HTPC on the fritz... new Mobo suggestions?

[makryger]

My four-year old HTPC is starting to do some weird things where it suddenly just completely freezes, screen and all, requiring me to restart. Nothing new has changed on the software end, so this could only be the hardware getting sick.

Anyways, I was thinking of moving to an ITX board from my mATX board. I require SPDIF, HDMI, onboard RS-232, reliability.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

[kc10boom]

I'd run a check of your memory if your BIOS has that tool or get a freeware app to check it. It may be a rail on your PSU that is bad.

However, Biostar and Asus have never let me down but I haven't purchased any of their ITX boards

[newfiend]

Will you be changing cases as well? Any reason to move to ITX? While the smaller size is nice it's definitely harder to cool the smaller cases especially with an infiniTV tuner. I moved from the Asus board we both had to a evga z68 micro. And its been very solid. Would you be trying to recycle the cpu and ram as well??
I agree you should run a test on the ram to make sure it's good still if you plan on keeping it during upgrading. The PSU could also be going bad like mentioned earlier. You can run memtest 86+ or the memory diagnostic in windows 7 to test the ram and prime 95 to stress test the CPU. Check the HDD for errors too.. It could be any multitude of reasons why your system is locking up.. Hopefully some of the tests will help you narrow it down.
Good Luck,
newfiend

Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express

[makryger]

Good ideas; I'll try that before getting a new box.

[STC]

Always sad times when a member of the family gets sick.
-Hope you get it sorted either way.

[makryger]

I see a bunch of different options to download memtest 86--- which one should I be using? The instructions on their site are pretty sparse.

[STC]

autoinstaller for USB key would probably be your best bet (Win 7).
The test is to be performed outside of a Windows environment.

http://www.memtest.org/download/4.20/me ... taller.zip

[newfiend]

^ agreed. Reboot and let it boot off the USB key.. Let it run for at least two passes minimum.

Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express

[newfiend]

Any success or failures yet?

[makryger]

Didn't get a chance to try today. Fortunately, no repeats of last night yet. hopefully will get to it on the weekend