Computer automatically turning off

[Ianmeister]

I'm having a problem with my computer automatically turning off!?

I bought it approximately 1 year ago - it's one that was assembled from components by a shop. I'm sorry I don't have the exact spec but it's got an AMD3000 chip & a Radeon 9200 Graphics card. It was fairly high spec at the time.

I have only been using it for the Internet and Word/PowerPoint until now with no problems at all. I very recently installed 2 games, GTR and Colin Mcrae.

The games start ok, then after a few minutes of playing the games start to get a little jerky and then after 30 seconds or so the computer just turns off. It doesn't enter shut down or anything, the power just dies. It has also happened occasionally if I've been running loads of applications at the same time as an MP3 or video.

I don't know too much about computers and hardware. What type of problem does this sound like, power supply, processor overload?

Help! My new Momo steering wheel is on its way and I love GTR until it dies on me!

[jimothy]

If it does it when the CPU's in serious usage, it soundslike its overheating. Motherboards usually have temperature sensors and shut down if the CPU gets too hot to stop it from getting damaged.

Check the fan on your CPU is working. Also try to find any utilities that can show CPU temperature (motherboards sometimes come with software to do this)

[Ianmeister]

Thank you for the quick response. Your suggestion sounds feasible. If the fan is working, and it's the CPU getting too hot, what should I do - get a new fan?

[fredf]

Sounds like it's overheating. Take the top off and check all the fans are working, blow out all the dust

[agent006]

Or a more powerful one. Also check the contact between the CPU and the heatsync.

[Ianmeister]

It lives on the floor in the corner of my room so it would be no surprise if it’s full of dust!! Thanks for the quick replies. I'm at work now so I'll check this evening.

[pdV6]

Certainly sounds like a heat issue. I note its on the floor - is it crammed into a corner so as to be out of sight or close to a radiator etc? You'll need to give it a little bit of room to "breathe" - i.e. enough space to both suck cool air in (usually the front and/or sides) and exhaust hot air out (usually the back).

If the case is full of dust, clear it out but don't be tempted to hoover it, as this can cause static damage to components. Best way is to blow it out with an air puffer like you might use for cleaning a camera lens.

Obviously check that all fans are working, including those on: CPU, case, power supply, video card, motherboard chipsets etc. Note that you won't necessarily have fans on all these components, but those that are there ought to be spinning merrily away...

[sybaseian]

Ianmeister said:

I'm having a problem with my computer automatically turning off!? I bought it approximately 1 year ago - it's one that was assembled from components by a shop. I'm sorry I don't have the exact spec but it's got an AMD3000 chip & a Radeon 9200 Graphics card. It was fairly high spec at the time. I have only been using it for the Internet and Word/PowerPoint until now with no problems at all. I very recently installed 2 games, GTR and Colin Mcrae. The games start ok, then after a few minutes of playing the games start to get a little jerky and then after 30 seconds or so the computer just turns off. It doesn't enter shut down or anything, the power just dies. It has also happened occasionally if I've been running loads of applications at the same time as an MP3 or video. I don't know too much about computers and hardware. What type of problem does this sound like, power supply, processor overload? Help! My new Momo steering wheel is on its way and I love GTR until it dies on me!

I've had this with my PC - randomly shutting down instantly. As it was still under warranttee I loged a call, they tried to tell me it was probably due to installing XP SP2 and out of date drivers!. After about 10 mins of me explaining the error of his ways to him, he agreed that they should send an engineer out to have a look at the mother board. Turned out that the problem was a faulty built-in graphics chip, so they just replaced the motherboard.

[Plotloss]

My money is on a layer of dust twixt base of of CPU fan and top of heatsink which stops the airflow from the fan.

[pdV6]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[Plotloss]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Could do, though a screwdriver and a Dyson will do exactly the same thing.

[ErnestM]

Also may want to check general airflow in the case or maybe even replace the case with one that has additional fan capacity. I don't know why people build systems with the "latest and greatest" and then refuse to properly cool down the case by not adding the correct number of fans...

...also make sure that the airflow from the fans is going in the right direction...

ErnestM

[Ianmeister]

Thanks for all the advice and comments guys. I took the PC apart over the weekend and it was full of dust. I did my best to clean it with one of the misses makeup brushes (honest!) and it now seems to work fine! It was full of dust.

In answer to the question on location; yes, computer is in the corner of the room to keep it out of the way. I will rethink where I keep it.

It only has one fan cooling the case, with one on the power supply and one on the motherboard. Does it sound like I need more?

Thanks again guys!

[fredf]

That's all that mines got, but then it is quite old.
It depends on how full the case is, if it was OK, then it probably still is (now that it's clean).
saying that, they are cheap so you could just chuck another in anyway. the usually setup is to suck air in at the front and blow it out at the back