Computer keeps shutting down by itself

[jagga]

Let me list as much information as I can..

I built this computer around 2003. Its a P4 2.4ghz with a Albatron mobo and ATI Radeon 7500 64mb video card.

I ran HMonitorHMonitor on it; and it reports temperature of 70C. Is that too much? I have the case open.. meaning; I have taken down 1 panel. So it really should not be running this hot..

Here are some reasons I think that computer randomly shuts down

1) Overheating
2) Vid card overheating due to it having to drive a 24inch monitor I got attached to it.

Can anyone offer any help to this newbie. I am trying to get to the bottom of this 'random shutdown'.

 

[genec57]

In my experience that is most likely to be caused by a failing PSU.

 

[jagga]

Interesting.. I had not considered the PSU to be at fault..

 

[Raider1284]

when does it shut down. Is it realy random, or does it happen when your playing a game and/or stressing the components? What are the temps of your video card? have you tried placing a room fan at your pc to cool it down?

 

[jagga]

I do have a room fan going. Last time it happened when I was trying to open 'Google Earth'. How can I check the temp of Vid Card?

 

[RallyMaster]

When loading Google Earth, the computer puts load on the PSU to provide more power. It is most likely a PSU issue.

 

[tylerdustin2008]

Power supply. Been there, and know it.

 

[Juno]

70c is a lot to me.

 

[jagga]

I am thinking about putting 2 more fans in my case. Anyone know of a cheap place to buy them. I looked at newegg; but they charge like $5 shipping for a $2 fan

 

[jagga]

Btw; I measured the slots on the rear of my case and I show 7cm squares. So that would mean I look for a 70mm fan right? I went to newegg and found that there were only 9 of these; majority were 80mm. Does that mean that due to my case being 4yr old; 80mm is the new standard?

 

[johnnq1]

check out svc.com for fans and cooling stuff. shipping is a lot, but you can order many items for the same shipping charge. jab-tech.com has good prices, too.

7500?? didn't that come out in '99?

 

[SparkyJJO]

is that 70C at idle or under load? If it is at idle then you have some serious issues. Clean out all the dust from the heatsink, you may have to remount the heatsink with new thermal goop as well.

 

[jagga]

Any comment on this?

Originally posted by: jagga
Btw; I measured the slots on the rear of my case and I show 7cm squares. So that would mean I look for a 70mm fan right? I went to newegg and found that there were only 9 of these; majority were 80mm. Does that mean that due to my case being 4yr old; 80mm is the new standard?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: genec57
In my experience that is most likely to be caused by a failing PSU.

Yeah, that's always my #1 guess, but I'll tell you what...

I last two computers I fixed had bulging caps around the CPU socket!

If I wasn't so lazy (and listening to Matt Drudge on web radio) I'd go take some pics of these mobos...

Anyway, they're both power related, yes?

 

[Puffnstuff]

When's the last time you cleared out the dust bunnies?

 

[jagga]

Been doing that constantly with a can of compressed air. I ordered 2 fans for the case.. lets see if that helps