Resurrect my PC

I've renewed my hope in my well spec'd PC that has experienced severe freezing issues.  I had temporarily written it off as a "Stupid Windows Vista!" type of issue.  In fact, I think it is more of a hardware issue, at least in this case.

And I should mention, the reason this all came up is that the $300 application I use to record screen casts is windows only.  :: Sigh ::

So, with gritted teeth, I've scoured the Internets, Interwebs, and other online resources to figure out why the computer seems to freeze so often.  Based on this research, it appears that the high-end memory I purchased is made for extreme PC, overclocking gamers.  Which I am not.  And, by extension, the problem is that I haven't amped up the voltage on my RAM and front-side bus enough for the computer to run in a stable state.

What?!  My problem is that I'm running a fighter jet on gasoline?

So, I waded through the nearly completely un-documented BIOS settings and cranked up the memory voltage by 0.2 volts and the same for the front-side bus, ran several memory tests, and then stress tested the whole thing.  Stress testing was fun:  I ran about 6 high-def videos, opened and played a high-def video of my own in my video editor, while simultaneously browsing multiple sites and editing photos in Lightroom.

Amazingly, no freezes yet.  I wonder how long the beast needs to go without a freeze before we can place a verdict...  What do you think?

Comments

[John Deere]

Way to go. I wouldn't even know where to go to find the BIOS settings or the memory voltage. However, I do know what voltage, current and resistance is, because I was an electronic technician back during my Air Force career and for a while after that. But I worked with vacuum tubes, transistors and computer systems that were big enough to fill a good size room. A little different technology than today's

[r-dean]

ya, that's a little over my head. i do find that photoshop elements 'freezes' occasionally on me - and i usually work with photoshop elements open, windows explorer and several browser windows open and i'm on vista too.