New Computer Randoml Locking up Update

[yeedog]

OK all i've been haven this problem for a while as i have stated in previos posts. I was advised that I should take cards out of my computer until i found the guilty party, but while going throught this process i noticed something. Everytime I open up my case the lock-ups go away and once they do go away I can close up the case all be on my merry way. This has bascially proven true everytime i tried. The lock-ups only occur when the computer is first turned on and can last for who knows how long, but once they stop it stops until i power hte machine off for an extended period of time. So I'm thinking it is not a card conflict, but could it be?

The CPU Temp in the BIOS says around 52C, but when I blast the AC in my room on for a while i can get it down to 41C and it still locks-up so not a HSF probelm i don't think. COuld it be some kind of air flor problem? Like it's not getting enough air to breath or something when it first starts up and opening the case solves that? Tho then that would say that closing the case back up would cause the lock-ups again, which is untrue as once the lock-ups go away i can close up the case and not see a single lock-up the rest of the day until the next morning.

I have a Lian Li PC 60 case so i have the 2 INtake fans in the front that are on the higiest speed possible. THen i have the case out take fan to the left of the CPU and since i have an Enermax 350W PSU an outake fan above the CPU too. SO the CPU is surrounded by 2 outtake fans.

Can anybody think of some reason why opening the case for like 5 mins would solve a random lock-up problem? I'm gettting closer to seeing why my 1.5 month old computer is locking up first thing in the morning.

Here is what i have in my computer:

Athlon 1.4
Epox 8K7A

Lian-Li PC-60
EG365P-VE, Enermax 350W

512MB Crucial DDR PC2100 (2 sticks)

Voodoo 3 3500
Game Theater XP

Silver Toshiba 16X DVD-ROM Drive, ATAPI, SD-M1502 (Secondary Master)
Smart and Friendly 6x CD Burner (Secondary Slave)

40 GB Maxtor ATA 66 (Primary Master)
80GB Maxtor DiamondMax Drive ATA 100 (Primary Slave)

Logitech optical mouse
logitech Keyboard
Teac 1.44MB 3.5" floppy drives
Fire Wire card for digital cam.
3com 10/100 NIC

Iiyama vision master Pro 17" Montior (Connected via BCN cables)
ACS 495 Speakers (USB Controlled)


Hopefully Somebody has an answer for me

Thanks all,

--Brian

 

[anandfan]

Let me repeat what you said for clarification:

If you have the case closed and start the computer, you get intermittent failures.

If you have the case opened and start the computer then close the case, the computer will run (basically) forever without lockups.

Is that about it?

 

[yeedog]

yes that is bascially right. It's more than just open turn on then close. It's more like open for like a few mins before closing it up. I have had it on for a couple days with no problems after doing this. I find it strange.

 

[GoldenGuppy]

If this is the case, then it might just be a ventilation problem... even though your room is cool w/ the airconditioner, it might not get emitted too well to your PC (if you have your case close) regardless of the fans...

You have a lot of components in your PC and that will definitely have a tendency to heat things up... prehaps you might want to add a grill on the top for some more ventilation.. or better yet, you might just want to run your computer w/o the case cover on... I personally do

I'm pretty sure that the problem would be lack of ventilation that would cause heat to be trapped within the casing which would cause the freezing up of your PC... It's hot in there even if the temperature reads what it does (it might still be inaccurate due to othre forces)

Good luck.

><GG>

 

[MCS]

The opening/closing of the case has to be a coincidence. If it were a cooling problem then putting the cover back on would make it crash again.

Very strange!

 

[FiberOptik]

Have you tried pulling your one of your memory sticks to see if that might solve the problem, or maybe try setting your memory timings to a less aggressive level.

 

[jblondi]

not true, the chip gets up to scorching temp in its first 10 seconds. If the heat sink cant pull enough heat off it right away then the air around it would have a big difference. The Heat sink could then start to pull the heat away with convection. Do you by any chance need some more thermal paste?

 

[Gruhaminmuffin]

Perhaps its some type of Chassis Intrusion turned on? Because as stated it should still be crashing if you put the cover back on after it boots.

 

[yeedog]

I agree that it can't be a cooling program because replacing the cover should make the computer lock-up again. BUT it doesn't that's why i'm all confused.

If it is a ventilation problem then i guess i'll just have to live with it, becuase i rather not modify a $180 case. I'm not that brave yet


Gruhaminmuffin: what do you mean by chassis intrusions turn on? I don't think i've ever heared of such a thing. How would i even know if i had it or not?

jblondi: I just used the stock heat sink and fan, so maybe that could be the case that i screwed up the thermal paste. This was my first attempt at putting a coputer together from scratch and well the HSF gave me troubly. I didn't want to push the clip down too hard as to crack anything. So it took multiple tries to get the HSF locked in place thus there was probably alot of movement on it.