What the...?

[Genesis15]

How come my computer keeps randomly freezing... Like there are no reasons like when I put my webcam on it freezes. When I play startcraft it freezes, When I put some documents into a folder it freezes. There is no reason why this should be happening.

I have:

2.20Celeron
512MB PC2700
6600GT 128 8x
Windows Xp Home
ATX-350W Power Q PSU

 

[imported_Kensai]

I think it might be that PSU of yours.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

There can be lots of reasons, but we need a little history. When did this start? What version of the NVidia video drivers? Do you remember installing anything (software/hardware) around the time this problem started? Have you done a virus and spyware scan?

I assume this is a home-built system? Did you install the ALi motherboard drivers?

And, as Kensai pointed out, you do have a $25 Sparkle power supply. Not the greatest PSU by far. Adequate maybe for regular use, but the demands of that video card may be too much for it (wattage is not everything). Cheap PSUs are the constant downfall of the unwarry. Cheap PSU = poor power regulation = random lockups and crashes.

 

[SirPappy]

whats a good PSU?

any names?

 

[Fern]

Fortron and Enermax are two good brands. PC C&P is also a very good brand (knida of pricey though IIRC)

Before spending money, you could prolly get Motherboard Monitor 5 (free proggie) to work on your rig.

It can be made to record a log of your voltages (and temps). It will write the log to a text.doc. So, after a freeze go back and have a look at the text.doc and see if your voltages were weak or fluctuating.

D/L and install, select the "sys log" on lower left-hand side of the main window/page of MBM5, have it record every second, and chose to have it record to the text.doc. Limit log to a hundred entries (no need to fill up your HDD )

Fern

 

[FlyingPenguin]

I swear by Antec True Power PSUs. It's all I buy now for myself and my clients.