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hardware people!

Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 7:56 pm
by phice
So, I've built my own computer a few months ago, and this is the first major problem I've run into.

Problem:
A few nights ago, we were playing a lan game, and I was hosting the game. We were playing Battlefield 1942 for a couple of hours, then all of the sudden, my monitor goes to it's idle state (display off, yellow light, but still on) and my computer hangs. I restart the machine, and the computer hangs like it was before, and the monitor doesn't turn itself on like it normally does. I can't see a thing on the monitor.

A few clues:
My processor was running extremely hot @ 70c-76c when I first put the machine together. That was like that for a week or so, until I reinstalled the heatsink, and it bumped down to 60ish. 1.5-2 months later, I installed another heatsink, and it brought it down to high 40's. Friday night (the night before this happened) it was running very nicely at 38c. Then this happens. I haven't had any other problems except from the cpu being way over it's normal temperature.

I've pulled out the video card and put it in the computer that I'm currently using, and it works fine. I put it back in, same problem. I use the TV-Out, same problem. I've reseated the ram, also.

Specs:
cpu: AMD Athlon XP 2600
mobo: Chaintech 7NJL1-Apogee
ram: 256mb PC2100 Crucial
gpu: GeForce FX 5200 256mb
1) WD 60gb 7200rpm 2) WD 120gb 7200rpm

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:34 am
by twigletmac
What kind of ventilation do you have in the case?

Mac

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:30 am
by phice
I've got plenty of ventalation through the case (2 fans coming in, 2 going out), and extremely neat wires. I've got a Volcano 12 for my heatsink.

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 12:47 pm
by Linkjames
When you say the computer hangs when you restart it, do you mean it boots up windows then hangs or just does nothing? If it boots up windows, its probably a driver problem. If it does nothing, its a hardwhere fault, most likley CPU or motherboard related.

My advice would be to open up your other computer and replace one component at a time till you figure out whats not working. ie. Swap the CPUs and test if
a). Your second computer runs with the bust PCs CPU
b). Your bust computer runs with the working PCs CPU.
This will tell you if its the CPU. If its not, try the RAM, then the HDD. If none of this helps, whack all the removable component from your working computer onto the bust ones motherboard. If it still won't work it may be a bust motherboard.

Bear in mind that your CPU may have sustained damage from the temperatures you ran it at when you first got it. High temps can do damage that allows the CPU to work, but then die after a while.

Anyway, that should tell you what broke.

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:45 pm
by phice
I'm thinking it's the CPU. I'm going to buy a really cheap Duron and test it.

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:17 pm
by infolock
A few nights ago, we were playing a lan game, and I was hosting the game. We were playing Battlefield 1942 for a couple of hours, then all of the sudden, my monitor goes to it's idle state (display off, yellow light, but still on) and my computer hangs. I restart the machine, and the computer hangs like it was before, and the monitor doesn't turn itself on like it normally does. I can't see a thing on the monitor.
actually, if you are using a geforce video card, i can tell you what the problem is. it has to do with when the driver for the card is installed. It says it updates your BIOS to handle the card, but unfortunately you have to download a file from ASUS that installs it for you from within windows (yeah, i know, it sounds wierd that you can do this without having to boot up with a floppy and update the bios that way, but i don't have a floppy drive ( only a cd rom and hardrive. FLOPPIES ARE FOR POSERS!!) and used this file instead to do it while windows was still up and running ). it will install the file and, of course, you will need to reboot your pc. then it should solve your problem.

otherwise, i dont' think it's gonna be a CPU problem, otherwise, your pc would do this whether you play the game or not...

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:43 pm
by phice
No, the system hangs while going through POST. The monitor doesnt turn on at all. I can't do Ctrl+Alt+Delete or anything. I hear the HDD spinning and such. It seems to freeze at booting from the floppy, but I doubt it's the floppy problem because I unhooked that, and the HDD and CDRW, and still the same problem.

Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 9:45 pm
by infolock
well, when it's a CPU problem, the entire machine will stop (hardrives and all) not just the CPU. Try another video card and see what happens.