Freeze problem (K7S5A)

[kloper]

Hi!

I have a very annoying problem with my new computer: it freezes after a while, so I have to reboot it. The up-time is random, from a couple of seconds (after boot) to up to 15 minutes. I have Windows 98 SE installed and the following hardware setup:

ECS K7S5A
AMD Athlon 1800+ XP
256Mb SDRAM
40Gb IBM Deskstar
nVidia Geforce 2 MX-400
LG CDRW 16x/10X/40x burner
Onboard Ethernet device (SiS 900)
Onboard audio device (SiS 635)

I have seen a couple of tips on some forums, e.g. running CPU on 100 instead of 133, and disabling 4x AGP, but nothing have worked.

My first guess was that is was some kind of IRQ conflict, but when I looked in the Device Manager everything was fine.
This is my IRQ setup:

Allocate IRQ to PCI VGA set to 'yes'
------------------------------------
Onboard Multimedia Device, IRQ11
Onboard USB controller, IRQ11
Onboard Ethernet , IRQ11
Onboard IDE, IRQ14,15
Onboard USB controller, IRQ11
AGP VGA, IRQ 5

Allocate IRQ to PCI VGA set to 'no'
------------------------------------
Onboard Multimedia Device, IRQ11
Onboard USB controller, IRQ5
Onboard Ethernet , IRQ11
Onboard IDE, IRQ14,15
Onboard USB controller, IRQ5
AGP VGA

I have tried updating all drivers.
If you have any ideas, please help!

Regards,
Jonas

[intertwine]

sounds like you might have some bad ram. mine did that a lot, usually when i was trying to scan or do something in photoshop :( but, i threw in a new stick of ram, and its ran fine ever since..

-s

[rextex]

If it freezes after you do something.And that something is listed on the IRQ's here, you may have an idea what it is.

[pmasley]

Most Freeze-ups are caused by either

1.) Bad Ram
2.) Video card
3.) System resources are bottoming out.
4.) Heat

SE is very forgiving regarding the resources, but a bad memory stick will drive it crazy.

You did not state what mem sticks you are using. Do not believe what it says on the box. SE will not run on 16/32 megs of memory, but do not over do it either. SE will hang on anything over 512.

Remove all sticks but one. TEST TEST TEST. If this is not the problem, find (or borrow) a good video card and try it.

Check you system resources. A good clean setup of SE with all of the updates can run in the mid 20's with no problems. I have had mine into the teens.

Heat is also a possibility. Is your box overclocked. If so, set it the the reccomended rates, including any overclocking of the video card. An overclocked video card will cause all kinds of problems. Do not underset it at this time. Open up the case and make sure all fans are working. It is very easy to FRY an AMD processor. Something like .60 seconds. Look at your processor RPM. Make sure that it is at least 5,000. 8,000 is better.

Hope this helps!

Paul.