My PC is shutting down ITSELF.

extraction · 08-07-2004, 03:55 AM

OK the shutdowns started again, after computer had been fine for 24 hours...
All virus checks with Norton current revisions OK, XP native Firewall up...

Was running Overnet at the time (P2P app) and computer rapidly shut down.
I know these programs are system hogs, but never before have I had an issue. Upon reboot "Check System Health !" appeared in the place of "System Health OK". on the startup screen. Pressed delete to enter BIOS and I see a temp of 59 C. Not good - right? ...

So I take the panel off and let it cool and d/l Motherboard monitor so I can see the vitals outside of CMOS/BIOS and I'm averaging CPU temp of 50 C, Case temp of 39 C. These values increase when I have the case panel back on...

When I look inside I see 4 fans spinning fine - Power Supply, Front case, Rear Case, Fan on Motherboard over raised heatsink?...I see 1 very small fan not spinning at all - it is also on the Mobo, on the CPU I beieve as the plug point says "Chip Fan". When I've had the case open before I have also noted to myself that I've never seen this spin...

Does this then seem to be a temp issue or am I crazy?? I thank you in advance for your input...

AMD XP 1800+, Gigabyte 7ADX, PowerMan FSP 300 Power supply

extraction · 08-07-2004, 04:43 AM

Arrghhhh!!!...............

Now shut itself off at 49 C !!!
Power supply?!? Any way to tell???

ANY suggestions where else to look ???

**Praetor** · 08-07-2004, 04:56 AM

Quote:

. Upon reboot "Check System Health !" appeared in the place of "System Health OK". on the startup screen. Pressed delete to enter BIOS and I see a temp of 59 C. Not good - right? ...

Personally I dont like that temp but it's not a temperature which calls for panic yet. If it's consistantly above 60º than you should look into ways of dropping it; panic should ensue if it breaches 70°

Quote:

So I take the panel off and let it cool and d/l Motherboard monitor so I can see the vitals outside of CMOS/BIOS and I'm averaging CPU temp of 50 C, Case temp of 39 C. These values increase when I have the case panel back on...

A couple things about that:
1. Your CPU temp isnt actually that horribly high, a mere 11º above your motherboard temp.... what is the ambient room temperature
2. You note the temp goes up when you close the case: a clear indication of not enough circulation within the case. You'll need to either get or upgrade the chassis fans

Quote:

I see 1 very small fan not spinning at all - it is also on the Mobo, on the CPU I beieve as the plug point says "Chip Fan"

Sounds like the Northbridge fan. For systems that feature a fan, this fan must be operational for the system to function properly (systems without such fans deal with it via other ways). That'll be the source of your problems as the NB controls well over half of the functionality of the computer.

Quote:

ANY suggestions where else to look ???

Deal with the Northbridge fan and you'll should be set, a simple $10 cooler like http://www.xoxide.com/iceberq.html should do the trick

extraction · 08-07-2004, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Sounds like the Northbridge fan. For systems that feature a fan, this fan must be operational for the system to function properly (systems without such fans deal with it via other ways). That'll be the source of your problems as the NB controls well over half of the functionality of the computer.

OK I hope you're right, but do Northbridge chip's have their own diagnostics or thermal cutout that causes the reset?? Again the MoBo is Gigabyte 7A-DX, computer about 3 years old. Can this temperature be monitored??I still don't understand why it shuts off without warning, actually I would call it a reset as it behaves exactly as if I hit the RESET button, as the tower lights stay on...

My only other thought is bad RAM (2 sticks Kingston PC2100 DDR 256 = 512 MB). Cannot locate extended mem test in my BIOS - Any 3rd Party apps to recommend??

Thanks again, we're almost neighbors (Niagara Falls, NY)

**Praetor** · 08-08-2004, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Can this temperature be monitored??

Not without a physical temp probe

Quote:

Cannot locate extended mem test in my BIOS - Any 3rd Party apps to recommend??

Disable any entry that says "quick POST" or something

extraction · 08-08-2004, 07:37 PM

Got a Northbridge fan, spliced the connector and it starts humming away....ran fine for 30 minutes, all temp readings cooler, then with no warning the same abrupt reset problem...rebooted, set BIOS to "Failsafe", and the reset occurred again after a few minutes...I'm thinking power supply or RAM or maybe processor is cooked...will probably take it in in the next few days as I'm reaching my limit on time and knowledge...

thanks for all the suggestions/help thus far...

**Praetor** · 08-09-2004, 12:13 AM

Have you tested the memory??

extraction · 08-10-2004, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Have you tested the memory??

Cannot find anywhere in my BIOS to enable this...what are you thoughts on it being the power supply...again it is like a RESET as the monitor goes off but the tower lights stay on...

extraction · 08-10-2004, 04:21 AM

Just ran Windows Memory Test (free d/l)...no RAM errors detected, computer randomly reset during third pass of diagnostic after being on for 20 minutes running fine...

**Praetor** · 08-10-2004, 09:23 AM

Hmmmmm... voltages?

08-09-2004, 12:13 AM	#37 (permalink)
Praetor Administrator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Age: 24 Posts: 19,943	Have you tested the memory?? __________________ ASUS P5K Premium WiFi-AP, Q6600@3.7 / ASUS P5ND, E6400@3.8 4GB OCz Platinum XTC 8500 / 4GB CorsairXMS2 6400 5x500GB Seagate 7200.10 / 2x500 Seagate 7200.10 OCz 8800GTX 768MB @ 630/800 / 2x Galaxy 8800GT SLI

08-10-2004, 09:23 AM	#40 (permalink)
Praetor Administrator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Age: 24 Posts: 19,943	Hmmmmm... voltages? __________________ ASUS P5K Premium WiFi-AP, Q6600@3.7 / ASUS P5ND, E6400@3.8 4GB OCz Platinum XTC 8500 / 4GB CorsairXMS2 6400 5x500GB Seagate 7200.10 / 2x500 Seagate 7200.10 OCz 8800GTX 768MB @ 630/800 / 2x Galaxy 8800GT SLI

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08-07-2004, 03:55 AM	#31 (permalink)
extraction New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Niagara Falls, NY Posts: 16	OK the shutdowns started again, after computer had been fine for 24 hours... All virus checks with Norton current revisions OK, XP native Firewall up... Was running Overnet at the time (P2P app) and computer rapidly shut down. I know these programs are system hogs, but never before have I had an issue. Upon reboot "Check System Health !" appeared in the place of "System Health OK". on the startup screen. Pressed delete to enter BIOS and I see a temp of 59 C. Not good - right? ... So I take the panel off and let it cool and d/l Motherboard monitor so I can see the vitals outside of CMOS/BIOS and I'm averaging CPU temp of 50 C, Case temp of 39 C. These values increase when I have the case panel back on... When I look inside I see 4 fans spinning fine - Power Supply, Front case, Rear Case, Fan on Motherboard over raised heatsink?...I see 1 very small fan not spinning at all - it is also on the Mobo, on the CPU I beieve as the plug point says "Chip Fan". When I've had the case open before I have also noted to myself that I've never seen this spin... Does this then seem to be a temp issue or am I crazy?? I thank you in advance for your input... AMD XP 1800+, Gigabyte 7ADX, PowerMan FSP 300 Power supply

08-07-2004, 04:43 AM	#32 (permalink)
extraction New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Niagara Falls, NY Posts: 16	Arrghhhh!!!............... Now shut itself off at 49 C !!! Power supply?!? Any way to tell??? ANY suggestions where else to look ???

08-08-2004, 07:37 PM	#36 (permalink)
extraction New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Niagara Falls, NY Posts: 16	Got a Northbridge fan, spliced the connector and it starts humming away....ran fine for 30 minutes, all temp readings cooler, then with no warning the same abrupt reset problem...rebooted, set BIOS to "Failsafe", and the reset occurred again after a few minutes...I'm thinking power supply or RAM or maybe processor is cooked...will probably take it in in the next few days as I'm reaching my limit on time and knowledge... thanks for all the suggestions/help thus far...

08-10-2004, 04:21 AM	#39 (permalink)
extraction New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Niagara Falls, NY Posts: 16	Just ran Windows Memory Test (free d/l)...no RAM errors detected, computer randomly reset during third pass of diagnostic after being on for 20 minutes running fine...