PSX5Central
Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Seed_Of_Evil on December 29, 2003, 03:36:12 AM
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For 2 weeks or so I\'m having problems with my PC: It shouts down randomly. It occurs when I\'m using it, it switches off totally: monitor, cpu... even fans don\'t make any sound.
It has happened 3 or 4 times in the last 2 weeks and I don\'t where\'s the problem because everything works alright.
It\'s true that I\'ve some theories:
1) The problems appeared after updating the ram... but the problem has nothing to do with it.
2) The fans don\'t produce any sound when the PC is switching off... I mean the seconds later you always hear \'em when you manually switch off the pc. Could it be a temp problem? Don\'t think so because we\'re in winter and the tem is around 42º in my cpu (AMD)... the bios security barrier is on 75º.
3) The front led of energy in the cpy stays on... so the power is cut from the inside of the cpu, not outside.
4) It has happened when I was using the pc at high cpu usage, like compressing video, playing a full view movie, etc...
Anybody knows where\'s the problem?
I\'ve activated through register the non-requested shut down report utility. If it happens again, I hope it helps me to know where\'s the failure.
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I\'m guessing the wiring or the power supply, because everything get\'s shut down simultaneously...
have any spare cables ready for use?
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Only one thing it could be. Gophers.
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Originally posted by politiepet
I\'m guessing the wiring or the power supply, because everything get\'s shut down simultaneously...
have any spare cables ready for use?
I\'ve opened the case and the wires seem to be ok... furthermore, the power supply was changed last summer, at the same time I updated the mobo because the old one hadn\'t enough power.
The leds remain on... so it may not be a physical failure with respect power supply or power wires, IMO.
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Are you sure there aren\'t any freyed wires in there from the gophers? It seems so obvious... It\'s worth a double check. They are little devils this time of year.
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I\'ve had the same problem twice when having bought new RAM. Just replace the new RAM with another brand and it should be ok.
At least that has worked for me both times.
If you\'re running XP you might also want to turn off the "Reboot on error"-feature it has.
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Originally posted by JP
I\'ve had the same problem twice when having bought new RAM. Just replace the new RAM with another brand and it should be ok.
At least that has worked for me both times.
If you\'re running XP you might also want to turn off the "Reboot on error"-feature it has.
Really JP? You think it may be due to RAM? I\'ve KINGSTON, 2 modules of 512MB. Where\'s that option of rebooting on error?
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I had a similar situation one time where there was a wire in my cpu fan keeping it from turning. Wouldn\'t overheat until I started playing Generals.
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Originally posted by EmperorRob
I had a similar situation one time where there was a wire in my cpu fan keeping it from turning. Wouldn\'t overheat until I started playing Generals.
But Emperor, that hasn\'t much sense. If there is a wire keeping the fan from turning... your processor would have been burnt out as soon as your fan would have stopped... not only in generals you know.
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check it anyway....you\'ll be surprised ;)
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Most newer computers will shut off if the cpu gets to warm. I have also seen ram cause strange problems. If the problems started shortly after the upgrade of ram. That is where I would start.
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Originally posted by Capcom
Most newer computers will shut off if the cpu gets to warm. I have also seen ram cause strange problems. If the problems started shortly after the upgrade of ram. That is where I would start.
Yep, I\'m definitely opening the case and checking the ram if the pc shuts off again... *crosses fingers*
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Originally posted by Seed_Of_Evil
Really JP? You think it may be due to RAM? I\'ve KINGSTON, 2 modules of 512MB. Where\'s that option of rebooting on error?
Well since it started after you installed new RAM then I\'m pretty sure that\'s what\'s causing it.
It has happened to me twice over the last 4 years after having bought new RAM.
Don\'t remember exactly where that option is but I know it\'s somewhere in control panel -> system -> advanced then there should be an options tab somewhere there which leads you to where you can turn that feature on and off.
I\'m pretty sure it\'s turned off though, since I think that\'s the default setting of it but might be worth to check out.
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My computer keeps freezing randomly, and I cant stay on long. Is it the power supply?
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Whats your power supply rated at?
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get memtest86.. http://www.memtest86.com
That\'ll test your memory without windows, its a true test for memory.
If it passes ALL passes fine, it\'s not your memory. If you get errors then i\'d say your new mem is screwed. You can try moving your memory around and testing it in different dimms (the memory slots)
Make sure your PSU does support it\'s rated wattage. I\'ve seen a lot of psu units not support what they say they support. Each rail only can carry so much wattage.
This may help in choosing a new psu unit.
http://www.procooling.com/articles/html/picking_psu_s_for_athlon_syste.php
As for what wattage rating you really want. Out of my own experience. 400watt is the minimum to run a p4 or Xp system imo. You\'re pretty much guaranteed stability with a psu 400watt or higher.
If you want to know what your system is drawing of the psu. Volts x Amps = Watts..
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Souly I\'ve downloaded and run the memtest86 (ver 3.0) and everything is alright with respect the ram.
Yup, I\'ve 400w psu.
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Originally posted by Seed_Of_Evil
But Emperor, that hasn\'t much sense. If there is a wire keeping the fan from turning... your processor would have been burnt out as soon as your fan would have stopped... not only in generals you know.
Mine didn\'t. Just rebooted when it got above 65 Celsius. And this is an AMD T-bird. I verified this by immediately going into the BIOS on reboot and the temp had sky-rocketed. It didn\'t cause any damage though.
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I had this problem with my laptop after partitioning for a XP/Linux box. I uninstalled linux and still had the problem, I reflashed my bios and problem solved. Could give that a try.
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reflash the bios? what\'s it? Perhaps i know it by another name in spanish...
(BTW, 4 days without switching off :))
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BIOS basic input/output system
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Originally posted by theomen
BIOS basic input/output system
I know what bios is. I dunno what reflash is.
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to Flash your bios is simply to update it. BUT if it fails kiss your mobo goodbye. Unless it has dual bios..
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Originally posted by §ôµÏG®ïñD
to Flash your bios is simply to update it. BUT if it fails kiss your mobo goodbye. Unless it has dual bios..
Uhhh.... I\'m better putting that apart... I don\'t want to buy another :)
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Problem solved: it was the dual channel in the ram. A friend told me that nforce have many problems with it and I simply installed the two slots in 3 and 2 so the dual is now desactivated and the problem is off.