computer only works on its side!

[loic2003]

A little perplexed by this one. My computer will randomly power down if it is in the upright position. I've tried taking out every single component and putting it back in the machine, ensuring all is secured properly. It's got a new PSU and it still does it. It's a NF7-S mobo with zalman chipset and CPU heatsinks.

Any ideas? I've splashed out on a new motherboard which will arrive monday/tuesday but if I fix it before then I could send it back.

and yeah, I've tried giving it a clout on the side, but to no avail

 

[montag451]

could it be that somehow, the air vents are covered when standing it up, but when you lie it flat, you put the computer in a different place that gives it ventilation?

have you tried leaving the case off, see if a wire flops into a fan, and causes it to stop spinning?

Does the computer power off instantly, or over time?

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: loic2003
A little perplexed by this one. My computer will randomly power down if it is in the upright position. I've tried taking out every single component and putting it back in the machine, ensuring all is secured properly. It's got a new PSU and it still does it. It's a NF7-S mobo with zalman chipset and CPU heatsinks.

Any ideas? I've splashed out on a new motherboard which will arrive monday/tuesday but if I fix it before then I could send it back.

and yeah, I've tried giving it a clout on the side, but to no avail

You know, I saw a machine do this at work the other day. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. We changed half the components, new case, new PSU, new motherboard... nothing cured it. In the end, all the individual components tested fine, so they went back into stock <shrug>

Sorry it's not much help, but I sympathise

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: montag451
could it be that somehow, the air vents are covered when standing it up, but when you lie it flat, you put the computer in a different place that gives it ventilation?

have you tried leaving the case off, see if a wire flops into a fan, and causes it to stop spinning?

Does the computer power off instantly, or over time?

nah, I'm very anal about neatness and all wires are routed beautifully. All fans spin absolutlely fine. I've had the case open to try and see the cause of my problems.

When it's vertical it'll sometimes power down right after the memory check, or when starting windows, or 20 seconds after loading windows, or 10 minutes into usage..... it's the weirdest thing.

Bloody computers.....

 

[imported_Phil]

Something shorting out?

 

[paun]

That is strange.Sounds like mobo has some weird short in it.Your new mobo will answer that question!

 

[imported_thomash]

Could be that the heatsink is coming off the CPU therefore not drawing the heat out properly causing it to shut down quickly.

Happened to one of my PC's so I added some more thermal paste to try and stick it better then re-fitted the Heatsink.

When it's laid down flat it may have a better contact with the two and stood up may not be quite so good contact.

Hope this helps

 

[bobalong]

Could be some dry soldering within the PSU which is causing a loose connection

 

[spanky]

i would think something is being shorted. if u shake the tower, u hear any loose screws?

 

[networkman]

Admittedly, the brain cells are more grey than grey matter should be :Q but I seem to recall problems with harddrive that were formatted and used in a vertical position not working later when placed in a horizontal position... been a LOONG time since dealing with that one, but I don't see anyone having mentioned it yet.

 

[loic2003]

right, well I tore everything out of the machine, removed the CPU and Chipset heatsinks, re-applied the thermal paste and put new mounts on the chipset heatsink as they seemed a tad on the dodgy side. I also cleaned the entire motherboard with alcohol. On the back where one of the connectors for the CPU mount poke out there seemed to be some grime which looks like it could have burnt perhaps (nothing serious- like as though an aphid had touched it and been fried). The back was polished with alcohol too and all traces of crap removed.

Seems rock solid now standing up properly. Looks like it was literally a bug or something similar

Cheers for the suggestions, chaps.