PC problem (help please)

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

So a few weeks ago I started getting the BSOD Page_fault something or other, the computer would work for a few hours then do it again, and gradually the time between shutdowns got smaller. So I took it to a guy, he says the problem is the motherboard/cpu and I should just buy a combo package with both of them. I have some experience installing and changing out components but mostly hard drives and power supply stuff so here are my specs and I just need some help picking out the right mb/cpu combo to install. If I could find the exact same stuff I have in it now I would just buy them but they're not on sale anymore. This system was like $1900 when I got it 3 years ago and still runs pretty much every game on max settings

Case ( Thermaltake Armor Jr. Gaming Case Black )
Power Supply ( 500 Watt -- NZXT PF-500 Power Supply )
Processor ( Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6700 (2x 2.66GHz/4MB L2 Cache/1066FSB) )
Processor Cooling ( Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink )
Motherboard ( Asus P5N32-E SLI nForce® 680i SLI Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, IEEE-1394 Dual PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 2048MB [1024MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module Corsair-Value or Major Brand )
Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX 768MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )
Hard Drive ( Gaming HARD DRIVES [Serial ATA-150, 10,000 RPM] WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 16M Cache Hard Drive )
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive ( 16x DVD-ROM + 52x32x52 CD-RW Combo Drive Black )
Sound Card ( Creative Lab Sound Blaster Audigy SE )
Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )

[leemajors]

I'd pull the RAM chip by chip, slot by slot and see if it still does it first.

[ElNono]

Also a good cleanup of the fans on the CPU and videocard (if it has one). Sometimes dust can build up and heat up other components, causing the failure.

[ElNono]

And FWIW, I would go with a i5 at this point instead of a Core2Duo.

[xellos88330]

Core 2 won't last you much longer.

I would go with what elnono said. good enough to not need upgrading for a bit.

[PM5K]

I wouldn't pull the ram chip by chip, but I would pull it slot by slot, lol.

Lee is right though, it's more likely the hard drive or RAM than it is a MB/CPU combo. Anyone that knew their shit would at least be able to tell you which was the problem, since he couldn't I have to assume he doesn't, so I have to assume he's a dumb fuck.

[leemajors]

I wouldn't pull the ram chip by chip, but I would pull it slot by slot, lol.

Lee is right though, it's more likely the hard drive or RAM than it is a MB/CPU combo. Anyone that knew their shit would at least be able to tell you which was the problem, since he couldn't I have to assume he doesn't, so I have to assume he's a dumb fuck.

I meant testing each chip in each slot to make sure, but wrote it terribly.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Well what he said was that I should just buy the mb/cpu combo because as far as price goes it would run pretty much the same as buying the cpu alone. Was getting an award bootblock bios rom checksum error

[IronMaxipad]

So a few weeks ago I started getting the BSOD Page_fault something or other, the computer would work for a few hours then do it again, and gradually the time between shutdowns got smaller. So I took it to a guy, he says the problem is the motherboard/cpu and I should just buy a combo package with both of them. I have some experience installing and changing out components but mostly hard drives and power supply stuff so here are my specs and I just need some help picking out the right mb/cpu combo to install. If I could find the exact same stuff I have in it now I would just buy them but they're not on sale anymore. This system was like $1900 when I got it 3 years ago and still runs pretty much every game on max settings

Case ( Thermaltake Armor Jr. Gaming Case Black )
Power Supply ( 500 Watt -- NZXT PF-500 Power Supply )
Processor ( Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6700 (2x 2.66GHz/4MB L2 Cache/1066FSB) )
Processor Cooling ( Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink )
Motherboard ( Asus P5N32-E SLI nForce® 680i SLI Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, IEEE-1394 Dual PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 2048MB [1024MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module Corsair-Value or Major Brand )
Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX 768MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )
Hard Drive ( Gaming HARD DRIVES [Serial ATA-150, 10,000 RPM] WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 16M Cache Hard Drive )
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive ( 16x DVD-ROM + 52x32x52 CD-RW Combo Drive Black )
Sound Card ( Creative Lab Sound Blaster Audigy SE )
Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )

Write down the Stop code from the BSOD screen and then google it. It will tell you whats wrong with your comp. it can be a number of things from driver error to hardware failure.

Also test your ram. Download Memtest 86+ and test each stick individually on one slot and check for errors.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

And if I go with quad core, am I going to have to upgrade to a bigger power supply?

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Write down the Stop code from the BSOD screen and then google it. It will tell you whats wrong with your comp. it can be a number of things from driver error to hardware failure.

Also test your ram. Download Memtest 86+ and test each stick individually on one slot and check for errors.

The BSOD wont even come up because after awhile it stopped booting and that checksum error started coming up, I got down and looked at it and noticed the fuckin power supply fan had stopped spinning and smelled like it was burning, so I replaced the power supply

[Cry Havoc]

And if I go with quad core, am I going to have to upgrade to a bigger power supply?

Depends on the quad core.

I'm running a Q6600 and before I upgraded I had an 8800 GTS in my system, and it ran fine on a 500W. I don't think you need a bigger PSU, but I haven't checked the recent power reqs for quad core processors.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Depends on the quad core.

I'm running a Q6600 and before I upgraded I had an 8800 GTS in my system, and it ran fine on a 500W. I don't think you need a bigger PSU, but I haven't checked the recent power reqs for quad core processors.

I'm trying to stay under $200 if possible, just because I don't really run anything too demanding other than Starcraft 2 and even that isn't exactly straining the system. Mostly is going to be my web design/print design pc until I build another gaming rig

[ElNono]

Your gfx card will most likely dictate the type of PSU you need. For that gfx card you listed, it has to be 450W or up. The extra cores shouldn't up the consumption much at all, unless you're overclocking.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Q8300-2-5-GHz-Core-2-Quad-CPU-Motherboard-Combo-/320601143641?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa5513959

Ok so will that work? Dude said I need a PCI Express board but I dont see that on there

[ElNono]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Q8300-2-5-GHz-Core-2-Quad-CPU-Motherboard-Combo-/320601143641?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa5513959

Ok so will that work? Dude said I need a PCI Express board but I dont see that on there

It's there:

Slots - 1 x PCI-E X16 , 1 x PCI-E X1 , 2 x PCI

That's where your video card goes.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

I feel so useless and stupid ask me a question about the spurs

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

How is my processor (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6700 ) still $150? The only difference I can tell is the 4mb cache but im not sure thats even worth $80 more to me than the 2mb...I'm so lost I'm ready to just buy a new pc all together damnit

[TDMVPDPOY]

if you going to spend 150 on a cpu + $$ for new video card

might as well go have a look at the new intel sandy bridge + mobo combo + ddr3

[PM5K]

If you're concerned about price you should try to spend more time fixing it. Maybe the PSU issue caused a corruption in the BIOS (some type of power loss), that you might be able to fix by reflashing.

Where about do you live?

[TDMVPDPOY]

maybe bad capacitor on the mobo

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Im not really concerned about the price I'm just fucking irritated. Going to Best Buy in the morning to buy a mobo and cpu and see what makes my pc work, then order cheaper shit online and return everything, and I live in Tucson

[TDMVPDPOY]

Im not really concerned about the price I'm just fucking irritated. Going to Best Buy in the morning to buy a mobo and cpu and see what makes my pc work, then order cheaper shit online and return everything, and I live in Tucson

intel sandy bridge just released on the 5th, have a look at the new cpus man

if ur not interested in it

you can get previous generation see if prices have decreased....

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

intel sandy bridge just released on the 5th, have a look at the new cpus man

if ur not interested in it

you can get previous generation see if prices have decreased....

Is it going to be overkill though for running shit like SC2 and photoshop/flash/dreamweaver?

[TDMVPDPOY]

Is it going to be overkill though for running shit like SC2 and photoshop/flash/dreamweaver?

i think they are 6 core cpus...well since ur getting new cpu and mobo, might as well get the new stuff.....nothing is future proof, but im still using my q6600 atm and not thinkn of making the jump to sandy bridge...

im out of hardcore gaming and getting high frames on benchmarks bs cause its a waste of money

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Ended up just being the motherboard