Please help, computer shuts off...

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NickT916

New Member
At random times my computer just shuts down and restarts, sometimes it can be within minutes of it being on and sometimes it can be on all day. Even if im doing same stuff it still varies. I can just be on the web, working on some files and it would just click off!! When im playing games and really putting pressure on the PC it handles it fine and never shuts off then for some reason, so its weird for it not to shut off under more stress.

I just yesterday reformated the computer and its all nice and fresh with all the goodies, i been planning to reformat a while back, and this game me a reason to do so hoping that the problem will be solved.

my computer:

Pentium 4 CPU 2.4Ghz
1 GB of DDR RAM
ATI 9800 pro all in wonder

Before when it was shutting down, i had the cover of the PC off, and the cover has 2 fans on it that i have disconnected. So i thought maybe it was over heating, so now that i reformated i reconnected the 2 fans on the side and the cover is on, but yet it still shuts off at random time... like i could be typing this Thread and it would just click off and i loose it all... oh oh then i better hurry lol

If anyone can give me some links to good heat monitors of the CPU or video card or anything else that i should test and how i should test it i would really appreciate it, its been about 5-6 years since i was into computers so im a little rusty when it comes to the fancy programs and such :P
 
Heat monitor: SpeedFan. It sounds like a power issue though, not heating.

How old/how many watts is the PSU?
When did the problem start?
Do you have another PSU you could use to swap-out?
 
It's usually best to check your temps under your BIOS, but this is probably one of the best windows programs...

http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

Seeing as your just reformatted, I'd guess a failing power supply or something like that. Though heat could also cause the problem, but I find it less likely.
 
I had the exact same problem... it happened from day 1(or maybe 3) that I got this computer... I remember I used to br rushing myself into a game cuz it NEVER ever restarted once I was playing a game. But the rest of the time, it was always more tricky when I had just opened it... sometimes it would restart 5-6-7 times and sometimes none at all. Never could fix it... But it appears as if now it calmed down(can we say finally after 4-4½ years of being a totaly piece of junk). What has changed ?

Well, I removed the side panel and added 512mb of RAM, can't tell if any of those 2 things changed something, but I ain't risking changing those again. The rig is in my sig... Somehow, I doubt it could have been temperature issues cuz it must have been a lot colder when I just opened it, than after 8 hours of gaming.
 
I flipped my computer case so that the fans are closer to the CPU and it seems to be more stable now, i had a little CPU monitor program that would hide in the dock by the clock and would show a temperature number of the CPU, it was a nifty little program but i cant seem to find it anywhere, i dont want nothing fancy with graphs and colors lol anyone have some links for these? i just want to see fan speed and cpu temp
 
meanman said:
if it keeps happening i would investigate the psu.
Click to expand...

I flipped my computer case so that the fans are closer to the CPU and it seems to be more stable now, i had a little CPU monitor program that would hide in the dock by the clock and would show a temperature number of the CPU, it was a nifty little program but i cant seem to find it anywhere, i dont want nothing fancy with graphs and colors lol anyone have some links for these? i just want to see fan speed and cpu temp
Click to expand...

Sure sounds like overheating... ;):rolleyes::cool:
 
what is usually the range where a CPU should be at and whats their average critical stage when it auto shuts off?
 
As far as operating ranges, it's broken down into recommended, safe, and max, and that varies by the CPU itself. Also, OC'ing will cause them to run hotter, but I'm going to guess that that's not the case here. Newer CPU's tend to have a lower max range than older ones.

Do you know the model # of your CPU? You can find it by downloading CPUZ here: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
 
NickT916 said:
what is usually the range where a CPU should be at and whats their average critical stage when it auto shuts off?
Click to expand...

Newer processors automatically shut off. Older ones will keep on going till they die (like Pentium 2's... and older K5's and stuff)...

You can also specify what temperature to shut it off at in BIOS...
 
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