New Build Turning Itself Off :(

Kierrox · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:24

I recently built a new computer and it keeps turning itself off randomly anywere between 5 seconds of being on and 10 minutes. It is as if the power is just suddenly completely gone. I tried monitoring my temperatures on bios several times and it seems fine and stable. I have tried taking the power out of all my drives leaving my PSU just plugged into my P4 socket, the 24 motherboard connector and the pci-e connector on my graphics card.
Here is a minimum list of the hardware that i have tested in the machine whilst this problem is occuring.

P5N32-E SLI Plus
Hiper Type-R 730W (modular)
MSI 7900GTO (GTX flashed)
Core 2 Duo E6600
Micron PC2-6400 1GB RAM

My main problem is that I don't even know which hardware is causing the issue. Is it my PSU or my motherboard?

Thanks for any help.

Van Diemen · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:28

Have you tried a BIOS update?

Kierrox · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:38

Van Diemen said:
Have you tried a BIOS update?

The problem is my computer wont stay on long enough to do that and I don't trust it to not cut off half way through. Which im sure isn't very healthy for it.

mishima · 8 Feb 2007 at 23:45

Have you tried reseating the CPU/heatsink and possibly reapplying thermalpaste?

mattpj · 9 Feb 2007 at 00:04

I know it might sound real daft, but the above advice sorts loads of problems out, also ensuring all your fans are plugged in correctly and that your 24 pin connector and 4 pin connector is connected to your mobo.

I hope you manage to get it running soon

Kierrox · 9 Feb 2007 at 01:20

Yes I have tried all those things, except applying more thermal paste, though I have tried leaving it on the temperature page on bios and the temperatures are acceptable and quite stable so I don't think its a temperature issue.

I tried using my old value 500W PSU and it didn't cut off once but instead seemed to freeze occasionally like when I tried to start the Windows installer.
This leads me to think that the motherboard or CPU have a fault and the psu cutting off is some sort of safety precaution.

When I first got this computer I was a little confused over the whole P4/P8 thing and plugged two P4s into the P8 socket but because it cut off like it does I tried taking the second one out. Is it possible that doing this has damaged the motherboard or CPU or are you supposed to use P8?

Kmodo · 9 Feb 2007 at 01:41

The issue of it shutting off happened to my when I installed my GTX and it turned out to be my power supply

if you have a mate that could lend you his PSU then you could rule it out.

Kierrox said:
When I first got this computer I was a little confused over the whole P4/P8 thing and plugged two P4s into the P8 socket but because it cut off like it does I tried taking the second one out. Is it possible that doing this has damaged the motherboard or CPU or are you supposed to use P8?

Hmmmm a friend of mine killed his board when putting what I think were two P4's in the P8 (well all I know for a fact he never had a P8 connector from his PSU, improvised and killed his mobo) but then again his would not even post :confused:

I don't know but I doubt its the processor I have dropped one from a metre high onto a metal leg and works perfect to this day, my mates have bent pins when mishandling them on, covered them in too much thermal paste which with then lead to dust and paste in the pins :rolleyes:

(still work fine) ... so all in all I think they are quite robust

Kierrox · 9 Feb 2007 at 08:05

Does a Core 2 Duo require a P8, maybe my CPU isn't getting enough power?

mattpj · 9 Feb 2007 at 11:52

It just requires the 4 pin connector. Only way you can trouble shoot effectively is try it with a different PSU, to rule it out. It DOES sound like a PSU issue but of course without seeing it and trying out other components, you are pretty stuck

Kierrox · 9 Feb 2007 at 13:52

The only componant I have not tried changing yet is the graphics card, everthing else I have changed. Unfortunately I do not have any other PCI-E graphics card to use and the motherboard doesn't have inbuilt graphics.

kitfit1 · 9 Feb 2007 at 14:22

Although our rigs are completely different, we do share two things in common. Your problem and the same make of psu. The problem is the psu, or more accurately the 4 pin power connector to the mobo. You will find it is not a tight fit into the mobo socket. If you get a pin and open out the pins in the mobo socket it will be a better fit, and i'm shure it will cure your problem. It did mine on both my rigs, both of which are running Hiper 580 Modulars and use the same cables as your 730.