Need some "computer freezing" input

[Lcarvone]

I need some input on a nagging problem I have been having with computer freezes. The specs of my system are as follows:

ECS K7S5A v1.0 mobo
Athlon XP 1900+
256 megs DDR
160 gig WD hard drive
Radeon 9200 SE
Hauppage PVR-250
Liteon 8X DVD burner

As background two weeks ago I performed a clean install of Windows XP with Service Pack 2. I ran two adware removal programs and antivirus prior to hooking up to the net to make sure eveything was clean. ZoneAlarm has been installed from the get go. Based upon this I don't think it is a software issue.

The sytem has run just fine most of the time but now about every few days it freezes. In the three instances when it happened, twice I was transferring a VHS home movie via the PVR-250 to the system and once while creating/rendering a DVD project using Sonic MyDVD.

After a freeze if you reboot the system itermittantly freezes once or more times at different spots during the boot up or Windows startup. Eventually it starts up fine and runs for a few days as stated before.

One other item that I am leaning towards as a culprit is the fact that I have been forced ($ concerns) to use a used 235 watt power supply.

Anyway, any comments thoughts are appreciated and I will be happy to provide any additional information if it will help me come to a resolution.

Thanks in advance

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: Lcarvone
One other item that I am leaning towards as a culprit is the fact that I have been forced ($ concerns) to use a used 235 watt power supply.

That's what I'd look at first. Especially if it's a generic PSU.

From what you described, it's freezing during higher power usage. That's why I'd suspect the PSU. I know you said you have a budget, but you can find a quality PSU relatively inexpensive.

 

[Abix]

Originally posted by: Amaroque

Originally posted by: Lcarvone
One other item that I am leaning towards as a culprit is the fact that I have been forced ($ concerns) to use a used 235 watt power supply.

That's what I'd look at first. Especially if it's a generic PSU.

From what you described, it's freezing during higher power usage. That's why I'd suspect the PSU. I know you said you have a budget, but you can find a quality PSU relatively inexpensive.

Besides, paying $50 for a good powersupply is a lot less painful than having to RMA a broken board/drive because your powersupply goes out with a bang under the pressure.

 

[PanzerIV]

I would test your RAM. Use Memtest and see if it comes up with any errors. If that 235 watt PSU is a good, brand name rated for what it actually is then that may not be your culprit since you're not running anything a SFF system (small form factor) couldn't handle with a good PSU.

 

[Lcarvone]

Well I took the Memtest advice and has been running for a few hours (25438.1% Coverage) and have no errors.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Those boards were known to require a slightly more-powerful-than-usual PSU with them, for whatever reason. I would name that your prime suspect for now, until it gets completely ruled out. You can get some powerful (but older-model) PSUs at directron.com cheap, I picked up a 360W Chieftec (same as ThermalTake and HighPower) for $20 the other week. I figure that for not much more than a generic PSU I could get a decent-quality one. It's nice and heavy, that and another PSU were 11.2lbs altogether.

Edit: Plus, AMD's spec guidelines suggest using only "AMD approved" PSUs, or ones with a combined +5V and +3.3V output power of no less than, IIRC, 190W. There's no way that an older 235W generic PSU qualifies.