PC switches off.

[PVR]

I have a PC with 2.4GHz and WinXP. It is about 16 mos old. This PC will
suddenly switch off after 5-25 mins. It immediately switches on again, only
to repeat the cycle. I have a board temp of 82F and a CPU temp of 82F.

Any ideas where to start?

Peter

 

[Mike Walsh]

First reseat all of the power plugs. If that does not fix the problem the most likely suspect is a bad power supply. Second suspect is a bad motherboard.

 

[w_tom]

So what did system (event) logs say? Don't even think about
fixing anything yet. Smart technicians first collect facts.
For example, temperature is rarely a reason for failure.
Defective ICs tend to work less reliably at higher (also
called normal) temperatures. Then the shotgun repairman fixed
the symptom by installing 'more fans'.

Acceptable computer manufacturers also provide diagnostics -
for free. Best run the diagnostics with computer in a 100
degree F room (quite normal temperature for a properly working
computer) or by selectively heating computer components with a
hair dryer on high. Again, this is quite normal temperature
to every part of a good computer. But heat tends to identify
intermittent components faster.

Also necessary is information as defined in this procedure -
"I think my power supply is dead" in alt.comp.hardware on 5
Feb 2004 or at http://tinyurl.com/yvbw9 Too many waste big
bucks and time wildly replacing things before they even know
why the intermittent happened.

These procedures assume the problem is hardware. Different
procedure for identifying a problem in software. Don't let
myth purveyors promote temperature as reason for failure. If
a computer is suffering temperature problems in a 70 degree
room, then it does not even work at 100 degrees - which is
normal temperature for any acceptable PC. Ignore any solution
that advocates 'more fans'.

 

[~misfit~]

I have a PC with 2.4GHz and WinXP. It is about 16 mos old. This PC
will suddenly switch off after 5-25 mins. It immediately switches on
again, only to repeat the cycle. I have a board temp of 82F and a CPU
temp of 82F.

Any ideas where to start?

Yep. There's no way that your 'board' temp and your CPU temp are the same
(unless it's right at start-up, even then, by the time the BIOS has loaded,
the CPU will be higher). Therefore I'd suggest that you don't know what temp
your CPU is actually running at.

If you've had the PC for 16 months without opening the case/doing
maintainence there's a fair to good chance that the CPU heat-sink could be
choked with dust, causing your CPU to overheat and your PC to switch off. I
would suggest that you open the case and examine the heatsink for dust
blockage (and check if the CPU fan is running) and carefully remove the fan
and clean out the HS fins of dust (a paint-brush is good for this) if that
appears to be the problem. Are you running your PC on the floor, on carpet?

That is where I'd start with a problem like this.

 

[PVR]

Many thanks, guys for your help. I did much of what you had said and tracked
the problem to the power supply. Another one from CompUSA did the trick
($40.00 + sales tax). For a time there I was convinced my Power Commander,
Surgemaster, whatever, was causing the problem but all is well now.

Peter.

 

[w_tom]

You may have simply fixed one problem only to create
another. If that CompUSA power is the one I am thinking of,
then it is missing essential functions. One missing function
could later cause extensive damage to the rest of that
computer: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt entitled "GOOD
power supply for under $40?" starting 20 Jan 2004 or
http://tinyurl.com/3h6wa

 

[PVR]

Good point. The PS which came with my low cost, almost no-name PC. was a 300
watt unit. I Googled to find PC power supplies. Most were $35.00 to $65.00
at NexTag. I shall continue to search and I welcome your comments. Perhaps
the CompUSA unit has to be returned.

Peter.