Thread: computer just turns off

  1. #1
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    computer just turns off

    hello need a little help

    my computer just turns off sometimes
    not shuts down but just turns off as if the power went out

    the computer is a home built pentium 4 1.6 with an intel mother board

    sometimes the computer will work for weeks without a problem and sometimes it will happen more then once on a day

    once it turns off i have to unplug it from the wall or filp the power switch on the psu on and off to get the computer working again or else it just wont turn on

    any ideas on whats wrong
    doesnt seem to be a heating problem becouse sometimes it stays on for days and its ok

    im thinking maybe something wrong with the psu but would like to here other thoughts

  2. #2
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    could be a tempature problem, but that wouldnt be quite so random. Is it winXP?

  3. #3
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    yea its windows xpro

    the only thing that makes me think psu problem and not temp is how it doesnt always happen and that i need to unplug to get it working again

  4. #4
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    stop using that psu before it fries your board. How many watts is it, and how many drives do you have in your pc?
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  5. #5
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Definately PSU. Sounds like you have something loose inside it.

  6. #6
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    thansk everyone
    thats what i figured but i thought might as well see what others think too

    looks like its time to go get another psu

    just wanted to know what makes you say that it is the psu?

    thanks

  7. #7
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    >>just wanted to know what makes you say that it is the psu?

    common sense...just look at your post, you said yourself it won't turn back on until you reset the psu...hmm...a connection perhaps?
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  8. #8
    Registered User major_small's Avatar
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    The PSU sounds like a safe bet, but also check the power consumption... test one of the power connectors to see if everything's getting the right voltage, because overtaxing your power supply could have the same effect...
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  9. #9
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    well i changed the psu but still the same problem any other ideas

    also major small how could i go about doing that what would i need

  10. #10
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Any multi-meter would work. But you have to know which pin to check.

  11. #11
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    I said heat because after my amd kicks off from a overheat, i have to reset the psu/mobo to get her back on.

  12. #12
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    when does it shut off? when you put it under high load? If so then rod may be on to something. Other possibilities include a failing hard drive (which sucks too much juice from the psu) causing it to turn off and require a reset.
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  13. #13
    Registered User major_small's Avatar
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    get a multimeter and put one contact (the red one, or +) on one outside pin and the other contact (black, or -) on one of the inside pins of one of the connectors (there should be four pins/connector assuming an ATX setup - see the picture below). then you turn the computer on. it should either read +5 or +12 volts... then switch the contact on the outside pin to the other outside pin and measure that. it again should be either +5 or +12 volts.

    there should only be one of each voltage: i.e. one outside pin should be +5 and the other should be +12. both voltages can and probably will be slightly off, but I forgot how much they are allowed to be off before it becomes dangerous. I think I heard 40% somewhere, but that seems high...

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  14. #14
    eat my shorts!
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    it is ur psu
    try to get this one:
    http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...5&Sku=ULT31562

    or go cheap and get a antec psu.
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  15. #15
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    I think he said he already got a new PSU. Besides, I'd avoid that one unless I was one of those folks who likes to have their computer look like a lowrider.

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