Ok, here we go....
Basic comp story, working (seemingly) fine one min, and boom, down the next. This one has me somewhat stumped, but I think it's more that I don't want to admit what's wrong and I'm hoping I missed something.
Here's what happens. I get what looks like an interference pattern on the screen on boot. The pattern changes twice as it goes through the boot process but always the same pattern at the same time, and it doesn't "run" across the screen like a normal interference pattern would. Just a static repeating graphic anomoly. No P.O.S.T. errors. It will boot into safe mode, but not regular windows mode. In safe mode - anything involving more than the standard user interface (I.E. flash video, test patterns, etc) causes the system to error out but not crash. Additionally, my wife now tells me (after it's apparently too late) that it has been slowing down and lagging in games more and more for the last few weeks.
So far, I moved the Video Card to another PCI-E slot and the interference patterns didn't go away, but it will boot to windows. I then replaced the video card with a known good card in the original PCI-E slot and the patterns are gone, but random white dots remain during boot but once the system has gone through login and reached the desktop (and wallpaper) the dots are gone. So far, so good, However, once any graphic load starts, like a game or even the "bubbles" screen saver, the video goes haywire (artifacts, stobing image components, the exact problem depends on what is on the screen). Again this is with a KNOWN good video card. The exact same response is recieved in both PCI-E slots. I have checked the PSU rails and they are not perfect, but are within Manufacturer nominal limits.
One last thing to add to all of this. I stress tested the system (after I got it limping into windows again) and the CPU heats up FAST. 58-59C in under 5 min. Since my wife plays WoW for hours on end, I can only believe that the load the game places on the system would have it operating above, if not well above, 65C. Yes, I know that's too high. Denial ain't just a river in egypt.
Anyway, here's the build.
Asus P5K-E Mobo
Pent D 330
BFG nVidia 8600 GT (original)
nVidia 7900GS (known good card replacement)
2g corsair xms ram
Here's what I think is the problem. Heat. I think that the high operating temp fried the CPU (and possibly the Mobo) and it will limp while load is low but flips out when load goes up. Unless someone can think of something that I missed, I figure I'm buying a new CPU / Mobo set.
Basic comp story, working (seemingly) fine one min, and boom, down the next. This one has me somewhat stumped, but I think it's more that I don't want to admit what's wrong and I'm hoping I missed something.
Here's what happens. I get what looks like an interference pattern on the screen on boot. The pattern changes twice as it goes through the boot process but always the same pattern at the same time, and it doesn't "run" across the screen like a normal interference pattern would. Just a static repeating graphic anomoly. No P.O.S.T. errors. It will boot into safe mode, but not regular windows mode. In safe mode - anything involving more than the standard user interface (I.E. flash video, test patterns, etc) causes the system to error out but not crash. Additionally, my wife now tells me (after it's apparently too late) that it has been slowing down and lagging in games more and more for the last few weeks.
So far, I moved the Video Card to another PCI-E slot and the interference patterns didn't go away, but it will boot to windows. I then replaced the video card with a known good card in the original PCI-E slot and the patterns are gone, but random white dots remain during boot but once the system has gone through login and reached the desktop (and wallpaper) the dots are gone. So far, so good, However, once any graphic load starts, like a game or even the "bubbles" screen saver, the video goes haywire (artifacts, stobing image components, the exact problem depends on what is on the screen). Again this is with a KNOWN good video card. The exact same response is recieved in both PCI-E slots. I have checked the PSU rails and they are not perfect, but are within Manufacturer nominal limits.
One last thing to add to all of this. I stress tested the system (after I got it limping into windows again) and the CPU heats up FAST. 58-59C in under 5 min. Since my wife plays WoW for hours on end, I can only believe that the load the game places on the system would have it operating above, if not well above, 65C. Yes, I know that's too high. Denial ain't just a river in egypt.
Anyway, here's the build.
Asus P5K-E Mobo
Pent D 330
BFG nVidia 8600 GT (original)
nVidia 7900GS (known good card replacement)
2g corsair xms ram
Here's what I think is the problem. Heat. I think that the high operating temp fried the CPU (and possibly the Mobo) and it will limp while load is low but flips out when load goes up. Unless someone can think of something that I missed, I figure I'm buying a new CPU / Mobo set.
But like I saying before seeing right about 50C when idling is still a bit high for a stock cpu.
