I have the machine with specs below. It crashes terminally (power off after a brief quiet whirr very close or identical to an intended shutdown). More so during games, especially my now barely played Empire: Total War. My video card has the latest drivers (and the PC crashed when they were not so new). I intend to see what the power supply is, but with 7600 GT graphics card not being very power hungry I doubt that it is a problem. Overheating? The PC is noisy when starting then goes to a normal purr, so not sure about fans being tired, but any suggestions would be welcome, till I get a Windows 7 PC and a 3 year support deal (cheap now) for peace of mind.

The specs: incidentally it says my dvd is sony but its now a liteon but I don't thiink that is the problem.

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System Information (I have the full dxdiag but can get this part in)
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
System Model: A7N8X2.0
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2500+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 365MB used, 2300MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

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DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

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DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

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Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 7600 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_02E0&SUBSYS_2A57107D&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7824 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 6058112 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 6133856 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-41A0-11CF-5D6D-5C0A03C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x02E0
SubSys ID: 0x2A57107D
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

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Sound Devices
-------------
Description: NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: NFORCE_VAD
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: nvapu.sys
Driver Version: 6.14.0362.0000 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 8/13/2003 09:45:00, 311552 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 100000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 256, 254
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 64
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run
|
Drive: C:
Free Space: 13.6 GB
Total Space: 38.2 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: SAMSUNG SP0411N

Drive: D:
Model: SONY DVD-ROM DDU1621
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.5512 (English), 4/13/2008 18:40:46, 62976 bytes

--------------
System Devices
--------------
Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_02E0&SUBSYS_2A57107D&REV_A2\4&102AC5BC&0&00F0
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcuda.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 1368064 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvoglnt.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 8826880 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcpl.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 13574144 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvmctray.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 86016 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvwddi.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 81920 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvnt4cpl.dll, 6.14.0010.11194 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 286720 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvmccs.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 229376 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvdisps.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 3989504 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvdispsr.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 5799936 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvgames.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 3444736 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvgamesr.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 3457024 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvmccss.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 188416 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvmccssr.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 458752 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvmobls.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 1257472 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvmoblsr.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 2854912 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvvitvs.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 3764224 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvvitvsr.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 4149248 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvwss.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 2686976 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvwssr.dll, 6.14.0011.7824 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 2981888 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\help\nvcpl.hlp, 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 177897 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\help\nvwcplen.hlp, 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 55444 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcod.dll, 1.03.0004.0028 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 122880 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvcodins.dll, 1.03.0004.0028 (English), 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 122880 bytes

Name: PCI standard RAM Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01EF&SUBSYS_0C1710DE&REV_C1\3&13C0B0C5&0&05
Driver: n/a

Name: PCI standard RAM Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01EE&SUBSYS_0C1710DE&REV_C1\3&13C0B0C5&0&02
Driver: n/a

Name: NVIDIA nForce2 Memory Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01EC&SUBSYS_0C1710DE&REV_C1\3&13C0B0C5&0&04
Driver: n/a

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01E0&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_C1\3&13C0B0C5&0&00
Driver: n/a

Name: NVIDIA nForce PCI System Management
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0064&SUBSYS_0C111043&REV_A2\3&13C0B0C5&0&09
Driver: n/a

If you know it's not power (and you can't be sure unless you have tested the PSU with a tester tool and multimeter) and it's not heat, then check your ram with memtest 86+