Computer becomes very slow suddenly

[R. P.]

I have an AMD XP 2500+ CPU running on an Abit NF7 motherboard.
Sometimes, the computer becomes very slow and almost non responsive.

If I am in a game, the FPS drops to zero for a few seconds and then
goes back to normal for another few seconds. This cycle repeats itself.

I have tried reinstalling Windows XP on two different hard drives and
the problem still happens.*

I have never previously had this problem and it started appearing on a
100% working system after I returned from a holiday. As such, I think
some part of my computer may have degraded (*my first suspect was the
hard disk as I was carrying it around in my briefcase, but it seems not
to be the case).

Can a failing mobo/PSU/graphics card (Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro) cause
this?

Thanks.

 

[kony]

I have an AMD XP 2500+ CPU running on an Abit NF7 motherboard.
Sometimes, the computer becomes very slow and almost non responsive.

If I am in a game, the FPS drops to zero for a few seconds and then
goes back to normal for another few seconds. This cycle repeats itself.

That sounds like a video card malfunctioning, which could be
the card's fault (like heat buildup or parts degradation),
or the power getting to it, or the main system PSU, or even
the case cooling being inadequate (or just progressively
clogging with dust, how long had the system worked in this
config and what has changed since it worked?).

I have tried reinstalling Windows XP on two different hard drives and
the problem still happens.*

I have never previously had this problem and it started appearing on a
100% working system after I returned from a holiday. As such, I think
some part of my computer may have degraded (*my first suspect was the
hard disk as I was carrying it around in my briefcase, but it seems not
to be the case).

Can a failing mobo/PSU/graphics card (Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro) cause
this?

Not so likely the board, except maybe one of the capacitors
very near the AGP slot. I doubt it though, this is a
classic sign of a video card either overheating or not
getting enough power (more often a scenario seen by
overclockers, but if there were parts failures any of them
could cause same end result).

Take PSU voltage readings, with a multimeter at the power
plug to the card (while card is plugged in and running
demanding 3D somethingorother of course. Leave the case
side off and point a desk fan at it to see if that helps.
Are you in a part of the world that is just now seeing
warmer weather as summer approaches, do these problems seem
to coincide with higher room ambient temp? Or, if getting
colder, is the system right next to a heater or heating
duct?

Check the video card fan too, they often have short lives.
Clean out any dust anywhere and if all else fails, try
underclocking the card then playing exact same game
sequences to see if the problem still reoccurs.

 

[R. P.]

Hi Kony. Thanks man. I don't know what this group will do without your
posts!

After many, many Windows reinstalls, I think I've found out what the
problem is.

When I install my Abit NF7 motherboard's latest drivers, I can choose
to install 6 Nvidia components: GART driver, Memory Controller Driver,
SM Bus Driver, Ethernet Driver, IDE Driver and Audio Driver.

The computer hasn't become sluggish so far (one hour after a fresh
Windows reinstall) when I only installed the Ethernet and Audio
drivers. I haven't had a chance to play the games as I am too tired
after one day of looking at Windows installation screens!

Not so likely the board, except maybe one of the capacitors
very near the AGP slot. I doubt it though, this is a
classic sign of a video card either overheating or not
getting enough power (more often a scenario seen by
overclockers, but if there were parts failures any of them
could cause same end result).

I will bear in mind the possibility of an overheating graphics card if
the problem returns and repost if so. I was playing F.E.A.R. and had
really bad artifacting even with the game just started up (so the card
couldn't be that hot yet). The lighting was all messed up. I fixed it
by forcing it to use DX8 shaders.

The Radeon 9800 Pro is about 3 years old, its fan is noisy (especially
on start up) and probably needs maintenance as you say. I've always
been using a desk fan to cool my comp, much more efficient if somewhat
unsightly

P.S. F.E.A.R. is a really creepy game. Much more so than Doom 3, I'd
say. What is the deal with horror and black haired, grey skinned girls?

 

[kony]

Hi Kony. Thanks man. I don't know what this group will do without your
posts!

After many, many Windows reinstalls, I think I've found out what the
problem is.

When I install my Abit NF7 motherboard's latest drivers, I can choose
to install 6 Nvidia components: GART driver, Memory Controller Driver,
SM Bus Driver, Ethernet Driver, IDE Driver and Audio Driver.

The computer hasn't become sluggish so far (one hour after a fresh
Windows reinstall) when I only installed the Ethernet and Audio
drivers. I haven't had a chance to play the games as I am too tired
after one day of looking at Windows installation screens!

It's good to know you may have found the problem, but it
seems odd... had you recently installed those drivers, or
only recently began playing certain games that cause this
while all past games didn't? I was going with the
presumption that the system had remained static, since any
changes would suggest themselves as culprits.

I will bear in mind the possibility of an overheating graphics card if
the problem returns and repost if so. I was playing F.E.A.R. and had
really bad artifacting even with the game just started up (so the card
couldn't be that hot yet). The lighting was all messed up. I fixed it
by forcing it to use DX8 shaders.

Maybe, but if the heatsink wasn't making good contact it
wouldn't take but a few seconds for it to heat up, but IF it
where that bad I would expect complete lockups, not just
stutter-like pauses.

The Radeon 9800 Pro is about 3 years old, its fan is noisy (especially
on start up) and probably needs maintenance as you say. I've always
been using a desk fan to cool my comp, much more efficient if somewhat
unsightly

You're doing pretty well to have the fan run for 3 years.
Some don't make it 9 months.

P.S. F.E.A.R. is a really creepy game. Much more so than Doom 3, I'd
say. What is the deal with horror and black haired, grey skinned girls?

Would you be as scared of a tanned, full figured blonde?

 

[R. P.]

It's good to know you may have found the problem, but it
seems odd... had you recently installed those drivers, or
only recently began playing certain games that cause this
while all past games didn't? I was going with the
presumption that the system had remained static, since any
changes would suggest themselves as culprits.

Yeah, I didn't get that too. My guess is that the FPS games must have
installed an unstable driver. Strangely enough the games now work fine
(no stuttering) with those aforementioned mobo components not
installed. If it ain't broke don't fix it, I guess.

Maybe, but if the heatsink wasn't making good contact it
wouldn't take but a few seconds for it to heat up, but IF it
where that bad I would expect complete lockups, not just
stutter-like pauses.

Yeah, the game was playable apart from the nuisance of getting the
stuttering pauses every so often. I've had lockups when I tried
overclocking my CPU and when it happens, it is frozen until a reboot.

You're doing pretty well to have the fan run for 3 years.
Some don't make it 9 months.

I was wondering why some people wanted passively cooled GPUs if they
didn't need the processing power.