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Reboot Loop

Anybody want to weigh in here?

The PC I'm setting up for a MAME cab just started rebooting yesterday. For some reason, I started playing Frets on Fire and (don't know if this is even related) but the fonts seemed REALLY big.

Then, it shuts off and goes into a reboot loop. If I cut the power for a while and go back about 20 minutes later, it will stay on for a little while and then the reboot loop starts again. I swapped the RAM, swapped the graphics card, unplugged a Logitech mouse that apparently can cause this, and then took out pretty much EVERYTHING.

I put in an FX5200 PCI card and then tried again. The same thing happens.

My BIOS is telling me my motherboard temperature is . . 238C. All the time. How is this even possible? Wouldn't the thing be smoking or melting or on fire or all three??

Last week I put in an HD2600pro AGP that I bought off here (works great, really don't think its the problem), but it probably does use more power than the old one I had. Can it be that? I'm using a generic Antec 350w PSU I bought at Circuit City. I'm also using a new TV tuner card and a soundcard. Processor is a 2.8 P4. 160 gig hard-drive. Can power be an issue here?

I'm sorry for being vague. I'm at work right now and I really cannot think of the motherboard specs. It's an Asus, I know that. And no PCI-E so it can't be new. (A lot of this stuff is used/handed down . . learned my lesson with that).

What other steps should I take here? Any advice is extremely appreciated.
 
That is a lot of stuff to be running off of a 350 W PSU. You could be having power issues.
One other thing to check...look closely at the capacitors on the motherboard. Are any of them bulging or leaking (brownish crusty stuff on top)? Whem caps start to fail you can get all kinds of weird issues.
Good Luck!!
 
I doubt power capacity is the problem as those video cards aren't anything close to demanding. Check the caps but if you don't see anything, I would take the side of the case off and park a fan in front of it to see if that changes anything.

You mentioned a "generic Antec". Which is it, generic or Antec?
 
Thank you for the replies, I'll check the motherboard. Did a quick look-over last night but its hard to tell. Is there a better PSU you than an Antec 350w for about 30-40 bucks?

I'll definetely try putting a fan next to it too . . What about the 230c temperature? Is that possible or is my PC just so messed up its reading the wrong temp?

You mentioned a "generic Antec". Which is it, generic or Antec?

Sorry, its an Antec. I just meant "generic" as in "not special/bare-bone" not a generic brand.

Thank you both again.
 
If you need a new PSU, either the Antec Earthwatts 380 or the Corsair VX450 would be the best low cost solutions for you. Both are high quality and cheap. An actual temp of 230C is doubtful as that is 446F, which would likely be enough to MELT your computer.
 
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