Thread: How do i fix my homebuilt computer?

Okay so this is my second homemade computer. First one turned out great. this one... not so much. So here is my specs:Windows XP homeMSI PM8M3-V ATX motherboard3460 Mhz Intel® Celeron® 3.46GhzNividia GeForce FX5200 and a VIA/S3G Unichrome Pro704MB of Kingston RAMDVD-RWSamsung CD-R/RWInternal Western Digital HD 40gigInternal Western Digital HD 200gigExternal Western Digital HD 250gig400watt power supplyNot the best I know, but here's the problem. The computer works just fine with surfing the web and checking email, I can even leave it on for days and it's fine. But when I go to watch a movie, play a game or just about anything that requires more than low performance it cuts off. I don't know if it's the graphics cards, or the power supply or the processor overheating. When I start up the computer it always gives me two options for operating systems XP home and XP professional. I only installed XP home so I don't know what that's all about. And when my computer does run if I hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete it does nothing, no power management or restart. I think thats all the problems. lol If anyone can help me out I could really use it, because this is as annoying as hell. thanxby the way it has a 120mm fan in the front of the case and a 250mm fan on the side and the fan on the cpu is brand new. no dust so i dont think air flow is a problem... I do have 2 sets of cold cathode lights in it though. maybe i need a much bigger power supply?

That rig will run hot. I doubt you have sufficient cooling (often because people want it to be quiet and so miss out case fans etc)Upgrade the CPU fan - clean all the other fans (dust build up is a killer) - blow out the dust from the motherboard and casing (prevents airflow and actually keeps the heat in like a winter woolie!)Once you have done all of this it will almost certainly become stable.

YOU built it...build it better!

Format everything and reinstall OS again.

format the hard disk and reinstall windows. It will remove the dual installation, and also take care of any software related issues

upgrade the power supply for one and then check the video card as it is locking up when graphics are running. this is a problem when you put the machine under load. try removing the case cover and running the machine without the case to see if it is a overheating problem also. are the fans on the cpu and case clean?