Random Computer Turn Offs

DunsbyDunsby Join Date: 2002-08-01 Member: 1042Awaiting Authorization
Well, my computer sometimes will just turn off, but the tower power will still be on.

This usually only happened on games such as America's army and UT2K3, but now it happens on Half-Life and occasionaly when im on my desktop, its getting annoying now.

Anyone know what the problem is?
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Comments

  • TheMuffinManTheMuffinMan Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11234Members, Constellation
    your computer might be going into stand bye for some weird reason
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    Try (if on) turning the hybernation mode off...
  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    Are you over-clocking?

    Add any new hardware lately?

    Otherwise made any changes/adjustments inside the case?
  • FamFam Diaper-Wearing Dog On A Ball Join Date: 2002-02-17 Member: 222Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    This happened for me when I had two different speeds of SDRAM running at the same time. Check your RAM maybe?
  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    Might be a heat issue
  • DunsbyDunsby Join Date: 2002-08-01 Member: 1042Awaiting Authorization
    256 Ram, i havent changed anything for about a year, its been fine until recently.

    Also sometimes after it goes off, i turn it on and it doesnt go on, i have to leave it for a bout 5minutes before i turn it back on.
  • AhnteisAhnteis teh Bob Join Date: 2002-10-02 Member: 1405Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    probably overheating.
    Most mobos have circuitry to protect you from accidentally frying anything valuable.
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    Open your computer. Sart it up and watch the fans. This happened to my old computer, it just went to black screen. The fan wasn't turning. Keep your computer cool! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • EmseeEmsee Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16644Members, Constellation
    edited June 2003
    How have you got it connected to your wall socket? If you have one of those 2 plug cube shaped adaptors try it with a different one. They can occasionally break and cause the connections to start arcing. This happened with my PC once. I couln't figure out why it just kept turning its self off and every time it did it I would have to wait about 5 mins befor it would turn on again or put the power lead out and in. It turns out the adaptor was faulty and started to melt. Luckly I caught it in time.
    Could easily be an over heating problem though. Has your Mobo got any temp mesuring fetures? If so try speedfan and check how the temps are going.

    Edit: <a href='http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php' target='_blank'>Link</a>
  • GreyPawsGreyPaws Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8659Members
    Wow and here I thought I was the only one! My rig fargen restarts randomly while im playing games, it only started happening 3-4 months ago I've not been able to narrow the problem down, I'm gunna try to swap my p-sup and see what happens

    win2kpro SP3
    p4 2.4 (533)
    asus p4t533-c mobo
    512 (2 256 sticks) of samsung pc1066 rdram and 2 trerminators
    Geforce 4 4600 Asus
    SB Audigy Platinum (sound)

    when I'm playing right before the random restart I get interferance on the speakers (5.1 insperon) then blamo restart
  • EmseeEmsee Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16644Members, Constellation
    What kind of interference? Is it like a high pitched squeeking/beeping (kinda like a dial uo modem)?
  • GreyPawsGreyPaws Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8659Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Emsee+Jun 3 2003, 03:52 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Emsee @ Jun 3 2003, 03:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> What kind of interference? Is it like a high pitched squeeking/beeping (kinda like a dial uo modem)? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    sounds like static with a high pitched whine right at the end for a split second

    I think it might be the power supply, I cant imagine what else can cause this. Unless one of the PCI slots is shorting out the mobo
  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Actually, that sounds a lot like the power supply may be going bad. Either providing intermittent power (just dying long enough to kill the machine) or not providing enough power.

    If you have an ASUS motherboard, I'd recommend loading up ASUS Probe. With that, you can monitor power fluctuations, heat levels, fan speeds, and other vitals.

    Covering all the bases, grab a RAM tester.. usually you install it on a floppy and reboot the machine, then let it run for however long it takes (or kick it into burn-in mode).
  • EmseeEmsee Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16644Members, Constellation
    It could either be a bad stick of RAM. If this only happens after playing games for a while, it could be this. Happened to me before. Or seeing as you have an audigy it's more likly to be what is known as the <b><a href='http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,48708,00.asp' target='_blank'>Squeal of Death</a></b>. Updating the sound card drivers could help, if that doesn't work try the Sound card in different slots as has been suggested by Creative. <a href='http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,29962,00.asp' target='_blank'>Clickeh</a>. Though your Mobo isn't mentioned in there it's still possible that it's related.
  • GreyPawsGreyPaws Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8659Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Talesin+Jun 3 2003, 03:59 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Talesin @ Jun 3 2003, 03:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Actually, that sounds a lot like the power supply may be going bad. Either providing intermittent power (just dying long enough to kill the machine) or not providing enough power.

    If you have an ASUS motherboard, I'd recommend loading up ASUS Probe. With that, you can monitor power fluctuations, heat levels, fan speeds, and other vitals.

    Covering all the bases, grab a RAM tester.. usually you install it on a floppy and reboot the machine, then let it run for however long it takes (or kick it into burn-in mode). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    can you post a link to a good RAM tester.... I used the lame one that comes with Norton Systemworks but I dont think it actually does anything to give you guys a bit of background when I bought this board it came with a p4 2.4 chip but they vendor did not have the ram I wanted so I went to another table and purchased the ram, however, it turned out that the ram I got was 32 bit (not 16 like the p4t533-c board requires) and the vendor that sold me the board and chip attempted to jam the stick in, I yelled at him to stop when I saw the mobo flex a bit, went and got new 16bit ram and everything was fine after that. In fact the more i think about it the more I realize that the problems only started to occur when I installed the 500 wat p-sup from (i thik its allied, might be one of the other good ones whatever the "whisper" ones are)
  • GreyPawsGreyPaws Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8659Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Emsee+Jun 3 2003, 04:07 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Emsee @ Jun 3 2003, 04:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It could either be a bad stick of RAM. If this only happens after playing games for a while, it could be this. Happened to me before. Or seeing as you have an audigy it's more likly to be what is known as the <b><a href='http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,48708,00.asp' target='_blank'>Squeal of Death</a></b>. Updating the sound card drivers could help, if that doesn't work try the Sound card in different slots as has been suggested by Creative. <a href='http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,29962,00.asp' target='_blank'>Clickeh</a>. Though your Mobo isn't mentioned in there it's still possible that it's related. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Holy Crud that sounds exactly like the problem im having! wow thanks I'll try the fixes at home tonight and post results
  • EmseeEmsee Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16644Members, Constellation
    edited June 2003
    On Talesin's point, it's unlikly that the PS wouldn't be suppling enough power. 500 Watts is alot, but just to be sure how many fans etc. do you have in your case to need that much power?
    Edit: I Forgot to include the link to a memory tester....silly me.<a href='http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/download.asp' target='_blank'>Clickeh</a>
  • GreyPawsGreyPaws Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8659Members
    I dont need that much power (I got 3 extra fans, if you dont count the one on the CPU and P-sup) but It was the only p-sup that pcclub had when I needed to buy one above 350wts (Asus said they could not provide tech support for geforce4 4600 unless it was supported by a P-sup of 350 and up (its not the wats that are important but those other numbers in the breakdown I guess the voltages or what not)
  • Nil_IQNil_IQ Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15520Members
    Speaking of 'Squeal of death', my comp makes squeeking noises occasionally too. It doesn't seem to mean anything, as it never crashes or anything, but it annoys me because I don't know what's making that frigging squeaking! I THINK it's just my fan, but I don't know.

    My 13 year-old sister says it sounds like a dying turkey, I would have to agree <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • EmseeEmsee Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16644Members, Constellation
    edited June 2003
    If it isn't coming from your speakers or Mobo speaker then it'll be a fan somewhere in there, though it could be a disk drive but unless you only hear when a cd is in it's almost 99% to be your fan. There are some guides to oiling and cleaning your fans on some site or other. I'll see if i can dig one up for you.

    Maybe we should have a PC Tech support forum. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Edit: There we go. Guide to making your PC Squeak free. <a href='http://www.tweak3d.net/articles/quietcase/2.shtml' target='_blank'>Clickeh</a>
  • GreyPawsGreyPaws Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8659Members
    there isnt much to relubing fans, just peel the sticker off of the middle part and drop some lube (wd40 works, Ive even used Crisko Oil when I was in a bind at a clients house) spin it a few times, top off the little hole with lube and reseal with fresh sticker or pice of tape.
  • marksman_not_newbiemarksman_not_newbie Join Date: 2003-05-02 Member: 16009Members
    i have a question bout my pc if u have the time and dont mind. please. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->


    Well, this is it:

    When i turn on the monitor and pc the monitor starts flashing like its on stand by even though the pc itself is turned on. To solve the issue i have to simply keep pressing the reset button and finaly it loads up. Weird no, lol. It does the same when i choose restart computer from the start menu.


    It can not be software related becuase the hard disk isnt detected remember nothing is. so i believe it might be the power supply. Also the fan makes random noises. mroe reason to believe its the power supply.


    Neway neone got a solution thats easier than replaceing the power supply cos i cant b arsed. somthing like hitting it with a large blunt object. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->

    if u can help great, if u cant i guess i will put up with it a few more months till i get my brand new pc <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> with a geforce FX i hope. I dont care what ati are doin, i dont want geforce to die out becuase if they do no competition for ati and then prices rise, which does no-one gud but fat cats.

    see my logic reasoning there, my powers are endless. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • AgentOrangeAgentOrange Join Date: 2002-11-18 Member: 9244Members
    My computers turn offs include spyware, cold pizza and country music!

    Mine turned of at random too a long time ago, but I didn't worry about it and it seemed to fix itself, or go away. Either or, I'm happy now. I hope someone can help ya. I have nothing else to say so stop reading.
  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Actually, SBV never posted his system spec.. and I can't see where ANYONE mentioned having a 500 watt PSU. SBV was the topic-starter, but GreyPaws had chimed in with his own difficulty. SBV's problem has not yet been diagnosed, nor fixed, nor even had feedback for a while. I still think it sounds like (from what we know) a borderline/failing PSU.

    As for a system memory check, <a href='http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp' target='_blank'>DocMemory RAM tester</a> is one that I use on any machine I build, or any time I drop in a new stick.


    Oh, and thanks for the reference link on the squeal of death. Just one more reason to hate the Audigy line, and stick with the SBLive series.
  • EmseeEmsee Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16644Members, Constellation
    edited June 2003
    Umm...Graypaws mentioned the 500 Watt Psu and I was replying to him after he quoted your post.<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->In fact the more i think about it the more I realize that the problems only started to occur when I installed the 500 wat p-sup from (i thik its allied, might be one of the other good ones whatever the "whisper" ones are) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Obviously he didn't know you were talking to SBV.
    TBH there not much we can do for SBV untill we get some more info. Hopefully his PC hasn't gone on the blink again and he can't respond. Though it does sound like either a PSU or overheating problem. Ram could be the problem if it happens just in games as thats what happened to me.
  • GreyPawsGreyPaws Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8659Members
    I loved the Live series as well, but the audigy definatly improved the way music sounded, it seems to have a built in EQ or in the very least it properly balances the bass to treble, I upgraded to the audigy and noticed a definat improvement

    And It was me who mentioned 500 wat P-sup.. I have one and I thought it could be causing the problems, but I now belive its the damn audigy, cause the symptoms on the creative page almost mirror what happens to me
  • DY357LXDY357LX Playing since day 1. Still can&#39;t Comm. England Join Date: 2002-10-27 Member: 1651Members, Constellation
    Sometimes my PC decides to restart itself when
    i've had that Z-Matrix program running for a while.
    Try closing that before playing a game.
  • redeemed_darknessredeemed_darkness Join Date: 2003-01-21 Member: 12565Members
    Go to cmos look at power manager see if it has at shutdown at a certain temp
    And while there see if you are getting enough power input

    This is off course assuming you main board has this feature, which most possible and you have some sense not to play around with the setting not knowing what they do
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    Open up your case and take a look at the power supply and motherboard. Look for corroded or leaky capactors. (the cylindrical things sticking out of it <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->). If you find any, replace the offending part. My roommate had very similar sounding difficulties and the culprit turned out to be a corroded capacitor in his power supply.
  • [WHO]Them[WHO]Them You can call me Dave Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10593Members, Constellation
    Just to add a comment here. I know firsthand that video card drawing operations gone bad DO have the power to restart your whole computer as if someone came up and pressed the reset button mid-game. So, if you notice that these reboots happen only while playing some 3d-game, try switching your video drivers to a more stable version.

    The problem I personally encountered to prove this was when I was working on my most recent game project for school. I was writing to index buffer memory that I didn't own in Direct3D8 and EVERY time I ran "Gun Fu: Disco of Crime" (the game I was working on) prior to figuring out the buffer overrun the computer would reset instantly.

    This however does not apply to people that have activity where it can't be turned back on right away as far as I know.
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