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PC Freeze Issue

A

Atlantian

n00b
Joined
Nov 21, 2006
Messages
55
Hey HardOCP can you help me figure out what is wrong with my comp?

The other day the power went out at my place. After it came back on I started up my desktop PC and after about 5 minutes it froze up and I got some noise feedback through my speakers. Now I thought maybe my Power supply went bad so I just bought a new one and installed it. Thing is same thing is happening. It may take just 1 minute after start up or 50 minutes, but eventually it always freezes even if I just let it sit idle. It has only happened a couple times where it wont boot at all. So long story short what do you think is the most likely culprit of this problem? Any testing tools/software that may lead me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

Also if this is the wrong forum, I apologize.
 
1) We need a basic specs list, including the brands and models of both the old and new PSU. Also, please give us an estimate as to how long you've owned your parts.

2) Have you tried following the steps/guides listed in the troubleshooting sticky?

3) Did you have a surge protector and/or UPS (uninterruptible power supply) when the power came out?
 
1) Old PSU Apevia 680 Watt ATX-IB680W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...48028&cm_re=ATX-IB680W-_-17-148-028-_-Product

New PSU OCZ ModXStream-Pro 700 Watt
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

I built this PC in the beginning of 2006, so I've had it up and running with no problems for four years.

2) I have tried but unfortunately I can not run a min build because mine is a min build and no onboard video on my motherboard. I can tell you that I have disconnected everything and reconnected and same freezing occurs. No matter what test I run it does not seem to be able to stay unfrozen long enough to complete. Only other piece of information is that after inspecting my parts the only thing that looks a little off is two capacitors on my motherboard have their tops bulging upward.

3)Yes I did have a surge protector, but no UPS. The surge protector is still working.

My spec list is in my signature, expect I stopped ocing my processor about a year ago.
 
The bulging capacitors mean that damage has been done to your motherboard. And if you indeed had the Apevia PSU when everything blew, there's a good chance that the damage may be permanent. If you know how, you could replace the two bad capacitors, but that may be more trouble than it's worth -- and that's not a guarantee that your problems are limited to just the board.

One major problem is that Apevia PSUs in general are bad -- like, literally go-into-flames bad. Without opening up the PSU -- which I wouldn't recommend unless you really know what you're doing -- I couldn't tell you whether the PSU absorbed most of the "shock" from the power outage and/or whether some of that "shock" was transferred onto the motherboard (and/or other components).
 
Hey thanks for the advice. Ya I could replace the capacitors but I would rather replace the entire mobo. Its just to bad I don't know if those capacitors "bulged" on the spike or failed some time earlier. But again thank you and have now ordered a new mobo.
 
Stupid question, but (aside from the new mobo and OCZ PSU) what does the rest of your build look like?

There is a chance that the power supply and motherboard aren't the only components to have suffered damage.
 
Processor: AMD 5200+
Mem: 2 gigs OCZ Plat Rev 2 DDR2
Video Card: EVGA 7950 GT Superclocked
Hard Drive: WD 150 Gig Raptor X
Sound Card: Audigy ZS Plantinum
 
Given the age of your parts, have you considered a completely new system? (Do you have the funds to go that route?)
 
Ya I have. While I have the funds for about an $800 build I would rather not buy right this instant since I'm having some car trouble and just bought some plane tickets for a vacation a couple weeks ago. While deciding to buy a new mobo I was torn to do that or build new. But if this mobo does not fix it I will be looking to build in the 800-850 range and I can reuse my now new psu, case, sound card, possibly hard drive, dvd drive/combo drive
 
For now, let's save the worrying about crossing that particular bridge for when we come upon it.

At this point in time, if you want to attempt to salvage your build, I recommend searching for a used board. The prices of some of the remaining AM2 boards available are close to the price of a newer AM2+ or AM3 board -- and some of the newer AM2/AM2+ boards can't support your processor.
 
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