Computer Freezing & Video issues, HELP

[techwanabe]

A little back ground: I built a computer fall of 2003 as follows:

AMD Athlon 2500+ Barton
Epox 8RDA+ motherboard
Buffalo 512mb DDR memory
ASUS Geforce 4 ti-4200 128 mb video card
Western Digital 20 mb 7200rpm hard drive.
Original O/S Windows 2000, installed 3 months ago WIN XP Pro

Nothing is overclocked, all stock speeds and I run the computer with the side of the case off most of the time. Fans all work fine.

During the first year of operation, I had to replace the video card under warranty 2 times as the picture would start corrupting or not displaying. Seems the card would go bad after 3-4 months and give out completely after display problems began happening. After replacing the video card with the same model 2 times, I sent the mother board in and had it replaced.

I've had issues pretty much all along with the computer freezing in 3D games I've been playing. Reboot and I can keep going. After the 2nd replacement, the video card manufacturer, ASUS, replaced my card with a similar type but different model card. That card has lasted well over a year, but in recent months has been occasionally displaying corrupt 3D images. Sometimes I get error when first running a 3D game, and have to re-install the drivers.

I'm getting tired of the once a night 3D game freeze and want to replace whatever hardware is necessary to get a reliable 3D gaming PC for a modest cost. The motherboard has been replace, and the video card 3 times now. Memory once, with a differnt brand too. About all that is left is the power supply - original is an Antec Smart Blue 350W.

Suggestions? Replace the whole damn setup? I was hoping switching to WIN XP Pro a few months back would help, but freeze-ups still happen. Do ASUS Geforce 4 cards just suck? Do I need to switch to ATI like a Radeon 9800XT?

 

[CBR600]

You gave me all the specs of the machine but you left out what I call the glue of the machine.... Your powersupply... What brand and what Wattage?

99% of stability problems start with poor quality power supplies... Computer components have tollerances which are very small... Depending on the quality of the power supply will depend on the accuracy of the voltage being supplied to the different components under different loads. Yes there are 500 watt PSU that can be had for 30 dollars but those will most likely have > 10% deviation in the voltages being supplied to the commponents. Be that as it may, under voltage and over voltage damages components. In addition, that fluxuation will depend greatly on what your doing with your computer.. Gaming causes the video and other components to draw more wattage from the PSU thus putting mor load thus changeing the voltage output to the components... Under voltage Crashes computers and slowly damages certain componenets and over voltage quickly destroys compoenents... With a cheap PSU... the voltage is not constant and thats why you have instability in the system... the voltage keep fluxuating..

So... Long winded... I believe its your PSU OR you have dirty power being supplied to the PSU... Dirty power is inconsistant voltage and frequency in the power from the outlet. You may have a bad PSU or have a bad outlet or just have bad wiring in your house... You may want to try to hook up a UPS that has VRU (Voltage Regulation Unit).

Let me know

 

[techwanabe]

CBR,

Oops, I left it out. I have an Antec LANBOY case which came with an Antec Smart Blue 350 Watt power supply. I"ve always thought Antec made decent power supplies, but Ive begun to suspect it is the culprit since I've replaced the other major components except the CPU. (Even if Antec makes good quality P/S's, I may have gotten one with issues)

It looks like my 4th video card (ASUS Geforce 4 ti-4800) is going bad - occasional currupt 3D screens and 3D games freezing up once or more per day. I think it is still under warrantee but what I may need to do is buy a new power supply and video card and replace them both at the same time. Hopefully this will fix things long term. What do you think?