Help! My system is locking up.

[salz]

Although this hasn't happened often, it has happened enough since I just built this computer. Twice my system has locked up without warning. The first time it locked up just before it shutdown. The second time I was adjusting settings on Instant Messenger. I went into my BIOS and set loaded the fail-safe defaults (it was on optimum defaults) and then changed a few settings (e.g. enabling the USB controller so my mouse will work). Will this help prevent the lock ups? I have a Gigabyte GA-7VRXP RAID motherboard, Antec 430 watt PSU, AMD Athlon 1800 and 512MB of PC2700 RAM. Anyone know what's going on? Thanks.

 

[Shooters]

Overclocked?
Temps?

 

[salz]

The system is not overclocked and the temps. are 48 degrees celsius for CPU and 36-37 degrees for the case.

 

[Shooters]

What OS?

 

[salz]

I'm using Windows XP Pro and my video card is a Gainward GeForce4 Ti4200 128MB. I don't know if it's a driver problem or not, but while I was installing drivers and other programs (AIM, counter-strike, etc.) the computer was fine. Then earlier today it locked up while shutting down and since then it locks up at any point for no apparent reason. I can't reboot or move the mouse. It's completely frozen.

 

[salz]

Ok, so I think I figured out the problem. When the lockups occurred, I had switched the frequency system bus switch on my motherboard to off so I could run the Athlon 1800 at 1.53 GHz. When the switch is set on "ON" it only runs at 1.16 GHz, but it doesn't lock up. So how do I get the processor to run at 1.53 GHz AND prevent my computer from locking up. Has this happened to anyone?

 

[Shooters]

Have you tried less aggressive RAM timings?

 

[salz]

I thought I had it fixed, but I didn't. It just doesn't lock up as often now. How do I change my RAM settings? Or how do I make them less aggressive?

 

[Shooters]

You can change it in the BIOS. Look under chip configuration of something like that. Typically, higher numbers denote less aggressive RAM timings (e.g. CAS Latency = 3 is less aggressive than CAS Latency = 2).