CPU Cabinet

[rn5a]

I have Win2K Pro installed in the C:\ drive & WinXP Pro installed in
the D:\ drive & have 3 hard disks - 80GB, 18GB & 2GB in my P4 m/c. I
mainly work on Win2K.

Recently I added a new 256MB 233MHz RAM (can't recollect whether it is
DDR or DDR2 but whatever it is, it is compatible with the motherboard)
along with the already existing 256MB 233MHz RAM which makes it 512MB.

Since I added this new 256MB RAM, I find that after using my PC for
about an hour or so, Win2K hangs which forces me to reboot the m/c by
pressing the 'Reset' button on the CPU. After this, when my PC starts,
the Intel Pentium logo gets displayed for an abnormally long time after
which the only thing the monitor displays is a blinking cursor (like
the one the Command Prompt shows). This too appears for an abnormally
long time after which I am told to boot using the Win2K Setup CD though
in the BIOS, the first, second & the third boot devices are set to
HDD-0.

Now what I find is if the CPU cabinet is kept open (so that the
motherboard, hard disks, RAMs, etc. get exposed), then this problem
doesn't come up but if the CPU cabinet remains closed, then this
problem resurfaces. In other words, if the CPU cabinet is kept open,
then I can work on my m/c for a long long time without any problems but
if the CPU cabinet is closed, then this problem comes after I use my
m/c for about an hour or so.

My initial conclusion, after keeping the CPU cabinet open & then
closing it, is that the newly added RAM must be getting over-heated but
when I compared the temperature of this new RAM with the already
existing one (by just touching them), I found the RAMs to be equally
hot. So could it be something like when the CPU cabinet is kept open,
the heat generated by the 2 RAMs along with the other hardwares in the
CPU gets dissipated at a faster rate which is why I can use the m/c for
a long time without any problems but when the CPU cabinet is closed,
the heat generated by the 2 RAMs along with the other hardwares in the
CPU isn't getting dissipated which is why this is happening? Please
note that the fan/cooler on the motherboard as well as the fan/cooler
that comes with the SMPS are working fine.

Can someone please guide me on what could be causing this problem & how
do I resolve it?

 

[GHalleck]

I have Win2K Pro installed in the C:\ drive & WinXP Pro installed in
the D:\ drive & have 3 hard disks - 80GB, 18GB & 2GB in my P4 m/c. I
mainly work on Win2K.

Recently I added a new 256MB 233MHz RAM (can't recollect whether it is
DDR or DDR2 but whatever it is, it is compatible with the motherboard)
along with the already existing 256MB 233MHz RAM which makes it 512MB.

Since I added this new 256MB RAM, I find that after using my PC for
about an hour or so, Win2K hangs which forces me to reboot the m/c by
pressing the 'Reset' button on the CPU. After this, when my PC starts,
the Intel Pentium logo gets displayed for an abnormally long time after
which the only thing the monitor displays is a blinking cursor (like
the one the Command Prompt shows). This too appears for an abnormally
long time after which I am told to boot using the Win2K Setup CD though
in the BIOS, the first, second & the third boot devices are set to
HDD-0.

Now what I find is if the CPU cabinet is kept open (so that the
motherboard, hard disks, RAMs, etc. get exposed), then this problem
doesn't come up but if the CPU cabinet remains closed, then this
problem resurfaces. In other words, if the CPU cabinet is kept open,
then I can work on my m/c for a long long time without any problems but
if the CPU cabinet is closed, then this problem comes after I use my
m/c for about an hour or so.

My initial conclusion, after keeping the CPU cabinet open & then
closing it, is that the newly added RAM must be getting over-heated but
when I compared the temperature of this new RAM with the already
existing one (by just touching them), I found the RAMs to be equally
hot. So could it be something like when the CPU cabinet is kept open,
the heat generated by the 2 RAMs along with the other hardwares in the
CPU gets dissipated at a faster rate which is why I can use the m/c for
a long time without any problems but when the CPU cabinet is closed,
the heat generated by the 2 RAMs along with the other hardwares in the
CPU isn't getting dissipated which is why this is happening? Please
note that the fan/cooler on the motherboard as well as the fan/cooler
that comes with the SMPS are working fine.

Can someone please guide me on what could be causing this problem & how
do I resolve it?

Actually, the issue is airflow through the computer case. There
are several ways of improving the airflow. First, install more
fans and make sure that they direct the air in a logical way,
i.e., drawing air in through the front and exhausting it out of
the back. Second, key components such as the CPU, RAM, chipsets,
etc., need to be in the airflow; clear away ribbon cables, wiring,
etc., that are interfering with them. Both of these should take
care of over-heating unless the computer case is still unusually
cramped, in which moving to a larger case, e.g., from mid-tower
to full-tower, is indicated. HTH.

 

[Andy]

Things you can try:
Check that you did not disturb the cable connections when you
installed the new DIMM.
Run the computer with just the new DIMM installed.