FOR THE LOVE OF SKUZZY, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!

[Tigger29]

OK guys... my computer took a dump on me.  Here is what it is doing:

Works perfectly fine for a random amount of time.  It could be half an hour.. or a few seconds.. there's just no telling.

Then the screen goes blank and my video card fan goes into TURBO mode.  All other fans continue to spin as normal.  No abnormal hard drive or optical drive activity.

Power button is unresponsive (no shut-down if I press it and release, but computer will turn off if I hold it down for a few seconds).  This tells me that windows is unresponsive as well when this happens.

Usually if I reboot immediately, I won't even get to bios (or even the video card info), but if I let it stay off a few minutes, I can usually boot it normally and sometimes even log into windows before it happens again.

When it WILL get to bios immediately after powering down and back on, I check temperatures and nothing is much higher than room temperature... so I don't think this is an overheating issue.

I've also eliminated each ram stick one at a time (2 X 1GB) and it makes no difference so it's not a RAM issue I don't think.  Also unplugged everything except video and still does it.

My next step is going to be to sub in a different video card (Currently have 7900GS PCI-e.. an old card I have is a GeForce6200 AGP... my MB has both slots).

What do you guys think?  Video Card?  M/B?  Power Supply?  Should I just build new from scratch? haha

ASROCK Dual-VSTA
2 GB DDR2 (2X1GB)
E6300 Core-Duo 1.86Ghz (Slightly O/C'ed to 2.03Ghz, but ramped it back down to stock)
7900GS PCI-e Video
XP Pro SP3

[Getback]

Heat is my guess.

[Krusty]

The fan is going full speed because there's nothing telling it it needs to slow down. It's like "Lost input" on a TV, it reverts to that.

It could be many issues. It helps if you run "dxdiag" and post the hardware portion in this thread (the top 1/3 or so, don't need all the gobbledygook, just anything/everything near the top relating to hardware, sound cards, networking, etc)

[llama]

Let's rule out software.

Make an Ubuntu LiveCD (or whatever your favorite Linux variant is) and boot off of it. Use it for a few hours to web surf and such. Does it still act wonky? If so, then it's the hardware. If not, then it's windows.

If its the hardware, then use the LiveCD and run the Memory Scanner (its in the boot menu) and let it run all night.

I'm going to assume it's the hardware. First thing to do is reset the BIOS with the BIOS reset jumper, and see if there's any improvement.

Next is to reseat every connector, card, ram stick, CPU, power cable, and other wire or cable that's connected to the motherboard. Unplug and replug in everything. Power up and let's see.

Next, I would get a spiffy power supply tester (like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899705003) and see if the power supply is truly supplying consistent power.

Still acting weird. Start thinking new motherboard...

-Llama

[Fulmar]

If I was a bettin' man, I'd bet motherboard.

[715]

I'm curious.  How come you guys don't think its the graphics card overheating (possibly because of dust bunnies in the fan)?  (BIOS won't show the graphics card temps.)

[Getback]

I'm curious.  How come you guys don't think its the graphics card overheating (possibly because of dust bunnies in the fan)?  (BIOS won't show the graphics card temps.)

I did when I said heat. Guess I should have been more specific. I think the same thing as you.

[falcon23]

Well the thing I "THINK" to do would be to start the computer in SAFE-MODE.This will allow it to use the default graphics driver,and not the video card..

[soda72]

It's sound like a heat issue.  I built a PC a few years ago and did not install the CPU fan correctly.  Whenever I would start it up the PC it would run for a few minutes and then shutdown once it started to overheat. 

[BaldEagl]

It sounds like video card overheating to me.  That explains the screen going blank and the video card fan speeding up while all other fans run normally.

Windows seems unresponsive because it, along with whatever other programs you had open are still running.  It's normal to have to hold down the power button for a hard shut-down.

This also explains why you get no video card info on an immediate re-boot and can't reach the BIOS but can after it cools slightly.

Are you specifically checking the GPU temp when you log back on?

I'd pull the card out, go to Radio Shack and get some Arctic Silver, pull the heatsink off the card, clean it with rubbing alchohol to get the old thermal paste off and re-seat it with a fresh application of Arctic Silver.

If that doesn't help I'd do the same thing with the CPU heatsink.

[Chalenge]

Pull the graphics card out and examine the capacitors on the card and motherboard for swollen or corrupted elements before following llamas advice which is the next step I would take. Also make sure the heat sink(s) on the video card are firmly mounted. Also check the NB (northbridge) chip area and make sure the heatsink and pipes (if any) are still making contact with the NB chip. Do the same for the SB area.

[Tigger29]

OK I tried reseating the video card... didn't make any difference.

I swapped out memory chips (I have 2X1gb)... put just one it.. still did it.  Took that one out and put just the other one in.. still did it.

Unplugged EVERYTHING... all USBS leaving only video and HD plugged in.. STILL did it.

Tonight I removed the 7900GS altogether (PCI-e) and installed my old 6200 (AGP).  Keep in mind my MB has both slots.  So far the computer is up and running just fine.  I don't expect video performance to be all that great, but at least it's progress.

I would have to agree, it acted like the video was overheating... BUT I really don't think that's the case.  Sometimes it would go 10-15 minutes or more (I actually played AH for several hours after the first time it did it with no problems whatsoever), but sometimes it would go just a few seconds, not even getting past the BIOS screen before going black.... even after a cold boot.  This also rules out software problems.

Now being that I don't have another PCI-e card to try, I have to wonder if it is the video card itself, or a problem with the motherboard (or PCI-e slot itself).  I'm going to check with XFX for a possible warranty.. maybe they'll replace it with a 8800 or 9800 card.... who knows

And if a replacement card doesn't do the trick, then I'll upgrade the system.  I want an I7 setup so bad I can almost taste it, but at the same time I don't want to spend the money as the most intensive thing I really do on a computer is AH.

I have to say though... not a big fan of AMD anymore, but the pricing on the PHENOMs are very tempting (compared to the I7).  I'm sure the I7 performs much much better, but like I said.. I'm cheap haha.  By the time I were to spend that kind of money for what I want, I might as well buy a complete system from TD!

[Fulmar]

I have to say though... not a big fan of AMD anymore, but the pricing on the PHENOMs are very tempting (compared to the I7).  I'm sure the I7 performs much much better, but like I said.. I'm cheap haha.  By the time I were to spend that kind of money for what I want, I might as well buy a complete system from TD!

Intel price cuts generally come in January and July, FYI.  AMD usually follows suit.

[Getback]

OK I tried reseating the video card... didn't make any difference.

I swapped out memory chips (I have 2X1gb)... put just one it.. still did it.  Took that one out and put just the other one in.. still did it.

Unplugged EVERYTHING... all USBS leaving only video and HD plugged in.. STILL did it.

Tonight I removed the 7900GS altogether (PCI-e) and installed my old 6200 (AGP).  Keep in mind my MB has both slots.  So far the computer is up and running just fine.  I don't expect video performance to be all that great, but at least it's progress.

I would have to agree, it acted like the video was overheating... BUT I really don't think that's the case.  Sometimes it would go 10-15 minutes or more (I actually played AH for several hours after the first time it did it with no problems whatsoever), but sometimes it would go just a few seconds, not even getting past the BIOS screen before going black.... even after a cold boot.  This also rules out software problems.

Now being that I don't have another PCI-e card to try, I have to wonder if it is the video card itself, or a problem with the motherboard (or PCI-e slot itself).  I'm going to check with XFX for a possible warranty.. maybe they'll replace it with a 8800 or 9800 card.... who knows

And if a replacement card doesn't do the trick, then I'll upgrade the system.  I want an I7 setup so bad I can almost taste it, but at the same time I don't want to spend the money as the most intensive thing I really do on a computer is AH.

I have to say though... not a big fan of AMD anymore, but the pricing on the PHENOMs are very tempting (compared to the I7).  I'm sure the I7 performs much much better, but like I said.. I'm cheap haha.  By the time I were to spend that kind of money for what I want, I might as well buy a complete system from TD!

It doesn't take long for a video card to overheat if the fan has stopped.

[Tigger29]

Intel price cuts generally come in January and July, FYI.  AMD usually follows suit.

Well it's not just the price of the processor, but the price of the motherboard and memory too.  And of course, I'd want to buy more as well.

GETBACK, the fan hasn't stopped... I have verified the fan works fine (and the card doesn't even feel warm) when it acts up.  Also I can find no physical damage to the card itself... guess I'll just mail it back to XFX (lifetime warranty) and see what they have to say about it.