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Computer randomly shuts off with no BSOD

T

tnewsom2011

Junior Member
This is a new build that was working fine for at least 2 weeks. Then it started shutting off randomly (as if someone pulls the power plug). First just once a day or so and then more and more frequently until now it will only run for aprox 20 min before shutting off. I ran Memtest and Prime95 when it was first built for at least 24 hours each with no issues and good temperatures.

Whocrashed does not work and event viewer just states that the computer had an unexpected shut down. It crashes at idle and load. The computer is not anywhere near overheating.

I've tried:

  • Swapped for different memory, video card, PSU
  • Tried different slots for the memory
  • Running Ubuntu
  • Running the system out of the case in bios with just the GPU, a stick of memory and CPU (still shuts off after 20 min or so)
  • Removing all accessories
  • Updating BIOS

Since it appeared to be narrowed down to the motherboard, I requested an RMA and sent it in to ASUS. They "repaired" it and sent it back only for the computer to shut off once again after about 20 min. I wanted to ask on here if there was anything I was missing or anything else I can try that might be causing this issue before I send it in again.

Thank you for your help.

Specs:
  • i5 3570k w/ stock cooler, stock clock speed
  • Asus Sabertooth Z77
  • Corsair Vengence 2x4GB CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 (On QVL list)
  • EVGA GTX 670
  • Cooler Master V850 PSU
  • Samsung 840 pro 128GB x2
  • Windows 7 64 bit
 
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I had a case once with a shorted restart button that would sometimes force my computer to restart. Unplugging it fixed it right up. Check your front panel connections.
 
Thanks for the reply but I bypassed the case as an issue when I ran it outside the case. I used a key to jump the mother board.
 
I missed that part sorry. It would seem to be an issue with voltages somewhere. Have you tried manually setting CPU voltage?
 
No problem. Well I tried your idea, I changed the cpu voltage from offset to manual of 1.15 volts and after 30 min of running on the desktop it shut off. 🙁
 
At this moment I would recommend "Verifier" since it is getting difficult to isolate this problem.If verifier can't catch any issues well god help us 🙂 honestly it looks like a mb issue to me.
 
Based on your info, it sounds like there is a short somewhere. When you tried it outside the case, were you trying the two different power supplies as well?

When you took is out of the case, what method were you using to power it on?

A short can be anywhere, even in the board. A short in a motherboard is pretty rare, but if that is the only option left, then it is what it is.
 
I only used one power supply when it was outside the case. To power it on I used a car key to short the two power pins. I could take it out again and try the second power supply outside the case.

I tried the verifier but it looks like that tests the drivers and I don't think it's a driver issue if it shuts off in BIOS and also when running linux.
 
tnewsom2011 said:
I... I could take it out again and try the second power supply outside the case....
Click to expand...

This is probably what I would do. If that failed, my fingers would be pointing at the motherboard.

I mean, the way I read your issue, we are already pretty much pointing at the mobo, it's just that small chance it is the PSU/case combo that I would want to rule out.
 
Well I tried it out of the case with the gpu, cpu, 1 stick of memory and the second power supply running in BIOS and it failed. I guess I will have to send it back to ASUS again. Thanks for your help
 
OK, let us know how it goes when you get the new board. I wonder what the turnaround time is on that. Are you out of the return period for the place you bought it from? They may offer a quicker turnaround.
 
I bought it at Fry's Electronics and they only give 15 day return. I was probably around 25 days when the problem started. It took a little over 2 weeks before I got the board back from ASUS the first time. Hopefully this will be the last time.
 
Hmm, the only other possibility I can think of would be the video card. I didn't see where you had a spare on that one.
 
Presumably you got the same MB back (ie, the same board serial no.). A good guess is that the MB was tested in some way and the techie didnt find anything evident (quite typical with intermittents) and just marked it for return (still could be the MB though).

Still could be the MB or PSU.
 
The ASUS tech probably hooked it up on a test bed, saw that the board posted, and stamped it as repaired (i.e. as in end user error, no repair necessary). Wouldn't be the first time I've seen a manufacturer do this. I once had Gigabyte send a board back to me in my own packaging marked as repaired and it was totally obvious that they had never even opened the package.

Since you've eliminated the power supply as the source of the problem and you don't seem to have an overheating CPU, this just screams to me being either a short on the motherboard (maybe a split trace that separates as the system heats) or an undiagnosed overheating issue.

Have you actually checked any temps related to other areas of the motherboard besides the CPU socket? I've got the same board and while that plastic "thermal armor" cover over the motherboard looks neat, it is really an impediment to proper cooling. Are both of those little accessory fans that blow air under the "thermal armor" cover both pointing in the right directions and still running when the system shuts down? If either of them isn't pointed in the right direction or stops (or isn't) working, the board will overheat and the BIOS will turn it off to try to protect the board.
 
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