Very odd Computer Problem

G

GelTez

New Member
Hello everyone I am new to this website and I am here today to tell you about my problem I am currently having with my computer. This has come on and off over the past year and honestly I have come across many ways to try to find a solution but I can't figure it out. So to start off, I built my own PC and my specs are the following:

-i7 950 (stock cooling)
-8gb ram
-750w Power supply
-GTX 460
-ASROCK motherboard

If you would like for me to go into more details about my hardware please ask. So my problem is very dull and also intriguing. Whenever my computer gets a little dusty it tends to shut off lets say after hours of gaming which is understandable. But after I clean it, it continues the process of shutting off for a week or 2 which definitely bothers me since I have work to do on the computer. I have done several tests and it definitely was not a heating issue. I have checked for virus's on my computer and there are none. My power supply should also be well over the minimum I need to run this setup. To also prove it is not a heating problem when I play games for multiple hours and it shuts off, I was on this morning and it shut off within 15 minutes and all I was doing was on the browser. I did check if all the fans were running prior to the shutdown. So honestly could it be a motherboard problem or could it be a software problem because I am running windows 7. Please help me and if you would like for me to elaborate a little more, I would gladly do so. Thank you for your time!
 
I'm sorry-- I was in the middle of lunch when I answered you.

What I meant to say is that you should check the actual voltage outputs of the power supply using a multimeter.
 
what is the brand/model of your power supply.

A 700 watt power supply from a cheap brand might only actually push 400 watts.

Edit: Just saw your link

Don't know if this is you problem without testing it with a meter, but that power supply isn't the best. Check output with a meter and let us know what actual voltage you get.
 
Last edited:
He posted a Rosewill, which is one of the worst. It probably is a power supply problem.

Only 72% efficient. Not even bronze certified.
 
claptonman said:
He posted a Rosewill, which is one of the worst. It probably is a power supply problem.

Only 72% efficient. Not even bronze certified.
Click to expand...

Well what is a cheap alternative because if it happens to be a Power Supply then I am obviously going to spend money on another one. I am looking to spend no more then $80 but if I have to then I guess I have to but I really want a cheaper one.
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256071
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096

Any of those would be plenty power to run your computer. But I would advise first to make sure its a PSU problem. Either use a multimeter, borrow a PSU from someone, or take it into a shop asking that you specifically want the power supply tested.
 
The issue could be anywhere from a bad psu, motherboard or hard drive. What brand and model of hard drive do you have? You can test it with the hard drive makers disk diagnostic utility.
 
Exo said:
what is the brand/model of your power supply.

A 700 watt power supply from a cheap brand might only actually push 400 watts.

Edit: Just saw your link

Don't know if this is you problem without testing it with a meter, but that power supply isn't the best. Check output with a meter and let us know what actual voltage you get.
Click to expand...

Well I obtained a meter that says 500v maximum so I am guessing that should be enough, but how do I measure the output of the power supply? Where do I put the positive and negative pieces? Appreciate it if someone reply's thanks! :)
 
Well i turned all my fans to the lowest and for some reason it's running longer now, I guess I would call this an alternative way to test it. I have been on it so far for 40 minutes as opposed to 20 minutes. So now I am guessing I need a new PSU.
 
johnb35 said:
It's easier just to get something like one of these.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899705003

Pretty nifty tool, has diagnosed like 5 bad power supplies for me already.
Click to expand...
Ok, I'm not saying that is a bad tool, it is very useful. However, from what I have been taught, it only gives a good or bad signal based on the DC volts of the plug being tested.
EX: 500 watt supply.
5 volts on 12 volt line, 500 watts out: bad signal
12 volts on 12 volt line, 100 watts out: Good Signal.

So this is where a multimeter comes in.

GelTez said:
Well I obtained a meter that says 500v maximum so I am guessing that should be enough, but how do I measure the output of the power supply? Where do I put the positive and negative pieces? Appreciate it if someone reply's thanks! :)
Click to expand...
Black is ground always. Put the black lead to the black wire. As for the rest, look to the pic below. These colours (minus black) are the ones the red lead goes to.
Screenshot-10.png
 
yes, voltages. That only tells so much. 12, 5, and 3.3 volts are good but only tell you that it is putting out the right charge(?) (volts), not the current(?) (watts). Again, you will see that they are good for DC, but not if you will have the power you are supposed to.
 
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