PC freezing, shutting down and refusing to boot

[yuklunc]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Troubleshooting starter

1. Overview of the problem
   Computer freezes, refuses to boot and shuts down by itself.
   
   
2. Full description of the problem and symptoms
   After moving the pc from one place to another a couple of days ago, it started to freeze. It usually freezes when it was vibrated (eg chair hits the table or opening a drawer which is situated under the computer, although there are times when it freezes during typing (it froze when I was writing this ). Sometimes it powers down on it's own (hasn't happened too often, it did one running spybot s&d(I didn't see it powering down, the pc was off by the time I came back.) and today when it happened while playing mount&blade). There were a couple of times when the computer didn't boot after it froze. The fans and dvd drives ( it was still possible to eject) would work, the computer itself didn't proceed to POST. Hitting reset or shutting down the power will usually not work. Sometimes it will boot up and proceed to POST after it was turned off for a while, but generally, after taking out some components and disconnecting/reconnecting the cables, I figured that if I disconnect the molex connector from my ide dvd drive and reconnect it, the computer will boot again (I haven't tried that on other hardware yet).
   
3. My software:
   • Windows XP pro
   • avast
   • Using router firewall
   
   
   
4. My hardware
   • ACER E500 with some components replaced
   • MSI RC410M2 (can't remember the exact name, it's the one with the onboard ati x200)
   • Pentium D 830
   • XFX 7900gs factory overclocked
   • 2 GB DDR2 Kingston value
   • Antect neo hd 550w
   • I replaced the cpu heatsink with a Noctua NH-U12P so I doubt the cpu is overheating.
   
   
5. Other information that might be relevant
   Earlier I was wondering whether it was related to the psu so I disconnected it and used 300w psu to test whether the computer would freeze or not. Instead of the 7900gs, I used an ati x700 as gfx card. The computer didn't freeze or crash or shutdown, however I didn't ran it for long. Currently I'm thinking it's either the psu or the motherboard.
   

 

[Billb2]

Did you unplug all the cards/cables and reconnect then?
A pencil eraser works well for cleaning the contacts.
Reseat the heatsink?
You could monitor temps and that would tell you if it was an electrical or a heat problem.
..and on and on.....

 

[myocardia]

It's almost definitely your PSU. You need to replace your current one with a higher wattage (higher +12v amperage, anyway) PSU, or it's going to start taking other components with it, to the grave. Usually, the first thing that gets damaged will be the motherboard, but both hard drives and video cards have been known to fail, when continuing to use underpowered/failing PSU's.

 

[yuklunc]

@BillB2

Speedfan shows this:

temps are during idle
GPU:58c
temp1:29c
temp2:38c <-- i believe this one is the cpu, it varies the most during idle/load
temp3:-128c
core:59c <-- assuming that this is really the core, it still shouldn't cause any problems during idle
ambient:

@myocarida

I've just ordered a corsair tx 650w and will get the neohd/neopower rma'ed(sending it to the Netherlands will be a pain though).

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: yuklunc
@BillB2

temps are during idle
GPU:58c
temp1:29c
temp2:38c <-- i believe this one is the cpu, it varies the most during idle/load
temp3:-128c
core:59c <-- assuming that this is really the core, it still shouldn't cause any problems during idle

What do people do that?
Idle temps are useless.
Temps with Orthos, OCCT, etc., read them with CoreTemp.

 

[yuklunc]

CoreTemp won't work with Penitum D's.

Anyway, here's the temps during load (running orthos for 3 minutes...)

GPU:66c
Temp1:34-35c
Temp2:53-54c
Temp3:-128c
Core:67c
Ambient:0c

 

[Billb2]

Ok. I'll tell you if any of those temps are too high, if you tell me what they are the temperatures of.

Cummon, I'm tryin ta help here..................

 

[yuklunc]

I don't really have a clue which temp represents what. The gpu one is obvious, temp1 might be the northbridge or southbridge, temp 2 is probably the cpu as I can remember that the temp was between 60-70s with the heatsink the machine came with and 50-60 using arctic freezer pro. No idea what temp3 is suppose to represent. I'm unsure what Core is suppose to represent. It wasn't there in earlier speedfan versions.