Computer powers off randomly?

S

Spaffle

New Member
Hey guys, so I have a question for all those computer experts out there.

So in the beginning, my computer would randomly power off with no warning, all lights would turn off and it was as if I took out the power lead. I thought it was the PSU so I bought a new one and it does work better and doesn't power off as often, but it still happens.
New PSU: www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Builder-Se...s&ie=UTF8&qid=1378076680&sr=1-1&keywords=500w

After a while of putting up with it, I realized it only really happened either when trying to watch a live stream on twitch, or late at night/in the morning around 3am. I thought the only thing it could be is a heating issue so I installed a program that told me the temperature of my CPU and GPU. I loaded up a live stream and looked to see if the heat would go up, It didn't though so I don't think the problem is overheating.

I tried a few other things like taking out the RAM and putting it back, taking out the CMOS battery and putting it back and nothing I'm doing is working.

I'm now thinking it's a motherboard problem but I really hope it's not.

Baring in mind I got this computer near 2 years ago and it's done it's job, but i'd still like to keep it going even after I build a new one.

Any suggestions?


Thanks

EDIT: I was just thinking as I was typing this, because the computer is so old, would I need to apply more thermal paste? Haven't done it since I bought it ..

EDIT: So I removed the Heat sink to clean it and ever since then, the computer has been shutting down even more randomly and more frequently.
 
If you removed the thermal paste, you have to apply new, you may not have applied enough or too much. Usually shutting off means its overheating. I would definately look there. When it shuts off can you immediately turn it back on? What are your cpu temps when it shuts down?
 
Yeah I can turn it back on and it works straight away most times. Sometimes when I turn it on straight away nothing shows up on the monitor... Don't know if that means anything...

I applied new thermal paste today, still happens.

Before I added the new thermal paste the temperature was about 40 degreese celcius. It's about the same now.

I tested the temperature just before the computer shuts down, it doesn't change much and neither does the cpu usage, nor the ram monitor.

I really don't know what's going on tbh.
 
I'm assuming nothing is overclocked here? (CPU, GPU, RAM)

It could be a motherboard problem if nothing is overclocked. Have you tried removing the board and reinstalling it? Is the board on the brass standoffs which prevent it from shorting on the case?
 
Be sure to apply a new set of thermal paste if you didn't do so already after you removed the heat sink.

Edit: Ok, that's really strange. I'm beginning to think the mobo might be the problem. What type of motherboard is it?
 
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