Help required with PC switching itself off!

[Revo]

I have a slight problem with my PC switching itself off whilst I am running any intensive programs such as games. The PC won't go through the shutdown process but just switches off! I was wondering if anyone could provide any suggestions as to why this may be happening. My system spec is as follows:

- P4 2.8cGHz
- Abit AI7
- 1Gb Crucial PC3200
- Radeon 9800 Pro (CAT 4.2 driver)
- Win XP SP1a
- DirectX 9.0b

All of the components are at stock settings and my virus scanner (AVG) hasn't detected any viruses. The PC also switches itself off when I run 3dMark2001 which makes me wonder whether this is linked to some intensive graphics problem. Any suggestions anyone?

 

[dpm]

What kind of power supply have you got?

 

[Revo]

The PSU is a Q-Tec dual fan 550W which should be more than enough for my system as it is only at stock settings.

 

[SwampsterFL]

Sounds like a cooling problem to me.

duplicate the problem, and as soon as it turns off turn it back off, go into CMOS and see what the temps are in the hardware monitor department. Keep in mind that things cool rapidly, so these will be lower than when it actually shut down, but it will give you an idea.

If your CPU, for example, showed high 50's or low 60's, then it is a likely candidate. Check for proper interface with the CPU/Heatsink, dust in the fins of teh heatsink, or a fan that is running slow or inconsistently.

 

[snidy1]

Power supply, Heat issue, or Memory.

 

[Revo]

Snidy could the memory cause my PC to switch off like that? What could be wrong with the memory and how can I rectify it? Swampster do you think maybe the Abit mobo I have could be reporting the temp higher than they actually are and thererfore abruptly switches off my PC? The mobo has a power off function if the temperature exceeds the set value. However, I have monitored the temperature from within Windows and they rarely reach 60C.

 

[dpm]

Hmm. the PSU should be easily sufficient. Are those the only componants you've got? No PCI cards?

I had an old PCI modem that conflicted with my K7S5A - after using the internet for a while it would just shut off the pc completely, no warning, no shut down. So it could be any componant.

If you've got spare parts around to swap and test, great. Otherwise try to stress test each part for a while- try memtest86 for the memory, prime95 for the CPU, and 3dmark for the graphics card, say, to find the weak link

 

[Revo]

I've ran memtest86 and prime95 and they seem to be OK. I ran prime95 for an hour and no errors (I don't know if that is long enough) I also ran 3 passes of memtest86 and it seemed to be OK. However, I am getting problems with 3dmark2001. Sometimes it will run fine even with my virus scanner and other applications running and sometimes my PC will switch off whilst it is running on its own. Once it switched off my PC right at the very begining of the benchmark! What do you make of that?

I have 2 PCI cards which are: SoundBlaster soiund card and a modem which I never use. I don't know whether they could be the cause.

 

[vietofmars]

What games are you playing? I've played Halo pc and it shutdown my system numerous times. Solution: Stopped playing halo. Don't know if ati or gearbox released a patch yet.

Dell p4 2.4, ati 9000

 

[snidy1]

Originally posted by: Revo
Snidy could the memory cause my PC to switch off like that? What could be wrong with the memory and how can I rectify it? Swampster do you think maybe the Abit mobo I have could be reporting the temp higher than they actually are and thererfore abruptly switches off my PC? The mobo has a power off function if the temperature exceeds the set value. However, I have monitored the temperature from within Windows and they rarely reach 60C.

I've seen bad memory cause that, but it's probably the least likely cause of the problem. I would lean towards the heat issue if you know your PS is ok. Try turning off the auto shut off in the bios for the tempurture monitor. But be carefull because if it is overheating you could destroy it.

 

[Swampster]

Have you considered the temps on the video card? There is a reason why that thing has a fan. Try operating with the cover off so you can keep an ear pealed for a noise in that area. You might also use whatever temp monitor comes with it to see what it is doing. While you have the hood up, try pointing a desktop fan at the open case and see if that will allow you to play your game.

If it is a memory problem (on the motherboard OR the video card), then the fan won't help. If it does make the game playable, then you have to reconsider how you are cooling that thing.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Might also try substituting another video card, just to further narrow down the causes of your issue.

 

[PCTweaker5]

Its the video card! If you have ATI then thats your problem right there. People seem to be happy with the performance from ATI even if they get constant problems. Flame me c'mon!

 

[Revo]

Seen as though you have a Radeon 9800 Pro have you experienced problems similar to mine, i.e. system abruptly switching off? If so have you been able to resolve them?

 

[PCTweaker5]

Well at times the PC will reboot while im playing a game but most of the time the game just freezes and then quits to the desktop. I thought it was the drivers at first so I switched to different versions and it worked for a couple of days and then it started happening again. It cant possibly be heat because my card has aftermarket cooling and isnt overclocked and my other components are very well kept cool so I am just convinced that ATI is to blame and I doubt its just my card because Ive had the same problems with 2 9500 Pro's. The only way for me to resolve this problem is to just sell my card and go back to good ole reliable Nvidia. ATI and Nvidia are the Ford and Chevrolet of the computer world and Nvidia is obviously Chevy. lol

 

[logear1]

when I upgraded from XP1800 to XP2500 I had to raise the FSB from 133 to 166 to get the CPU to run at the correct speed. The OCZ PC2700 I was running @266MHz(PC2100) wouldn't run @333MHz(PC2700) -a bad 256MB stick showed itself when running memtest86.
I'm mentioning this especially after what PCTweaker5 said about games quitting to the desktop.In his case it was the video card.In my case it was bad memory. Internet Explorer would shut down when clicking on links. I was running 3X256MB . When I ran memtest with all 3 memory sticks installed I had failed tests, so I tested each stick separately. The bad stick wouldn't even boot the computer by itself.

 

[Revo]

Thanks for all your comments everyone it's much appreciated. There is only one problem I have with the ATI card theory and that is I had been using it in an AMD rig for about 7-8mnths (until I got my P4 2.8GHz) with zero problems. However, the only games I played were Delta Force 2 and a few others but I never had the system switching itself off like this. I don't know if the newer games I have, like Halo and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, are stressing the card more than Delta Force 2.

There was one other problem I noticed when I overclocked the system (but now it is at stock settings) which was that when I had my virus scanner (AVG) running along with Internet explorer and my CPU temp monitor the computer exhibited the same problem of switching itself off! Now this was hardly an intensive graphics application. But when I had the problems with the games it was all at stock settings and it wouldn't always happen at the same time. Sometimes I could play the games for hours and nothing and sometimes just around half an hour and boom it would just switch off.

The CPU is around 35C when idle and around 50C when under load so I don't think it could be that. Ran 4 passes of memtest86 and 1hr of Prime95 without any errors. The only time I have the problems is when running 3dmark2001 or any gaming application.

 

[Trashman]

I had a very similar experience with my system, a Intel 865GB and Radeon 9500pro....i ended up RMA'in motherboard and all is well.

 

[PCTweaker5]

Originally posted by: logear1
when I upgraded from XP1800 to XP2500 I had to raise the FSB from 133 to 166 to get the CPU to run at the correct speed. The OCZ PC2700 I was running @266MHz(PC2100) wouldn't run @333MHz(PC2700) -a bad 256MB stick showed itself when running memtest86.
I'm mentioning this especially after what PCTweaker5 said about games quitting to the desktop.In his case it was the video card.In my case it was bad memory. Internet Explorer would shut down when clicking on links. I was running 3X256MB . When I ran memtest with all 3 memory sticks installed I had failed tests, so I tested each stick separately. The bad stick wouldn't even boot the computer by itself.

I had that same problem with IE closing when clicking links or when some pages were loading but my memory is quite new and it didnt happen when I had my ti4600. What it actually was was my CPU wasnt getting enough voltage and as soon as I upped that it fixed things right up. But then yesterday after I attempted to play a game it was working fine and then froze as usual and then quit to desktop with the error reporting window. I then reported the error and it took me to the page that shows what the problem could have been and it said ATI Technologies software was likely the cause of the problem or something like that and then I clicked on one of my favorites and then I got an IE error and it shut down so I was like WTF. I do strongly believe its ATI driver instability so this is my reason for going back and staying with Nvidia.

 

[RadBrad]

If it were me I believe i would got to ati site and read the issues it has(or not) with the chipset on the a17 mobo.