PSU problem? Something else?

Number12 · Post by **Number12** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:55 am

Hiya
hoping for some enlightment from bigger brains than mine:
upgraded recently, but am having intermittent system hangups - happens only when I double click open a new application (eg. opening new instance of Firefox or iTunes). XP will freeze, requires a hard reset

here's the original specs:
350W Antec PSU (stock PSU from 3700BQE)
Opteron 144 at stock volts/clocks
2x512Mb DDR
1 IDE HDD
Asus A8V Deluxe board

since upgrade, the CPU and RAM, 2 extra fans and extra HDD added:
350W Antec PSU, Asus motherboard as above. XP Home fully updated, not changed during upgrade
Manchester X2 4800+ at stock volts/clocks with Ninja (temps all <40deg)
2x1G DDR
2 HDD (USB + IDE)

Memtested fine for 12hrs
Prime95 stable for 6hrs (yeah, I guess I should do both for >24hrs)

Hmm, do I need a beefier PSU?? Something else? Any comments appreciated!

vitaminc · Post by **vitaminc** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:54 am

You should have enough power for your set up.

Regarding the system hangups, is it reproducable even when you unload everything from memory? i.e., unload your antivirus, spyware detector, messenger, etc.

I think its some sort of hardware conflict instead of PSU problems. PSU problems will tend to be a random reboot or shut down from my experience.

Post by **MikeC** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:39 am

Well, PSUs do age, and that model was not particularly good. If it does not turn out to be a hardware conflict.... Try pulling out some of the new components that demand more power -- the 2nd HDD, one stick of ram. If it still has trouble, you may need to try a different PSU to be sure.

Number12 · Post by **Number12** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:45 am

Hi, thanks for input so far.
In fact, after posting the original post and in the process of shutting down windows, it froze again, while apps were being removed from the taskbar.
Another time I have noticed is when it froze while displaying a screensaver

The only constant I can see so far is when the CPU is cycling from idle 1GHz to 2.4GHz. The screen will freeze with the volts and clockspeed ramping up, observed using a monitoring program. This happens either with RMClock or the normal Windows CnQ (stock volts, 1.1V idle and 1.35V full).

All my apps are the same, as I did not reinstall XP or change any settings.
I will let it run Prime95, Memtest and CPUBurn over this weekend.