To fix or build new?

[renMike]

Hello,
About 5-6 years ago I received some great advice from this forum to enable me to build my own PC. That PC has been used extensively since that time but has recently started to crash 1-2 times per hour. The crashes are more frequent when the PC is first booting or when under heavy load.
The spec of the PC is:

• ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO mobo
• AMD Athlon II X4 630 CPU
• Corsair 8GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM

The HDD and optical drives have been upgraded a number of times in its lifetime.
I tend to use the PC for office applications, code development, occasional video conversion, lightweight CAD (e.g Sketchup) and the occasional VM.
I don't know if the recent crashes are due to old age or a failure in either hardware or drivers as the logs are unhelpfully devoid of clues. I've looked to upgrade the mobo drivers but it seems ASUS have not updated their drivers for Windows 10.
As I see it I have two options:

1. Try to identify and resolve the issues
2. Buy a modern day equivalent

I'm seeking advice if the spec of the current PC is still up to the job as indicated and therefore worth spending the time trying to fix or failing that an estimate cost of a suitably spec'd modern equivalent.
Thanks

 

[itchy]

Do a mem test and check HD with crystal disk.

It will be a certain component.

Also check PSU as they can fail before most components.

 

[Akagi]

I reckon that is a dodgy RAM stick, Run Memtest as above!

 

[Upgrade]

If you can afford it, new pc!

 

[renMike]

Do a mem test and check HD with crystal disk.

It will be a certain component.

Also check PSU as they can fail before most components.

Sound advice. I'll test and report back.
Thanks.

 

[Quartz]

Have you checked the thermal paste? After 6 years it may need re-applying.

 

[Marcoloves360]

you need a new pc man

 

[joedeath332]

Also check PSU as they can fail before most components.

I would buy a new psu and try it if the memtest comes back all good . As you will need a new psu if you have to build a new pc anyway. And it does sound like possibly a power issue.

 

[archer_dan]

you need a new pc man

If the current machine still does the work in a satisfactory time and can be fixed, there's no need to spend out on a whole new machine.

As said by others, first thing I'd check is the memory, then PSU.

 

[Mantaray]

yarr check that mem ,,,, and get yourself a digital PSU checker probly one of best things i ever got haha

 

[renMike]

MemTest86+ ran for 9+ passes with no error detected.
Will now try Crystal Disk.

 

[renMike]

Have you checked the thermal paste? After 6 years it may need re-applying.

I replaced that last year when the troubles started. It now has fresh Artic Silver 5 paste in there.

 

[renMike]

Not sure what I'm looking for with Crystal Disk. I had expected a tool similar to MemTest only for the HD. I appreciate it wasn't ever going to write to each sector but I'm not sure how to read the results. Let's see what Mr Google has to say.

 

[renMike]

Oh, that's it.
The disk is reporting 'Good'.
Now to test the PSU. Any tips on how to do this?

 

[Rroff]

Something like HW Monitor where you can see the voltages for each rail is a good start.

 

[renMike]

Hmmm.
Running HWMonitor and looking at the 'Powers' section I'm a little disappointed to see that the 'Package' node is using 0.00 W. Either I'm using it wrong or it's not working as the PC is definitely powered up and therefore using more than 0.00 W.

 

[Rroff]

Not sure if AMD CPUs report information for that - I've only ever seen it showing anything on Intel CPUs.

EDIT: DOH looks like I damaged one of my fans - accidentally touched something against the blades a few days back while it was running - just noticed in HW Monitor its reporting it running at between 22500 and 337500 RPM instead of ~600 RPM as it should.

 

[renMike]

Ok, So any additional suggestions for testing? I have a multi-meter and am not afraid to use it if that's what it takes.