Output to Display from pc keeps cutting..

Ronan|Raven

Ok, built a system there on friday. AMD 3000+ 64, 1gb generic ram, 250gb sata hdd, radeon 9800 pro.

It ran fine for the last two days, no problems at all. However since yesterday when I went to load any games on it all the system would lock up requiring a hard reset, it would also after resetting go past the bios logo screen etc and get to the windows xp splash screen with the scrolling loading bar and sometimes just cut out here, the signal to screen would vanish.
For it to be cutting out at this stage I assume one can rule out drivers?

I replaced the 9800 with a spare 9800 I had lying about, changed the memory, changed psu and still same symptons.

I have a feeling it is the board now but hope it isnt as I am a very very lazy man and hate dismantling it again

Any ideas?

CuLT

The CPU is almost definately overheating.

Go into the BIOS and check the temperature; try googling for average temperatures for the AMD 64 3000+ and compare.

Most likely a careful reapplication of thermal paste will do the trick, though if you went cheapo on the heatsink and fan you may need to buy a new one.

Ronan|Raven

The cpu isnt overheating from what I can see, temps in the bios are only shwoing as 35

Malafus

Hmm, my best guess would be that either the graphics card is overheating, or not getting enough power (there is a sudden increase in power draw as soon as the splash screen appears, or when you try to load a game). Make sure your PSU(s) are up to the task - try unplugging as many peripheral devices as possible, see if that works.
Other than that, the only thing that comes to mind is a gammy HDD. Run a ChkDsk or something, see if any errors show up.

Edit: It COULD be the mobo, but it is unlikely, as a busted mobo will generally just refuse to work at all. However, on one of my old machines I lost the ability to use any of the serial ports (it was a LONG time ago). The mobo just blew, the 'blue smoke that makes electronics run' escaped from the machine, and my serial ports were left non-functional. The PC was fine for another year though.

Ronan|Raven

Ran chkdsk and all is well, an interesting development I rebooted the machine and went to goto the bios as it attampted to enter it I get the out of range message on the monitor. So either dodgy agp slot and fubar board?

Malafus

"Out of Range"? Never seen an error message like that before....
Yeah, it's starting to sound like the AGP slot is borked. It does happen, but very rarely.
I take it that your 1GB of generic RAM is in at least two sticks? Try using only one stick, then the other, and try different slots (if you have any available). It would be unusual for dodgy RAM to allow the PC past POST, as it runs memory checks at that stage, but anything can happen... if this yields no solution(which I think it won't) then a new mobo could be the way to go.

On a side note, did you try disconnecting any other peripheral devices, sound cards, CD Drives etc.? My first instinct in this matter was that there was too little power - what wattage is/are your PSU/s?

irlrobins

Ronan|Raven wrote:

I get the out of range message on the monitor.

Usually means the video card is using a display resolution or sync speed (ie 85 Hz) that is out of the monitors range.

pickarooney

Yep, I'd try with a different monitor before doing any more dismantling (partially because I'm also very lazy).

Ronan|Raven

Have tried it on 4 monitors I have here, im still poking away at it..

po0k

RMA the lot tbh

Ronan|Raven

stop I have enough hassle rma'ing everyone elses