Help! Computer Randomly freezing.

[JagerbombXl]

Okay, well I've had this problem for a while now. First problem to discuss is that sometimes when i try to turn on or restart my computer the screen stays black and the computer turns on like it normally would. If and when I get past that sometimes my computer will freeze, The screen will freeze and if i had any type of sound running i would hear a buzzing through the speakers.This problem happens randomly, but most of the time when I am running a game of a type. I've tried a replacement video card and swapping the ram and such and no luck. I tried to reinstall windows but it freezes up before i can ever initialize it.
Heres my computer info.

Power Supply ( Standard Case Power Supply )
Processor ( AMD AthlonT64 X2 5200+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology )
Processor Cooling ( Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink )
Motherboard ( Asus M2A-VM AMD 690G Chipset w/6-channels, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, Single PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 2048MB [1024MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module Corsair XMS2 Xtreme w/Heat Spreader )
Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS 512MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )
ard Drive ( 500 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 16M Cache] )
Currently running SP1.
AVG 7.5
Spy bots Search & Destroy
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MrBeatnik]

This sounds like a hardware problem, I'm sorry to say.

First - heat. When you have a fresh boot from cold, does it mostly run ok? If you do a reboot after a problem occurs, does another problem happen very very quickly? Heat problems could be related to the CPU or the chipset.

Second - You mentioned swapping RAM. Did you just swap the banks, or did you try NEW RAM? Try running with just one stick at a time. Better fans/heatsinks can resolve that.

Third - Disconnect as many extra devices as possible. Remove DVD drive, and any secondary PCI cards etc. If there is a fault in something, it can affect everything else by sending strange signals out, etc.

Fourth - Try a better PSU if your current "standard" one is very low in wattage output. 300w sometimes doesn't cut it these days, and different devices (on-board or otherwise) might be drawing too much power and there could be resource fighting!


The graphics card issues is very telling - black at boot time means that no software is causing the issues

[JagerbombXl]

I tried switching out two entirely new ram sticks. It seems now that the problem occurs the most when i run A game+another thing such as firefox.
When i start it from cold sometimes the screen stays black but usually after a quick restart it will run as normal. Then i could get an error from where it loads Windows Xp and the bar goes by, the login screen or after that. Also for some odd reason it seems whenever i switch the ram up after it freezes it starts up usually automatically instead of a black screen. I have no idea why.

[MrBeatnik]

Originally Posted by JagerbombXl

I tried switching out two entirely new ram sticks. It seems now that the problem occurs the most when i run A game+another thing such as firefox.

So we can rule out memory - other (presumably good) memory still gives problems.

Originally Posted by JagerbombXl

When i start it from cold sometimes the screen stays black but usually after a quick restart it will run as normal.

Ok, this is a strange one. Starting from cold, you get a problem, so we can rule out heat. Usually it's the other way around (cold = fine, restart = problem).


I'm thinking the power is the issue.
Games will take more power to the graphics card. Can you see if you can try a bigger wattage PSU? Howevr, at the end of the day it could be the mainboard that is causing the problem. If it is damaged...

[JagerbombXl]

Freezes the least frequently when i run on only one Ram stick in the first slot. When i try and put all four in it freezes very quickly.
Just trying to narrow things down, So i know what to get.
Also my PSU is 450w.

[hot owner98]

i have had the same problem this is why it done it because you are probaly clicking to fast like i did and my comp brock like yours

[hot owner98]

Originally Posted by hot owner98

i have had the same problem this is why it done it because you are probaly clicking to fast like i did and my comp brock like yours

i thought it was brill and i have done one my self that probaly is the problem,