Random computer restarts...any ideas?

[Hachuu]

I just put together a new system and seem to be having a problem with random computer restarts. My specs are:

Asus A7N8X motherboard (Asus website 1.16 drivers)
Crucial 512 PC2700 DDR
AMD xp 2100
Western Digital 80 gig 7200 rpm 8 mb cache "Special Edition"
Leadtek Geforce 3 Ti 200 (Nvidia 4.1.0.9 driver)
Enermax CS-305 case with 350 power supply
Vantec Aeroflow VA4 heatsink + fan

Current cpu temperature: 31c
Current mobo temperature: 32c
CPU fan @ 5300 rpm

Seems to be stable when surfing and just playing mp3s. However, when I load up WC3 I get these restarts and the windows error messaging tells me I have driver issues. I've already reinstalled the motherboard onboard sound/LAN/usb drivers, and I have the latest Nvidia drivers for my video card. If its not random restarting, I also get this FATAL ERROR that states "The instruction at 0x6f02FCF6" referenced memory at 0x00749554". The memory could not be 'read'. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mechBgon]

If you haven't done so already, my suggestions are to update your BIOS if it's not the latest one already, and make sure your RAM is running at "Sync" or "100%" relative to your CPU's FSB. Since you have PC2700, you can probably go with some pretty tight timings like 6-2-2-2 for the memory timings shown on page 56 of the manual. Hope that helps

 

[bobcpg]

i just had the same problem with the computer restarting randomly or while in WC3. I fixed it by not overclocking it. It was overclocked very little but aparently the computer didn't like it at all.

-bob

 

[GhentX]

Thanks to Hachuu for posting that for me, and for the responses. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I set my RAM to 'Sync' and flashed my Bios with the Asus website AN8B1002 update. I should mention that I'm running Windows XP, and my chip is running at 1757 mhz (not OC'd at all). Also, it seems with more extensive use that random restarting is not limited to gaming: whenever I have anything of importance on the screen, it restarts. Windows identifies any of the restarts as a device driver error, and I'm very confused as to which driver it is that is pissing me off (and should be tossed out the window).

A friend of mine mentioned that the power supply may be at fault. I'm wondering, though, if Windows XP would identify a freaky power supply as a device driver error? Thanks again for the responses.

 

[mechBgon]

Unstable or insufficient power could certainly cause hardware to goof up and appear as a driver error, or it could also be something else too. The Enermax PSU's are reputable and should get the job done, though, unless you just have a flaky one.