Random Reset - No warning

edited October 2004 in Hardware
Ok, my system is a P4 2.53, Gigabyte GA-8SR533 board, 1 gig of Ram (1 x 512 kingston (3200?), 2 x 256 something else, slower speed), 60 gig 7200 rpm seagate hdd, 40 gig 5600 rpm Western Digital hdd, Albatron 128meg TI4200 Turbo AGP, running Windows XP Pro, SP1.

The problem I have is, that it randomly resets itself exactly as if i were to push the reset button on the case. Used to just do it when trying to load some games, but recently it randomly does it when just reading through a web page, although usually seems to coincide with someone sending a message through msn, for some bizarre reason.

After reading through some other posts on this forum, I've concluded that more than likely, its going to be my PSU, which is *supposed* to be rated at 450w, but cost around (from memory) $50AU.

Anyone got some other suggestions for me perhaps? Planning to run memtest when I have time, might update with those details. Other thoughts I had though, were perhaps slight power spikes through my house, but that would probably lead back to the power supply not churning out enough and/or being stuffed - really should invest in a UPS...

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    You're mixing multiple brands of memory with multiple speed classes?

    I can almost guarantee you that that's the problem. Take out the random memory, leaving only the kingston, and see if your problem persists.

    For the future, remember that mixing brands and speeds is generally a very bad idea.
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    I've seen a bunch of people use diffrent type of ram at the same time without a problem. I could be that, but I don't think it would be the only problem.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    Thrax, you are the only person I've ever heard say that. I've got different brands and speeds of RAM in several systems, and they've never given me any trouble. :-/

    Not saying it's not the problem, just that I've never heard anyone else say that.

    Personally, I think you're on the right track with the PSU. No $50 PSU, let alone a $50AU PSU is going to be a 450w unit.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    Heh. Been servicing computers for a long time (Well, I have...) and you'd be surprised exactly HOW many times I've seen it happen.

    Not to mention, I've had it happen on my OWN systems. I learned that very thing simply by suffering through it myself and help other people fix the problem in their computers.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    Hrm. I think it comes down to what we said in AIM (just re-posting it for the benefit of anyone with this problem)...

    When you're using quality RAM like Samsung, Corsair, Mushkin, etc., it's almost never a problem. But when you start using cheap generic ram, all bets are off.
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