Need help with PC, can't figure out what is wrong.

[Warx87]

Hello, my PC has been acting strange, and I can't seem to nail down what exactly the problem is. First, it seems to "stutter", or go unstable, or whatever you want to call it. The mouse will "stutter", or "drag".  I use to have around 60FPS in games I played, but now I'm down to about 5. It also takes forever to boot up Windows.

Same with sound/music I'm playing, or videos, or games. It also takes FOREVER to install things. Files, games, etc. And it usually has a non stop beep, that sounds almost like an ambulance siren until I totally close down every program and just do nothing.

I've tried to switch out my RAM, and I've ran a HD check, it had bad areas or something, but I think it fixed it. Not sure though.. could it be that?

Also, I have Spybot, Avast anti virus, and Zone Alarm firewall. I run checks all the time, so it can't be a virus or spyware.

System specs are:
Windows XP Pro, SP 2
Intel P4 3.20Ghz
2GB of RAM
Abit IC7-G MAX Motherboard
Nvidia GeForce FX 5900XT
200gb HD

I forgot the sound card..

I know this is an older PC, but it's been fine up until now Just trying to figure out what is wrong. Thanks

[jamesj2001]

Your computer seems to be what my friends and I call "tarded up".  Have you considered a reload of the OS?  Otherwise, I'd use msconfig to clear out some startup items.

[ChrisXPPro]

Also - maybe inspect ''processes'' and see if anything is running that ain't wanted - or shouldn't be there.  Seems like something is hogging resources, bad.

Does safe mode takes ages to boot? 

Maybe from there turn off stuff selectively to try and track down the cause ... try a win full boot with as much off as you think you can perhaps.

[Broni]

Same in Safe Mode?

[Warx87]

I couldn't even boot it into safe mode. I reloaded the OS, it runs the same, and the beeping is there still, too. So I'm pretty sure it's a hardware problem. What would cause that? bad HD? CPU? MOBO?

Thanks

[drmsucks]

And it usually has a non stop beep, that sounds almost like an ambulance siren until I totally close down every program and just do nothing.

I've tried to switch out my RAM, and I've ran a HD check, it had bad areas or something, but I think it fixed it. Not sure though.. could it be that?

More info on the beep would be helpful, especially, when exactly does it start? Do you know the BIOS manufacturer - Award, AMI, Phoenix?

What HD diagnostic program did you run and what exactly were the results? If you didn't run the diagnostic from the manufacturer of your hard drive, e.g. Western Digital, I'd suggest that you download the program from the mfg site and run it.

What exactly did you do with the RAM? Download and run Memtest86; you'll need to create a CD, then boot from the CD. Let Memtest86 run for at least 2 hours on one module at a time. (Check your motherboard manual to find out which memory slot to populate with one memory module.) If each module passes, install both and run the test for at least 4 hours. Longer is better on all tests. ANY error means defective RAM.

[Broni]

it usually has a non stop beep, that sounds almost like an ambulance siren until I totally close down every program and just do nothing.

Does beeping start, as soon, as you turn computer on?
Are you saying, that beeping stops, when no programs are used?
Do you have on-board video, or separate card?

[patio]

And how much free space is on that hard drive ? ?

[drmsucks]

...and remove and re-seat the video card. If you have onboard video, remove the video card and enable the onboard.

[Warx87]

Okay, first off.. The beep sometimes starts right as I turn it on, as in, before windows even loads. Sometimes it doesn't at all until I load up some programs, it's pretty weird. But it always has that "unstableness", and stutter.

1. I removed, and reset the video card. I do not have onboard graphics, only the video card I listed.(mobo doesn't have it)

2. HD has 144gigs free space, it's a 200gig drive.

3. Yes, it usually stops beeping when I only have a messenger or no windows open, but the system still acts unstable, and stuttery/draggy.

4. I already downloaded the Seagate HD test off their site, and it came up with no errors after I had tried the chkdsk already.

5. The BIOS is Phoenix, and the beeping is a long siren type beep, like a police car or ambulance. It's not like a 1 1 2, or 3 beep, etc..

6. For my RAM, I tried two sticks in the 4 different modules, it was all the same. I think the RAM is fine though.

One weird thing I just noticed.. I ran the ABIT EQ that is on here, and under all the areas, they're all "green" except the CPU voltage, it says(I think) it should be +3.3v, but it comes up in red as 3.1v would that mean anything? It makes me come back to thinking my CPU is dying..

Thanks.

[drmsucks]

It does seem that the CPU is involved here, but, perhaps, indirectly. It sounds like the CPU is in a "stepped down" mode (underclocked) which is why you get the "drag" and "stutter."  This stepped down mode may be in response to overheating or undervolting.

Can you replace the PSU with a known, good one to see if the computer performs better?

[RayDude]

(What's the standard here? Top quote or bottom quote?)

The beeping sounds like a BIOS warning message. It could be for under voltage but under voltage wouldn't cause the system to run slow, it would cause the system to crash.

I think more than likely the CPU fan stopped spinning. Can you enter the bios and see if its set to warn you if the cpu fan drops below a certain amount? Also open the case and make sure its running. Run the bios and make sure its running several thousand RPMs when under heavy load. It could be running slowly.

All of the symptoms you describe lead me to think that its cpu cooling issues.

You may also want to see if the fan sink has come off the cpu (unlikely).

Raydude

Okay, first off.. The beep sometimes starts right as I turn it on, as in, before windows even loads. Sometimes it doesn't at all until I load up some programs, it's pretty weird. But it always has that "unstableness", and stutter.

1. I removed, and reset the video card. I do not have onboard graphics, only the video card I listed.(mobo doesn't have it)

2. HD has 144gigs free space, it's a 200gig drive.

3. Yes, it usually stops beeping when I only have a messenger or no windows open, but the system still acts unstable, and stuttery/draggy.

4. I already downloaded the Seagate HD test off their site, and it came up with errors after I had tried the chkdsk already.

5. The BIOS is Phoenix, and the beeping is a long siren type beep, like a police car or ambulance. It's not like a 1 1 2, or 3 beep, etc..

6. For my RAM, I tried two sticks in the 4 different modules, it was all the same. I think the RAM is fine though.

One weird thing I just noticed.. I ran the ABIT EQ that is on here, and under all the areas, they're all "green" except the CPU voltage, it says(I think) it should be +3.3v, but it comes up in red as 3.1v would that mean anything? It makes me come back to thinking my CPU is dying..

Thanks.

[drmsucks]

(What's the standard here? Top quote or bottom quote?)

Seems to be top.

Welcome to CH!

[RayDude]

(What's the standard here? Top quote or bottom quote?)

Seems to be top.

Welcome to CH!

Thanks!

[patio]

4. I already downloaded the Seagate HD test off their site, and it came up with errors after I had tried the chkdsk already.

Then this i'm afraid is the likely culprit...

Shop for a new drive and use the drive manuf. diagnostics to "clone" the failing drive to the new one.
You may not have much time so use the machine sparingly.