Computer Restarting

[Wojtek]

I've built my friends computer a few days ago, and he complains his pc is always restarting.

It's not due to the new virus, its already patched, but it only happens when he is playing games.

pc info:
vid card is an saphire radeon 9600
athlon xp 2800 (only shows as 1.24ghz in winxp)
512mb ddr
mobo = asus a7n8x deluxe

fan layout:
1 on the hard disk
1 on the side panel
1 on the back
1 on the cpu

I was thinking its an overheating issue, but all those fans should do the job, no?

drivers were all installed from manufacturer cd

what else could be wrong?

[Daniel]

Yet another reason why you test for stability BEFORE you do anything with a newly built computer.

Make sure he's got the updated drivers from the internet. If you have multiple RAM sticks(which you should have, if you only have 1 stick of 512, you should burn in hell), try them out seperately. Also check and see if your PSU voltages are correct.

[Bruce]

Originally posted by Wojtek
I
athlon xp 2800 (only shows as 1.24ghz in winxp) Well, first of all, I'd get that fixed. Either the multi or the FSB isn't set correct in the BIOS. Also, make sure you're using the latest BIOS.

The a7n8x isn't the most stable board to begin with, but it also has its issues with certain types of RAM.

Since you say it only happens when playing games, the first thing that comes to mind is the video card. Make sure it's staying cool enough.

Also, be sure the HSF is seated properly on the CPU. I'd worry about getting the clock speed to hwere it should be before anything else.

Lastly, it could also be the RAM. Make sure it's at the default timings and clock speed.

[Wojtek]

okay

yes, it is a 512 stick.

should be working ok since bios dosnt complain about anything during boot-up.


the power suply is an antec 350w.
how do i check the voltages and know wich one is right?



the video card has an integrated fan, plus another one on the case side and one above


whats an hsf?

[byrdgirl13]

daniel, what's the problem with using one stick of 512?

[Bruce]

Originally posted by byrdgirl13
daniel, what's the problem with using one stick of 512? Nothing is wrong per se, but if you have an nForce2 board you need 2 sticks to make use of Dual Channel DDR.

[byrdgirl13]

hrm. how much difference would that make to have two 256 sticks instead of one 512?

[Bruce]

~10% bandwidth gain.

[Daniel]

Worth the five extra bucks. :p

Wojtek, you check the voltages in the BIOS, specifically, in the hardware monitor where you see the temperatures also.

HSF = heatsInK fan, or heatsInK. It's the metal thing that goes on top of your processor and is used for transfering heat.

Edited: damn grammar nazi.

[Bruce]

SINK.

/end grammar nazi

[Daniel]

Go suck a lemmon, Bruce. :p

[notnamed]

Like they said, check the running speed of that CPU...I've got a 2200+ that runs 1.87 according to WinXP and 19xx according to POST. Pins, if it doesn't feel secure when you nudge it (GENTLY!!) stuffs like that. Playing games could be a high load on CPU...is he playing SimCity4 or 101 Games of Tetris, if you get my drift? New stuffs or just oldish?

[Wojtek]

just a good old came called Unreal Tournamanent.
The old p200 version, not the new 2k3 one.


anyways, i'll have access to his box tomorow, lets see what it does.

[notnamed]

And is that the only game that's causing the computer to go belly-up and restart? Perhaps it's a compatability problem. OS?

[Wojtek]

Humm
Didnt install enough games yet to tell.

i've ran nfs6 demo in direct3d and it worked great.
ut in d3d crashes, I'll have to try in software to see if it does the same,

but first fix the clock speed.