Random Power Off

[Eli Liechty]

I just built a new computer and it randomly turns off and reboots. It does not shut down windows, it just turns off and (obviously) I get a "Windows recovered from a critical system error" on recovery. It is generally random, but tends to occur when opening large files with media player or using firewire devices.

On the last reboot, I lost windows altogether and had to reinstal, so I need to get this fixed.

Machine specs:
M/B: Asus K8N-E deluxe
Power supply: Nexus NX-4090
Samsung 512MB PC 3200 DDR RAM x2
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Win XP

I've tried 2 hard drives, one Western Digital, the other Maxtor.

My 12V generally reads low (11.6-11.7)

Is it the PS? Motherboard?

 

[DetroitSportsFan]

If I am reading your post correctly .... meaning you're saying that you're having random crashing followed by a reboot which then gives you the critical error message .... then it sounds like a video driver related issue. Have you been able to get the computer into windows long enough to check in control panel/administrative tools/event viewer? If you have, there should be an error message there that will help us solve you're problem. Does it mention a *.vxd file?

If when you say it "shuts off," you mean it actually shuts completely off and then YOU restart your system which leads to the critical error message .... then you may be experiencing power supply or heat related problems.

Your problem is hard to diagnose just by what you've said in your innitial post. Please go into more detail including what you may have done to solve it. I've got a feeling based on your voltage readings you've posted that it may be PSU related. Your asus board is a power hungry board and your 12 volt rail is low. Does this particular board use what we used to call the P4 power connector? A lot of the newer AMD mobos are using this connector too. Check your event viewer first for any error messages that might give us some clue.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Another vote for PSU.

 

[mulletgut]

PSU

 

[bim27142]

start at the PSU

 

[Eli Liechty]

Thanks for your help guys. I looked in the event viewer and the only message I could find that might be related is:
"The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x00000050 (0xe2b07000, 0x00000001, 0x8057fc2f, 0x00000001). " I didn't see anything about a *.vxd.

I'm really leaning toward PSU at this point. Can any of you recomend a good [best?] PSU?

 

[mechBgon]

Welcome to the Forums Antec is a quality brand that you can probably find in local stores. Enermax and Fortron are a couple more good ones. You didn't list your video card, so I don't know how demanding it might be, but for a healthy margin of safety you might look at an Antec SL450 or Enermax 460W unit.

Also, give your memory enough voltage. If the board's left on AUTO then it's probably getting only 2.5 volts. I use 2.7 volts with my K8N-E Deluxe. 2.5V is great for PC2100 and PC2700, but PC3200 is often designed for at least 2.6V.

 

[Eli Liechty]

MechBgon,

Thanks for the welcome. My video card is an Asus V9250 (GeForce FX 5200). (I don't play video games)

Thanks for the recomendations. Right now I'm leaning toward and OCZ Powerstream 420 or 470. What are your thoughts on this PSU?

 

[DetroitSportsFan]

Thanks for your help guys. I looked in the event viewer and the only message I could find that might be related is:"The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x00000050 (0xe2b07000, 0x00000001, 0x8057fc2f, 0x00000001). " I didn't see anything about a *.vxd.

The *.vxd would be video driver related and I don't think thats your problem. I put the different scenerios down so that you could see how without a good thorough description to work with, your problem could be diagnosed differently.

In your case, after reading through your intitial posts several times, It really does appear to be PSU related. Like I stated above, Asus boards like a lot of available power and they react adversly if their power needs aren't met affectively. Your 12 volt rail is quite low and I can't see your PSU meeting the power requirements of your setup with readings as low as yours are. As for which PSU you should choose? A couple questions .... can you see yourself adding more hardware to your current configuration? If the answer is even "maybe" .... go with the higher output unit. When you get right down to crunching $ figures, you won't be saving anything at all if you end up replacing your PSU again because you misinterpretted your future needs. Also, for me .... I'd rather be wrong and have too much available power than be wrong and not have enough. I know, for most of us, money is part of the decision making process. However, considering the nature of what the PSU has been asked to do, its not the area to compromise .... but thats just my opinion based on my experience.