What's wrong NOW!? (My PC broke)

Technology and Gaming Help and Support
#1

My computer has always been able to handle high-end games, but it started chugging and having trouble with even the most basic games. i had no trouble playing Crysis2 at full settings or Skyrim with graphics enhancing mods, but after about 5 minutes of play, EVERY game would go from >45FPS to <3FPS in a heartbeat. i can’t even play Morrowind for more than a few minutes before the game goes from stellar to garbage. i used to be able to run Photoshop with 10 or more vector layers, special effects and crap tons of filters. Then out of nowhere i could hardly draw a stick figure without the whole computer freaking out and crashing or dumping Photoshop.

Reinstalling WindowsXP did nothing. After a day or so of my computer running “like new”, it would hit the wall and give up. i kept using it regardless but went easy on it and stopped playing certain games or using troublesome applications.

A month ago, i started having trouble using multiple applications at once. Combinations of programs i USED to run together all the time started causing problems. i almost always play movies and TV shows on my secondary display while using Photoshop, playing Minecraft or surfing the web. i’ve been doing this with no problem for years now. The computer could handle it fine, but recently i started having glitchy problems with audio skipping and video jumping or cutting out.

About two weeks ago, the computer started having trouble booting. Every so often, the computer could hang in POST. All drives were identified, memory passed its test, then POOF! No blue screen, no error, no nothing. Just a quick restart. After 2 or 3 cycles of that, XP would boot and i’d be back to normal…minus the jumpy graphics and audio.

THEN about a week ago, the computer started freezing at random. Sometimes 3 minutes after boot, sometimes an hour, or even half way through the WindowsXP splash screen, the entire PC would hang. No error, no blue screen; just HANG. i’d then have to restart by cutting the power completely. For some reason, the reset button would kill the power, but it wouldn’t reSTART; it’s just sit there with a blank screen until i yanked the power cord.

Unsure of WHAT the problem was, i took the PC out back and blew it out with compressed air and gave it a good cleaning. Thinking it could be a cooling issue, or power problem, i unplugged and re-plugged everything from the PSU, cleaned all the fans, swapped memory sticks, re-set the motherboard, etc.

…then everything worked JUST GREAT for 3 days. Like NEW!
No POST problems, no audio/video problems, nothing at all!

Turned on the PC today and ran through the crashing on POST issue. “Here we go again”. Now my sound card is invisible. Although my drivers are intact, my PC can’t see my sound card. Not more than an hour ago, i was watching movies and playing sound without issues. Then all of a sudden, it’s like somebody just yanked the card from the motherboard.

i’m afraid of what’s going to happen next.

–

i’ve made NO CHANGES to the machine either in software or hardware that would inadvertently damage my drivers or hardware. it seems that with every few days that passes, there’s something else that just…STOPS working.

i can’t afford to go out and buy a new $1,500 PC. What do you guys think the problem could be?

-Kawai Tei-

#2

It sounds like it could be the fact you’re using Windows XP, if you can play Crysis 2 then your hardware must be modern, but windows XP isnt a modern OS, its very dated and wont give you optimal performance, especially if the Drivers aren’t coded well for your setup.

One suggestion would be upgrade to windows 7.

Other things you could do is check your computer for viruses, or checking task manager processes to see if anything is using up more than acceptable ram/cpu, there could even be things running you dont know about or dont want on there, obviously dont go stopping everything, just anything thats suspicious, a quick google can help identify these processes.

Another thing is if you’ve been opening up your computer, it is vital you make sure everything is put back the same as it was originally, any crossed cables placed differently can cause them to be annoying, often stopping complete booting of your computer, the easiest way to check is how the cable sits without been plugged in, naturally.

Anyway this probably isnt the problem, check to make sure your computer isnt doing things it shouldnt, then consider upgrading to Windows 7, if your hardware is good, it will probably benefit from using a modern OS.

You can always post your PC hardware spec on here so we can maybe help you decide? :slight_smile:

#3

Sounds to me like a Motherboard issue; don’t quote me on it though.

#4

I forgot to mention (because i had to re-write this as i got logged out) about the mother board, if you have upgraded your computer with newer hardware, the motherboard might not support it very well, even worse the power supply might not be able to account for this new hardware.

#5

More info (specs and components, maybe overclocks that you did).

the mobo theory is plausible. i’ve had one with hairline fractures in the leads. causes more or less what you are describing. leads not always connecting because of temp changes even stopped it from booting after a few weeks. it’s difficult to figure out though.

did you overclock? if you did you’ve probably already reset to stock speeds. But still that could be the cause of the problem. overclocking does reduce the lifespan of components especially when driving up voltages.

#6

I agree with that, it’s likely a motherboard issue. Even if it’s not overheating any more, it could have overheated before and caused damage to something, or it could just have randomly failed. If you have another PC you could test the components in, do that, and try and narrow it down just to be sure though.
I’ve had PCs with mobo problems do some pretty strange stuff, so it’s certainly a possibility.

#7

:\ do you actually have a soundcard?
You also told us fackall about your specs. If you posted this in any respected pc tech forum you would be insta-banned.
Ok were going to assume you have a soundcard, try removing your soundcard and use your mobo instead.(if that works, try putting it in another slot)

#8

i intentionally left out my system specs to keep out crap like, “What, you use ASUS hardware?” comments. i know it’s hard to believe, but the internet is full of opinionated asshats who would rather jump to conclusions rather than say something helpful.

i’d also figured it was my mobo. Now i get to figure out how i’m gonna finance a new PC. At least a new mobo+cpu+ram combo.

-Kawai Tei-

EDiT : My specs aren’t important for what i wanted to know. i wanted confirmation that it’s a mobo issue. Posting my specs might have lead the conclusion in the wrong direction, as would posting, “i think it’s my motherboard”. My soundcard is a Creative Audigy2 and i doubt it’s related to the problem. i’ve also upgraded my rig so many times that i’m honestly not even SURE what i have in it currently and i’m nowhere near it right now. LOL

#9

Well it’d still be nice to have the specs for the people that don’t give a crap what brand it is.

#10

Isn’t it the most fucking unnerving (and certainly upsetting) thing that these digital boxes of ours do all kinds of random shit… my dual-opteron MBs are not cheap, but I picked up a spare for dirt on eBay… sitting on a shelf… just in case. Of course, I can’t afford down-time - so it’s money well spent. I sleep better.

Why would you pick up mb+cpu+ram… just replace your mb. I assume it is at least a couple years old. Shit, you may be able to grab one for dirt on eBay… nothing unseemly or unorthodox about replacing used parts with used parts either…

And I think there is a solid consensus that it IS your motherboard…

#11

In these cases I would look for a BIOS update, and if there isn’t, try putting a fan on your northbrige, on some boards it gets too hot and fucks up stability.

#12

^ this is a good start for sure…

It sounds like things go bad when your CPUs are crankin’… guys, I haven’t used a diagnostic app for any of my PCs in over a decade, but aren’t there any that may shine some light on this shit?

#13

So you’re saying his computer stopped working because the OS stopped being new?
…That’s not how operating systems work. If it was, there would be a lot of unhappy consumers.

I’m going to have to agree with basically everyone that it sounds like a motherboard problem.

#14

You do have a point in saying it would probably bias some people if you post your specs.

But troubleshooting a problem is always easier with more info. that’s why i asked. more info = more accurate help. :slight_smile:

as for the beeing biassed, i try to stay objective. after all if you google a bit you can find something wrong with anything from any manufacterer. :stuck_out_tongue:

#15

Don’t refrain from posting your specs unless your problem is limited to a checkbox or button being greyed out somewhere

You think your specs will cause biased responses? Just look at this thread.

no specs = Biased responses based on lack of specs :confused:

That being said, while you’re in the BIOS you could also check on your voltages, more than 0.5v of difference = dead PSU, on the 3.3v, being off by 0.2v is pretty bad.

#16

The software may be digital but the hardware is physical, and is subject to physical problems, which can cause problems the digital software can’t handle because it can’t possibly know what’s happening…

My best guess is PSU or motherboard issues. If it were anything else you should get blue screens or relevant messages in the event log. You did check the event log right?

#17

My PSU was the first thing i checked. All is normal when i checked it out. Only off
by +.02v. i’ve had power supplies go out on me before. My first bad PSU nearly set my desk on fire!

-Kawai Tei-

#18

[COLOR=‘Gray’]The software may be digital but the hardware is physical, and is subject to physical problems, which can cause problems the digital software can’t handle because it can’t possibly know what’s happening…

Thank you so much for clearing that up… ever since my first build (of a 386, back in '89), I have been completely mystified as to why the random shit happens.

It was a joke bro - perhaps not a knee-slapper, but a joke nonetheless :wink:

#19

XP huh? Yep, my PC is a POS too. Join the club. :slight_smile:

#20

AFAIK windows XP cant use more than 3-4 GB or RAM, maybe that’s the problem Try installing a newer OS.
And post the specs already.

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