Computer Switches off (HELP!)

S

sub1zero

New Member
First of all let me begin saying that I am not exactly a noob in computers but I don't think I am an expert either. So please don't flame me if I ask a question the answer to which seems obvious to you. Anyway, I have a problem that has really bugged the hell out of me.

I had a 128MB DDR333 RAM. Which, is very bad. So I decided to upgrade it to 1GB. But what really made me change the RAM was that my computer completely switched off when I was playing a game, watching a video, running an AV scan. Basically anything that taxed the CPU. So, I thought that the RAM was being burdened way too much (which had been happening since I got this comp) and it finally cracked down.

So, I bought a 1GB DDR 400 (couldn't get DDR 333). Initially I thought it wouldn't work coz of the clock speed incompatibility but surprisingly it worked. But, unfortunately the switching off problem still persisted. I checked the BIOS/CMOS setup and it didn't show me any errors (but I do vaguely remember that the first time I booted up after fixing the new RAM it showed some checksum error but after that I didn't encounter it). Then I assumed something was wrong with the power supply but I am sure that that is not the case now.

So fellows am I right to assume that my CPU is just experiencing over-heating problems and not some RAM/Motherboard related problems? If so what am I supposed to do?! Change the cpu fan/heat sink?

Do enlighten me here.
 
Fan's and heat sinks fail, I would first change the fan and see if that helps at all.

I work for a school and the fans in the teacher computers are all dying at about the same time.

When that does happen the computer turns off to make sure the processor isn't damaged..I would change the fan I'm sure it's a cheap fix.

Best Regards,
Francisco
 
Ah, I thought so too but the CPU fan doesn't seem to make any noise while running nor does it malfunction in any way perceptible to the eye. :| WTF?!
 
This is soo strange. I took off the case. Now I am able to do all those things which I haven't been earlier without the comp switching off! And yes the fan is running all the time
 
Ok. So what am I to do? The fan is running properly. And I live in India where the temp is constantly around 40 in the summer and it's not feasible to keep the AC running throughout the day.
 
how many fans do you have in the machine?

is it possible to add another fan? when is the last time you cleaned the inside of the machine.
 
I m not too sure if I can get another fan. And I dont think I have ever cleaned the inside. I need an air blower or something no to blow out the dust?
 
a can of compressed air.

do you have anywhere near you where you can buy one?

IMG_4375b.JPG
'

Best Regards,
Francisco
 
Compressed air eh? I suppose I can get one. Dust can cause the machine to overheat?! And from the looks of it, it doesn't look too unclean.
 
Well I would try that first, are all the fans working on the machine?

If not I would download a temperature monitoring program
 
It has shot up to 85 now that I have switched off the AC. Didn't encounter problems like this before. Should I install another fan to correct this? Or should I just change this fan?
 
Please don't double post, no moderators like that :P

Computers need a low temperature to function properly. How many fans do you have? one on the back one on the processor one on the power supply?

Put the cover back on the computer and let me know what the temperature goes up to, I would suggest moving the computer to a colder room or find a place to install another fan.

Did you build the computer your self or did you buy it?

If you bought it what is the brand and the model?
 
My bad. :D

The temp is significantly high with the cover on. And my comp. is a HCL computer bought nearly 4 yrs ago. Yeah my fan is in the processor at the back. You really reckon an additional fan will do the trick?
 
What the heck are you saying? 70C is BURNING! People with quality coolers idle at 20-30C! With my CPU almost 100% OC'd, is idling at 39C!

You need to clean out the whole case, heatsink, and reapply thermal paste!
 
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