Shuttle just turns off every 30 mins

[jameswhite1979]

Have built a shuttle with a AMD 64bit cpu, Raptor 74, Maxtor 250, ATI x800 XT PE, DVD rw etc etc all quite normal kit. I am finding though that every couple of days that it runs for about 30 mins then shuts down not good can be just sitting there, watching mpg, listening mp3, ripping a DVD. Normally happens when its hot outside like the last couple of days here in UK.

I think I will take out hte secondary HDD and DVD give it a bit more space to breath.

What I do not understand is when I go to the BIOS straight after it reports cpu temp at 50c which to me seems fine. Also the system runs fine for another 30 mins thought it would keep falling over.

There is no BSOD or events and it does not reboot just turns off like you have pulled the power out!

Any tips here?

Oh XP SP2

 

[boomerang]

Before pulling the drives, why not run it with the cover(s) off. If it's a heat issue that should tell you.

 

[FreshFish]

SN25P I presume?

Go to SFF Forums:
http://forums.sudhian.com/categories.cfm?catid=43

tons of similar problems on this forum. I bought a SN25P recently and I will be putting it together next week...hope I am one of the lucky ones =/

GL

 

[jameswhite1979]

I took the cover off and the same issue so I went into the BIOS and loaded the fail safe setting and then went over setting it all correct again. The only thing that I did not set was the performance setting for memory as todate it all seems fine. I left it on last night and it was still on this morning so thats got to be a good sign.

 

[jameswhite1979]

Ok this did not work either!
Same problem as before so I think I can rule out BIOS and OS/software now
Sounds like it might be a faulty mobo or PSU

What should I test next?

 

[boomerang]

How accessable are the pins on the motheboard where the power button connects?

If they are, disconnect those leads and start it by momentarily shorting across those pins. A philips screwdriver works well. Could be a faulty power button.

Would there be a BIOS upgrade available? Might be a good idea to flash to it if there is.

Any chance there are voltage fluctuations at the receptacle where the SFF is plugged in?

 

[Topweasel]

Shuttles are sweet an all, I have one myself but i would never imagine getting al of those parts (850XT PE most off all) working in side one. Heat and or PSU are probably your problem, I wouldn't be surprised if at idle you are pushing your power supply to near peak. Most PSUs can't take more then a couple of minutes at peak anyways. If you need a SFF i would recommend looking at a Micro-ATX setup like the Aria.

 

[arsbanned]

Heat.

 

[jameswhite1979]

Heat thats what I thought but why then does it once turned straight back on last for the same amount of time?

Last night I ran it with the case off - no difference
Updated all drivers - no difference
Took out DVD RW - no difference
Moved 2nd HDD in to dvd bay- no difference
Took out 2nd HDD - no difference
Loaded all fail safe bios settings

So I am kinda down to the PSU, MoBo, CPU, Memory, video card or case

Do not think its the memory as would expect to see BSOD and/or event logs
Do not think its the video card and normally makes all sorts of colourful patterns on screen etc

So really down to the mobo, cpu and PSU

Any other thoughts or ideas that I should test. I have read that its good to change the sata cable. I might also move data from 2nd HDD to 1st take out the raptor (SATA) and install windows on the IDE drive and see how things run. Will remove the Raptor and SATA.

Think I will run the video card with out the overdrive for a while also on the new Windows Install.

 

[jameswhite1979]

I have been doing a bit more digging around in the BIOS and found that the 'Smart Fan' function does not seem to be working. Its designed at CPU 30c > to speed up and control the temp however this does not seem to be the case. I set the fan speed manually to med and it ran all night without a problem. I have been checking out BIOS revisions and found the following:

FN95S00G Checksum: 6000 Date: 2004/07/02

Initial release

FN95S00J Checksum: 2400 Date: 2004/10/08
1. Fixed sometimes Marvell LAN function fail after clear CMOS
2. Update Raid BIOS to v4.60
FN95S00M Checksum : C300 Date: 2004/11/01
1. Fixed Cool'n'Quiet function fail for Winchester CPU
2. Patch CPU temperature detect error.
FN95S00Q Checksum : 9300 Date: 2004/12/07
1. Fix system boot fail when Cool'n'Quiet function enable.
FN95S00U Checksum : 4B00 Date: 2005/03/24
1. Update CPU microcode.
SN95S1X2 Checksum : 2600 Date: 2005/05/31
1. Update Cool'n'Quite Table


As you can see quite a lot of issues there with the CoolnQuite which I assume means Smart Fan.

I am going to get the in BIOS installed and do some testing and monitoring and will let you know the results. However I think this looks like the right direction.

 

[w00t]

www.sfftech.com they will help you more over there always glad to see another shuttle owner. my shuttle runs about 50 idle and up to 54 load on low fan setting. dont use smart fan i recommend u turn off cool and quiet. shuttle has been iffy about bios i have to use an older bios version the "U" version check over at that link i sent you to see what bios you should run.

 

[CuriousMike]

James,
Hopefully, you have spare parts ( or know someone who does.)

First off, I'd yank the video card and run with a simpler video card. Maybe onboard video ? This might tell you a) the video card has a problem, but more likely b) your powersupply might be too weak.

A close second, if it uses a standard style power supply, try a different power supply.

A close third, take out every non-essential item in the machine and run it bare bones. Remove DVD drive, spare harddrive, 2nd memory stick... whatever. Just get it bare bones and see if it runs ok. Then slowly add pieces back in.

A distant fourth would be to run it with the case off, and blow a small room fan over it.

 

[furballi]

Did you clean installed windows? Run memtest86 to test RAM. What are the room temp and CPU temp? Check the 12V and 5V power rails with a multimeter. If you can't swap PSU, then wipe the hard drive and clean install windows. Install only one HDD, floppy drive, optical drive, and RAM module to the MB. DO NOT load any other software except for chipset drivers. Retest system for a few days.

 

[jameswhite1979]

Ok have got it all working now.

Your advice is all good and did try it but in the end I found the problem. I had flashed the BIOS incorrectly however this was not my fault as when I went back to the shuttle support site there was new images for the BIOS and docs to find your MoBo thought this was intresting! So got the new BIOS for my MoBo install and was fine everything worked first time as you might expect. Now my USB can mount ext HDD and the LAN card works 100% not just 25% of the time.

Yet it still crashed!!!!

I got some temp monitoring software and ran with that and fan speeds. I noticed as the temp raised so would the fan speed but never enough to stop the increase of temp! I set the speed to low all the time and its perfect! Always just think that the autofan speed is crap! and thair bios support crap also (but looks like they have that sorted now)

So bottom line to it all

New Bios fixed some extra's and set the BIOS to manual fan speeds!

Happy camper

Thanks guys all good advice!

 

[w00t]

watch out for shuttles bios they are bad. maybe shuttle can get off there lazzy ass and make a bios that supports the venice core so i can get somewhat correct tempetures! I would also score higher if they made some good bios.