Overheat? New Power Supply? Help please

Alright, so heres what's happening. The computer just got reformatted, and it also has an extra 2 gigs of Patriot RAM from what it used to have. Giving it a total of 2.5 GB of RAM. However, now it is randomly restarting. It may seem instantly to be the cause of the new RAM to the people reading this, but it may not be. I'm running tests as we speak on the RAM to see if it's a problem with the RAM (I'm using another pc so it doesn't interfere).

So I was reading up a bit on what the problem could be. I found that it was either one of 2 problems (besides the new hardware could be faulty, again, running checks on that).

1. Could be that it's over heating. To see that I downloaded SpeedFan and looked at the temperatures. SpeedFan read that the everything was fine, green check marks. But then a second later it would show a red arrow...then go back to green. Then would show a flame...then back to green. You get the idea. The temperature fluctuated by about 1-4 degrees every so often, so i don't know if it's an overheating problem. I'm going to take the PC to the garage and blow all the crap out of it, see if that solves this problem (after the mem test).

2. Could be that I need a new power supply. I haven't taken any action in this matter, for the simple reason that I have no idea how to check this. How could one check if the PC needs a new power supply? Is there a program that will tell me whethe I do or not?

Thanks, hopefully you knowledgable PC gamers can help me out on this. Specs available upon request, don't know if it's needed so I didn't want to post the whole freaking dxdiag on the forum.

I'm no expert, but before any analysis can be made, we need to know what the make up of your system is. Meaning what is the size and make of the power supply, GPU, CPU, ETC, ETC. Also, can we understand that your system was running fine before the ram update?

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System Information
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Time of this report: 7/22/2008, 14:54:13
Machine name: HITSUGAYA
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp.080413-2111)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: GATEWA
System Model: T5026
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz
Memory: 2532MB RAM
Page File: 293MB used, 5879MB available
Windows Dir: C:WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: EnumPCIVEN_8086&DEV_2582&SUBSYS_4040107B&REV_04
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: igxprd32.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4764 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 1/13/2007 10:33:00, 57344 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: igxpmp32.sys
Mini VDD Date: 1/13/2007 10:33:18, 5672032 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-66C2-11CF-5761-4A60A5C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x2582
SubSys ID: 0x4040107B
Revision ID: 0x0004
Revision ID: 0x0004
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Realtek HD Audio rear output
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIOFUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0880&SUBSYS_08600000&REV_0900
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5034 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 10/27/2004 20:24:00, 2297984 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Here are the specs for those who would like to see it. It's not a gaming machine or anything.

I did as you suggested and removed the 2x256 MB, so now I have 2 GB in there. I also just came back from cleaning the PC nicely, that's why I'm answering an hour later.

Bestec
atx-300-12eb3 rev s1
input: 100~120v~8a , 200-240v~4a 50-60Hz
output: +12va::: - 18a, + 12 Vb ::: / 18A
300W MAX +5V ::: / 25A, 12V ::: / 0.8A
+3.3V ::: / 25A, +5VSB ::: / 2A

Thats what the sticker on the PSU says. Thanks for the help.

Badump.

Someone help please. I cleaned the hell out of the PC, removed the old 2x256, and removed the PCI things I didn't use anymore, such as a wireless internet card, and a display adapter which is useless to try get as much power as possible for the new RAM. I also have the side of the case off to let more air in. Although I highly doubt that 2 sticks of RAM could bring out enough heat and need enough power to cause all of this, it's restarting far less frequently :|

Before when playing WoW it would restart almost as soon as I connected, now I can play for about 30 min- 1 hour before it restarts. When my brother plays the Sims 2 it does not restart at all (though I wish it did when he played that lol). Anyone else have any suggestions to stop this issue entirely?

Thanks

new pc time?

that sounds like it could be too many things. do you have an old psu that you can try?

also download cpu-z and gpu-z to get us temp readings.

Before when playing WoW it would restart almost as soon as I connected, now I can play for about 30 min- 1 hour before it restarts. When my brother plays the Sims 2 it does not restart at all (though I wish it did when he played that lol). Anyone else have any suggestions to stop this issue entirely?

nestea_king

I don't think RAM is the problem, I have Patriot 2x1024 Ram too... Try to borrow your friend PSU or someone wich have 400Watt or more, then play the WoW, check what happen?

I have an old psu, but that measly thing powers a 1.3 GHz Intel Celeron, with 300 something MB RAM, and it has like...8MB of video RAM. Not even worth checking if it can power a 3.06 GHZ Intel Pentium 4. But it shouldn't be new PC time, since this only started after the RAM was bought and the PC formatted. Maybe it could be something with Windows XP SP3? I was at SP2 before this.

I'll get those programs tomorrow and give out temp. readings. Thanks

[QUOTE="nestea_king"]

Before when playing WoW it would restart almost as soon as I connected, now I can play for about 30 min- 1 hour before it restarts. When my brother plays the Sims 2 it does not restart at all (though I wish it did when he played that lol). Anyone else have any suggestions to stop this issue entirely?

Aldouz

I don't think RAM is the problem, I have Patriot 2x1024 Ram too... Try to borrow your friend PSU or someone wich have 400Watt or more, then play the WoW, check what happen?

Isn't there a way to check how much power is being used, and how much I have? Maybe a program or something? Would definitely be easier than buying/borrowing a PSU.

Thanks everyone for your help

Try to play WoW right now go to option menu and lower the shader setting apply... quit the game and play it again... post me if something weird happen, I will figure it why...Aldouz

Did you try running the PC with only the old RAM? If so what happened? Also, was service pak 3 loaded at the time of the new installation or later on after other things had been loaded? I am only asking because there have been issues with SP3 when it is loaded after the fact. Also, are you a 100% sure your mother board will support the new ram?taylord526

And no, I formatted the PC, and reinstalled Windows all with the same SP3 CD.

Yes I am absolutely sure that this mother board takes PC 2700 RAM. I looked up the motherboard and PC, and a few sites (I believe CNET was one of them) all said it was 2700. Furthermore, the original RAM s stickers also said PC 2700.

Here are the CPU Z readings asked for yesterday.

I was looking through possible things that I might think could be the problem and found this. [spoiler] [/spoiler] For some reason the PC seems to think that I have 2 GPU, though I don't. I uninstalled both, and restarted, and they were gone. Then I reinstalled the driver, and restarted, and they both appeared again. Does anyone else think this could be the problem?

Thanks for the help everyone.

Nope... I have a laptop with Intel 945GC express chipset, the device manager looks like that too...

The Problem maybe your i915 express chipset didn't support game like WoW, Why The Sims 2 is working? because it minimum VGA requirement is 32mb... WoW need more...

I'll check your i915 express chipset and post you in a few minutes...

Yeah It's not powerfull enough to play WoW... Sorry, I think you should buy a VGA to play that game...

If you curios about your i915 onboard chipset... read this article

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-900.2178.0.html

I know it may not be powerful enough to play with high fps, but it is indeed good enough to play it. It meets the minimum requirments, and did not restart even after being played for several hours before the restart. Also, I don't think that link you gave me is correct. That site says that it is a mobile chipset, while this is a desktop. It also does not match the specs that the PC gives me for this IGP. And, as I said I would do, I tried to play WoW for a few hours on the PC as you suggested, and it did not restart. I played it from 6:30-9:10, and it would have restarted before in half that amount of time. And WoW's minimum is also 32 MB http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/faq.html.

All I have done is cleaned out the PC (thoroughly) and removed the 2x256 as suggested by 9mmSpliff. So one or the other (or maybe both) seemed to have fixed whatever the problem was.

Thanks for everyones help in this problem. I wish it was possible to give users "fame" or props or something on GS...