PC Keeps Switching Off

Danger Phoenix · 28 Nov 2015 at 23:58

I last updated some of the parts in my PC around 3 years ago and it has been running fine in its overclocked state since then (only been turned off blowing the dust out etc).

Anyways, for the last 2 weeks or so it randomly keeps turning off. Windows Event Logs show unexpected shutdowns with no information regarding them. I checked all the internal components, namely the fans and they are all fine. I made my CPU temperature monitor log every 5 seconds and save it to a file so I could see if it was spiking or something but it remains below 50 C.

I have removed the overclocking and running the BIOS on defaults but the problem persists.

To switch it back on you either have to push the power button or sometimes remove the motherboard power supply and then put it back in again.

When it is running, you can't tell anything is off until the next time it happens. I use the PC remotely most of the time, so when I can't connect I have to call family members who go and switch it on. There seems to be no pattern or certain time this happens, so I doubt it is software related.

Where do I start looking guys? :eek:

Danger Phoenix · 29 Nov 2015 at 00:12

teenwolf said:
What make and model is the psu ?

It is the OCZ ZX Series 1000W '80 Plus Gold' Modular Power Supply bought in November 2011 from OcUK

Danger Phoenix · 29 Nov 2015 at 00:16

teenwolf said:
Possibly the motherboard then.
Also check the harddrive health, download hdtune.

I've checked everything I can using software, ie SSD, RAM. Don't know what other diagnostics I can do without starting to replace parts

Danger Phoenix · 30 Nov 2015 at 07:51

Unfortunately I don't have a spare PSU. I am ordering a new PC from the OcUK Configurator section so once that is all set up, I can start pulling this one apart to see what is wrong and if need be order a new PSU.

The only reason I had a 1000W PSU in there was because I had 8 drives in there, but since I got my Synology NAS, 6 have been taken out. From what you guys have said and what I have read online, it probably is the PSU, especially since its been more or less constantly on since I got it.

Danger Phoenix · 27 Dec 2015 at 01:50

So it turns out that it was the graphics card. It is this one purchased in November 2011:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3876#ov

System has been fine for about 2 weeks now without the card in there, and as soon as I put it back in it turned off in 2 days.

The PC is going to the family (purchased another one from OcUK a few weeks ago) so since they only use it for word processing and internet browsing, the onboard graphics will suffice for them.

Danger Phoenix · 27 Dec 2015 at 12:57

joedeath332 said:
interesting , did you try the GTX 570 in another machine. as i still would suspect the psu not being able to deliver enough power, and the pc is fine atm as it is not having to power the GPU as you are using onboard.
either way at least the pc is running now.

The only machine I have that can take the card is the new one I purchased from OcUK. I rather not start playing around with it because its so new and may have warranty implications.