Machine_Check_Exception BSOD

[pcloon]

Hi everyone, my first post on this site.
Hope to be able to offer some of my own advice at some time for you all.

I am experiencing some problems with my machine.
I am getting the BSOD with MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION every now and then.

I am running XP Pro (legit copy!)
I have Nero6 (up to date), Office 2003, Emule and CreativeLabs which are the main things i use.
The system has never crashed when running emule on its own, but it will if just watching an .avi film?

It mostly happens when surfing the net or when I have my webcam on.
I have recently remastered so most of the crap that builds up is gone.
I use AVG7.0 and ZoneAlarm with Adaware and Spybot S&D. No virus' found but the odd spyware which is the norm is reported.

Sometimes my system will restart itself, without warnings, and other times i get the BSOD.

I only have LPT1 printer, USB cam and scanner connected.
400W PSU, 2 HDD and 2 disc drives.

I have just removed a 256MB RAM stick in case that might the fault, next step is maybe the psu.

If anyone has any ideas or come across this before please advise me.
MS give the usual possible hardware or software issues, which just about encompasses a whole system!

Jim

[islasian]

...I am experiencing some problems with my machine.
I am getting the BSOD with MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION every now and then.....

Sometimes my system will restart itself, without warnings, and other times i get the BSOD

Jim

What is the actual error code? Next time you get the BSOD, write down the error code and look it up on http://support.microsoft.com . It should point you in the write direction of what to do or what you can't do ...

System restarts could be pointing to your power supply going doggy on you. I've seen 420W power supplies with only 13A on the +12V, I wouldn't go under 15A on the +12V...

HTH....

[Olly1234]

What CPU, MB and Video card have you got running? Also how big is your case and how many fans are there on it? Have you got a temp monitoring util you can use to check what temp the CPU is running at when it's been on for a while

[pcloon]

Hi, thanks for the advice so far.

I had already been onto the MS site and it just explained it could be down to a recent hardware change, which isn't relevant, or some hardware failing.

I have swap tested the RAM and that makes no difference. It only really seems to happen when using graphics intensive apps, like when playing films. But dxdiag reports all is fine.

I have a fairly large system case with 2 case fans, vga fan, system and cpu fan.
I have the Gigabyte GA 7NN XP motherboard
AMD Athlon 2800+ XP - runs at around 60 celsius when fans on lowest setting
Nvidia GeForce 5200.

I'm also thinking the psu is on it's way out, but would that only cause the system to fail if It only happened when using webcam, playing movies?

Any advice offered is greatly received.
Jim