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Desktop PC keeps randomly turning off
Posted on 2011-09-12
Dear Experts
I've been experiencing this frustrating problem with my desktop. It will randomly turn off, i.e. completely power down without any errors on screen.
Things i've done:
Not sure what else to try.
The problem began roughly when i upgraded my gfx card but i have since put my old card back in but i'm still getting the problem.
Any ideas?
I've been experiencing this frustrating problem with my desktop. It will randomly turn off, i.e. completely power down without any errors on screen.
Things i've done:
I've had a look at the event viewer and there isn't anything that stands out.
Opened the case to check all the fans are spinning when powered on.
Checked to make sure everything is well seated into the Mobo.
Re-applied themal paste to the processor in case it was overheating.
Swapped out my 450W PSU with a 500W PSU i had.
Not sure what else to try.
The problem began roughly when i upgraded my gfx card but i have since put my old card back in but i'm still getting the problem.
Any ideas?
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11 Comments
try using some hardware monitoring tools to view the CPU core temperatures, we can check if it is overheating.
try restarting in safemode and see whether it turns off
try restarting in safemode and see whether it turns off
How did you reapply thermal paste? Did you first make sure that both surfaces, that of the CPU and the heatsink were absolutely free of old thermal paste or whatever had been used? Did you apply just a very small drop of paste, and make sure the heatsink was attached firmly and correctly to the CPU?
Normally such types of shut-offs are very much due to overheating....
Another reason could be bad capacitors, so check the mainboard for any signs of leaking, bulging or cracking caps.
Normally such types of shut-offs are very much due to overheating....
Another reason could be bad capacitors, so check the mainboard for any signs of leaking, bulging or cracking caps.
What OS is this? have you run any AV AntiMalware Scans? maybe you should try things like Malwarebyes / SuperantiSpyware if the Hardware side of things looks OK
How old is this desktop? If it's old, the motherboard may have some capacitors that have gone bad (www.badcaps.net). Randomly turning off is generally a motherboard power problem or a cpu overheating problem, as mentioned by others.
shasunder:
i will try that and see what i get
rindi:
i didn't scrap off the old paste, in fact there was hardly any left anyway. So i applied a pea sized amount into the middle and spread evenly over the processor. Yes i made sure it was firmly re-attached.
karl:
Running Windows XP SP3. I haven't ran Malwarebytes for a while, i'll give that a go
Callandor:
Its a custom built desktop, roughly 3 years old.
i will try that and see what i get
rindi:
i didn't scrap off the old paste, in fact there was hardly any left anyway. So i applied a pea sized amount into the middle and spread evenly over the processor. Yes i made sure it was firmly re-attached.
karl:
Running Windows XP SP3. I haven't ran Malwarebytes for a while, i'll give that a go
Callandor:
Its a custom built desktop, roughly 3 years old.
You should really get rid of all old paste. Often it isn't paste, but a kind of plastic that melts at first use then gets hard again. That has to be totally removed.
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any minidumps in windows\minidumps? if yes, post latest
also, calculate the power you need for both cards : http://www.antec.outervision.com/
for the temperatures, install speedfan to monitor them : http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
you can also test ram and disk, so download ubcd, and run memtest86+ for 2 passes, and the long disk diag, to be sure about the basics : http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
also, calculate the power you need for both cards : http://www.antec.outervision.com/
for the temperatures, install speedfan to monitor them : http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
you can also test ram and disk, so download ubcd, and run memtest86+ for 2 passes, and the long disk diag, to be sure about the basics : http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
Turn ON the system and let it be ON for around 10 minutes. Place your finger on the CPU heatsink and feel how warm/hot it gets. Wait until the system shuts. As soon as it shuts, place the finger on the CPU heat sink again and notice if there is huge difference in temperature. It should be a little hot/warm more than your felt initially. Also, try touch the bridge (nort and south) heatsink on the MOBO.
That test wouldn't help much if the heat doesn't get from the CPU to the heatsink which is usually the case if the fan runs OK but the heatsink isn't tightly attached or the thermal paste not correctly applied (or rests of old thermal plastic obstructing the heatflow).
Sounds daft, but check for fluff in between the pins of the power button connector on the motherboard, I had a recent machine that had the same fault, and tuned out to be electrically conductive fluff.
This might not work for you but worth a check.
checking the motherboard for faults also good as mentioned above, also any shorts accuring due to a poorly seated motherboard can cause the same, so it's worth checking that the motherboard is not shorting against the case at any point (usually where they connect to the screws)
This might not work for you but worth a check.
checking the motherboard for faults also good as mentioned above, also any shorts accuring due to a poorly seated motherboard can cause the same, so it's worth checking that the motherboard is not shorting against the case at any point (usually where they connect to the screws)
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