new system locking up

[TheShiz]

I bought this combo
Intel Q6700 + XFX 630i + 4GB Corsair + MidATX case + 500 watt PSU for $350

bought a basic cpu fan/heatsink from newegg. tossed it all together. installed windows. and now when i'm in windows and start up IE, after a minute or two the computer locks, then the mouse becomes available for a few seconds, then it locks again, repeats a few times until I can't do anything.

Anyone have any idea what this could be? I tried switching memory and that didn't solve the problem. I tried replacing the thermal compound that came on the heatsink with something better, didn't solve the problem.

My first guess is the cpu heatsink/fan is a piece of crap. but the bios says 30 degrees C, which is fine right? I know it isn't under load, but if it's 30 idle, I would guess it should be fine.

So what else could the problem be?

hard drive? I doubt that because it shouldn't even access the hard drive when just browsing the web.

motherboard? This is my next best guess, and it is a cheap motherboard, if the better heatsink/fan doesn't work I'll probably get a new one.

CPU? I don't think this could be it, I'd figure it wouldn't work at all, not just lock up after a little while, unless it's not getting proper cooling.

Anyone have any guesses?

 

[SJP0tato]

Try downloading UBCD, and run the RAM test individually on each stick of RAM. Sometimes when I've seen problems like you're describing it's because one or both of the ram sticks are bad.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Also check to make sure the CPU cooler is secured properly. If those push tabs are not all the way in the CPU could be overheating.

 

[TheShiz]

I know the cpu cooler was seated ok because it is the screw on type and I could see where the compond made contact when I took it off.

I'll try testing the ram next.

I have one more thing I want to try though. I installed a very old version of xp that came with a dell, sp1, and maybe, just maybe the motherboard drivers conflict or something silly like that. So I got a newer install disc and I'm going to try installing fresh for kicks. I have new heatsink/fan coming. If this doesn't work and the ram doesn't come up with a problem, I'm going to try replacing the motherboard. I really hope it isn't the cpu.

Can you even rma an OEM cpu?

 

[TheShiz]

turned out to be the old dell install of xp, it must have conflicted with my motherboard in some way because I installed xp again with a different cd and it is working perfectly now.

time to get a video card in this thing. thanks for the suggestions, more things to keep in mind the next time something like this happens.