Weird MSI nForce problems

[Bob The Great]

Ok a PC I built for my dad about 2 years ago is starting to freak out. Here are a list of the probs as best as I can rememeber.

1.) Mouse must be plugged into PS2 as it doesn't always get detected when plugged into USB

2.) 1 outa 2 times its booted windows task "system" runs at aprox 50% CPU usage for the whole time.

3.) computer will turn itself off after 10 seconds (this is getting more and more common)

4.) computer will reboot instead of shutting down.


AthlonXP 1700+ (Palimino core) volcano5 & AS3
512mbs PC-2100 (2x256, one kingston other unkown)
MSI nForce IGP (onboard GeForce2)
windows XP HE (updated regularly)
16x Creative DVD
really fast CD-RW
Enlight case with 250watt PSU (maybe 300, don't remember)
14" Packerd Bell monitor

ideas, suggestions, questions??? I'm stumped. I'm going to try to RMA soon. I've updated to the latest mobo drivers, no new bios's that I could find though. Windows is up to date. Virus scanners working fine, and I've run sandra in a continues benchmark for hours with nary a prob. Whats happening????

[iNeb]

Power supply seems kind of low, maybe the power is too low, so it is causing havoc, tried another PSU?

[Whir]

Try a bigger P/S first.

It does sort of sound like the XP install is going corrupt though. 50% load the whole time? I've never heard of a failing P/S doing that...

[SickPup404]

Something else to check - Clean any dust bunnies out. They can have a tendancy to clog up intakes, HSF, etc causing it ALL to overheat...

And speaking of fans, check that they all are still running when it's on...

[jrock]

I vote along with iNeb. That would explain the USB power problem. Same with the restart/shutdown thing. I bet the powersupply is sending mixed signals to the motherboard's checking header. I had the EXACT same problem with an old box, and it turned out to be both the powersupply AND the Ram. So if not the PS, I say check the ram. mem86 would be a good idea.

But ram doesn't explain the USB thingie... hmmmm

[Bob The Great]

Fans are working fine. Temps about 110 on the CPU. A little hotter under full load but nothing terrible.

Might be the PSU. I'll check into that. It might be 300. I can never remember. I know my case (same exact case) is 250 but I seem to remember thinking how cool his was cause it was better or something. I dunno.

Yeah that 50% system thing is messed. Well I guess I'll take my PC over and back his up and to a reinstall some time. oy...

[Bob The Great]

BTW not the ram....wait maybe it is. I just popped in the kingston a little bit ago and then the problem started. Good thinking, it is an nForce and they are known to be VERY picky about ram. Very strange I would have probably caught that right away if someone else was having the problem.

That would be nice if that explained the startup shutdowns.

yeah it doesn't explain the USB thing. Its an optical mouse. what I'm going to try is switching him my mouse for a few days and see if its just his mouse. Its a lower end IBM. I also have something tickling the back of my mind about mouse probs with certain nForces when something is enabled...

[Bob The Great]

update:

Memory was not the prob. Also when the front of his case is off it seems to boot fine (perhaps a problem with the button). What are your guys view? I'm thinking of RMA'ing the board if the button isnt the prob.

[VHockey86]

well the shutting off type stuff sounds like PSU... or possibly it got bumped and something is grounding?. Not sure about the other symptoms

[agathodaimon]

yeah, the power supply is an adequate size, it could just be a bad one...

I would think it would be the motherboard though...
I recently had a lot of weird issues when I built my dad a computer using an Nforce ASUS motherboard. The problems would NOT go away until we finally swapped the Nforce board for a KT400 board. Problems solved.

But.... would anyone know the signs of a failing processor? Could be a possibility, but I don't know what failing processor symptoms are...

[Bob The Great]

I don't think its the CPU. It has good temps, and he's not done anything outa spec for it.

I think a new mobo might be the cheapest solution to try first. Thanks.