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PC Freezes in Case, not during Bench Test

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I bench tested my friend’s PC after upgrading his PSU (upgrade to 650W), Video Card to 512MB (PNY GeForce 880GTS, RAM to 4 1GB Sticks (PC will not boot/POST with 3 or 4 sticks in mobo [If you can help with this problem please let me know]). Mother board is ASUS P5ne32 sli.

The problem is after I upgraded all of these parts from a previosu problem, the computer freezes inside of the case, but not on the bench test outside fo the case. I could let it run for hours out side of the case and even play Overload and Oblivion for 10-20 minutes.

Inside of the case however, the PC freezes upon BIOS sometimes, even at the Windows XP log in screen, and just randomly. I believe that the mobo is shorting on the standoffs of the case. The fix that I am currently implementing now is to add nylon washers to both sides of the motherboard separating the screw from the motherboard and the motherboard from the brass stand stand offs. I hope this will some this problem and if any one has any suggestions I am all ears.

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Clarifications

In reply to PC Freezes in Case, not during Bench Test

Clarifications

You only need to put the washers on the bottom of the motherboard.

In reply to PC Freezes in Case, not during Bench Test

But this is the first fix that i would check out first. Second would be the fans, make sure the motherboard has ample air flow through the case, if not add more fans (if possible).

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

Washers on under side of the board

In reply to You only need to put the washers on the bottom of the motherboard.

I tried nylon washers (#6’s) but there was too much of a difference in height which threw off the placement/set of the motherboard. I am looking for nylon standoffs but I am confused as to what size/legnth I need. Any help will be appreciated, thank you.

Using PC3200 RAM? Also, reseat your heatpipe!

In reply to PC Freezes in Case, not during Bench Test

Some mobos can only support two sticks of pc3200, even tho there are four slots in the mobo.

If it were shorting, it would not get this far…it’s a heat issue.

Does this mobo use a heatpipe? If you’re overclocking it, you may need more cooling.

Also, sometimes the heatpipe gets unseated slightly and you need to reseat it.

http://www.overclock.net/faqs/100443-how-reseat-asus-nb-sb-heat.html

Added Information

In reply to Using PC3200 RAM? Also, reseat your heatpipe!

I am not OC the PC at all. We are running on default settings. But I will try the heat sink reseat tonight and let you know how that goes. Anything else I should try that is heat related?

Heatpipe on Mobo

In reply to Using PC3200 RAM? Also, reseat your heatpipe!

i just noticed that the heatpipe on my mobo is missing a spring/screw combination in one of the corners near the CPU/HSF combination. Is there any way I can get a replacement heatpipe and/or a replacement screw?Thank you in advance.

Also my in the case temps are consistent with my out of case temps, both cores around 33 degrees celsius

heatpipes from asus

In reply to Heatpipe on Mobo

http://estore.asus.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=3826&catid=131

Of course if you goto any mom-and-pop computer store and beg properly, I’m sure they would give you one.

heatpipes from asus

In reply to heatpipes from asus

thank you for the help. will this heat pipe fit the p5n32 sli deluxe? Also I am looking get nylon spacers to replace my brass spacers for my case, and i am not sure what size to buy. Is there a standard size for my mother board, I know it uses all the A slots for the spacers on the case but i am not sure what size/length the nylon spacers to buy. Is there anywhere I can go to find this out and/or buy nylon spacers? Thank you

Washers and nylon spacers.. More here

In reply to heatpipes from asus

http://www.washersusa.com/nyloncomponentsf.html

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

Thanks

In reply to Washers and nylon spacers.. More here

Thanks for the information, I will let you know how it goes.

Replace the standoffs

In reply to PC Freezes in Case, not during Bench Test

I replace the stand offs with plastic or nylon ones and use nylon screws. Also make sure they are are of the same height, a slight difference can put a stress on the MOBO that will open an intermittent trace or plate-thru.

Where to buy nylon standoffs

In reply to Replace the standoffs

I am looking online for nylon standoffs but I am confused as to what size I need. If you can help that would be great thank you.

Some cases use snap-in standoffs, some use screw-in standoffs

In reply to Where to buy nylon standoffs

http://www.startech.com/category/parts/screws-fasteners/standoffs/list.aspx

you can get some startech products at radio shack.

It is screw-in

In reply to Some cases use snap-in standoffs, some use screw-in standoffs

Thank you for the link I will be sure to look into it.

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