random reboots

[Xylob the Destroyer]

any time i try to run my PC at the full FSB speed and start a processor &/or RAM intensive app (TMPGEnc for example), the damn reboots after only a few minutes
when it reboots, Error Reporting comes up and gives me a generic minidump message with no real info, then opens a window on the Microsoft page saying the problem was "caused by a device driver", but doesn't elaborate -- WHICH device driver dammit?!?!?
everything looks fine in my Device Manager.......

now it has started doing this even when the machine is idle

any ideas on what the hell the problem is?
yes, I have installed the latest chipset drivers, gotten all of the Windows updates, blah blah blah, latest drivers for all devices, etc, etc....

i've done just about every type of trouble-shooting i can think of and come up with squat

any help would be appreciated, as i would much rather be able to run a conversion in TMPGEnc in 2 hours instead of 4.....

TIA!!

[unclebud]

The first driver to update is your video card driver.
Sound card would be next. Even though the Device Manager says they are OK, if you are having problems an update may improve the stability of your computer.

[glockjs]

what do your temp's look like when it's under full strain?

[Xylob the Destroyer]

yes, I have installed the latest chipset drivers, gotten all of the Windows updates, blah blah blah, latest drivers for all devices, etc, etc...................................
already got the newest drivers for the vid card, sound card and all the other shit in my rig

CPU runs at about 113 F under full strain
too hot?

[glockjs]

i didnt even read the part about the driver. eh.

what did you change before this started happening?


i dunno if a virus could or would cause this. i doubt it since it's only when u open only 1 proggy. but do a full virus scan anyways.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

np
i didn't change anything, it's always been like this

it's not just one program
ANY program that is processor intensive would do it - i just used TMPGEnc as an example
but now it does it even when the machine's idle
i do full virus scan once a week as well as Adaware

[glockjs]

your temps looks fine...

if it does it while it's idle id start looking at the hardware...mobo, ram. try and take out a stick of ram. if it still does it, stick it back in and try the other and test it

[redwudz]

I would vote for bad RAM modules also if you rule out hardware and drivers. Also a slight possibily of a bad power supply.

If you aren't able to trade the RAM out you could try a RAM test program like memtest86. http://www.memtest86.com/

[guns1inger]

Pull the covers and make sure evry card is properly seated. Constant heating up and cooling down causes expansion and contracion of the motherboard. Sometimes cards work loose. When it heats up next time and expands, connections can get shaky.

If this doesn't work, pull al the ram but one stick. Run it. If it's OK, replace this with one of the other sticks. Repeat until all sticks have been through, or until things fall apart.

The driver device error message is disturbing, but could well be misguided.