Follow Up: More computer Trouble

[adanthar]

Are you overclocking? If you are, it's got around a 100% chance of being related to that.

If not, it's likely memory, heat, CPU, motherboard in that order...maaaaybe a hard drive going bad, but I doubt it. For starters, try opening/removing the side of the case and putting a big regular fan right up against the PC; if it runs for two hours while that thing is blowing, it's heat. If not, buy a cheap memory stick, remove the existing memory and see if that works.

[locutus2002]

Basic troubleshooting:

I'd replace the CPU first (should be 1 yr no questions asked)
I'd replace the memory second (should be lifetime garauntee)
I'd add a fan to the chassis. (its possible that the video card is heating everything up if its high performance)
Then I'd replace the motherboard
Then I'd replace the powersupply.

Overall you're better off buying a premade system if you're going to tweak it because they actually look at things like heat dissipation.

I have dual video cards in a docking station. My 4 year old thinkpad is disposable.

[skoal2k4]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you overclocking? If you are, it's got around a 100% chance of being related to that.

If not, it's likely memory, heat, CPU, motherboard in that order...maaaaybe a hard drive going bad, but I doubt it. For starters, try opening/removing the side of the case and putting a big regular fan right up against the PC; if it runs for two hours while that thing is blowing, it's heat. If not, buy a cheap memory stick, remove the existing memory and see if that works.

[/ QUOTE ]

ya, that just about sums it up.

[Bco1/75]

got enough RAM? for the upgrade

If it is in fact a hardware issue, the following list is ordered by decreasing likelihood:

1. Memory
2. Power Supply
3. HDD
4. Motherboard
5. CPU

In my 2+ years as an in-the-trenches hardware tech I've seen a total of *two* dead CPUs, and both of those were part of a classic PSU-Mobo-CPU death trifecta.

Good luck w/your diag!