Crashing! Help Please!

[elnigh]

Hi! Thanks for looking at this message and providing any help if possible.

I have a generic PC which originally came with a Cyrix 166+ on a FIC PT-2006 motherboard with 32 MB of RAM. I upgraded to an AMD K6-200 MMX and added another 64 MB of RAM (SIMM). Kept the same cooling fan.

Evertyhing worked alright at first, but now my system crashes after about 2-3 hours of use, and then will not re-boot successfully. If I wait a few hours, it still has problems but seems more stable. If I wait overnight, it works fine the next morning for about 2-3 hours and then starts crashing again.

I'm not overclocking or doing anything unusual. To me it seemed like something was overheating, but a technician I talked to said the CPU is being cooled OK according to mfg specs. He suggested maybe the the new memory I added or the motherboard is going bad. I pretty much agree, as I've read lower quality mobo's's are often to blame for windows crashing.

Any suggestion on how I should procede to isolate the problem?

Also, if I get a new mobo (and probably CPU), any suggestions for new MB and CPU? I obviously want to upgrade performance, but I also want reliability, upgradability, and reasonable cost. I'd like to use as much of my old system as possible, including my SIMM memory (if it's not bad).

I have a AT frame. I know the ASUS P5A-B with a K6-II is popular, but it has no SIMM. I considered the TYAN S1590, since it has 2 SIMM sockets, and I could upgrade later to the PC 100 memory. What's the fastest processor speed (K6-II) it will accept? Anyone have a comment about this board, especially in relation to reliability and general reliability of Tyan mobo's? Any other recommendations? (I think I want to avoid FIC mobo's though I know many people use the VA503+)

Sorry this message is so long. Thanks for your help.

[Virx]

Try to speed down you motherboard or procesor speed it can be help.

[CMonster]

If you still have the old CPU put it back in and use the same memory you started with, duplicate the 2-3 hour conditions that it crashes under - if it doesn't crash then the motherboard is probably fine. Next add the new memory and try the 2-3 hour thing again - still no crash? - then the memory is probably good. Now test the CPU. Even though you are not overclocking you might try raising the core voltage of the CPU -see if that helps.

There could be another problem, such as a hard drive, that is causing the crashes but I think you are on the right track with the motherboard/ memory thing.

[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 02-25-99).]

[kwai]

if you have the older version of the k6-200, they were virtual little space heaters. amd even had to specify which cpu heatsink/cooler were sufficient for them.

your problem sounds like a classic description of overheating problems. before you go out and buy a new heatsink/fan combo, try leaving your case open and blowing a regular room fan into the case and see if that helps.

[CMonster]

As for suggestions on upgrading your computer - add an atx case to your shopping list and give the ABIT BX6 a try.

[bighammer]

sounds like you could add another fan to your case and get the cables away from your memory.
The heat doesn't dissipate as well and that's is why it takes so long to cool.
It could be that you have a couple funky chips but most of the time you will notice almost immediately{well 1st 10minutes}.
If you try a spare case fan and maybe a better cpu fan{who cares what the specs are, that's a generic answer}you may find that the $15.00 for the fans is the cheapest way to go.
As for what Cmonster said{BH6}, don't you dare. There are SOO many better boards out there it's incredible, start with the rev2 BX6 but even then, there are better, much better, if you are going to upgrade.