Computer acting strangely

[jgargac]

My desktop system started to act up about 3 days ago. I had it playing music the other night while I was making dinner and it just froze. Reboot and I get no video. I let it set for a few hours and it turns back on. It works for about two minutes and then it freezes again. Reboot and no video.

When I get into the BIOS after the improper shutdown, it says that I have an improper CPU setting. I've used this setup for more than two years. Any ideas? According to the MB monitor, the CPU temp is acceptable.

Asus a7a266 Motherboard
Athlon T-bird 1200
256 RAM

Any help appreciated. Thanks,

Jeff

What kind of video card do you have? It sounds like something is overheating. You might want to check all the fans to make sure they're spinning.

[MitaDC]

What kind of case are u using?? Does it have adaquit cooling?

[jgargac]

Geforce2 mx400 video card. I have two case fans and the fan from the PS. When I can get it to boot again, I'll get the case temps and check the fans. Thanks,

Jeff

[jgargac]

I checked all fans and they are working properly. I did step the processor down to 900 mhz and it ran fine. CPU was around 108 and case temp was 75. I'll step it back up to 1200 and see what happens. Thanks,

Jeff

[Gettinbye]

Might double-check your temps with a third-party program such as Sandra.
When you say "the CPU temp is acceptable", what are the specific temps? I ask because, to be at roughly 41c at 900mhz (and I'm guessing that was at an idle) on an T-Bird 1200, seems excessive. I'm guessing at 1200, your temps will be such as to potentially cause the instability you're experiencing. And the difference between your case temp and your CPU indicates that you've either got a dirty HSF or need to perhaps look at getting a better one.

[jgargac]

There may have been some dust that I knocked loose in the case fans b/c it is solid at 1200 mhz. Thanks for all of the help,

Jeff