Azwethinkweiz

Im not sure if it is to do with XP or not but that is the system i am currently running on my Dell PC.

What happens is everytime i do something, well such as play a game, watch a video on youtube for more than 3 minutes whilst using msn, or something like that the computer completely crashes, the screen freezes and sometimes switches off and if i have music playing or sound from a video it makes a constant high pitched "EEEE" noise until i switch the computer off from the main button which takes awhile since i have to hold the button down for a couple of seconds.

This has happened to me a few times a day for the past months and i have no idea whats causing it, I sufficient RAM and processor for the all the games/videos etc i watch so i dont know.

Thanks for the help in advance. - Alex.

chauffeur2

Hello Alex, Welcome to TSF!

For us to determine exactly what this cantankerous contraption is doing, we will need some accurate information about your hardware.

Please go here, (Click on the coloured link); download and install this freeware program Everest™Home Edition.

When the program is installed, please post back screenshots of the information that is displayed in the Computer Section, under Summary.

If you are not too sure as to how to post a screenshot here at TSF, please let us know and we can guide you in how to do it.

It would also help us for you to also post back the information regarding your Power Supply Unit (PSU); particularly, Make; Model and Power wattage capacity.

Once we have this information, the 'inquest' can begin.

Kind Regards,

Azwethinkweiz

Heya, cheers for answering my plee, here we go as for the everest results on the computer specs, i dont think i have the PSU specs anywhere anymore all i acn say is it is a Dell Dimension 9150, ill try and get that for you as soon as!

Heres the screen cap:

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1572/73900284or6.jpg

Thankyou very much for your help, i think it might be an overheating problem but im far from sure.

chauffeur2

Hi Alex,

I have researched your Dell™ computer at their web site, and discovered that the PSU is only 385W; coupled with only 512Mb of RAM, your system will experience these issues you have, due to the fact that it is 'underpowered'.

The continuous 'beep' that you are hearing could be either overheating and/or the lack of sufficient RAM.

The overheating is probably being caused by the PSU not being capable of supplying enough power 'under stress' to allow for efficient component operation; thus, the CPU and RAM cannot process their tasks quickly enough, causing 'lags'; 'freezing', and overheating of other essential components.

Overheating will shorten the life of all components in your computer, not to mention the fact that it can also cause a complete breakdown.

I noticed that your videocard utilises 256Mb of RAM; this leaves only 256Mb to 'power and run' the entire system, which, I am afraid to say is not enough.

You need to upgrade the PSU to a bare minimum of, say, 500W and add an extra 512Mb RAM to see this unit operate properly.

Companies such as Dell™, manufacture computers to a price and not performance, and your machine is designed only for basic computing, without the use of intense graphics etc.

Sorry it is not better news.

Kind Regards,

Azwethinkweiz

thanks very helpful i will update both these things thanks :)

Azwethinkweiz

For anyone who doesnt know, this was my previous problem:

http://www.techsupportforum.com/micr...ease-help.html

SO, i bought some new ram, which was identical to the ram already installed, 2x 253mb cards to be exact, so when it was installed, i went to the setup menu before the computer logged on and it said "1gb of RAM" good, it worked. But as soon as i logged on, the PC crashed instantly in exactly the same way it did before (described in the link above) and did it every time, so i uninstalled the new RAM and the situation was the same as before, can anyone tell me whats going on? :S

Thank you

dai

don't start a new thread use the original one
threads merged
did you upgrade the psu

Azwethinkweiz

i was told only updating the RAM was neccessary by another friend, would what is going on now be due to a low powered PSU?

Thank you.

dai

look at post 4

Azwethinkweiz

ok thanks, will any 600watt PSU work or will i have to buy specific one and how difficult are they to install?

dai

they are simple to install,if you are in the usa look at the antec 650 trio they have it on special
have a read here
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/p...ulatorlite.jsp

Azwethinkweiz

Ill have a read through that even though im UK based.

If i can install any PSU then i found a 600watt one for £20 ($37) so ill just buy that.

Thanks.

dai

you need to treble that price,all psu's are not equal just because they state 600w it depends on the efficency of the unit which can vary between 60-85%

Azwethinkweiz

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colors-600W-...7429661&sr=8-2

I take it thats no good then. Any ideas which would be a good brand then?
thanks.

dai

you will find a number listed in here
http://www.techsupportforum.com/showthread.php?t=107466

Azwethinkweiz

thats all good read through it but then i realised that Dell PC's require a different kind of PSU because they have some form of extra wire that goes into the moby or something and like the highest PSU wattagei can find for a dell PC is 470watt and i doubt thats good enough.

dai

dells have used standard atx psu's since the p4 onwards

Azwethinkweiz

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/114801

seems about right and im not just going on the wattage.

dai

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/114941
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/store/2/cat/Power-Supplies
this is the range you need to be in

Azwethinkweiz

thats helps perfectly, thankyou.