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I have an MSI K8NGM2-FID and it just randomly crashes. The motherboard is an old socket 939.

I've tested the hardware, and the culprit is either the CPU or the motherboard, which are the two hardware components I don't have spares to test on. It's not the graphics card, onboard and external, as both have been tested.

The CPU does not overheat. It stays around 30C - 35C.

It is not the RAM. It's been tested. and swapped with 4 different DIMMS, amounts brands.

It's also not the PSU. Both a 24-pin and 20-pin have been tested on this machine.

The crash will be during a transition during software, such as Windows XP's installation saving, pulling up a statistics graph during a game, starting a browser.

This isn't a software issue, there is no software indication, neither is there a blue screen of death.

After crashing, the computer power indicator will blink 3 seconds on, 2 seconds off, and the computer can't be restarted until the power cable is removed and there is no more power to sustain the blinking.

Which one is the likely culprit? The CPU or the motherboard?

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  • Is there anything unseated or loose that you're aware of? Also, perhaps try another outlet to plug your PC into as that one may be faulty.
    – Christopher Chipps
    Oct 14, 2012 at 1:25
  • I've used multiple systems on this outlet, and in multiple houses. I'm not aware of anything loose, as it was all reseated a while ago. A 550 watt PSU was tested, as well as a 350 watt one.
    – hexacyanide
    Oct 14, 2012 at 1:29
  • Eh, the system is so old that you may as well just replace both the CPU and the motherboard.
    – Michael Hampton
    Oct 14, 2012 at 1:50
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    Check for any bulging or leaking capacitors, motherboards (and other components) from that period were equipped with bad capacitors that are known to fail prematurely. You can replace them yourself if you can handle a soldering iron. badcaps.net has pictures and lots of other info...
    – user55325
    Oct 14, 2012 at 3:27
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    Sometimes, yes. I had a similar issue with a socket-939 board myself.
    – user55325
    Oct 14, 2012 at 6:18

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