Random Freeze : Suspect Video Card

Hello

My computer freezes randomly. It does not seem to be associated with any programs or the duration the computer has been running.
I'm pretty sure there is no ad/spyware or virus.
I have run memtest86 for 5 hours to rule out RAM issues.
I'm running Speedfan 4.24 and it shows the 2 temps (ambient and CPU?) as 45 and 65. Even though the temperatures are on the higher side the freezing does not seem to be related to the temperature.


I suspect there is a problem with my video card.
Is there a way of knowing for sure?
Computer Specs are as under

Windows XP Sp2 1024 RAM
AMD Athlon XP 2600
MS 6712 Motherboard
Direct X 9.0c
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 -- Driver updated today 77.72(deleted old driver , stopped antivirus and installed new one).




When the computer freezes I cannot use the keyboard and mouse. The last display remains frozen on the screen.

This is what I get for conflicts/sharing on system information (IRQ's are all OK):
I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7 PCI bus
I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7 Direct memory access controller

I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200

IRQ 21 VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 21 VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller

Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200

I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200



Any tips on investigating this further will be highly appreciated?

Thanks

 

Have you tried rolling back to the old video driver?? The new one could be corrupt!! Have you recently updated any other drivers or windows updates, etc?? If so...have you tried going back to the way it was before it started messing up, either by doing it manually or by using system restore!!??

Have you moved the computer recently...maybe something got jarred loose?? When the computer is cold...everything is tight, but as it warms up everything expands, which is in turn going to make somehting not fit as tight as before!!

What kind of virus protection are you running?? Is it up to date before you scanned??

Roger

 

Yes I have tried rolling back to old driver. This is an old problem so I don't think I can use system restore. I haven't moved the computer.

I run AVG and update it regularly. I use ZA firewall. I have tested my system for virus/trojan/spyware using several programs and all tests haven't uncovered anything bad.

 

When did the problem start?How often does it freeze?Does it restart?Any error message?Check device manager,and in the display adapters rightclick properties and check the info in the genereal and resources tab.Also check the event viewer for errors from control panel>administrative tools.

 

Maybe your running too many taskbar/background programs?

 

Amd recommend a system temp of no more than 38* yours is 7* over and your cpu temp is already at the max recommended under full load,if that 65* is taken while idle at the desktop your cpu could easily drift into the 80's,check speedfan again and see what percentage use your cpu is at in speedfan,if you want to take a temp reading under load download toast from the download section run it while monitoring your temps.

 

hi

Kadavill

It started long time ago (6m+). I don't know exactly when and hence cannot do system restore. The computer freezes a few times everyday. I did check the display adapter and its it says its working fine and there are no conflicts.
The event viewer has no errors/warnings. The computer does not give any error message or restart. It just keeps displays the last frozen screen , no audio and keyboard/mouse do not work.


omegamerc

It does not seem to be related to number of apps I run. Sometimes I just have a internet browser on with nothing running (besides the usual stuff).


Rikky

The max temp at 100 cpu usage I have seen is 73 deg. My understanding is that the BIOS has a temp setting for the computer to restart on overheating and it will usually never cause a freeze. I have noticed that sometimes the temp is in low 60's when it freezes (speedfan lets me display the temp in the taskbar and hence I can see it after the screen has frozen).

Thanks

 

Stability and temperature are related,everything around your system is currently running at 45*,thats too hot,any one of those components could be causing the problem,the temperature shutoff is just a safety measure incase your heatsink falls off or fan quits and will be set at something silly like 110*.

The max cpu temp amd wants it run at is 65 thats too hot many people know this because of stability issues we have encountered,most of the people here try to keep their cpu below 50* under full load.

These 2 temps give you an idea how hot your vid card is,hot,I dont think your card will have a temp sensor but if it does check it in display properties.

Do you have any case fans?The simplest and cheapest fix would be to remove the side of the case check to make sure your temps lower,if so leave it off and run it for a while see if you have a lockup if so try a letting a fan blow on it,if any of these fix it install some case fans or buy a new case.

 

hi

i cleaned the fan on the cpu/heatsink thoroughly and that brought down the temperature to 46 idle and 55/58 peak after running cpu close to 100 pct for about 30 mins. however my system did freeze once today.
i will keep monitoring it.

thanks

 

Re: Random Freeze

Hello Again


Even though the temperatures have dropped considerbaly I still have the same problem. Would really appreciate if someone can advise on how to investigate it further.


Thanks