No problems here with AMD either, I've been running Vegas for many years on various AMD systems.

Bigsole, it's more how the system is set up and resources allocated. While I prefer Intel systems, we run both AMD and Intel here side by side. Is the AMD system overclocked (shouldn't matter except as relates to heat) or is it tweaked out in any special way? Any special hardware? Cooling system?

Lots of folks use AMD. I have an AMD box that I use for network rendering... never any problems. But... what you describe definitely <sounds> like a hardware problem again (last time you traced it to a problem with the graphics card?).

I think what was suggested before was to download some "stress testing" software and get it to start working on all your systems to see what breaks. This is what I did when I built my own PC a few years ago. I wanted to make sure that what I assembled was to not suddenly stop working when I really started to ask it to do stuff (long renders etc).

I know that yours is a pre-built box from Alienware... and by rights should not be so unreliable... but by running such stress stest software you may get a better idea of what is going on.

The one I used is SANDRA from SiSoftware although I am sure there are others that do a similar thing.

[edit] - corrected the link now

Liam, your link "http://scar.hollosite.com/help.php" seems to be Arabic. You might want to change it.

MJ

Actually - it's farsi - but in an arabic type of script.. and I don't even read farsi!

I think some process must have copied the url to my clipboard.

Anyway - corrected now.

Bigsole,

I have one Intel system, the other 4 are AMD (including AMD64). I have never had a problem with the AMD hardware. I have had problems with the virus software, with spyware, a corrupt driver...but it was not an AMD issue.

What CPU's do you have? You said duel 2800, so I'm ASSUMING it's AMD MP 2800, but I've heard that you could put duel XP's in MP motherboards, so I just want to make sure.

Do you do anything else in the computer (play games, record music, etc) that might help narrow down a crash? I had constant crashing/reboots with my new AMD 64 & at the advice of Hulk found out it's my PS. I need a better one, but apparently it wasn't getting enough voltage to my AGP.

Dual AMD Athlon 2800 MP
1G ram
128 NVidia Geoforce 3000
2 80 G HD

Since I got it back, i haven't installed any games. Only a scanner (Cannon USB), HP Printer (had problems installing it, so I just gave up), and a PCI firewire port (3 connections). Maybe it's the firewire port. I'll take it out and try to run Vegas again. Every error I'm getting says it's a device driver, so it's definitely not an AMD issue. (found that out after 2 hours with an Alienware tech). Thanks everyone for your insight on this.

Appreciate it.

maybe an irq conflict (rare, but can hapen now a days)?

Is the system blue screening? Does the system or application event log show any errors occurring about the time you are having the problems? If it says it's a device driver error I would look at the video driver if the system locks up. I had a ATI 9700 that would blue screen and lock up strangely enough when I enabled AGP 8X until after months of different drivers I got one that would run with 8X AGP. Did you mean an Nvidia Quadro FX 3000? Also look at the MB drivers if it is an VIA chipset see about getting their latest 4IN1 drivers.

Just some suggestions...

It could be bad memory, too. Here's a link to a free memory test utility that I've used before.

Memory Test

heat could be an issue- those "older" (relative term I know) dual athlons are great but they need to be kept cool or problems can arise, especially during proc intensive rendering such as MPEG-2.

Have you tried windows update? Does it recommend any hardware updates? I'm betting its your graphics card.

I'm running Asus A7M266-D with Dual MP2000+ fully loaded with no problems at all.

YES! YES! This is exactly what's happenin'. I also read your post SonyEPM, and I ran that SiSoftware program Liam_Vegas suggested. It said that the system was too hot. I'm should just take the cover off and put my tower in front of the AC!

And yes shogo, it's a Quadro FX 3000, not a Geoforce... (was kinda drowsey when I posted that).

Motherboard Information
Manufacturer: TYAN
Product: S2466 TIGER MPX
Serial Number:
Version: A2
Verified Hardware Device against Order: MB-TYANS24664M
Power settings optimized
Verify correct motherboard
Verify Correct I/O Shield for Motherboard
Verify that tie-wraps are neat and trimmed close
Motherboard power connection securely in place
Power settings optimized
(This is part of the document that came with the system)

A good friend of mine who works at Comp USA told me that it's a not the greatest Mobo around. I'll look into the drivers. Thanks a million for the tips.

might not be the greatest MB, but duel CPU MB's aren't that common. I belive that Tyan is one of 2/3 companies that make duel MB's.

But.. if it's a heat issue it's Alienware's problem. They should of made sure it works before it left the factory. Maybe you should call tech suppt & tell them that it's running to hot.

The first thing I would look at is CPU overheating. If this is the case, then you will need to upgrade CPU cooling system asap.