K8n Neo2 Plat Freezing - FIXED!!

Question

Hello all, I'm hoping that you can help me.  I've gotten some good advice on this board so far, but it hasn't fixed my problem.
My system stats are in my signature.  I originally built this system with a single Raptor Hard Drive, only 2 sticks of ram, and no sound card (I was using the onboard sound).  The system ran that way with no problems at all - it was rock solid.
About a month ago I added a second Raptor Hard Drive and set them both up as a bootable raid+0 array.  I also added 2 more sticks of ram, making 4 sticks total for 2 gig.  Finally, I added the X-Fi Extreme Music.
Ever since the changes I have been getting random "freezes" of the system - the mouse and keyboard stop responding, the screen freezes (I can tell what time the freeze occurred since the clock image is frozen in the corner) and the computer does not allow any inputs.  Ctr-Alt-Del does nothing.  The only way to recover is to hold the power button down for several seconds, turning the system off.  At that point I can turn it back on and everything runs completely normally - no problems at all until the next freeze.  The freeze can happen any time - it can take days, or happen (rarely) during windows startup.
What I have tried so far:
At first, my memory timings were off.  The auto settings were using 3-3-3-7, when my memory wanted 3-3-3-8.  I changed this, I also made sure it was running at DDR 333, and upped the voltage to the ram from 2.5 to 2.7 volts (Thanks for the help on all of this JayBee!!)  So now, my memory is running at DDR 333, at the correct timing of 3-3-3-8, at voltage 2.7.  Finally, I ran memtest86 for 18 hours (22 passes) and got zero errors.  I am still freezing, so I'm pretty sure it's not my memory.
Before I tried working on the memory, I futzed around with the new sound card.  I did disable the onboard sound in the bios (That's just setting AC97 Audio to [disabled], right?)  I have also totally uninstalled the sound card and done a clean sweep of the drivers, and I have gotten freezes without it.  So i'm pretty sure it's not my sound card.
Finally, I don't know how to test the raid setup, but I don't think that would cause freezing.  Wouldn't that just cause the hard drives to stop responding?  If I am missing something, let me know.
Oh, MSI support sent me the latest beta bios, ver. 1.C, and I have flashed that.
At this point I'm at a loss as to what to try next.  I'm considering wiping the hard drives and doing a fresh install of XP.  Is that worth a try?  What do you all think?
Claudius

Answer 1

You did the right thing in the BIOS about disabling the sound. 
The OS reload might be a good last resort, provided you've exhausted everone elses suggestions.
What I see you haven't tried is pulling the New Memory out. And returning the settings back to what you had. If the problems go away, then you know it's a memory issue, but more about timings or the way the controller and BIOS settings are dealing with your added ram. You could also try the new RAM alone too and see what happens.
If the problem continues even with putting almost everything back to the same way it was with exception to the new drive and the array. You may have introduced a new problem with adding the drive and more power consumption. However, since it's random (providing it really is random, and not when the system might be running too warm due to the added hardware and power draw) then it could be several things still. Heat generated in the case could lower power supply efficiency, and I've heard both good and bad about the Neo Power for these systems so the jury is out on that one. It could also be dirty power at the outlet because thos are very similar symptoms of a power issue, and finally a driver or OS problem..
Just some thing that came to my mind after reading your post. Perhaps someone else will have better suggestions, but that's what I'd be looking at anyways.
Good luck