[icu222much]

Last week my computer started randomly crashing at different intervals. This happened before when I bought my computer and I found out it was because of faulty memory. I had my memory replaced, and I ran MemTest several times to ensure that the problem is fixed.

As mentioned earlier, this week my computer started crashing. Usually when the computer crashes, I would have Firefox and Adobe Flash opened. Since last week, I have not been doing anything really unusual or installed any new software. I have started using Folding@Home again (I have not used it for about half a year), and I also have once again started using Adobe Flash (I haven't used it for about three months). Earlier today, when I went to turn on my computer, it froze when trying to start Windows. I restarted it and it froze again right before it started to load Windows. I also received a warning from AVG saying that my computer is infected with Tracking cookie.Dealtime, but I think this is an unrelated incident.

I also want to add that my computer also stutters every now and then. For example, I would be scrolling through an article on Firefox and my computer would freeze for about ten seconds. I can tell it is frozen because I have a digital clock widget on my desktop, and the seconds would stop for about ten seconds. This tends to happen quite often (usually several times an hour).

I have also noticed that Firefox is using a lot of my processing power (I am checking under the Processes tab in Windows Task Manager and it says that Firefox is always using at least 90%). I usually only have two Firefox windows opened, each with about 5 - 6 tabs. I am usually looking at text based websites such as forums or articles. I don't know if this is a related incident.

[icu222much]

I was thinking... could this be related to faulty drivers? I have not updated my drivers for a few months now, nor have I installed new software.

[Hybr!d]

What does your CPU fan look like?

[icu222much]

What do you mean what my CPU fan looks like?

I am running an E8400 not over clocked. I don't have a cooler either. A few days ago, I sprayed the inside of my tower with compressed air so it is now dust free. I also highly doubt it is an issue of over heating as my room is relatively cool for most of the days. When it does get warm, I position one of those Home Depot fans in front of my tower. I also want to note that I have six case fans installed on my CoolMaster 690.

[Carbon]

What do you mean "you don't have a cooler"? Surely you're not running this thing without a HSF? Either way just check on the temp of the CPU as this sounds like a overheat throttling thing.

[icu222much]

I'm not sure if I used the proper term. What I meant to say was that I don't have an additional fan thing attached to my CPU. I just have what came with the box. Let me go check the temp of my CPU.

[icu222much]

I installed SpeedFan and it says that my CPU temp is 64*C. I will continue monitoring this. I was looking at this thread, and according to it it says that I should be under 72*C.

[Carbon]

64C at idle is way too high. There's something wrong if that's the case.

[icu222much]

Hm.. what is the idle temp when the CPU is idle? To solve this, would I just have to keep the CPU cool, or is there some weird alternative method?

In addition, is this the only thing that could be causing my computer to restart? The reason why I mention this is because I have a free hardware repair plan from the store I purchased my system from. This hardware repair plan expires in a month.

[Carbon]

No, just don't do anything with it actively (just let it sit with Windows going) and then measure the temp. If it's 63 when it's actually doing something, that's hot but not too bad, but I think you need to bring that thing into the store and tell them to learn to apply thermal paste correctly.

This is 99% likely to be the problem, it's likely getting to 80-90c load and shutting down or getting slow due to throttling.