Is my computer dying? Please help.

[jaggerwild]

Sounds like a bios boot problem then, like you cleared the Cmos and rest the bios settings. or try another HDD..........

 

[jboydgolfer]

note she already tried her supply in her husband's system and it worked fine.

i noticed that, but even a broken clock is right twice /day....thats why i said "possibly", since its Still possible, maybe not too likely, but none the less, possible.

 

[jaggerwild]

Wait it did boot, either way, 63 or not thats damn sexy you swapped it!!

 

[Swoosieque]

Since your here @Swoosieque why not fill in your system specs?
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/account/specs

Holy cow! Ran the benchmark and this is depressing!!! Uploading the report as pdf. This is depressing!

Regarding the CPU: "With a below average single core score, this CPU can handle email, web browsing and audio/video playback but it will struggle to handle..."

What are they talking about? I thought mine was a quad? Maybe after all of this, the CPU is the problem???

Sounds like a bios boot problem then, like you cleared the Cmos and rest the bios settings. or try another HDD..........

Yeah, after I installed the new CMOS battery, I had to reset the bios.

Okay, so my new RAM and hard drive should be here sometime next week. Hoping that will solve the problem, otherwise will just have to go ahead and buy a new mobo, cpu and compatible RAM for the new mobo. Meanwhile, I'm going to investigate why that benchmark is saying that "The boot partition is located on a mechanical or hybrid drive. Moving the system to
an SSD will yield far faster boot times, better system responsiveness and faster
application load times. ?????????????????? "

Duh.... SolidStateDrive...

Well, the FireCuda is supposed to be part solid state and part mechanical. Anyway, it will be a bit of an upgrade from what I currently have.

 

[jaggerwild]

Yeah, after I installed the new CMOS battery, I had to reset the bios.

That could be your issue, what setting is the hard drive on? Should be AHCI(in the bios durring boot), make sure the SATA cable is good and plugged in. Try different locations on the motherboard(as there are several)maybe why its actting up.......

 

[Swoosieque]

That could be your issue, what setting is the hard drive on? Should be AHCI(in the bios durring boot), make sure the SATA cable is good and plugged in. Try different locations on the motherboard(as there are several)maybe why its actting up.......

Funny you mentioned the SATA cable, I had a spare one and switched that out yesterday too, but didn't try the other SATA ports, might try that over the weekend. Let me reboot into the BIOS and see what the hard drive is set at.

Gheez, the BIOS was set at IDE for the hard drive. Changed it to the ahci. I wonder how that happened.???

Thank you so much for pointing that out to me. I'll see how it starts up tomorrow morning after cooling down!

 

[biffzinker]

What are they talking about? I thought mine was a quad? Maybe after all of this, the CPU is the problem???

It's still a quad core CPU. Userbenchmark treated it as such during the benchmark run you did. Problem is it's getting slow in it's old age (no offense intended.)

 

[Swoosieque]

It's still a quad core CPU. Userbenchmark treated it as such during the benchmark run you did. Problem is it's getting slow in it's old age (no offense intended.)

No offense taken. I was prepared for having to rebuild, especially because of the age of everything. So, could the CPU be the cause of the boot/startup problem? I guess it's a part of the whole problem of everything being worn down.

Thanks for taking a look at the benchmark.

 

[Komshija]

It could be failing MOBO, failing PSU, failing RAM's, failing HDD and even faulty GPU. I would test PSU in another similar system and load that system with something like Furmark or OCCT. Watch for the temps. If everything is OK, move to the RAM test with Memtest86 and finally check HDD for errors. If that's OK, than most likely either MOBO or GPU are causing the problems. I doubt that CPU is causing the problems, although it can happen.

Similar thing happened to my former girlfriend on her laptop. The solution was easy - I dissasembled the whole machine, cleaned everything, applied a new thermal paste and made sure that all cables and wires are properly seated and undamaged.

Considering the upgrade (assuming you solved the problem) - if you are on a very tight budget, buy 8 GB (2x4GB) DDR2 800 MHz RAM, HD 6790 or GTX 550 Ti GPU and it might handle internet, MS office and watching movies for the next 2 or 3 years like a champ.

 

[jaggerwild]

Funny you mentioned the SATA cable, I had a spare one and switched that out yesterday too, but didn't try the other SATA ports, might try that over the weekend. Let me reboot into the BIOS and see what the hard drive is set at.

Gheez, the BIOS was set at IDE for the hard drive. Changed it to the ahci. I wonder how that happened.???

Thank you so much for pointing that out to me. I'll see how it starts up tomorrow morning after cooling down!

You should be good, A Q9400 is a quad its fine for what you mentioned(surfing n cruzing email, etc). I use a clean long hair'd paint brush to dust the inside when I get bunnies, then compressed air or vacum(only if its hairy inside).

Cheers! Welcome to the addiction.........................

 

[Swoosieque]

It could be failing MOBO, failing PSU, failing RAM's, failing HDD and even faulty GPU. I would test PSU in another similar system and load that system with something like Furmark or OCCT. Watch for the temps. If everything is OK, move to the RAM test with Memtest86 and finally check HDD for errors. If that's OK, than most likely either MOBO or GPU are causing the problems. I doubt that CPU is causing the problems, although it can happen.

Similar thing happened to my former girlfriend on her laptop. The solution was easy - I dissasembled the whole machine, cleaned everything, applied a new thermal paste and made sure that all cables and wires are properly seated and undamaged.

Considering the upgrade (assuming you solved the problem) - if you are on a very tight budget, buy 8 GB (2x4GB) DDR2 800 MHz RAM, HD 6790 or GTX 550 Ti GPU and it might handle internet, MS office and watching movies for the next 2 or 3 years like a champ.

Yes, on a tight budget, so thank you for the suggestions. The only thing I haven't removed yet to check for dust, etc.. is the graphic card. Will do that if things don't improve after the hard drive and RAM arrive. Thanks again!

You should be good, A Q9400 is a quad its fine for what you mentioned(surfing n cruzing email, etc). I use a clean long hair'd paint brush to dust the inside when I get bunnies, then compressed air or vacum(only if its hairy inside).

Cheers! Welcome to the addiction.........................

Thanks for the tip about a clean, long-haired paint brush, never thought of that! Great idea. But, I have a question about my quad core cpu, someone told me that these are actually better than the i3. Is that true?

 

[R-T-B]

But, I have a question about my quad core cpu, someone told me that these are actually better than the i3. Is that true?

Not really, most modern i3s will beat it, despite just being dual core. Older ones may lose out though.

 

[jaggerwild]

Thanks for the tip about a clean, long-haired paint brush, never thought of that! Great idea. But, I have a question about my quad core cpu, someone told me that these are actually better than the i3. Is that true?

I've never had a I3 so I can't honestly answer that, but surely others that have will......

 

[Filip Georgievski]

Modern I3s will beat it only in single-threaded performance, but not in multicore where yours shine.
With a better gpu and a little bit of overclock your quad core will run just fine in many new games.
Mind you, look at my spec, i run a simmilar cpu, 1 generation newer, and i dont have any problems with new AAA titles.

 

[Swoosieque]

Happy New Year!

Although the startup/boot problem still exists, at least I got 3 long beeps which indicate (according to Intel) a RAM problem. New RAM will be here Tuesday, new hard drive by the end of week.

Another thing I was thinking, was to remove the CPU and do whatever I have to do to apply a new coat of thermal paste. Gonna have to research how to do this carefully.

 

[64K]

Happy New Year!

Although the startup/boot problem still exists, at least I got 3 long beeps which indicate (according to Intel) a RAM problem. New RAM will be here Tuesday, new hard drive by the end of week.

Another thing I was thinking, was to remove the CPU and do whatever I have to do to apply a new coat of thermal paste. Gonna have to research how to do this carefully.

You can spend a few dollars on a 2 step cleaner like this

• 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007TOR08/?tag=tec06d-20

but really you can do a good job with rubbing alcohol and a coffee filter if you don't want to spend the money. You just need to make sure to remove all the old paste from the CPU and the heat sink and coffee filters work good because they won't leave any lint behind.

 

[Swoosieque]

You can spend a few dollars on a 2 step cleaner like this

• 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007TOR08/?tag=tec06d-20

but really you can do a good job with rubbing alcohol and a coffee filter if you don't want to spend the money. You just need to make sure to remove all the old paste from the CPU and the heat sink and coffee filters work good because they won't leave any lint behind.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The RAM just arrived, but it's too late to mess with it today, have to start cooking dinner. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll have time to install the RAM, or maybe, because I'm female and it's a females' prerogative, I might just wait until the hard drive gets here and do it all at one time. And maybe, wait until I get the CPU cleaner stuff too! I'm beginning to hate lugging that computer to the kitchen where I can be static free and ground myself. But, I'd still rather be doing this than buying a pre-built computer. I like knowing what I've got. Cheers!

 

[Vario]

Just use 91% isopropyl, works better than that arctic clean stuff, I have both and isopropyl is just flat out better. You can buy 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol at the pharmacy or grocery store usually.

I recommend using Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste, it seems to work well long term.

You shouldn't have to remove the CPU, just take the heatsink off, clean the heatsink and the top of the processor with isopropyl until both are clean, and put a very small amount of thermal paste in the center like this

Don't use any more than that.
then put the heatsink back on and make sure its on tight. The paste will spread out when you clamp the heat sink back on.

 

[silkstone]

Holy cow! Ran the benchmark and this is depressing!!! Uploading the report as pdf. This is depressing!

Regarding the CPU: "With a below average single core score, this CPU can handle email, web browsing and audio/video playback but it will struggle to handle..."

What are they talking about? I thought mine was a quad? Maybe after all of this, the CPU is the problem???

The old Q-core cpu's are still more than capable for what you want to do. Even if you wanted to play games on your system, I'd recommend getting a new video card before upgrading the CPU.

If you get it working again, and want to upgrade, grab an SSD and the computer will fly. I'm running an old quad-core as my HTPC and it can handle everything I throw at it.

 

[biffzinker]

Another thing I was thinking, was to remove the CPU and do whatever I have to do to apply a new coat of thermal paste. Gonna have to research how to do this carefully.

While you have the heatsink off might as well give a good cleaning before re-pasting, and mounting.

 

[Swoosieque]

Just use 91% isopropyl, works better than that arctic clean stuff, I have both and isopropyl is just flat out better. You can buy 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol at the pharmacy or grocery store usually.

I recommend using Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste, it seems to work well long term.

You shouldn't have to remove the CPU, just take the heatsink off, clean the heatsink and the top of the processor with isopropyl until both are clean, and put a very small amount of thermal paste in the center like this

Don't use any more than that.
then put the heatsink back on and make sure its on tight. The paste will spread out when you clamp the heat sink back on.

Thank you! I wondered about just using isopropyl, it works for a lot of things. And also for the thermal paste suggestion!

The old Q-core cpu's are still more than capable for what you want to do. Even if you wanted to play games on your system, I'd recommend getting a new video card before upgrading the CPU.

If you get it working again, and want to upgrade, grab an SSD and the computer will fly. I'm running an old quad-core as my HTPC and it can handle everything I throw at it.

Love this! Yes, I mostly do spreadsheet work and transcription work, so, it's a little more than just surfing the web and checking email. I need to be able to count on the computer to properly do math functions. And yes, once I change out the hard drive, then I'll be cleaning up the CPU, and probably check on a cheap upgrade graphic card.

Any suggestions for a graphic card, not a kick-ass one, just one that will be a little bit better than my old one? Thanks again!

Okay, after trying to do some spreadsheet work, things were not calculating properly, so, I shut everything down and went ahead and installed the new RAM. It booted right up, but, that's not unusual after the computer's been on for several hours. The true test will be tomorrow, after having the computer off all night, and then seeing if it boots right up on the first try.

My hard drive didn't show up this weekend, FedEx is really bad out where I live. Anyway, hoping it arrives tomorrow, then I'll install it and transfer files and programs, then... the next morning should tell a lot too.

Even if these two things solve this problem, I'm still going to go ahead and clean the CPU and order a new graphics card. Heck, may as well.

As mentioned earlier, if anyone can suggest a cheap graphic card that is a bit better than the one I have, anything will be better than this old one, I'm sure. I'd love suggestions.

And thank so much to all of you guys! You ROCK!!

OHHHH... one more thing. If the computer still has a problem booting up tomorrow morning, can I then assume it's not the RAM, and go ahead and install my removed RAM in the extra slots so I'll end up with 8GB total?

 

[silkstone]

Okay, after trying to do some spreadsheet work, things were not calculating properly, so, I shut everything down and went ahead and installed the new RAM. It booted right up, but, that's not unusual after the computer's been on for several hours. The true test will be tomorrow, after having the computer off all night, and then seeing if it boots right up on the first try.

My hard drive didn't show up this weekend, FedEx is really bad out where I live. Anyway, hoping it arrives tomorrow, then I'll install it and transfer files and programs, then... the next morning should tell a lot too.

Even if these two things solve this problem, I'm still going to go ahead and clean the CPU and order a new graphics card. Heck, may as well.

As mentioned earlier, if anyone can suggest a cheap graphic card that is a bit better than the one I have, anything will be better than this old one, I'm sure. I'd love suggestions.

And thank so much to all of you guys! You ROCK!!

OHHHH... one more thing. If the computer still has a problem booting up tomorrow morning, can I then assume it's not the RAM, and go ahead and install my removed RAM in the extra slots so I'll end up with 8GB total?

a 1050 like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137058&cm_re=1050-_-14-137-058-_-Product will be more than adequate, if you are looking for something new at around $100.
It will play all modern games.

You could likely find something less powerful, but equally appropriate 2nd hand on e-bay in the $50 range, but you'd lose out on the warranty.

 

[Arjai]

I think the new memory will fix it. I've been wrong before but, your issue seems pretty clearly memory related, to me. If not sticks, could be the board's memory slots. Best of luck to you!!

 

[Swoosieque]

a 1050 like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137058&cm_re=1050-_-14-137-058-_-Product will be more than adequate, if you are looking for something new at around $100.
It will play all modern games.

You could likely find something less powerful, but equally appropriate 2nd hand on e-bay in the $50 range, but you'd lose out on the warranty.

Thank you! I'll have a look at it.

I think the new memory will fix it. I've been wrong before but, your issue seems pretty clearly memory related, to me. If not sticks, could be the board's memory slots. Best of luck to you!!

Well.... bad news, the new memory did not fix the problem. When I woke up this morning, turned on the computer and the same problem still exists. So, I went ahead and reinstalled the old sticks in the remaining slots, and now have 8GB, why not.

Still waiting for the hard drive to get here. I really want to install it today and then see if this problem goes away tomorrow morning, with a new hard drive. I'm finally starting to be discouraged and thinking it's the mobo.

 

[Swoosieque]

Got the new hard drive, having a helluva time installing Windows on it, plus, the computer still keeps turning itself off and on. And then, it froze with a really weird screen, where the window in which I was working froze with dotted pixels, stripes, weird, really weird. Will be ordering a new graphic card today, if that doesn't fix it, then it will be onto a new mobo and cpu.