Computer just, *Turns off*

[Prai]

Hey peeps, Wondering if you could help.
Whenever im playing a game, Or just browsing the internet, My comp just shuts down. and i have to wait like 3mins to get back on.
I bought a new graphics card because my brother said it was that, But its still doing it?? Any help..

 

[Demonic]

Sounds like "OverHeating" to me - check temps on Bios.

 

[Prai]

Ok explain how to do that??? Sorry><

 

[chimera]

open case, power up pc, visually check fans are spinning freely and fast, if not replace fan......most likely fan above processor has died, mine did the same thing few months back

 

[Dr3AmScAp3]

open case, power up pc, visually check fans are spinning freely and fast, if not replace fan......most likely fan above processor has died, mine did the same thing few months back

If fan was dead it would'nt even allow you to load into windows as the cpu heats up very rapidly and would cause it to over heat in less than a minute.

What needs to be asked is when it shuts down, does it take some time to restart or does it restart instantly - if so then its not cpu failure due to over heating.

if it loads up, then i would sugest loading into safe mode and checking all drivers are current and upto date and also check for any hardware/software conflictions in device manager.

Also disable auto restart - though it is powering down this can help to identify any BSOD errors if any.

 

[Atomicide]

Its possible the over heating could cause it to stay off for a few minutes. Processors don't tend to lose heat that quickly when they are overheating.

Other possible causes could be an overheating PSU (power supply unit) which will be the large box at the back of the computer near the top. Usually they get clogged with dust as a lot of people forget about them.

Check all your fans first like suggested, because if they are failing (or are clogged with dust) then each time you power up you risk damaging your computer. If they are clear and appear to be working then go to the next part of my post.

Try using speedfan which you can download here: http://www.almico.com/speedfan433.exe turn your computer on and check the temperature while its doing nothing, then fire up a few programs that you can run while still watching the temp (not fullscreen games) and see what the readings are.

 

[Senture]

If fan was dead it would'nt even allow you to load into windows as the cpu heats up very rapidly and would cause it to over heat in less than a minute.

Just want to contradict that statement. The standard Xeon coolers have thermal binding paste, they are near impossible to seperate when cool and require 50 degrees to liquify, the chips thermal tollerance is arround 65 degrees. I can smoke a cigarette before the chip reaches 50 degrees with the fan off, with the fan on it will not go above 40

 

[Bacardi]

I would definately say its likely to be an overheating thing. Whether that be from the CPU/heatsink, PSU or even HDD/RAM sticks...

Test it systematically. if you have 2 sticks of RAM remove one and run the pc, then swap, try different slots. Similarly if you have a spare PSU try running the pc from that.

Could also be the PSU and the power provided to the motherboard. If theres a fault and not enough power is fed through or an overload occurs, the PC will switch off instantly.


There are loads of possible causes for a pc to shut off. Just need to be systematic and not just go buy something else that you think will fix it without proving that that is the culprit.

Keeping a clean and dust-free case is good practice anyways. Get a compressed air can and give the insides a good blasting. Check all your fans are working by booting up with the side panel off.

 

[Prai]

well my brother said it was the graphics card, so we got a new one and it still does it. It takes a while to come bk on, (1min of so) and it happens while playing mir, watching vids etc etc.

 

[Xander]

I turned two of my fans off yesterday leaving three running and pc just froze at random times not switching off but like a crash. Plugged my other two back in and its fine. I used a monitor and clocked the heat at 91 with only three fans running now its at 52 so could be heat but as you say it can be the graphics card as i had the exact same thing when i put a new graphics card in not too long ago.

Get some readings from speedfan as its a pretty cool program atom posted the link.

 

[Prai]

yeah i dont get it though, what am i looking for on speed fan??

and yeah i opened tower, the fan is running.

 

[Prai]

Ok, If the temp goes up it means, If it goes down it means?
Then what do i do after that?

Sorry about double post..

 

[Insane]

Ok, If the temp goes up it means, If it goes down it means?
Then what do i do after that?

Sorry about double post..

Have you checked that the CPU fan is working? Is it clogged up? The CPU wouldnt nessacarily shut the computer straight off without the fan active, which is why it may be happening when you play games and watch vids as the CPU goes under load and temprature increases it may shut down!

Also, another thing, which I am surprised hasnt yet been mentioned, check the BIOS for what temprature has been set for the computer to auto-shut down! By default some BIOS are set to as low as 60 degrees and some CPUs, dependant on the quality of the cooler can reach 60 degrees no problem under full load! But if the autoshut down is set at this or less then under full load the CPU temps would exceed this and bam, turns itself off because it THINKS its gonna fail.

Paul

 

[Dr3AmScAp3]

Have you checked that the CPU fan is working? Is it clogged up? The CPU wouldnt nessacarily shut the computer straight off without the fan active, which is why it may be happening when you play games and watch vids as the CPU goes under load and temprature increases it may shut down!

Also, another thing, which I am surprised hasnt yet been mentioned, check the BIOS for what temprature has been set for the computer to auto-shut down! By default some BIOS are set to as low as 60 degrees and some CPUs, dependant on the quality of the cooler can reach 60 degrees no problem under full load! But if the autoshut down is set at this or less then under full load the CPU temps would exceed this and bam, turns itself off because it THINKS its gonna fail.

Paul

Beat me to it.

 

[Prai]

ok how to i check all this bio crap etc :S lol.

 

[Insane]

ok how to i check all this bio crap etc :S lol.

Go into the bios by pressing del or f2 usually. When you start your PC up in should say 'press ** key to enter enter setup'

Once in setup, just scroll through each catagory untill you find the one that contains the temprature settings in it. Check, adjust if neccasary, save, reboot and then give it a go.

paul

 

[Prai]

what should i save it to? Approx?

 

[Insane]

what should i save it to? Approx?

I have my temps set to 75 degrees. I think that should be more than sufficient.

paul

 

[daneo1989]

well my brother said it was the graphics card, so we got a new one and it still does it. It takes a while to come bk on, (1min of so) and it happens while playing mir, watching vids etc etc.

like people have said. check that your CPU FAN/HEATSINK are working. if not buy a new one. because of the ware. i wouldnt of thought they Graphics card would turn/crash you computer to keep it at a nice temp you would need around 4 fan's i have 5fans only because i built mine from scratch ^^

I have my temps set to 75 degrees. I think that should be more than sufficient.

paul

well when i setup my BIOS it was already set to 75 Degrees and it works a treat


/ancient

 

[Amenovis]

wuah what u do ppl ?? he have no knowledge from bios or even bios software without any knowledge dont let him play with it or he make something wrong is wondering and must buy a nep pc cause he cant change bios settings or reset it on hims own.

and from my opinion it is diffently the CPU fan all off u talk about with or without fan but in 90 % there is only a big dust part between the ventilator self and the coolingrips in most case thats why the cpu have an attentionstop and save the cpu for over heating. so make clear u have no powercable on the pc and take ur fan self from the collerrips (u dont need to put up the fill coolerpart from the cpu socket) than u will find a fat dust (german staubteppich) between it make it clean and ur pc will run again like a god.

greetz

ameno