New PC Freezes Far Too Often! *Plz Help*

[fothsn]

Hey Guys

A little while ago I was going to build a new pc, but decided on an exellent pre built system for a bargin price, specs below:


Pentium 4HT 630 @3.0Ghz (Prescott)
512 DDR2 PC4300 Running @ 266Mhz
256MB PCI-E ATI Powercooler X800GTO DDR3
MSI-7210 (i945GM2) Motherboard
Sound Blaster Audigy SE PCI Audio Card
Western Digital SATAII 160GB HDD
X2 Sony DVDRW PATA Drives
**(Some Japanese 300Watt PSU)** <---- I think this maybe the problem?


Now with my specs out of the way , I am suffering from random freezes every 6 hours or so, resulting pulling the powercord out and each time I do so its potentially damaging my HDD and probally other components.

My first initial thought was overheating, but it seems not, my CPU Idle temp is 32c its not an oem H/S + fan its pretty large lol and my Load temps are from 40c-45c (I have used various temp programs and get the same readings). The Graphics card runs from 40c-60c and the HDD runs at 37c-40c.

I have tried various benchmark utility to stress the system but they all pass with flying colours

Therefor it has to be the PSU? I must be getting some sort of random spike and causing the system to crash.

Just before I purchase a new PSU can anybody comfirm it is causing the issues? Also recommend a PSU!


Any Help would be much appriciated

[scrandman]

PSU is definately suspect. Also try memtest:

http://www.memtest.org/

[maverick77_uk]

PSU almost for sure. Putting your specs into one of the on-line calculators, you're nearing 300W anyway (assuming usual fans etc). If the PSU's a unknown cheapo one, it may not even be kicking out the power its specced for. See if you can borrow one off a friend as see if it maes a difference.

[leeglf]

i think its the psu thats the problem even if its not the psu you will probably end up having problems with it anyway so do you self a favour and get a descent psu!

[Koolpc]

Just try a different PSU first.

[fothsn]

Thanks fot the reply guys

Ill try the memtest program and see if it passes that. The funny thing is that ive just noticed when I use the computer ie gaming/surfing etc its fine only when the pc is idle say 1/2hours or so then it freezes? <---- Strange!

When I fist got the pc about 2 weeks ago I overclocked the CPU to 3.7Ghz and let it ran for a day overclocked, maybe thats caused the PSU to become faulty?

Ill try the PSU in my other computer which is a Trust 400Watt PSU the only problem its anolder P4 type connection 20Pins, I could get a converter today for a couple of £, and give that a try.


Thanks.

[fothsn]

Just an update, Ive downloaded An MSI tool called PCAlert4 which measures the PSU and fans, It definatly looks like the PSU is the fault!




The reading in red should be 12v? If its 5.44 Would this casue the crashing?


Is there anyother tools you guys know that can read the Voltage to see if its an inacurate reading?


Thanks.

[dave87]

If thats correct - then you definately have a faulty PSU, and I am suprised that the PC is running at all. As others have said try another PSU - nick a friends or something, and see if the voltage changes - if not then it could be a faulty sensor.

Regardless of the problems you have been having, I would suggest getting a good quality PSU for peace of mind & greater stability

Dave

[Badgersaur]

Yep, buy a new psu asap!, its pretty risky running that so out of spec! - i would be more worried about burning ur house down than wiping data on ur hard disks!! - seriously! You can get a quality 580W psu for around £60 now a days i recommend the hiper type R 580W modular psu from scan its such good value for money

[frazered]

i recommend the hiper type R 580W modular psu from scan its such good value for money

I would not recommend the hiper, there are no end of problems being reported with them recently...

go for fsp, seasonic, antec, tagan or corsair

for reviews head to http://www.jonnyguru.com/

[Badgersaur]

/\ ah well just going on the good experience ive had with mine.... i got mine ages ago though, so maybe the newer ones suck?

[fredered]

with the spec of your pc a 450W psu from one of the vendors above should be fine, your rig shouldnt need too much juice to check before you buy search the forum for PSU calculator and it will give you the absolute max needed for oyur spec, but of course if you want to uupgrade you cant hurt by getting something a bit more meaty

[cougarslam]

my pc suffered from regular freezes i decided it was the sound card(was a good excuse to buy a x-fi). bought that still freezes.

then i thought hmmmm it seems to freeze alot when i download files off the web/torrent.

so i unistalled and took my wireless card out and wired my pc to my router. since then hadnt frozen at all.

moral of the story

DO NOT BUY THE NETGEAR WPN311 wireless card as it causes random freezes with alot of mobos/cpus. or the WPN111 as this has major dropping issues even when its in direct view of the router. My dg834pn routers not very good either don't think id ever buy netgear again.

[nvening]

Just a note here is that you dont need a 20-24 pin adapter as you can put a 20pin lead into a 24pin slot just leaving 4 pins exposed - they wouldnt be carrying any current so dont worry about that.

[fothsn]

Thanks for all the replys & recommendations guys

Ive just looked at my local PC store and they have a 530W Hiper Type R PSU for £51.70 http://www.cclonline.com/product-inf...ufacturer_id=0 Which seems very good value.

Can anybody reccommend the above? I could pick the PSU up tommorow.

[charger]

Yes the hiper range is a good psu, however I myself prefer something more on the lines of Tagan, Seasonic, Enermax or Antec in terms of psu's better reliability and performance imho. But no doubt the hiper type r range has recieved some very good reviews and comes with some funky retail packaging