to see what happens. Not heat as when I opened the case it was barely warm inside.

Further edit - reading the Gigabyte motherboard handbook it says it supports ram at 1.8v - as this Crucial ram is 2.2v is that probably why it is locking-up? If so I will have to order some "cheap" 1.8v ram and flog these matched pairs on eBay.