Computer Help

Willow
Willow Posts: 10,999
edited October 2010 in The Clubhouse
I think my 5yr old PC is dying. For the past 3 months, every once in a while the screen will flicker then the sound goes all wonky. It sounds like a very slow robot. Rebooting the PC works every time (PITA). Last night my wife was surfing and the screen froze and becam all blurry, again a reboot and it was all good. I have also been noticing it being a bit slower at doing stuff. Any ideas? does it sound like the Power supply is dying?

Thanks
Post edited by Willow on
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited September 2010
    Sounds like the motherboard may be on its last leg.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 10,999
    edited September 2010
    Knucklehead wrote: »
    Sounds like the motherboard may be on its last leg.

    That is what I am thinking. But I'm no computer geek.
    DSkip wrote: »
    Have you checked all the fans to make sure one didn't go out? Could be an overheating issue.

    I will unplug everything this weekend and take off the side and check it out, maybe CO2 it while I'm in there.
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited September 2010
    Save any files while you can! Yes, overheating was a good call, could have too much dust etc build up.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 10,999
    edited September 2010
    Knucklehead wrote: »
    Save any files while you can! Yes, overheating was a good call, could have too much dust etc build up.

    Funny I just did a massive back up on my external drive last week. I will do it again tonight when I get home. Even my 2 optical drives have not been co-operating lately..... sometimes takes for ever to get it to burn. :(
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited September 2010
    Your mobo is crapping out. Consider rebuilding a new rig.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 10,999
    edited September 2010
    Sherardp wrote: »
    Your mobo is crapping out. Consider rebuilding a new rig.

    Is there anything I can keep besides the 3HD in the tower now and my external drive? what is the life on optical drives?
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited September 2010
    Willow wrote: »
    Is there anything I can keep besides the 3HD in the tower now and my external drive? what is the life on optical drives?

    Depends on you. Everything has gone to SATA but the newer boards should still have at least one PATA connection for you to use your existing optical drive. However, you may want to upgrade to a Blu-ray player/DVD burner combo.

    You can still keep your case and floppy drive (I still use mine) but everything else needs to go. You might be able to keep your old power supply but with the newer video cards you may not want to. I would recommend a new power supply.

    I'm not sure if you can still find an AGP motherboard but I'm assuming you probably can so if cost is an issue you may be able to get away with re-using your video card. However, some of the newer motherboards come with onboard video.

    Good luck!
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 10,999
    edited September 2010
    fatchowmein wrote: »
    Depends on you. Everything has gone to SATA but the newer boards should still have at least one PATA connection for you to use your existing optical drive. However, you may want to upgrade to a Blu-ray player/DVD burner combo.

    You can still keep your case and floppy drive (I still use mine) but everything else needs to go. You might be able to keep your old power supply but with the newer video cards you may not want to. I would recommend a new power supply.

    I'm not sure if you can still find an AGP motherboard but I'm assuming you probably can so if cost is an issue you may be able to get away with re-using your video card. However, some of the newer motherboards come with onboard video.

    Good luck!

    Sounds good. Thanks Looks like its time to spend some money :mad:
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  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited September 2010
    Willow wrote: »
    Is there anything I can keep besides the 3HD in the tower now and my external drive? what is the life on optical drives?

    Generally speaking, unless you have SATA hard drives, you're going to have to replace them. Same with your optical drives. Nearly every mobo out there has 1 PATA port, which allows for up to 2 IDE devices total.

    Also, so far all the issues you've described can be caused by a faulty Windows install or a bad HD. I would recommend installing windows onto one of your other hard drives and see if the issues persist.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited September 2010
    Willow wrote: »
    Is there anything I can keep besides the 3HD in the tower now and my external drive? what is the life on optical drives?

    You can keep some items, but by now the interface has changed alot from 5yrs ago. Most drives including HDD are Sata. Most new mobos only have 1 IDE if any onboard. Optical drives go for 20-30 OEM so I would just go new everything. You can build something extremely good for less than 800 now.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • wz2p7j
    wz2p7j Posts: 840
    edited September 2010
    I had a computer with a bad video card that exhibited those symptoms once.

    Chris
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited October 2010
    Try a BIOS update and see if that helps anything.
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