PC problems

Nasher · 03 January 2007, 22:10

Hi, hopefully one of you boffins can suggest something.

All of a sudden whatever I'm doing locks up completly, however the cursor still moves around, then the monitor goes into standby as if I've shut down.

If I turn the monitor power off then back on, the original screen I was viewing is still there but still locked up and the cursor won't then respond to the mouse.

I have to restart and its OK for 5 mins then does it again.

I have tried another monitor which does the same thing, so I suspect the Graphics card, which having taken the cover off does feel very hot to the touch.

Should I just replace the graphics card?
Its a XFX item that came with the system from Novatech.

Nasher.

Nasher · 03 January 2007, 23:38

Looks like the graphics card is overheating somehow as I've managed to keep it up and running for an hour now.

I unscrewed one fan from the case and have pointed it directly at the graphics card and its been fine.

Why would the graphics card suddenly start to overheat when both fans in the case are working and no other changes have been made?

How much is a new graphics card?

Nasher.

v666 · 03 January 2007, 23:44

I once had a similar problem caused by the fan on the graphics card not working. They get covered in dust that sticks to them and then they break down.

Worth checking, and you could try cleaning the fan (un screw and remove it first, remembering where it picks up power from) if it's not working.

Tim

Nasher · 03 January 2007, 23:54

Tim

Hi, and thanks.

Both the fans in the case are working fine, and are clean.
Neither of them has ever pointed directly at the graphics card, buts its working now with one of the fans balanced on a box next to the open case blowing directly at it.

Without it the heat sink on the card rapidly warms up so its uncomfortable to touch for too long.

Think I'll just have to invest in a new graphics card and see, I presume they are all plug and play these days.

Where's Mr Codprawn when you need him?

Nasher.

benc · 04 January 2007, 00:06

Hey Nasher,

Yeah, does sound liek a Graphics card problem. They don't last forever...

You may find that somethings gunged up somewhere, and the airflow isnt what it was...

Depending on what you do with your pc, graphics cards can range from about £20 to several hunderd.

take a look here...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...atid=56&rows=0

Make sure you get one that fits in your motherboard though... depending on the age... if its newish its likely to be PCI Express, more than couple of years old, then AGP 4x-8x. If you're not sure, look your motherboard up on google (codprawn can teach you how if you like).... there should be a model number written somewhere on the motherboard.

codprawn · 04 January 2007, 00:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

Tim

Hi, and thanks.

Both the fans in the case are working fine, and are clean.
Neither of them has ever pointed directly at the graphics card, buts its working now with one of the fans balanced on a box next to the open case blowing directly at it.

Without it the heat sink on the card rapidly warms up so its uncomfortable to touch for too long.

Think I'll just have to invest in a new graphics card and see, I presume they are all plug and play these days.

Where's Mr Codprawn when you need him?

Nasher.

He's just got back from a job in Gower - directly opposite my boat but a bit too dark to see the harbour!!! Been on the go since 8.30 - long day again.

If a fan blowing at it will fix it you could possibly mount an old cpu fan onto the heatsink with self tappers - if it had deep fins that is. Small 486 fans are great for this.

It isn't always easy to tell what motherboard you have - sometimes it's very difficult even for the pros.

The easy way is to use a great little util called CPU-Z

download it here

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpu-z-138.zip

Just open the zip file - double click the exe and that's it - doesn't even need to install - great stuff!!!

Biggles · 04 January 2007, 01:14

Nasher,

List the specs of your PC and what you use it for and I'll advise you what to buy.

Bear in mind though that very major great changes are due in the PC world in March/April and now is not a very good time to be spending money on Pc's.

Nasher · 04 January 2007, 08:48

Guys

Thanks for the help.

I’m hoping that Novatech will know the exact spec of the motherboard, although it is 18 months old.

Plan A is to call them this morning and see what they recommend as a direct replacement, then see if I can get it cheaper anywhere else.

Plan B will be to download Mr Codprawns software to get some info.

Plan C will be to take it out and wander into Novatech with it in my hand. (Oooerr Missus)

Biggles
3.2GHz Pentium 4 540 LGA 775
512MB PC3200 400MHz DDR Ram
Plus an additional 512MB I added myself.
200GB SATA 7200rpm HD

The old graphics card is a XFX GeForce 6200 TurboCache 256MB.

As a family we use it for everything, from the kids playing games to me mucking about with photshop and my websites. We have never that I know of reached the limits of the graphics card, so a direct replacement would be good.

Nasher.

benc · 04 January 2007, 09:03

Nasher,

Does this look like the card you have?

https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/...tml?NOV-GF6225

Regards

Ben

Nasher · 04 January 2007, 09:53

Ben

It looks like it, but the heat sink on mine is smaller.

Makes you wonder if they had problems with them overheating!

I've decided to go down there during my lunch break.

Nasher.

Ribald · 04 January 2007, 12:30

Had a similar problem with daughter's laptop. The heat sink compound (white greasy stuff) had dried out and was not doing it's job. Cleaned off old grease and applied new compound. Also blew out dust from between cooling fins. Result = laptop now fine and a happy offspring ( not too mention parents as she started talking about a new one

)

tinker · 04 January 2007, 13:42

You can now add an additional skill to your signature, I.T expert.

jwalker · 04 January 2007, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

Plan C will be to take it out and wander into Novatech with it in my hand. (Oooerr Missus)

Or, plan D...wander into your workshop instead of Novatech, renew the heatsink compound as Ribald suggested and self tapper a piece of ally onto the heatsink to increase its surface area.

Hightower · 04 January 2007, 19:24

I had problems in Sept on last year with the fan sticking, instead of buying a new fan I bought a new Graphics Card from Novatech. At £28 it wasn't much more expensive than replacing the fan, I got an upgraded Card and there's the advantage it's got no Fan so my PC is quieter.

Hope you get it sorted Nasher, the guys at Novatech are realy helpful.

Nasher · 04 January 2007, 19:34

As much as it pains me to say it.

I brought a new one.

From Novatech who I agree are always very helpful.

It has its own little fan attached and was £44 to get the same spec as the old one.

Just fitted it, and it appears to be working fine.

Sorted.

Thanks for all your help.

Nasher.

codprawn · 04 January 2007, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

Or, plan D...wander into your workshop instead of Novatech, renew the heatsink compound as Ribald suggested and self tapper a piece of ally onto the heatsink to increase its surface area.

A small fan held on with self tappers would be easier and better. Trouble is if its been cooked too often then it's prob knackered anyway so a new one is the way to go.

Nasher · 05 January 2007, 12:14

Aaaaggghhh.........

Still doing it, but after a longer time.

Blowing the fan on it again sorted it out, so something else must be overheating.

I cant get the fan off the heatsink over the processor at the moment to try cleaning it out better, but will persist.

Nasher.

codprawn · 05 January 2007, 13:58

Nasher - unscrew the fan from the heatsink - it's only a few self tappers - if you have an airline try blowing it out. Could be your room is just too hot - turn your heating down and invest in a jumper - you will save a fortune and the planet as well.....

Nasher · 05 January 2007, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Nasher - unscrew the fan from the heatsink - it's only a few self tappers - if you have an airline try blowing it out. Could be your room is just too hot - turn your heating down and invest in a jumper - you will save a fortune and the planet as well.....

The fan looked to be running a bit slow, so I've now tried a new fan assembly with fresh grease between it and the CPU and its still doing it, its always been fine in the past but I've changed nothing.

However by removing the small extract fan from the case and pointing it in the general direction of the graphics card it works fine. I'm convinced now a component on the motherboard is getting to hot and the small fan is cooling it down enough to run.

Nasher

jyasaki · 05 January 2007, 23:35

Might check your power supply.

If the output voltages are low, you'll drive more current, which could be what's causing the overtemp.

jky