xarruc

Hello,

I have been having problems with my PC spontaneously freezing and have been trying to diagnose.

It is not the RAM because this has just been replaced fixing an error that may or may not be part of the same problem. (The PC had already started freezing then one day couldnt even boot up. After replacing the memory its back to freezing).

The hard drive has been getting hot and transferring large amounts of data may trigger it (eg syncing with an MP3 or external hard drive) but this is neither exclusive nor predictable.

Some sustained heavy load on the CPU like ripping a DVD doesnt seem to trigger.

Anyway, I downloaded speed fan to try and help. I get the following readings (also see attached):

GPU: 61
temp1 36
temp2 41
temp3 -128
HD0 36
core 61
ambient 0

Ambient and temp3 are obvioulsy wrong.

The HD0 goes up into the high 40s sometimes when in use, yet it has sometimes got too hot to touch.

The voltages for +3.3 +5 and +12 are close (+/- 0.5V) but the voltages for -5 and -12 are very wrong: -3.3 and -7.7

My current thinking is that its either the power supply or the hard disk.

Can anyone recommend the next steps in diagnosis and/or comment on the voltage difference.

Thanks a lot.

Attached Images

Picture1.jpg (52.8 KB, 6 views)

wrench97

What system specs do you have Brand and Models of
PSU
Video Card
CPU
Motherboard
OR if major brand Brand and Model of the PC

Speed Fan and other sensor reading programs can be notoriously wrong
If you have voltage and temp readings in the Bios get them and post.

xarruc

The model is an Compaq Presario.

Prezario 061 RA841AA-ABE

The chip is a Pentium(R) D CPU 2.66 GHz 2.67 GHz, 2.00 GB RAM

16 kb primary cache
1024 kb secondary cache

The Graphics is an Nvidia Geforce 7300 LE

The hard drive is a WDC WD2500JS-60NCB1 (250 GB)

The PSU is a HIPRO HP-D3057F3P

The motherboard is a HP asterope 21.0
Bis clock: 133 mhz
BIOS: Amerian Megatrends inc 3.16

I have just done a scan using ariolic disk scanner v1.2 on both the C: drive and the recovery partition without any read errors.

xarruc

How do I get the " voltage and temp readings in the Bios "

- thanks

wrench97

Do you have or can you borrow another power supply to try HP/Compaq usually are under powered and you start to see the PSU failing after 3 years or so less on a heavily used machine. I would expect to see at least a 450w quality unit in there.
Seasonic - any model
Corsair - any model
Thermaltake - "Toughpower" series only
Coolermaster - "Real Power Pro" series only
PC Power & Cooling - any model
Silverstone - any model

xarruc

I dont have a spare Im afraid, because by other unit doesnt have the right connectors (it is missing a thin black one for the hard drive)

wrench97

Enter the Bios setup program on boot and look for a health or maintenance page it may not have one most OEM's don't
You could d/l sensor view and run it to see what it says> http://www.stvsoft.com/index.php?opt...d=17&Itemid=33

xarruc

Seemingly no page with temperatures from the bio.

Installed STV. Incidentally, it crashed the system when I first ran it. (spontaneous restart not a freeze).

It reports:

Temperatures:

CPU = 0
GPU = 59
SYS = 36
AUX = 39
HD0 = 38

Voltages

VcoreA = 1.26
VcoreB = 1.2
+3.33 = 3.33
+5 = 5.11
+12v = 11.7
+5VSB = 5.03
+ VBAT = 3.12

These are the same as Speed fan simultaneously shows.

Is there a simple test I can do using these voltages to see if it is the PSU? Eg get it to do some work and see if the voltages drop?

Regards,

wrench97

Yes play a game in windowed mode so you can leave the sensor reading programs on top
before it crashes go you hear the fans spin up faster?
You have a Nvidia vid card if you have the Nvidia control center installed run the system stability test