Computer Freeze during Encoding

[Seagrass]

This is driving me crazy because cant figure out why its happening.
Without fail whenever I encode avi , no matter what the program my computer freezes. It happens with nearly every video codec DivX has worked sometimes but failed the last 2 times I used it.

Im thinking it has something to do with my Video card, Motherboard Chipset VIA or even perhaps the power supply.

I have another PC with the same PSU and RAM but a much better video card and is a nForce 3 chipset. It has no trouble at all. All the software I use is up-to-date.

My Hard Drive is regularly Defragged and I have tried both the VIA and M$ IDE Controllers.

I desperatley need some help with this its driving me mad.

Athlon XP 2700+
DFI KM400-MLV (Latest BIOS)
40GB 5400RPM HDD (DMA 5)
512MB DDR 333Mhz
GeForce 4 MX440 64MB (77.77)

[JSB1]

The guy I work with replaced his power supply and it fixed his encodeing problems.

I don't quite uderstand why though.... Unless you have a chip that throttles back cycles (read laptop) to sames energy, Your processor is running at full blast. Maybe if you were encoding form one disc drive to a different drive (like you should) then the combined power of everything is just enough to cause problems

JSB1

[smearbrick1]

Does it just stop encoding in the middle or never start? If it stops during the encode, how long into it?

[Seagrass]

its freezes my whole PC randomly during the encode. usually lasts about 5 mins before it freezes but yeah its random, never on the same frame.

[redwudz]

Sounds like flaky RAM modules. Have you tried substituting them? If you have the same in the other computer, switch them and see. That could explain the random freezes better than power supply or video card problems.

[Soopafresh]

Flaky RAM or CPU Overheating. Get some Compressed Air and blow the dust out of the system. Reseat your RAM modules. Rinse, Repeat

[Seagrass]

The ram is Corsair XMS C2.

I put it in a different slot and it seems to be working. I'm up to 13% on a avi encode as i write this

[redwudz]

If that doesn't fix your problem, try the exchange. The best brand of memory in the world can have problems. The good news is the better brands have a lifetime guarantee, so you are just out the time to RMA it.

EDIT: By 'flaky' I didn't mean low quality, I just meant 'having an internal failure.' This not uncommon with memory modules and can cause all kinds of intermittent problems. Always the first thing I check with intermittent problems. Encoding is stressful on memory and that's why problems often show up there.