13 August 2006 @ 06:28 pm
Computer-knowledgeable people...
...Help?

My computer is behaving miserably: any time I put any significant processor load on it, it crashes and reboots. It'll open programs and handle normal tasks readily enough, but if I try to use it for games, for example, or even converting audio file formats, the crash happens. The error reports keep blaming drivers, but I can't possibly imagine how device drivers are affecting so many different things, most of which they have nothing to do with. I initially thought it was heat, and it may still be... I'm checking temperature readouts now. I know my heatsink fan is working, as are the chassis and power supply fans (despite my utility's insistence), but according to benchmarks my processor should be functional up to 80C at least.

I'm really at a loss here. Heeeelp.


UPDATE: According to my probe utility, the CPU temperature was 66C when my computer cut out again -- which is supposed to be well within the parameters of the chip. I'm stumped.
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[identity profile] twizted-dezires.livejournal.com on August 13th, 2006 11:54 pm (UTC)
I'm gonna send you some programs, System utility type stuff. Hopefully, they'll be able to find and fix the problem
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[identity profile] dragonoflife.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 12:39 am (UTC)
If I can run them without it crashing. ^.^
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[identity profile] tlttlotd.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 01:19 am (UTC)
Check the heatsink and fan on the CPU. If airflow is compromised, the CPU can overheat. Also check the heatsinks and fans on other parts of the mainboard to make sure that one of the ICs isn't overheating.

Re-seat the memory DIMMs.
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[identity profile] dragonoflife.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 03:24 am (UTC)
Hmm, according to the hardware monitor heat isn't the issue and the CPU fan is running... but I'll crack it open and see if there's anything blatantly compromised when I have a free day. Tuesday probably.
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[identity profile] siliconrose.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 02:04 am (UTC)
What exactly is the error you're getting on the blue screens? What driver file is reported?
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[identity profile] dragonoflife.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 03:21 am (UTC)
Heh, you think I get blue screens? No, it reboots itself, which is the main reason I initially thought it was heat.
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[identity profile] siliconrose.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 03:50 am (UTC)
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[identity profile] dragonoflife.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 04:03 am (UTC)
Ah ha! That'll answer the question conclusively, at least, if I understand correctly... since Athlon chips are supposed to shut down when overheated, if it continues to reboot without BSODing that will pretty much pin it down as the culprit.

Thank you!
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[identity profile] tigerkitty.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 01:39 pm (UTC)
I don't really know anything about computers, but when this was happening to our computer, it was, actually, the power supply gone bad.

Then again, the self-reboot was not happening in quite that same pattern. It was kindof random.
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[identity profile] dragonoflife.livejournal.com on August 14th, 2006 10:18 pm (UTC)
Heh, it's not that. I've had dead power supplies before. ^.^
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