PC Problems!

Vorash

Vorash

Vorash

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Joined
1 Jul 2008
Posts
152
Every so often my PC randomly looses power and shuts down. The only way I can fix it is if I open it up and pull out the wires and put them back in place then eventually it starts working. It's not working this time though, I've checked all the connections and it still won't power up. Is this a PSU problem? I don't have a spare one to check.

Wondering what everyone else thinks, thanks!

(This happened at a great time seeing as I just paid for the pc last week after having it for a year >_<)
 
It could be your PSU or it could be a dodgy connection - either on the mobo or the PSU connector.

It could also be overheating - have you checked your temps recently?

You want to check the fuse in your plug as that may have blown the last time in shut down - or even the PSU's.

If it's a decent PSU - it may still be under guarantee - depends on your build... (It would be handy if you could: beg, borrow or steal a PSU to check if the same thing happens.)

List your rigs spec and the make and wattage of your PSU. And if you have any recent idle and load temps list those too.

EDIT: When does it tend to shut down - under load?

Excuse fragamented post - sorting the kids out.
 
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Thanks for the reply, I just got it working again after pulling out every connection and putting it back in.

I still have the spec from when I built it, here it is:
build4.jpg


The only difference is I went for a 4850 512mb in the end. The temperatures seem fine and I've never had a problem during the last year of running it, I can still run it for the better part of a day without it switching off. It just sometimes randomly looses power (roughly every few days) whether I'm reading forums or playing a game, once when I nudged the case by accident! I didn't think it would be the PSU since I thought Corsair were good quality, but it's starting to look like it is.
 
Vorash said:
once when I nudged the case by accident!
Click to expand...

Try a different Kettle Lead (PSU lead) as that could have been effected by a nudge (along with all the others - but that's the first one i would try.)

Plus, loads of your components will still be under guarantee - so don't stress too much.

Finding the problem component is a different matter...
 
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I could 'borrow' a PSU from college to see if that fixes it. If a new PSU doesn't fix the problem would it most likely be the motherboard?
 
Because you mentioned it switched off when you nudged it i would borrow the PSU and try its kettle lead first - if that doesn't help then fit the whole PSU. (No point buying a whole psu if the kettle lead turns out to be the problem)

Hopefully, one of the above will resolve it and it's certainly the logical place to start - especially as you state your temps were ok.


If it fails with the above then you need to start testing other components - unfortunately the motherboard may turn out to be one of them - but that's for later.

In the mean time have a close look at all your connections for: snugness of fit and if they looked damaged both on the mobo and psu.

EDIT: Check your HSF connection to the mobo and that your gfx is seated properly too. In fact reseat the gfx and re-atttach the HSF lead.
 
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I checked them all earlier when I took out most of the components and put everything back together - which seemed to fix it for now. That's usually how I fix it when this happens. Everything seemed undamaged.

I'll be into college tomorrow or next week at the latest so I'll borrow a PSU then and see if that fixes this. Thanks a lot for the help Plec! I'll let you know how I get on :)


(Just saw you edited) The card is definitely seated properly as I double checked when I put it back in, and the HSF seems connected properly too.
 
The other possibilty is that it's shorting - although the fact that it's intermittent doesn't quite tally up. But again because you said it turned off when you nudged it, it's worth considering.

Ideally, you would run the rig outside the case and test it but you may as well wait until you've tried the psu. In the mean time check all the screws connecting your mobo to the motherboard tray are secure and test to see if it's loose overall - i.e. the motherboard slides a little over the tray.
 
Actually the motherboard is quite loose and I thought it could be short circuiting... then when I try to fix the connections I move it back into place or something. I'll try to make it more secure. :)
 
That could well be the cause - hopefully securing it properly will cure your problem.

Time will tell i guess...

Good luck - let me know how you get on.
 
Vorash said:
Every so often my PC randomly looses power and shuts down. The only way I can fix it is if I open it up and pull out the wires and put them back in place then eventually it starts working. It's not working this time though, I've checked all the connections and it still won't power up. Is this a PSU problem? I don't have a spare one to check.

Wondering what everyone else thinks, thanks!

(This happened at a great time seeing as I just paid for the pc last week after having it for a year >_<)
Click to expand...

Next time it happens turn the power off at the psu unit (if it has a switch) / pull out the kettle lead then reinsert lead and turn on , you may hear a click - if your computer boots its deffo the power supply.
 
Ok, it went for about 2 months without ever switching off and suddenly it's happening again! This time it just switches off and stays off for maybe 10-15 seconds, then reboots itself. It's doing it pretty often now :\ CPU and Graphics Card temperatures are still fine so it's not them. (Well, 4850 runs at 80C idle with fan on 50% but it's always done that). I still have no spare parts to change them and try to figure out what's broken. Is there anything I can do to find out the problem? Thanks for any help.
 
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