Question:
Hi,
I have replaced an ASUS A8N-Deluxe motherboard with an DFI NF4 Infinity SKT939 nForce4 chipset Dual DDR400 PCI-E SATA ATX
motherboard after the ASUS developed noisy fan problems (and on its replacements).
The problem I have now is that the computer keeps crashing. As far as I am aware it is unlikely that the other components will have failed in the mean time. I have no idea why it crashes.
Basically, periodically when in the Windows environment it just crashes (the screen freezes).
The only thing I can think of at the moment is that the new motherboard has a recommended requirement of 400W PSU. I currently have a 350W PSU when the old motherboard was in use. Everything else is the same.
Does this seem to be the likely problem? Is so, I'll just buy another PSU.
Any ideas of what else it could be?
I have replaced the motherboard (the DFI one) so I think its unlikely that I will have 2 faulty motherboards of the same brand.
Thanx
AMO
Answers:
Did you re-install Windows onto the new board or just reboot?
Answers:
After a change of a MB you can sometimes get away with just a windows repair, but I have always found it better to do a complete fresh reinstall
Answers:
Yes, I did a reinstall and it still crashes. That's the first thing I did when I experienced the crashing.
However, as far as I can tell, if I just boot into Windows and do nothing, it's stable. Once I plug in the USB network adapter and start downloading, it is more likely to crash at some point.
The last motherboard however, once the crashing started, I couldn't even get back into Windows.
Also, if I change the power supply, are they all the same physical dimensions?
Thanx
AMO
Answers:
I am not familiar with the Motherboard you are on but did it come with a driver CD and did you install it?
Also, do you have any yellow question mark items in Device Manager?
Third, I assume you have done a full Windows Update since the install?
Answers:
The last motherboard however, once the crashing started, I couldn't even get back into Windows.
So if you had the same problem before, going off your above statement, what made you think the MB was at fault? It could be faulty ram.
Also, if I change the power supply, are they all the same physical dimensions?
The majority are the same physical size yes.
Answers:
Basically, I had motherboards in the following order:
1) ASUS - 1 year - fan fault
2) ASUS - 6 months - fan fault
3) DFI - 2 days - crashing
4) DFI - 1 day - this is the one I have at the moment.
The motherboard's fine in the Device Manager. I have installed the drivers from the CD.
My computer ran fine for 1.5 years until I decided to change the motherboard because of a second fan fault. It's possible that the RAM developed a fault in the mean time I suppose, but is it that likely?
The other thing I could try is lightening the load as I have 2 CD drives and 2 physical hard drives.
I have done Windows Updates, but it crashes every now and then whilst downloading and installing. I'll try completing it, but I don't think there are any motherboard hardware updates that need applying.
Thanx
AMO
Answers:
I would still look at the manufacturers site re the Forceware driver - they are known for bugs and there may be an updated one (affects USB support).
You can download the Microsoft memory tester (runs from a cd).
If adding power drain (i.e. the USB devices) always causes a freeze it could well be the PSU.
They are a standard size - you just need to pick one with both the right power rating and with the right set of connectors for your board and cd/dvd/hard drives. Get a quiet one!
Answers:
One final thing - have you looked at the Event Viewer to see if the freeze records anything?
Answers:
One final thing - have you looked at the Event Viewer to see if the freeze records anything?
I got these errors in the Event Viewer:
The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal processing. HRESULT was 8007043C from line 44 of d:\nt_qxp\com\com1x\src\events\tier1\eventsystemob j.cpp. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at .
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine CoCreateInstance. hr = 0x80040206.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at .
I'm not sure what they mean. I am currently trying to complete the Windows Update to see if it makes a difference.
Thanx
AMO
Answers:
>recommended requirement of 400W PSU. I currently have a 350W PSU <
Could be. I built an iffy PC due to the 12V rail being round about 11.4V. This would cause the PC to behave oddly - I got a 600W PSU and everything is fine 24*7.
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If usb devices affect the performance/stability of your computer then I would definately think about changing the psu - what other components do you have?
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AMO, have a look here if you input all your hardware/devices, it should give you a rough idea of what wattage psu you need. Hope this helps.
EDIT: it may also help if you flash your board to the latest bios.
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Whatever, the reason of this fault, you should NEVER use a less than specified Power supply. While it may appear that the computer will run fine, it will not.! From time to time, the PC will freeze or crash. Look up the term 'Brownout' and you will receive your answer. Brownouts are caused when not using the correct rated PSU. You will be causing harm to your CPU Now, if you are not using the correct rated Power Supply. After all a new PSU is less than £15 online from aria technology or spotoncomputers.
Answers:
Whatever, the reason of this fault, you should NEVER use a less than specified Power supply. While it may appear that the computer will run fine, it will not.! From time to time, the PC will freeze or crash. Look up the term 'Brownout' and you will receive your answer. Brownouts are caused when not using the correct rated PSU. You will be causing harm to your CPU Now, if you are not using the correct rated Power Supply. After all a new PSU is less than £15 online from aria technology or spotoncomputers.
I agree entirely. The ASUS board I had before was fine for the iCute case with 350W CPU I had. When I got a replacement board, I did not think to check the CPU requirements. When I started to get the random crashing, I decided to read the manual and realised it was 400W recommended.
Hopefully my new 600W PSU will resolve the issue (hope it fits!).
I certainly wouldn't have thought that my new DFI motherboard would use that much more power than the ASUS, but I have done some reading up on it and apparantly ASUS boards control the flow of power to the motherboard to ensure more system stability. I assume this means that because power usage peaks and troughs, the ASUS motherboard builds up a buffer or something which the DFI does not.
Either way, we'll see whether this new PSU makes a difference.
Thanx.
AMO
Answers:
If usb devices affect the performance/stability of your computer then I would definately think about changing the psu - what other components do you have?
Thanx Blacksheep1979. The USB device quickens the crashing of the computer, but it will crash anyway.
I have just ordered a 600W PSU from Ebuyer:
Hopefully this will resolve the problem.
I currently have:
- 4 x 512Mb RAM (I reduced to 1 stick in case of memory errors)
- 1 x LeadTek 6600GT PCI-E Graphics Card
- 1 x DVD ROM drive
- 1 x DVD-+RW drive (removed to reduce load)
- 2 x SATA drives (1 removed to reduce load)
- 1 x floppy drive
Thanx
AMO
Answers:
wow - yes you def should have a better psu than the one you had in with all that in there.