Locks up, then won't boot until I reset video card...

[Achilles97]

Core2duo e7300
Gigabyte eP43-DS3L
Crucial Ballistix 1gb x 4
Zotac gtx 460 768m
OCZ SilentStream 500w (2x12v rails with 18a each)

Recently, the computer has been randomly locking up. I notice all the USB devices lose power then a split second later everything is frozen. This has happened when I was watching a movie and when I am playing games. I manually restart the computer and it won't POST, it just spins up the fans for a few seconds, then turns off, and repeat. Resetting the CMOS doesn't help. The last three times it has done this I was able to get it to boot by only resetting the video card. What would that do to the computer if it is powered off? Perhaps it is just coincidence...


A few months ago, the computer started locking up if I plugged anything into the USB ports on the front side of the case. The USB ports directly on the motherboard still work.

Could it be that my PSU is flaking out? I only have one hard drive, one DVD drive, 2 x 120mm case fans. Perhaps I don't have the devices split amount the two 12 rails evenly. How can I determine this?

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!!

 

[VirtualLarry]

You could try a replacement PSU and see if that helps, that's not a bad idea.

Does it do it if you run PRime95 or OCCT? Have you tried a Memtest86+ bootable CD to check your RAM?

 

[Achilles97]

You could try a replacement PSU and see if that helps, that's not a bad idea.

Does it do it if you run PRime95 or OCCT? Have you tried a Memtest86+ bootable CD to check your RAM?

Thank you for the reply.

I just ran a full Memtest and no problems. I recently ran Prime95 for a few hours and no problems either.

Would the PSU be overtaxed if I am manually set my CPU voltage to 1.15v? That is barely above stock, I can't imagine that I am overdrawing the PSU with that.

I will probably get a replacement PSU if this keeps happening.

Thanks!