Flashing the bios

spleenharvester · 16 Jun 2011 at 20:00

FTR, random shutdowns aren't softwareside and, as others have said, doesn't need a BIOS reflash.

I'm voting a hosed PSU or possibly board. Remove all unnecessary parts and just boot off the absolute core, i.e one stick of RAM, MB, GPU if needed, and 1 HDD, see if it stays on. If so, more likely to be PSU.

Eitherway, these kind of problems are difficult to pin down. Good luck!

EDIT: VID 1.06v, unless you have speedstep on that isn't right.

DoubleEDIT: Ah nvm. Try disabling speedstep though, for at least some stability.

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 12:58

Thanks for the advice guys.Someone told me "it could also be a matter of
your heat sink might not have good contact with the processor, could be a quick fix with a $1 tube of heat paste off eBay" what do ye think?

Jamusuk · 17 Jun 2011 at 13:21

thedude23 said:
Thanks for the advice guys.Someone told me "it could also be a matter of
your heat sink might not have good contact with the processor, could be a quick fix with a $1 tube of heat paste off eBay" what do ye think?

My PC was doing exactly the same thing, turned out the heatsink had got dislodged when I was transporting my PC due to my recent house move.

Quick application of thermal compound and readjustment of heatsink all sorted!

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 14:14

(I can't really make out the temps on the image you've posted but from what i 'think' I can read the temps look high - if the system is at idle.)

Could you download Core Temp and then load up the image that's generated straight after it's got into windows.

Then, if possible, monitor the temps with a short five minute burst of prime 95 - again an image or just list temps.

It's quite possibe your heatisink isn't making full contact with your cpu - and a re-sit would certainly be a worthy test.

EDIT: There's also a possibilty that the system is shorting - check that the MB is securely fitted (zero movement) and that all cables and connectors are securley fitted - check and double check.

EDITx2: You may also consider stressing the GPU to monitor the temps (furmark is great for this).

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 15:53

Plec said:
download Core Temp and then load up the image that's generated straight after it's got into windows.

prime 95 - .

I have coretemp installed.what does prime 95 do?

Plec said:
There's also a possibilty that the system is shorting - check that the MB is securely fitted (zero movement) and that all cables and connectors are securley fitted - check and double check.

ok will do

Plec said:
EDITx2: You may also consider stressing the GPU to monitor the temps (furmark is great for this).

will download this too.

Crowort · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:25

Prime 95 runs complex maths on your CPU. This makes it heat to as high as it will go. In a good and stable system this will be fine. If you have a heat problem it will show up on the software you are using to monitor CPU temp. It will let you and us see if there is a problem with cooling.

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:45

Crowort said:
Prime 95 runs complex maths on your CPU. This makes it heat to as high as it will go. In a good and stable system this will be fine. If you have a heat problem it will show up on the software you are using to monitor CPU temp. It will let you and us see if there is a problem with cooling.

Ah I see and its just a matter of applying thermal paste then?If that is indeed the problem.

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 17:53

thedude23 said:
Ah I see and its just a matter of applying thermal paste then?If that is indeed the problem.

If you need to reseat the CPU due to poor contact/high temps - then yes you will need to re-apply thermal paste (after wiping off the old with appropriate cleaner - isopropyl alcohol, etc)

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 21:23

Well I did a stupid thing,I removed the heat sink without have any paste and now the cpu is gone up 65 degrees,Why couldn't I have just left the damn thing alone.

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 21:49

What were the idle temps and load temps before?

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 21:51

Plec said:
What were the idle temps and load temps before?

between 45 and 48,sometimes lower.

it went all the way up to 80 at one point,what would be the consequences of me continuing to use the machine while its this hot?

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 22:08

thedude23 said:
Well I did a stupid thing,I removed the heat sink without have any paste and now the cpu is gone up 65 degrees,Why couldn't I have just left the damn thing alone.

thedude23 said:
it went all the way up to 80 at one point,what would be the consequences of me continuing to use the machine while its this hot?

If you're implying that you're thinking of continuing to use it since you've removed the HS, with idle temps of 65 - then don't. You now need to wait until you have some thermal paste to seat your HS correctly.

thedude23 said:
between 45 and 48,sometimes lower.

Although idle temps aren't as important as load temps, idle temps of 48 are high - and if the load temps were 80 (under prime?) then (even if they were not related with your problems) you needed to reseat your HS - with new paste.

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 22:17

Plec said:
If you're implying that you're thinking of continuing to use it since you've removed the HS, with idle temps of 65 - then don't. You now need to wait until you have some thermal paste to seat your HS correctly.

Thats what I was asking ya,I wont use it though.I'll wait till I get the paste which will be a few days.

Plec said:
Although idle temps aren't as important as load temps, idle temps of 48 are high - and if the load temps were 80 (under prime?) then (even if they were not related with your problems) you needed to reseat your HS - with new paste.

Ya they got up to 80 while in windows vista :O Well It said core 0 80 core 1234 were in the 60's when they would have been in the 40's.

*sigh* I had to go messing with it didn't I :'(

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 22:29

thedude23 said:
Ya they got up to 80 while in windows vista :O

Sorry, you've lost me a bit.

Do you mean that the temps hit 80 sitting idle in Vista?

thedude23 said:
Well It said core 0 80 core 1234 were in the 60's when they would have been in the 40's.

What were you using to measure temps? (as your description is a bit ambiguous.)

If it was core temp you would only have core 0, 1 ,2 and 3 - then Temp Readings (Real time temp) - Low (lowest recorded) - High (highest recorded)

thedude23 said:
*sigh* I had to go messing with it didn't I :'(

Heh, we've all been there...

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 22:44

Plec said:
Sorry, you've lost me a bit.

Do you mean that the temps hit 80 sitting idle in Vista?

What were you using to measure temps? (as your description is a bit ambiguous.)

If it was core temp you would only have core 0, 1 ,2 and 3 - then Temp Readings (Real time temp) - Low (lowest recorded) - High (highest recorded)

Heh, we've all been there...

Ya I was using core temps.

No it was hit 65 idle in vista(thats what core 0 was reading core 123 were in the 50's I think) and when I started shogun (stupid I know)and I hit when ctrl +alt+esc core 0 was reading 80 then and core 123 hit the 60's

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 22:50

thedude23 said:
Ya I was using core temps.

No it was hit 65 idle in vista(thats what core 0 was reading core 123 were in the 50's I think) and when I started shogun (stupid I know)and I hit when ctrl +alt+esc core 0 was reading 80 then and core 123 hit the 60's

Well, although it's not unusual to have a different readings across the cores - a 20 degree discrepancy is NOT normal.

It sounds as though your HS wasn't making full contact with the CPU - which would explain the random shut downs (overheating of core 0).

Hopefully, once you get your new paste and reseated the cooler you'll have solved the problem (not a guarantee of course).

What cooler have you got? (be sure to use the diagonal method when fixing)

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 23:07

what do mean by cooler?

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 23:09

thedude23 said:
What do you mean by cooler?

The metal finned block with a fan that's sitting on top of your CPU (CPU Cooler).

thedude23 · 17 Jun 2011 at 23:12

Plec said:
The metal finned block with a fan that's sitting on top of your CPU (CPU Cooler).

oh the heatsink? I'm not sure,it says intel on it on anyway

Plec · 17 Jun 2011 at 23:20

thedude23 said:
oh the heatsink? I'm not sure,it says intel on it on anyway

It sounds like the 'stock cooler/HS' that's suppled with a retail chip - which is fixed by 'push pins'?

If it is, then it may be that one of the pins wasn't fully depressed (or had released iteslf from the MB). As a result one side of the CPU may not have had full contact with the HS (heatsink) - explaining the heat anomoly on core 0.

You may want to consider investing in a better cooler with a bracket and screw method for fixing. The performance will be a lot better and prices start at £22 - Hyper 212 (pre-appled paste too). Although i would spend a bit more and get the Gelid.