Computer shuts down randomly after 2-30 minutes

[gnvdk]

My secondary computer (PII - 333 Mhz, ABIT LX6 motherboard, W98 SE) powers down after a random period of 2-30 minutes. As it doesn't matter whether Windows was started or not it seems to be a hardware problem (sometimes it even powers down when starting up!). I've replaced the processor with one working perfectly: no change. Ive tested the memory with MemTest-86 v3.0 for about 15 minutes (then it pwowered down again): no errors. It seems to be that the period gets shorter if you try to start it up more often in a short time. Give it more time and it seems to operate longer.

Any of you bright guys (and gals) any suggestions?

 

[lobadobadingdong]

sounds like heat, possibly the north bridge or a flaky heat problems w/your power supply.

 

[gnvdk]

The North bridge??

 

[PCHPlayer]

Is the heatsink fan spinning? I agree with loba... that it sounds like a heat problem. Run with the case open and possibly a household fan blowing onto the motherboard to see if it helps.

 

[Mem]

If it`s not heat then it`s probably a faulty PSU,I had a faulty PSU that would shut down my PC at random times.

 

[gnvdk]

Yep the heatsink is spinning and i was running it with the case open. The weird thing is this started from one day to the next. I agree it sounds like a heat problem, but how can that start from one day to the next?

 

[Looney]

Sounds like a powersupply problem to me.