I'm pretty angry at my computer. I feel like punching it in the face, but it doesn't have one (and it's also kind of sharp and expensive) so I have to settle for pounding my fist on my desk every time a crash occurs.
History:
Computer was working fine for years but then it started restarting randomly - both during games and at the desktop. I figured that the 5-year-old HDD had died so I replaced it with a 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3. After a few months without incident under heavy use, it started crashing again without warning. At first it happened rarely and only when gaming so I ignored it but then it would do so even when performing low-intensity tasks such as browsing the Internet, working on the desktop, etc.
I ran the memory diagnostic tool that comes on the Windows 7 disk and found a bad RAM stick. I replaced it and the computer was fine for a while but a few weeks later, the crashing problems started happening again in the exact same pattern. The HDD failed S.M.A.R.T. tests on startup so I RMA'd it and replaced it with the same model. The exact same thing happened - the computer was perfectly fine for a week or so and then the crashing would occur again, and in the same pattern, too! (sporadically and only under heavy gaming at first, then all the time in all situations) The new HDD passes S.M.A.R.T. and the new RAM sticks pass the Windows diagnostic tool (I know it's not very rigorous, but meh) so I'm thinking that it's either the motherboard or PSU. My temperatures are fine.
The Crashing:
The computer will suddenly lock up and then the screen will turn black. The lights on the mouse/keyboard stay on and only a hard reboot will do anything to the computer. If there's any sound playing, it will continue (maybe because I have a dedicated sound card, but I'm not sure). The crashes will be spaced out over the course of days at first, then hours, then minutes. Soon the computer will start crashing on startup or even on/before the Windows loading screen and it will take multiple attempts or resetting the BIOS to get a successful boot into Windows.
The system will run fine after it boots up again at first - at least until the next crash - but after several more crashes Windows will suggest Startup Repair (which will fail). Eventually, the system tray icons will appear as blank spaces, web pages will fail to load despite others working fine, and security certificates will no longer be recognized. I believe this is a result of the installation becoming corrupted. I can reformat the computer and it will run alright for about a day or so but then the crashing will return.
Build:
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W (2007)
ASUS P5Q Pro (2008)
Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2007)
Radeon HD 5870 (2009)
4x 1GB Corsair XMS2 (two from 2006 and two from 2011) [bad RAM was a stick of OCZ SLI-Ready Edition from 2008]
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB (new) [bad HDD was a Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 from 2006]
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (2006)
Am running Windows 7 Professional (x64).
Any ideas? Any help would be appreciated!
I'm pretty sure it's either the PSU or the motherboard at this point. Does it sound like it's any one more than the other? Could it be a bad SATA cable? Also, is it possible for a bad PSU and/or motherboard to start killing components? This many failures in such a short period of time doesn't seem common to me.
Thanks for reading!
TL;DR - Computer restarts randomly; replaced old HDD. Ran fine for a few months until random crashing occured; replaced bad RAM. Ran fine for a few weeks until random crashing returned; replaced bad HDD. Ran fine for a week but crashing came back. Think it's the PSU or motherboard but would really like some advice. Hate all computers and everything 5ever.
History:
Computer was working fine for years but then it started restarting randomly - both during games and at the desktop. I figured that the 5-year-old HDD had died so I replaced it with a 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3. After a few months without incident under heavy use, it started crashing again without warning. At first it happened rarely and only when gaming so I ignored it but then it would do so even when performing low-intensity tasks such as browsing the Internet, working on the desktop, etc.
I ran the memory diagnostic tool that comes on the Windows 7 disk and found a bad RAM stick. I replaced it and the computer was fine for a while but a few weeks later, the crashing problems started happening again in the exact same pattern. The HDD failed S.M.A.R.T. tests on startup so I RMA'd it and replaced it with the same model. The exact same thing happened - the computer was perfectly fine for a week or so and then the crashing would occur again, and in the same pattern, too! (sporadically and only under heavy gaming at first, then all the time in all situations) The new HDD passes S.M.A.R.T. and the new RAM sticks pass the Windows diagnostic tool (I know it's not very rigorous, but meh) so I'm thinking that it's either the motherboard or PSU. My temperatures are fine.
The Crashing:
The computer will suddenly lock up and then the screen will turn black. The lights on the mouse/keyboard stay on and only a hard reboot will do anything to the computer. If there's any sound playing, it will continue (maybe because I have a dedicated sound card, but I'm not sure). The crashes will be spaced out over the course of days at first, then hours, then minutes. Soon the computer will start crashing on startup or even on/before the Windows loading screen and it will take multiple attempts or resetting the BIOS to get a successful boot into Windows.
The system will run fine after it boots up again at first - at least until the next crash - but after several more crashes Windows will suggest Startup Repair (which will fail). Eventually, the system tray icons will appear as blank spaces, web pages will fail to load despite others working fine, and security certificates will no longer be recognized. I believe this is a result of the installation becoming corrupted. I can reformat the computer and it will run alright for about a day or so but then the crashing will return.
Build:
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W (2007)
ASUS P5Q Pro (2008)
Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2007)
Radeon HD 5870 (2009)
4x 1GB Corsair XMS2 (two from 2006 and two from 2011) [bad RAM was a stick of OCZ SLI-Ready Edition from 2008]
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB (new) [bad HDD was a Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 from 2006]
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic (2006)
Am running Windows 7 Professional (x64).
Any ideas? Any help would be appreciated!
I'm pretty sure it's either the PSU or the motherboard at this point. Does it sound like it's any one more than the other? Could it be a bad SATA cable? Also, is it possible for a bad PSU and/or motherboard to start killing components? This many failures in such a short period of time doesn't seem common to me.
Thanks for reading!
TL;DR - Computer restarts randomly; replaced old HDD. Ran fine for a few months until random crashing occured; replaced bad RAM. Ran fine for a few weeks until random crashing returned; replaced bad HDD. Ran fine for a week but crashing came back. Think it's the PSU or motherboard but would really like some advice. Hate all computers and everything 5ever.
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