Computer freezing, even in BIOs

[FrictionBoy87]

Let me warn you first off, this is a build from a lot of spare parts gathered from various places. I know its a piece but please just help me get this running. Here is the build

Motherboard: Chaintech CT-AIA5
CPU: AMD 1GHz
Memory: PC133 256MBx2
Video: nVidia RIVA TNT2 32MB
Primary IDE 0: Seagate 160GB
Primary IDE 1: Western Digital 40GB
Secondary IDE 0: CD-RW
Secondary IDE 1: DVD-ROM
PCI: Standard 10/100 NIC
PSU: 250W POS

I think thats eveyrthing in the computer. Heres the problem...

The computer starts up fine, runs through all the boot screens fine, but once in awhile in BIOs it would freeze for no apparent reason while we were setting it up. Then we would have to shut down and before it would show anything on the screen again we would have to reseat the memory. This was annoying but we pressed on and formated the 160GB and installed Windows XP. Windows XP installed fine but once we were actually in Windows then after a little while it would freeze up. Then we would have to reseat the memory again just to get it to start back up.

We did a lot of troubleshooting and here's what we have done already...

>Replaced the RAM with with different sticks probably 5 different times with 5 different sticks.

>Took out the NIC.

>Tried running just the hard drive and CD-ROM

>Ran a full diagonstic on the motherboard/CPU and everything came out fine, even after stress tests.

Now from all of that I can't really think what else to do. there is a proper heatsink/fan on the CPU and other fans in the case. I don't think there is thermal grease between the CPU and HS though. I'm not sure how big of a problem that is and if that is what is causing this. Please reply with any/all ideas. Thanks!

[Panama Red]

First thing I'd do is run Memtest86+ on the ram and use manufacturer's diagnostics to test each hdd. You can get all the test programs in one place by downloading and burning a disk from the Ultimate Boot Disk. Google it. If those hardware items check out, I'd try a better quality 300 or 350 watt psu from our "good" list in the Gen Hdw sticky threads. Something like a Sparkle or Fortron would be an inexpensive, quality unit.

[FrictionBoy87]

Thanks so much for a quick reply! we'll try that and get back at you with the results.

[FrictionBoy87]

Okay a little update.

Installed the RAM and HDs in a different computer thats already running and they work perfectly. A few things to take off the list ^_^

[Panama Red]

Not necessarily. The ram can still be incompatible with your mobo. You need to test them with the programs I mentioned.

[flanzig1]

Since you said you were not sure about the themal compound on the CPU, that would be a place to check. Should clean off any old stuff from the CPU and the heatsink then apply just a dab the size of a rice grain.

[AngryMelody]

Everything tested out ok, on the ram and hdd. Had the idea to switch video cards to test and see how it would run, and I am happy to say the computer has booted up and been running nicely, until recently anyway. So I have been running the pc and it will randomly freeze in xp, they are far and few times I can only count maybe 3-4 times. And today it just completely shut down, I could see a blue screen indicating error but it shut down before I could see and read it. Since then I have ran virus scans, memory tests, defrag and scanned for errors on both hard drives, and everything has checked out with positive results. The temperature of the computer is sitting at 42c havent seen it reach any higher than that. It would be nice if the chaintech website offered actual downloads for this board, but the page is useless. I don't know if this really help's anyone to determine a problem and offer a solution, but any advice offered is appreciated.

BTW the new video card is a Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420

[FrictionBoy87]

in addition to the above, it seems to lock up any time anything is connected to it. such as USB and even jsut plugging in the speakers. weeeirrddd. and like he said above, those tests all cehcked out fine! whats the deal!?

[Panama Red]

The bsod may offer a clue as to the cause. Turn off the Auto Restart feature and allow the Error message to display on the BSOD. Then post the exact message here and we can see where it points.

Start>right click My Computer>properties>advanced tab>settings button under Startup and Recovery>uncheck Automatically restart under System failure

[glc]

Replace the power supply on general principle.

[FrictionBoy87]

we have tried 3 differnet PSUs, but theyre all cheap and 250W - 300W. basically just crap thats sitting around. We tried what Panama suggested but we can't seem to get any sort of error screen. it just freezes and thats that. sometimes it will run for a long time, playing games and everything no problem. then just suddenly out of the blue it freezes. sucks =/

[AngryMelody]

Would not having any thermal compound between cpu and heatsink have this kind of effect? I guess my next purchases will be some thermal compound and a new psu. I have been resting on the hope that it was a software problem, but I am now pretty certain that it has to do with either a.) the cpu getting too hot, or b.) the psu.

A few quick things to mention though concerning the freezes that occur. They usually happen when I am moving around files, like putting documents into folders and what not. They also are less frequent when I leave the case open.

[glc]

You MUST have compound or a thermal pad - it will definitely overheat installing the heatsink dry. Don't you have a decent power supply anywhere you can use to test with?

[patmandu]

Have you read your mother board manual closely and checked everything? I tried for a long time to get my Chaintech system to work without locking up. The exact same mother board as yours ! I thought I had checked everything (It had been malfunctioning for a long time and I had almost given up) and then a few days ago I noticed the jumper setting for the CPU bus frequency was set for the wrong frequency. I was using the same type ram as you and the bus speed was set to 100 Mhz (not 133 Mhz as it should be. If you haave a problem finding the jumper (do you have the manual?) It is jumper JPX1 and is marked on the board (mine was factory set at the 100 mhz speed) and it is located just above the floppy cable socket if you are looking at the board while in your tower case. That was all it was ! It doesn't take much for a major malfunction. The system is running perfectly now. The symptoms you have sound exactly the same as mine did. I thought I had tried everything. I had removed all devices and stripped it down to nothing with no improvement. Check all your jumper settings and make sure to use the thermal compound too.

Good Luck,

_Pat

[AngryMelody]

Thanks, Pat! I think that fixed everything. The computer hasnt locked up at all since I changed the frequency and voltage settings. In the unfortunate event of a freeze I will keep you all posted, but let's hope that doesn't happen... hehehe. Thanks SO MUCH to all of you have helped in assisting us with this problem.

[FrictionBoy87]

Yeah guys thanks a ton! I'll try to find him some thermal compound/heatsink/fan that are up to the task. Hopefully all of this will do the trick. Thanks again