Lock up problem on new pc

[FSH42NA]

:brokenheart:I recently built a new pc for my sis-in-law using the following:

Gigabyte P35 DQ6 v1.0 mobo
E6600 C2D cpu (Stock)
4x1gb Adata DDR2 PC6400 (stock - Memtested all 4 sticks, 2 at a time)
EVGA 7600GT video card
2x 300 gb Seagate SATA drives (non-raid)
Samsung and Phillips SATA DVD burners
onboard sound
Corsair VX550 power supply
XP pro sp2 (slipstreamed)

Seagate Pro 500gb external drive (I think she has this plugged all the time)

The problem that she is reporting is that the computer freezes for no apparent reason at times. The only thing she can do is to hit the reset button.

I'm suspecting that the board (1) doesn't like the 4x1gb configuration (2) needs me to bump the MCH voltage (have to check on that cuz I thought I already did) (3) something is getting too hot.

I'm tempted to just swap out the memory for some Adata 2x2gb DDR2 PC6400 that I have lying around. I'm hoping that the XP install is borked. She's had the pc for about a month and I'm worried that the resets have led to some OS instability.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions. Have a great day!

 

[Roguestar]

First thing to be said: this is why we don't build for family and friends - tech support for life .

Go through the usual things: memtest, temperatures, drivers. Check the event log and see if it's logging why it's dying. May as well try and swap out the memory and eliminate it.

 

[daveybrat]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
First thing to be said: this is why we don't build for family and friends - tech support for life .

Go through the usual things: memtest, temperatures, drivers. Check the event log and see if it's logging why it's dying. May as well try and swap out the memory and eliminate it.

Exactly! I no longer build pc's for friends and family, i just help them configure a dell.


That being said, it doesn't sound like an XP problem, as software corruption does not cause 'hard' lockups. Sounds like either ram or motherboard issue to me.

 

[FSH42NA]

Thanks for the replies. I'm gonna swing over after dinner and pop out 2 sticks OR pop out all 4 and drop in the 2 sticks of Adata 2x2gb memory (I realize that she won't be able to use all 4gb, but at least she'll be set if she upgrades to Vista 64 bit).

Thanks again

please chime in if any of you have any other comments or experiences to pass on.:beer:

 

[Cutthroat]

Running 4x1GB is more stressful than 2x2GB. You might need to increase some voltages a bit and loosen your timings a bit. Try your timings at 5-5-5-15, and set your vDIMM to the upper limit of your manufacturers specs, increase your northbridge voltage a bit too.