Computer STILL switching off randomly

Soulmagika

Soulmagika

Soulmagika

Associate
Joined
16 May 2009
Posts
179
I knew i would have problems with this prebuilt computer I KNEW it.

As some of you may know ive been having problems with my computer, now its switching itself off randomly.

I installed a 500 watt power supply a few weeks ago to try and fix it, nothing has changed..

Every now and then it switches of randomly. Just now i was playing diablo 2 while watching a green mile - boom, 5 hours on diablo 2 wasted because i didnt save.. this is the last time.

I've tried replugging in all the wires, what else could be causing this..?

EDIT: ill update this as i go incase it switches off again.
 
~Divine~Wind~ said:
what was the PSU you fitted?
What was the old one ?
What issues were you having previous to this change? same issue?
Click to expand...

Old PSU was....

AC input 220-230V-.2 A.50Hz
DC OUTPUT: +3.3V--- 17.)A(ORG). +5V --- 18.OA(RED). +12V1 --- 8.OA(YEL)
+5Vsb --- 2.OA(PURP).-12V --- 0.3A(BLUE). +12V2 --- 14.OA(YEL/BLK)
P.G. SIGNAL (GRAY). GROUND (BLACK)
(+3.3V & +5V = 115W Max). Total output continuous shall not exceed 250watts

New PSU is....

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-026-OC
OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent Power Supply

Its switching off now even when i'm watching videos only, what the hell?
 
ben90 said:
Are you sure that your temps aren't going overboard??

Possible the thermal paste applied on the CPU has not been correctly applied?
Click to expand...

Calm down no one will want to help you if with comments like that. PLEASE explain what you're talking about, many times ive said i don't know all the technical jargan since i'm kind of new to this.

Not sure about temps switching it off though it seems most likely, But what.. Graphics card, psu? What should i recheck to try and stop this happening? (And how)
 
skippy2421 said:
hello again soulmagika

You don't have much luck with that ole machine do you. Right if i recall you have basically got a prebuilt machine and all you have done is switch PSU and GFX card yes? Right i take it by switching off you mean just blacking out (screen going blank everything going off as if you flicked the switch from the mains.). My first reaction would be to point at the PSU but as you say it's new i'm not so sure. By any chance have you taken the motherboard out all? the reason i ask is if you put it back in with the spacers, if you've left that in then don't worry. If you are running off a multi socket try it in the wall by itself maybe. Otherwise i would suspect PSU again but i'll wait for a reply before i suggest that. Also mentioning the temps you get might help. download a program called core temp this should help you do this, also catalyst control centre will let you see your graphics card temps. I also did a similar move to you before i built this and put in a new PSU and 4850 into my dell system and found the poor dell case was sending my 4850 temps through the roof.
Click to expand...

Oo, Its on a socket with about 5 other plugs, that just might be it... Also i havent taken out the motherboard.

Also, ive taken the side of my pc case off, it still switchs off.
 
skippy2421 said:
Right i take it you have tried it in another socket then with no luck. Any news on the temperatures mate? i know you have the side of the case off but might not always help as cases use the side panel to create a wind tunnel effect (good ones that is). To be perfectly honest with you, the only things i can think that can cause your issues is temperatures or power as ram or something like that would give you BSODs. I would like to say faulty PSU but i don't want you to send that back without some testing, however i'm no expert on testing PSU's any more knowledgable member want to jump in here?

Am i right in saying it is just a case of your pc flicking off as if being turned off at the mains? I ask incase you get like flickering screen first then black screen or something.

Also try and stay calm mate, you have the computer and that's that let's just try and get it working for ya.
Click to expand...

Indeed, it just completely shuts off and i have to press the button again. Although i noticed once that when i was watching a video one time the audio stutterd for about a second before it shut down. Any ideas?

Also, this was happening before i got my new psu.

Also, how do i check my tempertures? I have my Gcard one up, 30 to 36 degrees when idle at 40% fan speed, ive put it up to 60% and it still shuts off.
 
ben90 said:
Sorry if it seemed like i was being harsh or something and i entirely did not mean it in any way.

Thermal paste is what is put in between your CPU and the heatsink - or fan used to stop it from overheating. It is used to help transfer the heat off the CPU and onto the heatsink. If its not applied well it can sometimes cause heat problems.

However if your temperatures are correct which you have posted above then i don't think CPU overheating is any trouble.
Click to expand...

I dont get it thoguh, when i first got it it didn't switch off, then it started to switch off once i put in my HD 4670, now that ive put in my new PSU its still doing it -.-
 
z0mbi3 said:
What card did you have in before, and did you install the drivers for the 4670 correctly?
Click to expand...

Erm, i had a GT9500.

Also, i'm not sure.. Everytime i try to install the drivers 1 thing doesn't install correctly.

Microsoft visuals or something, always fails.
 
Last edited:
Need help guys, my pc wont even stay on for a few minutes now BUT... ive discoverd something.

If i keep my small room fan fanning into the inside of the pc it doesn't switch off :S How can i fix this...
 
Right now it seems to be going off after a couple of minutes, even when there isnt anything open, but yes ive kept the fan on it all day and it hasent switched off once.

Edit: my pc is in my bedroom but i'm not sure it has anything to do with it. Its in a quite open space.
 
Last edited:
james.miller said:
if that fan is actually keeping it running, and the cpu and gpu temperatures are fine and you've already discounted the psu, then its either the ram or the motherboard itself.

is the ram hot, and i mean too hot to touch? if it isnt, i cant see it being anything but a problem with the motherboard.

if its not the ram, i'd send it straight back. infact, i wouldnt have spent any additional money on it at all.
Click to expand...

Are you doing this on purpose? I can't send it back said i've said that, i know i made a stupid buy but i'm not going to do it again. Ill just have to manage with this.

But yeah hmm, ram? Havent touched the ram ever. Also, my pc has only ever started switching off when i replaced my GT9500 with my HD4670.. when i got the pc it wasn't switching off, though im still not sure if thats it because it just might have taken time to break..
 
skippy2421 said:
sorry for delay in replies mate, i've been very busy, i noticed you were having trouble with drivers installing. You did uninstall the nvidia driver right? Not meaning to be patronising it's just we all make silly mistakes. Let's cover basics first, as i severely doubt it's ram (i could be wrong but never heard of a case of over heating ram) and the temperatures you reported seemed ok when it shut off so probs not cpu or gpu cooling. You have plugged in all the necessary connectors from the PSU? there should be a 24 pin connector and either a smaller 8 or 4 pin connector that should attach to the top left of the board. Check these are in properly and not loose. I don't believe the 4670 requires an extra power connector so we should be fine there (but check anyways to see if there is anywhere to plug a cable in). Check all other cables are in firmly, you never know you may of un-knowingly knocked something loose. Now if it's none of those basic things i'd try perhaps running memtest86 (another program you can download) to test your ram for faults. Perhaps rebuilding it outside of the case if you feel comfortable doing that as it would rule out a short circuit. To be honest mate, this is an awkward one.
Click to expand...

Uuurrgghhh... i knew this would happen.

But when i put my fan pointing at the inside of my computer it doesn't switch off, after i take it away in about 10 minutes it switches off.. doesnt that sound like overheating?
 
skippy2421 said:
He can't send it back as he has tampered with it mate, open up a pre made pc and that's pretty much your warranty over. Could try putting it back to it's original state but i know that's going to be hard as often they'll wire it up so it's impossible for you to rewire it the same without breaking a clip or something so they'd know.

Also he has a point don't snap at the people that are trying to help you or you'll find yourself with no help at all if that's the way you continue. For the most part we're nice bunch of people here and if something looks like a dig at you it's probably not, normally a simple misunderstanding or poorly worded sentence.



Well this is news, does look like something is overheating, however we now have to work out which bit. might want to pull out core temp or something again and check the temps with and without fan, same with GPU using catalyst control centre. Unfortunately with most motherboards that come in pre made pcs they don't allow you to do a lot so checking other temperatures could be a problem. I would say touch your ram to see if it's hot but if it's the ram that came with the pc it wont have a heatsink on it so probably not the best idea.

how long have you had the computer running with the fan on it? has it not turned off once with the fan on it? Perhaps let it run with a fan on it and play a game see if all is stable then remove the fan mid game and see if and how long it takes to crash. Would be good to monitor the temps whilst doing this but this is only really feasable with two screens or running the game in a window which is annoying. I just want to rule this out as not being a "one off" if it's fine with the fan then crashes after you remove it we can safely say it's temperatures causing the issue.
Click to expand...

Sorry for snapping, its just so.. arrgghhh xD.

I had the computer on for about 8 hours yesterday, while the fan was on it. I turned off the fan and boom, in 10 minutes it switches off.
 
UKDTweak said:
You said you had no such problems Prior to installing the ATI card, suggesting this was the primary cause, however, having an external fan on stopping the shutdowns suggest overheating... From the sounds of it, the ATI card is the source, try removing the card and re-seating it (make sure it is properly in the PCI slot).
Download GPU-Z and check the temp readings.
download Driver Cleaner to remove all graphics drivers, then install the latest drivers for your ATI card, if you get an error during the install, make a note of the actual error message and post it up here so we can see what is wrong. :)
Click to expand...

Alrighteh ill try that.

Should i take the Graphcs card out, switch on pc, switch back off and then put it back in or just do it all at once?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom