Motherboard and occasional crashes (very puzzling)

[josemavicente]

this problem of mine has been going on for a span of 1 year:

i purchased a celeron 633 two xmases ago. after some time, the motherboard, an ASUS P3V, taking the primary hard drive with it. the guys i bought it from said it could be just faulty lemon hardware so they replaced it temporarily with a new hard drive and an ASUS CUBX motherboard. 4 months later, it crashed again. same symptoms for both-- after a while, whenever i boot, the computer makes a machinelike crunching,churning (like a growl) sound, different from the usual boot-up. this would fade away halfway into the boot sequence. this would go on for several weeks until after 3-4 months, i cant boot anymore. same problem -- the motherboard would be shot. just recently, i replaced the motherboard with an AOPEN brand from a different store for evaluation purposes. now the same sound occurs again --the whirring crunching sound upon boot up.


does this have something to do with the power supply? the computerworks fine for several weeks and after a while, it just crashes, leaving the motherboard destroyed.

any suggestions? im puzzled. i transferred the computer twice coz ithought it might be a power problem with the wall socket. i tried using a UPS and an AVR with no improved results.

thank you!

current system specs:
AOPEN Motherboard
C-MEDIA Sound Card
440 MB RAM
Celeron 633
RIVA TNT2 m64

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Jayvee Fernandez

[mjc]

Other than the harddrive failure what is the problem with the motherboard?

I would seriously consider replacing the power supply and having the wiring in the house checked by a licensed electrician....there is something causing these failures hard drives don't just go out with the frequency you describe. Also motherboards are not quite wilting flowers, they can handle a little abuse (not much mind you...especially if it is from ESD, electrostatic discharge,), but something, and I think it may be the voltage at the outlet you are plugged into, is not right.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[josemavicente]

the hard drive crashed with the motherboard

i know MB's arent really flimsy -- that they can stand some abuse ... thing is the other computer beside it works just fine. thus, narrowing things down, i have a feeling it has to do with the power supply.
will update asap.

btw -- when you change a motherbard, is a reformatting necessary? my computer locks up at times and became comparatively slower especially when dealing with graphics. i even upgraded the RAM to 440mb!!!
the new MB is AOPEN -- formerly ASUS (which i like better). im having the ASUS that got shot replaced in warranty.

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Jayvee Fernandez

[mjc]

Are both computers running off the same outlet/power strip?

Yes, it is usually avery good idea to format and reinstall when changing the motherboard...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[josemavicente]

no they are not running on the same power strip.

i transferred the computer with the problem and it still happens. it MUST be the power supply. apparently, i found out that the tower case housing it was the original case i used long ago when the Pentium MMX first came out... 5 yrs ago will definitely threaten the power supply. dont you think?

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Jayvee Fernandez

[bassman]

Yea Jayvee, I think we're on to something here. That old PSU is probably a little worn, but most definitely underpowering your current equipment.

I'm curious though, that should be an ATX mobo and an AT PSU. How do you get that to work? Or is it an ATX PSU?

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Quotes from "Lifes Little Instruction Book" by H.Jackson Brown: 409)Wage war against littering! Frank's Place (http://www.members.aol.com/frankscompsrvice)

[josemavicente]

i dont understand! =)
i just know that it auto-offs http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

im notfamiliar with the names of the casings

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Jayvee Fernandez

[Randy_tx]

I think changing the PS would be a GREAT idea.

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XP didn't save Me !