computer crash?

[gunbounder]

I just finished putting together my system and was playing Tribes 2 (just for the sake of using my great power and surround sound) when my computer shut down by itself after leaving a game of Tribes 2. My specs are as follows:

AMD Athlon XP 2800+ barton core fbs333
ASUS A7V8NX-X Nforce2 motherboard
Corsair XMS DDR PC2700 512mb ram
ATI Radeon 9800pro 128 MB
Antec 380 TruePower PSU
Maxtor 7200rpm ATA133 40gig HDD
Thermaltake K7 Volcano 11+ Xaser Edition
I have a Kingwin case with 3 fans (2 front, 1 rear)

Anyone have any possible ideas on why it shut down by itself? Does anyone know of a way to find out what may be the problem?

Everything runs fine now, but I'm afraid if I try to game, it might happen again.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Regs]

Did you try more than one game? It could just be a programming glitch. Game took a bad memory dump, made windows crash.

 

[minendo]

Right click My Computer. Choose properties. Select the advanced tab. Under Startup and Recovery, choose Settings. Deselect Automatically Restart.

If it happens again, you will receive an error code.

 

[gunbounder]

I did not get chance to do what you suggested, but my computer did crash again and this time it was simply when I was surfing.

 

[gunbounder]

I deselected the auto restart, but my computer still crashes... I would really like some help from anyone out there who can figure out what this problem could be.

 

[chocoruacal]

User error, build error, or hardware error...too many possibilities. Assuming you didn't screw up the install and your temps are okay, the first step should be: run Memtest86 off a bootable floppy. Enable all tests and let it run overnight. If errors show up, lower your RAM timings (2.5-3-3-8) and do it again. To be honest though...I've found that if a hardware problem exists (especially memory), XP won't even make it thru the install. That leaves something post-install....such as the sheety assed drivers that nVidia and ATI infect us with. Don't use any nForce2 driver past 2.45 and use the 3.7 Cats.

 

[OverVolt]

i have the same problem so PM me if you find a fix.

 

[Walleye]

use MBM to check temps, if any of em look unbeleivable, then do cooling.

failing that, it sounds like a PSU related issue to me, and i'd upgrade that first. (if memtest fails)

edit:

so:

cooling >>> memtest >>> PSU replace.

is it a generic PSU? i'd suggest just getting an antec or a sparkle just to be safe.

 

[gunbounder]

mine is an Antec TruePower 380watts... what do you mean by MBM?

 

[OverVolt]

Motherboard Moniter 5 = MBM

 

[gunbounder]

I have just opened up my case to check my installation, and noticed that my heatsink is so large that it actually sits up on top of the part of the CPU input device of the motherboard. So the heatsink is at an angle, not completely flat on my CPU, could this be the problem? If so, is there some way I can fix it now that I've already "installed" albiet possibally improperly onto my motherboard? Also, when I built my computer, my ram was accidentally put in by my friend before the CPU, I've read that I'm not supposed to do this, would this cause any big problems?

If anyone didn't catch what my heatsink looks like, it's this one
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-106-031&catalog=62&depa=1

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: gunbounder
I have just opened up my case to check my installation, and noticed that my heatsink is so large that it actually sits up on top of the part of the CPU input device of the motherboard. So the heatsink is at an angle, not completely flat on my CPU, could this be the problem? If so, is there some way I can fix it now that I've already "installed" albiet possibally improperly onto my motherboard? Also, when I built my computer, my ram was accidentally put in by my friend before the CPU, I've read that I'm not supposed to do this, would this cause any big problems?

If anyone didn't catch what my heatsink looks like, it's this one
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-106-031&catalog=62&depa=1

Thanks for everyone's help!

You want the heatsink to sit flat on the core.

 

[cockeyed]

gunbounder said:
"So the heatsink is at an angle, not completely flat on my CPU, could this be the problem?"

I think that you found the problem!