Intermittent Lockup Problems, Any Suggestions?

[firetoad]

OK, I have been having a problem that has been annoying the heck out of me. I have been having intermittent lockup problems on my computer. They are so intermittent and random that I can go for two days hard use and nothing and then another boot, 10 minutes in and it freezes. I have tried reloading Win XP several times. One time, the computer even froze during installation. I highly doubt it is software related because it froze even before anything but windows was installed. It never freezes with the same program. All of the drivers and software are the same stuff that I have run for over 6 months now. This just started about four weeks ago. I have tested both Maxtor hard drives with Maxtor's Boot Diagnostic Program (utilizing the "deep/extended" tests) and both had zero errors. I thought maybe it was my RAM. I ran the downloadable WinDiag deep memory test for a series of ten runs. Not a single problem was reported with the RAM. It is Crucial RAM too, so it is good stuff. I have swapped out the CPU with a 1700+ and no change. The max CPU Temp as reported by Sandra and Soyo's hardware monitor has been 44C. I can run Sandra's Burn-In all day long and never lockup once. I thought that maybe the Power Supply was going belly-up. So, I tried to install a 350W cheapo supply that I had in a closet. Couldn't even get the computer to boot beyond the Windows Welcome screen (even with only the mobo, fans and the system drive hooked up). So, I am thinking that maybe the mobo is going south (no bloated/fried capacitors visible). However, I don't want to starting replacing parts without better knowledge. My Soyo board is out of warranty by a month. That certainly stinks. If I replace the mobo, looking at the ABIT NForce2 AN7. However, I don't want to replace the mobo if I don't have too, but. Any suggestions or insight would be greatly appreciated?

Current Comp Specs:

Enermax 430W PSU
Soyo KT400 Dragon Ultra Platinum Mobo
AMD Athlon XP 2400+
Evercool(?) All-Copper HSF
2X 80mm Case Vantec Stealth Fans
640MB PC2100 Crucial Ram
Maxtor 7200RPM 30GB System Drive
Maxtor 7200RPM 160GB Secondary Drive
Gainward Ti4800 Golden Sample VideoCard
Koutech Firewire PCI Card
Syba USB PCI Card
Compaq 56K Modem
LG 48X CD-ROM
Toshiba SD-R5002 DVD-R/W Burner

[808smokey]

If you've replaced everything but the mobo then I would think that might be the culprit. You can get a board for a 1700+ for under $40.00
Even though you ran the RAM test I would still find someone to try it out. Maybe a computer shop will try it for it or something. Run it overnight in one of there systems maybe??

Try www.newegg.com of go to www.pricewatch.com for prices on parts

[Solarjetman]

Well, it may be a mobo problem, however I would not rule out the power supply. You mentioned that you replaced it with "a 350W cheapo supply". I would then have to assume your original one was of better quality. So, if the better quality one was not able to provide sufficient power, then there is good reason to believe a lesser quality one would not be able to either.

[firetoad]

Thanks for the replies. As far as parts, I buy almost exclusively from newegg. I have purchased a ton of stuff from them. I have done alot of computer troubleshooting, but never had a problem quiet like this. As far as the RAM testing, the diag prog I used was suggested to me from an IT/Hardware guy. As far as the PSU, the original was a 430W Enermax (expensive too!). It is in there right now again. This particular system was built by me about 13 months ago or so. I am thinking about just splurging and getting that ABIT AN7 mobo and trying a new Thermaltake PSU. Hate spending the money, but I guess it is time for some new hardware anyway. Thanks again from the insights/suggestions.

[cjb1118]

I would reccomend you underclock the processor, see if that makes any difference .

[redwudz]

I have had a couple of ram modules that tested OK, but still had problems. If you can trade out the memory for a while, at least you can put that to rest. Bad MB may be the only thing left then, as I doubt the PS is causing your problems.

EDIT: I had a ABIT MB that ate DDR memory. Encoding with CCE seemed to be it's downfall. I sent the memory back to Crucial and replaced it, same thing happened a week later, replaced again. Great service. Got rid of the board and still using the replacement memory a year later.

[firetoad]

Well, I think that I narrowed the problem down. It is either my system drive or my mobo. The motherboard's hard drive activity light is now staying on at any time that the computer power is on. So, either the hard drive is freaking out or the mobo is going south. I am leaning towards the mobo.