Computer Stops Responding

[MnkyOf[-]ate]

I have an old computer that freezes fairly often.

When it freezes, the mouse pointer disappears completly.

its an AP53 by AOpen
with a Cyrix 150+ processor.
(by the way, the processor is jumpered so that its 120MHz, is this correct? or should it really be 150MHz)

please help.

 

[Logical_1]

Sounds like that could be a heat issue. Also, I believe that is correct for that processor to run at 120 instead of 150. It has a rating of 150 since it is comparable to a Pentium 150 in integer performance. If it is heat that is causing the hard lock, then the reason the mouse vanishes is that the cursor is software controlled rather than hardware controlled (if it has a custom cursor rather than the standard white default one that comes with Windows).

Logical_1

 

[MnkyOf[-]ate]

Yes, that does make sense. But, I'm using an ISA "add on" card, that has the serial which i use for the mouse, a paralel port, and also, 2 IDE channels and a floppy controller, the only thing i Use are the floppy controler and the Serial. The serial ports on the motherboard seem to be deceased, along with the floppy controler.

I use the standard Cursor, and there this one spot on the board, right below the processor where there is a 3 Pin regulator strapped to a small heatsink. This area of the board gets EXTREMLY hot, but I can't thinkof any ways to cool it, as there are limited places to mount a fan.

Should I try Intsalling a larger heatsink with fan?

 

[t'kron]

The old Cyrix's were well known for having heat problems

 

[MnkyOf[-]ate]

The heatsink is pretty cool to the touch, there isn't too much heat. I used thermal compund between the heatsink and processor just for good measure.

I dont thinnk the heat issue is associated with the processor, but rather the motherboard instead.

 

[MnkyOf[-]ate]

Look at the picture provided, the item circled in red is the heatsink & regulator that get too hot.

 

[Logical_1]

It tends to be normal for that component to get hot on any board since it is a heatsink for the capacitor that is there attached to it. You may look into some additional cooling as a whole for the case, and you may actually try removing some of the thermal paste you used on the processor since if it is too thick, it actually insulates instead of transfers heat.

Logical_1

 

[Unregistered]

Yeah, those older socket 3 & socket 5 boards pretty well all had that hot spot somewhere near the processor socket. More often it was a small heatsink, but the part you have described is familiar as well.

The Cyrix chip is the problem with yer freezing. If you can get hold of an Intel 150 (or better, a 166MMX) you will find it will run cooler, and therefore will be much more stable. Also, there framerates in games & stuff are much higher with Intel chips - Cyrix were designed for office environments, where mathematical calculation streams weren't a priority.

Just note the voltages - the Cyrix are around 2.9v, while the Intel chips in that range are closer to 3.5v.