hardware issues that could cause a lockup

[modena]

What hardware issues would most likely cause your system to lockup, either while playing World of Warcraft and occasionally at the desktop? I tried reformating and it helped for awhile, then the lockups returned. Also when there is a lockup, while in warcraft, i hear beeping, squeacking and scratching sounds. I am forced to reboot. Sometimes the computer wont restart and sometimes it will restart itself while rebooting. Anyone have any suggestions or if there is an event logger to check or program to use to monitor the activity? Also is there a program to check the 12V on my power supply (I read somewhere that that could be the problem). Thanks!

Also, is it possible that a windows update file could be doing this?

[Jeffbx]

If it's locking up while you're playing a game, my first guess is that your system is overheating, most likely due to the video card.

If it's not heat, then bad RAM would be my 2nd guess.

I don't see how a Windows update file would be causing this - a software problem would normally cause a blue screen, not a lockup.

[modena]

i used a RAM testing program (makes a bootable floppy and runs test on the RAM). My RAM passed. Is that a suffiecient test for the RAM?

And what is the easiest way to determine if the video card would be overheating?

[Merlin]

Are you sure it is not GAM locking up your machine while he is locking up everything else?

[Jeffbx]

You need a temp monitoring tool such as MBM (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=311) to monitor the temp of your components (your MB must be supported to use a temp monitor). If most of the lockups are when you're gaming, then heat is a likely culprit. You'll need more fans and/or better ventilation for your computer.


For the RAM, one more test that you might be able to do - if you have enough DIMMS installed to take some out (if you have 4 installed, remove 2). Run like that for several days & see if the lockups continue. If so, swap the RAM for the rest in the system & run like that. If the lockups stop when some of your RAM is out of the system, then odds are very high that the RAM you removed is bad. If the lockups continue no matter what RAM is in there, then you can cross that off of the list of potential problems.

[Devhux]

Also update your sound and video drivers. That could cause a lockup as well.

[modena]

I currently have these fans in my lian server case; a blowhole fan, 2 fans in PSU, 2 intake fans, 2 exhaust fans, one HD fan, a fan on my video card, a fan on my mobo and a ZALMAN CNPS9500 on my CPU. That should be enough fans. Will MBM give me a temp of my video card. Also could it just be that my video card went bad???

Tonite I am going to reinstall windows and World of Warcraft one more time, and see what happens. If I get a crash my plan of attack is this:
1) Check temps with MBM after running 3dmark 2006. If everything looks ok temp wise then proceed to step 2.
2) I have 4 512mb sticks of RAM. They are paired sticks (dual channel or whatever). I will try using 2 for awhile, then the other 2.
3) If the problem still presists, I will try uninstalling my sound card completely and see if I get a crash.

So my 4 questions are:
The above fans should be more than adequate?
Could my video card just have gone bad?
Does it matter which RAM slots I try (could those have gone bad as opposed to the actual stick of RAM)?
Does the above protocol sound good?

Thanks

[Showtime]

That should be plenty of cooling.

There's usually artifacting if you video card is running hot. My 6800GT went bad a few months ago and it would artifact like crazy.

Dont forget to memtest each set of memory. I installed a 2nd set of corsair and it seemed ok at 1st, but my rig started acting funny. I cleaned all the fans and all that stuff just to later find out that the 2nd pair was bad... really bad. If you want to check without using memtest.... Run it with one stick and if it works, try the set in dual channel (insert them in the same color slots and use the lower ones). http://www.memtest86.com/

[Jeffbx]

Sounds like a good plan.

The only other test that would be helpful is if you have a spare video card to swap in there, just like the memory test.

[modena]

I called NewEgg and told them I was having a video card problem. They are sending me a new card (they charged me for it) and when they get the possibly defective video card from me, they are going to credit my card. So I should be able to determine if it was the video card as well.....will keep you psoted.

[modena]

WOOT!!!!!

I cant believe that I am cheering for this but.....MY RAM WENT BAD.
The test you gave me (Showtime) showed a lot of errors (going to run it again for an exact value). SO i guess I found my culprit!

[modena]

Ok well apparently the RAM might not be bad.

My first test, I had RAM pair A in DIMM 1+2 and RAM pair B in DIMM 3+4. this is a dual channel system with 2GB RAM. I got errors at around 1800mb, which I thought was RAM pair B (or DIMM 3+4). So I tried pair A in DIMM 1+2, no errors as suspected. I tried pair B in DIMM 1+2 and no errors....I was expecting an error. SO i thought maybe it isnt the RAM but the motherboard DIMM slot 3+4. I cant test just DIMM 3+4 so I tried an inverse on the first test with pair B in DIMM 1+2 and pair A in DIMM 3+4. I expected an error as the same in the first test (meaning that DIMM 3+4 were bad). No errors....

I am going to redo the first test....could it be that the RAM just needed re-set into the slots? Also, how hot can RAM run?

Also i am getting some odd voltage readings with MBM? Could that be any type of issue?

[Agent Plissken]

Also update your sound and video drivers. That could cause a lockup as well.

Ive had problems like this with video card drivers...