Constant Crashing, can't find source of problem!

[whootookmyname]

Specs:
Amd 64 3200+
Asus K8NE
2x Corsair 512mb
2x Seagate SATA HD
Gainward 6800GT
SB Audigy ZS
Fortron Power supply
Antec Sonata Case


Ok, the computer has been crashing on me here and there over last two months. There is no specific program it crashes on. It can crash 15 minutes after boot or after hours of use. It can crash many times over a few days or not at all for 2 weeks.

I have tried formatting, testing each HD individually. Also tried different RAM and video card. Tried different cables too. Nothing seems to be working.

When it crashes I get a Kernel instack page error blue screen and when it reboots it locks up at the part where its searching for the HD. It doesn't even boot into windows and says it can find any of the hard drives.

Plugging and plugging memory and/or cables again and/or pulling the power connector again seems to make it recognize the HD and boot again.

anybody have any suggestions on what might be the problem??

 

[LionHeart27]

What's that PSU rated at? May want to look into that. Have you done any overclocking?

 

[cretinbob]

video drivers are very important too. make sure you use tha manufacturererers ddrivers (it's late, give me a break) Anyway, I have an Ath900 w/ an Asus Ti200 card. I was using the reference drivers from nvidia and having fits. The system would shut down, reboot, lock up. It really was pissing me off ( can I say that?) Anyway I switched to the Asus drivers and have had 0 problems since.

 

[whootookmyname]

350w PSU and no overclocking on any parts.

I formatted about 3 times and updated all drivers so I don't that is the issue.

 

[saltedeggman]

how are the temps ? maybe run memtest to make sure its not the ram

 

[INM8]

Check your ram timings\speed. Over the last two months i have had my new pc lockup randomly. It just happens that i had moved the computer into a new desk\enclosure around the same time, leading me to believe that the new desk was blocking of airflow and therefore causing heat issues. Its true, my computer is getting warmer than usual, but that is not what is causing the crashes. About a week ago, i went into my bios just to have a play around, and just be coincidence i loosened the ram timings from 2 to 2.5, and set the ram volage at "2.6" instead of using the a8n premiums auto setting.

I do see that you say you have tried different ram, but maybe you bios is keeping the same problematic settings, and since you symptoms seem the same (mine were random crashing, sometimes hard lock with static coming out of the speakers, and BSOD's.

Just try clocking your ram a bit lower, and making sure its being fed the correct voltage (and so on....). Infact, running memtest just as saltedeggman suggested would probably the best idea!

 

[Big Lar]

Very good input from the folks above me. Might I just add to check what voltage you are getting in Bios as to +12v/+3.3v and+5v.

Your supply seems to be a good one, However, it is on the light side.

 

[TD77077]

I agree with Big Lar.

For a system with a 6800GT and 2 HDs and an A64 and an Audigy, your power supply, even though a good one, is probably not sufficient. I have a customer with a similar setup who didn't get things working well until we had a PS spec'd over 25A on the +12v.