I'm on Slackware 10.0 using kernel 2.6.8-1
spec:
proc: amd athlon 3200+
ram: 2 * 512 mb
motherboard: ABit AN7 with NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400 chipset
harddrive: 200 gb sata (sil 3112A sata-controller)
net: integrated rtl8201BL
sound: Realtek ALC658
graphics: ATI Radeon 9800 All in wonder

the problem is constant hangs and lock ups.
I got the sound working before using snd_intx8 drivers. but it frooze up occasionally
forcedeth.ko worked for network but I downloaded the latest nvidia drivers.
nvnet.ko works fine
but the system locks up on modprobe nvsound
so some kind of sound conflict?
also it hangs occasionally even if I don't have the sound loaded..
anyone else experienced these problems?

Welcome to LQ. If you are experiencing random system lockups, 3 common causes are:

1. You are overclocking. If so, don't.
2. You are overheating. Make sure all your fans are working, and that you've got good ventilation.
3. You got faulty or incompatible RAM sticks. Are they identical, and running at the same speed?

Of course, none of those may be the true source of the problem but they are 3 things to investigate. Good luck with it -- J.W.

I'm not overclocking. And I don't believe I'm overheating. when running windows it gives me a fairly low temperature about 43 C or something like that.
but that surely would be the simplest error I guess. maybe the graphics card is overheating?

how would you suggest I'd find out if overheating is the problem?

incompatible ram? how do I check for compatibility?
they are identical, and I just plugged them in and ran the computer, didn't do any bios settings or whatever, so I guess they're at same speed? would be strange otherwise.

svearike. You could also have insufficent powersupply which would cause occasional hangs or might lead to memory errors.

But if you have a dual boot system ( windows and linux ) and if there is no problems in windows then your troubles come from lyour linux configuration.

First you should have APIC disabled in LILO or GRUB start menu ( which ever you have ).

I have nforce3 platform with ATI radeon 9800SE AIW card and my mobo has integrated realtec codec and realtek gigabit lan and both work.

I am not using any nvidia sound driver. Instead I am using that intel8x0 driver as a module.

I ques that main source for your troubles is your nvidia sound driver or your power supply unit ( PSU ) if there is also windows problems.