New computer crashing often

[mattsnow]

I built this computer about 6 months ago, it ran Prime95 and Memtest fine back then but in the last 2 weeks its started randomly BSOD / crashing. These are the parts:

Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-880GM-UD2H
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. F4 03/24/2010

Proc: 3.40 gigahertz AMD Phenom II X4 965

RAM: XMS3 — 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1333C8) (2x2Gb)

PSU: Coolermaster RS-500-PSAP-J3

Gfx: Nvidia GT220

I have done a fresh install of Win 7. I have tested the ram sticks individually and together with Memtest86, they pass fine. All the bios settings are on Fail-safe so everything is running at stock settings.

I added the graphics card the other day because sometimes when it crashed it came up with multicolored lines across the screen. So thinking there could be something wrong with the on board graphics I added this card, and whilst I haven't seen the multicolored lines it still crashes a lot.

Sometimes straight after it's crashed or when I try and turn it on it emits long beeps, apparently this is pointing towards a graphics card problem but it did it when it was running on on board graphics and it does it now there is a separate graphics card in there too (about 30% of the time).

When Prime95 is running (it can run for 15 mins before crashing) with the processor is at full load the temperature goes up to about 70-75C, which is much too high I think. At idle the temp is around 35C. After a crash the event viewer usually shows this as the last error:

SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 60 WHERE TargetInstance ISA "Win32_Processor" AND TargetInstance.LoadPercentage > 99

Any ideas on how I would go about tackling this?

[Odalis]

There is one thread I found on this forum where it is mentioned somewhat similar problem as you mentioned with Windows 7. So take a look at this and see if any one of the post helps you.

Windows 7 crashes frequently

[mattsnow]

I replaced the stock cooler with an aftermarket one and the load temperature now hangs around 60C, which is much better.

Despite this it still crashes often. I can get it to crash almost every time by running Prime95 for about 25 minutes without any faults, then stopping it. Within a minute of the test stopping it just locks up. I still sometimes get the continuous beeping on startup which I don't think is to do with a graphics problem.

I am testing each stick of ram in every slot in Memtest so I can totally rule them out, but I am really not sure whether the processor or the motherboard is at fault here.

[T.J.]

The temperature of 60* is still by far very high. It surely seems to be a heating problem. Have you tried cleaning each and every dust from your CPU or computer case, give it in a computer vendor shop for some maintenance. Also, try to check the readings of the power supply that you have installed, it might be not giving proper power. Also flash the bios of your motherboard and see if it gives you the same problem or not. Since it is bought 6 months ago only, you could try to get it checked in a warranty terms.