Sudden and Random Problem, MB/CPU/Vid Card?

[virtualb]

Ok all, I'm new to these forums and I am in desparate need of help.

I built my computer and it has been fine for the past year.

My specs are
80GB Seagate SATA had drive
WinFast PCI-E Geforce Graphics Card
MSI 915p Combo Mother Board
Intel P4 3.0 ghz processor
1Gig Corsair Value Select Ram
Creative SB Audigy Sound Card
Samsung CD/DVD/CD-R drive
Floppy Drive
NEW (thought it was the prob so just bought it) Antec 500W power supply.

Here is the problem.

Today I was playing a video game and the game locked up(for the first time eveR) and I started hearing a high pitched noise from the speakers. The computer screen eventually just went black, yet the computer(fans) seemed to still be running. There was no HD access (I didn't hear anything nor did I see the red access light flashing).

I just replaced the power supply that came with the case with the Antec 500 W SmartPower 2.0. The same problem happens.

After I hard turn off the computer off AND on several times, SOMETIMES it accesses the HD and it boots up to windows. Since the initial crash I have got it to windows 3 times. The most recent time being on for about 30 min. Tried the game again and it locked up.

My screen is going black. All fans (CPU and Case and Video Card fan are all still running). The HD red light in the front isn't doing anything.

So I went from thinking it was the power supply, to thinking it was the hard drive, but it went to windows several times so I ruled that out. Now I'm down to thinking its the video card or the motherboard with a strong hunch the motherboard is dying.

Can anyone please give me some suggestions on what I can do to fix this? I'd rather not go through the hassel of getting a new motherboard =\

All parts are less than a year old and like I said this just started happening today. I just find it very ODD that there is no HD access and screen is black.

Appreciate it all.

[Paleo Pete]

Heat is the first thing I thought of, how do the temps look? Check BIOS and let it idle for 10-15 minutes while watching it. If it runs higher than about 125°F I wouldn't like it under a load, it would be 140° or better. I try for under 120°F at idle in BIOS. Clean out any dust and lint inside the case and look for Bad Capacitors (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25482) while you have the cover open. A small flashlight may help if the room isn't well lighted. I would change the thermal compound on the CPU too but, I'm picky like that...

Make sure all the fans inside are clean and working, especially the heatsink fan. And check the video card fan if it has one, if not hold your finger on it CAREFULLY while it's running, after idling a few minutes. You should be able to keep your finger on it for a few seconds without getting uncomfortably hot. If it gets too hot see if it has a way you could mount a small fan on it. They are available and usually short screws will secure one to the heatsink fins. Sometimes you will have to move the card out of the next slot over to make room for both the fan and better airflow.

Oh, and welcome aboard.

[virtualb]

I can't check the heat or anything because I can't get to the bios. Nothing is showing up on my screen. HOWEVER, if I keep hard restarting SOMETIMES the initial bios screen shows up but then it locks up there and I hard restard then I get a black screen again.

I blew out most of the dust with compressed air and I don't think it is overheating at this point.

I also took out the battery and put it back in and I haven't been able to see that's effect because when I did get it to restart and get some video up it showed an initial bios screen talking about CMOS and to either F1 for setup, or F2 for loading defaults. But when I was pressing either key nothing was happening so I figured it locked up at that point too.

At this point I think its either the video card or the ram going bad, followed by a bad MB or CPU.

IF the ram a is deffective, lets say the ram was bad...what would happen when you turned on the computer? A Black screen or lockups? That is what im having.

If the video card is deffective, lets say the video card was shorting out or something, what whould happen when you turned on the computer? I am getting the starting video load screen SOMETIMES, most ot the time nothing, just blackness. Would the video card cause lockups or no screen like this?

Lastly, would the MB have issues with the RAM or Video circuits or whatever, causing lockups?

I Already have approval from MSI (RMA number) to send the entire board in, but before I do all of this (I hope it isn't already friend from restarting so much)...I wanna figure out if I can quickly test the video or ram.

I'm going to have to go buy a video card or ram to test it out :(

Current Vid Card is a WinFast 6600GT PCI-E, Ram is Corsair Value Select Dual Channel 1gig.

Any suggestions?

[saphalline]

It could be that the CPU HSF unit has worked itself loose over time. Check that to make sure it's still flush and flat and in full contact with the CPU.

Other than that, I would start barebones booting at this point. Take out or disconnect everything that is not necessary. You only need: CPU & HSF unit, PSU, mobo, one stick of RAM, vid card, keyboard, monitor. Leave it in the case for now, but everything else can go. If you can't get into the BIOS on a barebones boot, then one of the core components is the problem.

Let us know how it goes.