my computer keeps rebooting itself

Hello, I just recently built a new computer and it keep rebooting itself whenever I am working on it. Here is a list of the contents of my computer: AMD Athlon 64 3500 Processor 939 socket Asus A8S-X Motherboard GeForce 7300 GS 512MB Card 5.1 Sound card Sony DVDRW/CD Drive Sony DVD/CD Drive 1GB Memory DDR 3.5 Floppy drive Samsung 250BG Hard Drive Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse XION 500w power supply Everthing seems to be setup correctly but don't know why it keeps rebooting itself without reason, it's driving me crazy. I need help!!!!!

I generally think "heat" first.

Then RAM…. Improperly seated or one stick is faulty, or sticks are not mounted in parallel paired slots, (e.g. 1 and 3, 2 and 4)

Here's a trouble shooting resource for you from TigerDirect.com (They sell your Motherboard bundled with a 939 socket CPU)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Sea…u=MBM-A8SX-3200

The "Trouble-Shooting" list is down toward the bottom of that page and has many useful suggestions.

Specifically related to your stated problem, they seem to have focused in on the CPU seating:

Symptom: Your PC spontaneously reboots.

Solution: A long-standing mystery solved! If rebooting occurs in a PC that you've just built, try re-seating your CPU's heat sink. Make sure you're using the proper thermal gel and spread it evenly between the heat sink and the processor. If inadequate amounts of gel have been applied or low-quality gel has been used, the system will reboot as the CPU heats up—and builds in the uneven "pockets" created by the uneven gel. Also: check to see if you've removed the protective sticker on the bottom of the heat sink (don't laugh—it happens!). And by all means, make sure your motherboard supports the CPU you're installing. If these steps check out and you're still experiencing spontaneous reboots, your problem may be one of the following: Overclocking: We do not recommend overclocking. Memory Timing: The fix? Go into your BIOS and set your memory on "Auto" or at a more conservative setting and see if the reboot problem goes away. Oudated BIOS: Make sure you have the latest BIOS for your board. You can determine if your CPU is supported by browsing the BIOS updates of the motherboard's manufacturer. If you're running a Pentium 4 Extreme Edition and notice that it's only supported with the latest BIOS updates, you may have located the problem! Inadequate Power: If you've made significant component upgrades—with the exception of the power supply—your power supply may be overstressed or failing due to heat or age. Finally, if you've migrated your OS and other files from machine to machine to machine, it may be time for a clean install.

Let us know what you eventually find and fix. You'll be helping other Members to learn.

best Regards

Dough, Thank you for your response. I will you know the results after I apply the thermal-gel. Thanks again!!!!

Dough, I addlied the thermal-gel but it's still rebooting. I'm not sure exactly what is happening. Please help!!!!

Did you get any leads from the TigerDirect link I posted above? Walk through the whole article. I'll keep thinking and researching too. I'd certainly strip it down to the basics: Mobo, 1 stick of RAM, Video Card and Hard Drive to see if you get a good post. run it with a PS/2 mouse and keyboard Then Add (individualy, with reboots in between each addition) your modem/NIC, then your sound card, then your Floppy Drive, then DVD/RW, then your DVD/CD, etc, Add your wireless stuff last. Perhaps that will help you narrow down the search to what's got a glitch in it. If worse comes to worse, set the whole machine up outside of the tower case on a flat surface. It's all too easy to install a motherboard without the correct insulating spacers and end up with a problem. (of course you'll want to observe "static" safety, and have a decent desk fan blowing across it.) I know this recommendation doesn't look/sound pretty. But it may be the route you'll have to take. Does the machine ever get to the point of booting into Windows? If so, for how long? OK, that's all for now. Best Regards

Dough, I finally found the root of the problem. My CPU was bad. I replaced it and now my computer is running great!!! Thank you for all of your help!! Talk to you later.

Good news that you got your machine working! To help others learn more, me included, how did you diagnose/find out that your CPU was faulty? Best Regards