I bought a cheap Medion P4 2.5GHz a couple of years ago and it still works fine.

However, when carrying out CPU intensive tasks like video encoding, CD burning, MP3 ripping etc. I found that it would intermittently freeze completely.

I went through the usual virus checks with AVG, spyware search with spybot and even carried out a hijack-this scan and thought it might fix it.

Next time I went to encode the video I found it did the same thing - and then I twigged it was CPU related and investigated further.

Placing a desk fan in front of my PC with the case side off (so it blows over motherboard and out of the back of the case) I have found that the PC doesn't freeze at all when doing anything CPU intensive (this is only a temporary measure until I get a new CPU fan and heatsink).

Cheap mobo's are notoriously bad for heat sinks/cooling fans etc. as they use the cheapest components to drop cost.

Best thing to do would be to look at http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...Coolers_1.html and see what cooling fan/heatsink units are available for your CPU - that should sort it out no problem!

HTH,

Andy