Computer suddenly shutting down

[dreamtfk]

This has happened every night for four nights in a row. I have checked to make sure no power saving features are enabled and none are. The shutdown usually occurs while playing games my computer completely shuts down and I cannot turn it back on.

I have to turn off the surge protector and wait about 10 minutes then turn surge protector back on, then my computer will start. Is it possible my power supply is overheating? any help is appreciated thx.

 

[Iron Hawk]

sounds like you are pluged into a bad outlet, or you could have a bad power supply.

 

[stool]

Heat sounds like a definite problem. If you have a generic PSU that can also be the cause of random shutdowns. It is worth the money to invest in a quality PSU.

 

[dreamtfk]

heh memory blank whats a psu?

 

[Arcane]

PSU is a power supply...

 

[Dougan]

I had this same problem...

and it turned out to be a power supply problem. What will eventually happen is the powersupply will fail. Its time for a new one I would imagine. Good luck to you!

 

[dreamtfk]

Anyone give me a name of a quality psu? Please give me the name a website if It can be purchased online, I find that shopping online is cheaper sometimes.

 

[Cooler666]

get a 400W or more Antec
www.newegg.com

 

[dreamtfk]

Why 400w instead of 300w? Does it make a difference?

 

[Larry Quinn]

If you want lots of drives...fans.....and Overclocking...then YES you would rather have a 400 or higher watt PSU.

I just got the new Antec TruePower 550....

You should be able to find it around 100.00 US.

550 WATT FLAME THROWER!!!!


If they made a 650 Watt ..I would have ordered it!

Just My Opinion.
Larry

 

[ColdMiser]

I will throw my hat into the ring too. I have had very similar problems before and it was the PSU once. I don't know your budget, but the PSU's from PC Power and Cooling get my vote.

I have some thoughts if you haven't already purchased. If the suspect PSU is less than 300W just go buy a new one. Otherwise, double check the connections coming from it. I once had a PC behave like yours, but it turned out that the 5V line I had connected to my homemade voltage regulator circuit was touching the case and grounding out. Caused all sorts of hell. I slapped a piece of electrical tape on there and all was fixed for good.

 

[dreamtfk]

Hmm lemme check that. I did not have the problem yesterday and I left my computer on, on purpose to check it out and it never shut down.

 

[army_man]

ya know i am havin the same problem. i think it might be for 3 reasons 1 either ther is a bug in that g4 cuz it never happened before i got that. ( i got same model ) and 2 maby a bigger power supply. also might the card be running too hot?

my config
Windows XP Pro
P4 1.8 (normally at 2Ghz but at normal for testing vid card probs)
512Mb rambus
3 hdds
burner and dvd drive
300W
PNY Verto GeForce 4 TI 4400 128Mb ddr

 

[dreamtfk]

Ya I was thinking the Gf4 could be the prob as well, cause Ive never had this issue before purchasing it.

Anyone else out there having similar problems please post it.

 

[xl]

yes, you have a lot of beefy hardware there, try a larger powersupply. Atleast 200w on the +5&+3.3

 

[army_man]

i'm thinking even more now so that its a power supply issue. my puter back to normal operating speeds is still having the same porblem. i switch user on xp and go to bed. when i wake up the next mornin and log on the puter restarts.

 

[nodoze]

This has happened every night for four nights in a row. I have checked to make sure no power saving features are enabled and none are. The shutdown usually occurs while playing games my computer completely shuts down and I cannot turn it back on.

I have to turn off the surge protector and wait about 10 minutes then turn surge protector back on, then my computer will start. Is it possible my power supply is overheating? any help is appreciated thx.

I'm no expert on this but if your system is shutting down when you are stressing your system, like when playing games, & then won't restart for a period of time, the first thing I would want to check is the CPU temps. If they are to high, your MB may be shutting the system down to protect the processor from frying. Check your BIOS to see what your thermal protection settings are & then monitor your CPU temps to see if they are approaching this BIOS limits.

 

[zck250]

Does Enermax make good power sopplies?

 

[eternalprophet]

Power Supply

Antec or Enermax...the power supplies at pcpowerandcooling.com are suppose to be pretty good as well. I would have guessed that your system went pooftah and restarted from a bad power supply or maybe a faulty gforce card? Did you try putting in the old graphics card to see if it still restarts?

 

[dreamtfk]

Well it just happened again and voila I was playing Rtcw (heavy on the cpu and I have all grafix pumped up) I really dont think its a power issue but a overheating problem. I dont understand cause my HS/F is on correctly and it works. It is the factory retail HS/F that came with the XP processor.

Anyone reccomend a good aftermarket fan because I think my cpu just isnt getting the proper cooling it needs.

btw: This never happens when I leave my computer on, only while playing games.