random rebooting problem <---- still need help PLEASE

[redass1876]

ok, i just upgraded my mobo processor because my old XP2100+ fried due to a crappy mobo.

current specs:
400W raidmax PSU
3 GHZ pentium C
Shuttle board (cant remember which)
1 GB (2 x 512MB) PC2100
240GB WD HD (80 and 160)
Optorite 8X DVD burner
16X DVD rom sony
audigy sound
Ti4600 Geforce 4 128MB PNY video

the problem is, everytime i start playing a game, it crashes, no blue screen of death, just a crash. It sometimes reboots and sometimes just goes to a black screen, last night it also did it when i had some music blaring. I have reformated my HD since this problem and still have this same deal, please help, thanks

 

[Serp86]

may be a failing PSU, bad RAM, video card drivers need updating, video card saying it's last prayers, or a little bit of all.

 

[Anubis]

over heating?

tey memtest on the memory and run something like sandra, prime 95 or any other CPU stress testing program

are you overclocking? turn that off and see if it still happens

 

[axemanxt40]

The usual culprit of random rebooting in my experience is either a bad PSU...or bad/incompatible memory.

Since I just saw that you upgraded your motherboard...did you check with the approved list of RAM from your manufacturer? Have you asked around to see if other people have had problems with your mobo and RAM combo?

Like my friend I built him a AMD 64 system on a MSI K8T Neo, with Corsair RAM...and that specific motherboard + Corsair just don't like each other. It was a really bad first install of the OS, it was very unstable. However I reinstalled it, reconfigured his RAID...and all of a sudden the PC became stable and he hasn't had problems with it.

 

[redass1876]

i played with the bios settings a little and seems more stable now, but im still not sure, i hope it is not a bad psu, because i just spent an assload of time looming all those wires...with latest video drivers, certain games dont work, so i can use them...not a temp problem, right after reboot, i check temp and reads 40 C, so 45 C would be the max it could be when crashing...i have sisoft sandra, how do i use that to do stress testing? and im not overclocking yet, havent got a new waterblock and dont want to until i upgrade memory and get w/c back up

 

[optimistic]

You're not getting this are you? NT Authority/System Shutdown info

 

[redass1876]

nah, i doubt it is blaster worm related, especially since i used the removal tool my school provided me and have the worm patch installed...also im not getting that message, ill just be going fine on my computer and it just goes completely black all of a sudden.. no sounds, no video, nothing...sometimes it reboots, sometime not

 

[meefmah]

Check that your memory bus is @ 133MHz.
If it is, check the memory voltage. It should be 2.5v (IIRC). Maybe bump it .1-.2v or so.
If it still crashes, run a memory test on your RAM.

 

[redass1876]

ok, first, i dont know how to check if my memory bus is @ 133mhz, or how to check or change those voltages, or how to run a memory test?
please explain, thanks

 

[meefmah]

They are in your motherboard's BIOS.
Look in "Special/Extended Functions" or something like that. For example: When the comp is running memory check/drive detect, press Ctrl-F1.
Yours may be different, so check the manufacturer's documentation or website/forums for access instructions.
Look in "Frequency/Voltages" or something like that.
Memtest86

 

[johnjkr1]

Did you load the latest bios on the board?

 

[OverVolt]

Arggh i have the same problem its really frustrating, i sometimes get a BSOD and its IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, most of the time it freezes, the speakers screech, and it reboots. Normally 1-2 times per boot, then it will be rock stable (ive left it on 24/7 for 3weeks running F@H the whole time, then reboot and it reboots itself 1-2times) All my rails are fine, PSU is Antec 480w, reinstalled WinXP and it still reboots randomly.

Nice to have ya aboard

And after a second look, seems like you have an easy fix, memory is way out of spec, buy DDR400 memory or put it on a 2/3 divider (but it'll kill your performance.

Just curious, your CPU running @ 3Ghz?

 

[redass1876]

yeah, my 3 GHZ is running at 3 GHZ.

also, the only Voltages offered for my memory are 2.65, 2.7, 2.75, and auto. Also, the DDR266 is supposed to work on here, i know it is not the best, but it is still listed as a working type of memory for this computer.
There is no special/extended functions or anything like that in my bios and im about to make a bootable CD with memtest86 and then ill get back to yall after i do it

 

[redass1876]

ok, did memtest86+, and let it go through 3 passes without any errors at all... the screen read:

P4 (0.13) 3006 MHZ (i dont know what the .13 means)
L1 cache 8k 24643 mb/s (dont know why only 8k)
L2 cache 512k 21024 mb/s
memory 1024M 1108 mb/s
chipset: intel i848/i865 (ECC: disabled) FSB - 200 MHZ. PAT - disabled (dont know what ECC or PAT are)
Settings: Ram: 133 MHZ (DDR 266) CAS: 2.5-3-3-6/ single channel 64 bit
(dont know what the CAS thing is)
RSVD Mem - 20M
MemMap - e820-std (dont know either of the last 2)


but said pass - 3 (made is to 100% 3 times), and errors- 0

 

[redass1876]

need help bump

 

[redass1876]

as the other guy with a rebooting problem said, this is getting quite annoying, please help, anyone

 

[redass1876]

also, when im playing games and it is not rebooting, they lag a little now too, and not due to internet connection

 

[charloscarlies]

the .13 means .13 micron technology...smaller usually = more transistors which = more speed (and also heat). the 2.5-3-3-6 is your memory timing...with the cas latency being the first number.

i started my own thread about this problem also...but i'm pretty sure now that it's the cheapy ram. you running generic ram? try loosening your timings a bit in the bios if you are still having problems. i think somebody went through all this before though.

 

[redass1876]

yeah, i searched for threads and couldnt find any directly related, also how do you loosen the timings, and it is kingston ram, not completely cheap, it worked great on my XP2100+ system. not exactly sure what to try, on the FS forums, i put an offer of my memory + cash for better memory, but not turning out great. I know i need to upgrade it, i just dont have the means to do so right now

 

[redass1876]

bump for still having problems

 

[Finnkc]

have you ruled out heat? try running the PC with the covers off and if it still crashes check the CPU temp somehow.

 

[redass1876]

CPU heat never passes 45 celcius at the hottest (running a game and checking temp at same time). and when heat does it, ive always seen it give the blue screen, i havent got that, just blacks out. And also, it is running alittle laggy in my games now too.

could video drivers be the cause of the laggyness?

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

Did you check for dust in your system? Have you also turned off "reboot after error" ? Assuming you're using windows xp, right click on "my computer" and choose properties. Click the advanced tab, and click the settings button in the "startup and recovery" box. Uncheck "Automatically restart", and click ok. The next time your computer crashes, write down any blue screen of death messages you get and post them here.

 

[redass1876]

ok, i set it that way, im going to see if it reboots again, but neve had blue screen before

 

[Ronstang]

Trade out the power supply and I bet your problems go away. Everything you describe screams of a bad power supply. One of my computers would sometimes just reboot while playing Call of Duty.....changed the PSU form an Enlight 250 to an Antec 300 and the problem never surfaced again.