PSU and Case causing problems?

[cuomoj]

Hey all,

I built a PC in August, and after reading pretty extensively the posts in this section, it seems that either my case or my PSU might be causing me problems. Before asking about them, here's my system:

P4 2.8Ghz, 800 FSB Prescott
Abit IS7-E
1 Gig Kingston RAM, DDR
80 GB SATA HD
Radeon 9600 XT
_Chiefmax Midsize Tower, ATX_
_CompUSA 400W PSU_

So there're the basics. My problems are these: First of all, I'm running at between 65-70 degrees C at idle according to my MOBO's software monitor, which I'm told is 10 degrees above the actual temperature by Abit's design, so let's say it's idling at 60C. Within minutes of starting virtually any video game made after 2002, or even running PRIME95, it reads out at 85 degrees C and I have to either shut down the program, or the PC.

Second, apparently the CPU shuts off frequently and at random. The whole system clicks off for less than a second, and then the fans and CD-rom turn back on, but not the CPU. I have to unplug the power supply for a minute to get it to turn back on. I would think that there was a short- causing this, but I've taken the whole thing apart twice, checked the mounting brackets, disconnected all the bells and whistles, etc., in an effort to isolate the problem. And it still recurrs sporadically.

So I have a few questions for the experts out there. (1) Will getting a better PSU, which I only bought in a pinch because the Chiefmax one burnt out almost immediately, help lower the temperature? Will it better power my two case fans, provide better exhaust with its own fan, etc? And (2): is it probable that this lousy case is the culprit regarding my shut-down problem, and should be replaced, or is it because my PSU is insufficient, so the CPU shuts down when stressed (I have a Prescott CPU, after all). Or is it, after all this, probably just a short?

I'm way over my head here, both in terms of product knowledge and financial means, and after putting hours and hours into this, I still can't figure it out. My case, CPU stock heat-sink and fan, and PSU are all suspect, and I'd be hard-pressed to scrape together the cash to replace them all at once. What am I misunderstanding? What would you guys do? Thanks.

 

[akira34]

I'd suspect the case and PSU are either the cause or major contributors to your computer issues. The random shutdown does sound like a bad (or failing) PSU to me. A short in the case (circuit board where the on/off and reset switches are) could also lead to those issues.

For the high temps, could be piss-poor airflow inside the case (caused by bad case design), poor cable management, weak fans, any of those, or a combination of that. What make is your video card? I'm trying to recall if the 9600XT cards had molex connections like the 9700 and 9800 series did. If so, then poor power being fed to it can cause all kinds of issues.

I'm not sure about intel temps, but those numbers look high to me. Even my old AthlonXP chips ran cooler than what you're listing... Even in the middle of summer with no AC running, and in the middle of a heat wave.

People never seem to want to listen when told to not get a cheap case... Then they get the cheap case and/or PSU and wonder why their system is having all kinds of issues. You save in the long run by getting better quality cases and PSU's than if you get the cheap ones. That's because you spend MORE replacing the failed parts (at least the case and PSU) and the ones they take down with them (mobo, CPU, hard drives, optical drives, video cards, etc.).