New PC crash, hardly anything on [nforce 3] [blue screens]
Q: I just built a PC for the first time, and after doing some Windows updates (SP2, but still) and updated ATI and nVidia drivers Windows was a bit more stable, but Im still often semi-generic blue screens and crashes. Ghost Recon also came with my video card that I wanted to test – but each time I game it freezes when it gets to the main menu. Here are my specs: 64
Athlon 3000
AOpen AK89 Max nForce 3150 (using the onboard sound)
2×512 MB Corsair value DDR
MSI Radeon 9800 Pro 128 MB (seen as a 9800 XT as the R360 core)
NEC (I think) dual layer DVD -R/RW
Samsung 160 GB 7200 RPM HDD
Antec Server Case w / 400W Antec PSU
XP Home
Anyone have any ideas or similar problems? Think SP2 would help? I also realized I have not installed any drivers for my DVD drive, that would be the problem? I have the latest drivers installed for everything (except, as I said, my DVD drive). Thanks for any help.
Best Answer: This is incredibly hard to read, not only because of its length but because of your grammar. From as much as I could tolerate, I'm thinking the issue is either the motherboard or the power supply inside the case that is plugged into the motherboard. I'm leaning towards the power supply. Make sure there's no dust around it on the inside of the case and that it–as well as everything else–inside is seated securely and properly to the motherboard. Then try to start up again and see what happens.
Another thing it could be is viruses. If you have a lot of viruses or they somehow got into the boot sector, that could make it incredibly hard to start up a computer. Next time you can get your computer on, run a virus scan if you can.
Other than that, my suggestion would be to replace the power supply inside the case and see if that helps. If not, it's probably the motherboard, and usually that means you might as well just get another computer…unless you can find the exact kind of motherboard that came with that computer and it already has a CPU on it.
Re:I have reseated my RAM so that the middle DIMM slot is empty, and, after reading through all the user reviews of my RAM, found a reccomendation to increase the voltage to the RAM to 2.7. Since then it has been pretty stable. Thanks for all the help guys.
Re:CPU core temp is the first thing to check. All modern PC's will show the CPU core temp in the BIOS. Also, make sure your BIOS settings are in order. Since you seem to be new, you better have an "expert" verify your settings. Given that temperature is not the issue, the next thing to check is your power supply. Frequently the PS is not feeding the system properly and will cause it to crash, especially when it's under full load.
Re:AFAIK temps are fine, back of the case feels cold to me and I have a CPU fan, PSU fan, video card fan, and two case fans. However, if there is a better way to tell than feeling the back of the case I am all for it.
Earlier, my computer wouldn't boot at all, not even to BIOS – it just made a cyclic whirring noise, so I opened it up and put it on its side and taped some wires away from fans, which I didn't think was the problem but was making sure. I then plugged in the power and it booted Windows – a couple minutes later, as my roommate and I looked around inside the case to see what the problem might be, it froze again.
My CS professor suggested I reseat everything, which I haven't done yet, and also leave the middle DIMM slot empty instead of the side one, which I have. It has seemed a bit more stable since then, and I was able to get about two or three minutes into the Price of Persia demo, but then it froze again, much to my dismay. I don't know if the perceived increase in stability was genuine or coincidental. I am going to install SP2 tomorrow if I don't somehow end up with a better idea by then.
Thanks for the help guys…
Re:What are your CPU and case temperatures like?
Re:Thanks mate…
I think this (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=1) is the RAM I have, I don't know how to tell if it is double-side.
My BIOS is Phoenix AwardBIOS, but I don't know how to tell the version. I went to the "Credits" and it didn't say it there.
Re:Welcome to the Forums.
What BIOS version are you running?
Is your Corsair Ram double-side?
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Tags: blue screens, nforce 3