Diagnosing a recurring problem...what would you try next?

Gregster6

Gregster6

Gregster6

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25 Sep 2006
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Team,

I built a new PC in January and it has increasingly been giving me grief. Main problems are related to stability and include:
  • high propensity (several times per day) for software to lock-up / freeze in mid operation. (This is mainly Poker Tracker type software so I can't say for sure that its not the software itself that's responsible for at least some of these application crashes).
  • occasional (one episode every week or so) recurring restarting (if no human intervention)...as follows > turn on the computer which boots-up normally > gets to the Vista Welcome Centre then re-start > repeat
  • quite frequent (say 3 times per week) BSOD > automatic restart.

System is:
  • Asus P5E
  • Q9650
  • Vista 64bit
  • Nvidia 8800
  • 4gb Corsair DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)

My first move has been to check the memory. However, Memtest is nearing the end of its second pass now and it hasn't turned-up any errors.

What would you try next?

Cheers
 
thefishdude said:
well my first thought was memory also. is your system overclocked ? what speed and voltage do you have the memory running at ?
Click to expand...

Everything at stock.

Not sure on memory volts but haven't jiggered anything around...Memtest still running so I'll check in a bit.

Memory settings: 400Mhz (DDR801) / CAS : 5-5-5-18 / Dual channel
 
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What psu have you got? Have you got another one you could try?

It sounds suspiciously like a problem my Dad had quite recently - it turned out it was because of a dodgy psu...

SW.
 
looks like that memory requires 1.8v to 1.9v wich isnt that high and normaly default volatge is 1.8 so you should be ok that way, but may be worth adjusting the ram voltage to 1.9 if its not all ready. just to rule that out. cause like you thought the symptons do present them selves as memory related to me also.

do you know what your psu is?
 
sam.wheale said:
What psu have you got? Have you got another one you could try?

It sounds suspiciously like a problem my Dad had quite recently - it turned out it was because of a dodgy psu...

SW.
Click to expand...

Seasonic M12 Modular 700W Silent ATX2.0 Power Supply

Did some research and it seemed to come out well plus I was happy with my last one which was a Seasonic.

It could still be faulty though I guess.
 
If you've got a spare one kicking around, it won't hurt to try it?

You might be pleasantly surprised ;)

Plus I suspect that if your Seasonic psu is faulty, it'll be covered by some ridiculously long exchange warranty :)

SW.
 
PSU fault seems like it could be consistent with the mucking around at start-up (bullet 2 in original post).

Is it / could it also consistent with the other two symptoms?
 
Sorry if you have already tried this, but I thought I might as well post it.

Try disabling the automatic restart when you have a BSOD, and take a look at the error that appears when you have another BSOD. Google the error and that should narrow down the possible causes dramatically.

I had some BSOD's a few months ago, found the issue to be a driver problem which I was then able to fix quickly. Of course it may be the case that you have 2 different errors, in which case you probably have 2 different causes.
 
Chalex4 said:
Try disabling the automatic restart when you have a BSOD, and take a look at the error that appears when you have another BSOD. Google the error and that should narrow down the possible causes dramatically.
Click to expand...

Canny suggestion!...Done that...now I'm actually looking forward to the next crash!

Have stopped Memtest now after 3 runs and no errors

In answer to earlier fishdude's question Bios version date (from Vista system Information utility) is:
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0203, 11/10/2007

I suspect that may be not what you meant but I'm too slow to see anything on the screens at start-up!!

Cheers
 
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ok assuming your

mb is the p5e
cpu is qx9650

and you using bios 0203. then that bios doesnt officially support that cpu. according to asus cpu support list. that cpu depending on what revision it is ( aprantly there 2) requires either 0303 or the 0604beta.

this may be the poblem. could be worth rling out if you happy to do bios updates.

heres the site (does load a lil slow).
http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P5E
 
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