Summary: An upgraded computer may shut down because the existing power supply isn't strong enough. Here's why.
I recently upgrade my computer from an AMD Athlon 900 Mhz to AMD Athlon 64 2800+ including a new AMD motherboard. I also upgraded my graphics card from NVdia 8Mb Vanta to ATI Radeon 9600 256Mb, and my hard disk from 20Gb to 120 Gb, as well as the memory from 64Mb to 512Mb. However, I still use the same old casing, with one fan. It keeps shutting down after quite sometime and reboots. What could be the problem?
Sounds like you've upgraded your machine quite nicely. I'm guessing it runs much faster, and much smoother.
Until it dies, of course.
There's one component you didn't upgrade that I suspect as being the likely cause of your problem.
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Most people consider the CPU to be the heart of the computer. I don't look at it that way. The brains, maybe, but not the heart.
Your power supply is the true heart of your PC. Quietly, or not so quietly, pumping out electricity at the various voltages required by the various components of your computer, the power supply is an often over looked, and under appreciated component. I mean, when was the last time you saw anyone get excited about a power supply?
With the changes you've made, it's likely that your new computer is drawing more power than your old one, and it's quite possible that your power supply isn't keeping up. It could easily be overheating and shutting down after you use it for a while.
You mention that it's the "old casing with one fan". Chances are that one fan is on a small box and that small box is your old, probably tired, power supply. That would be my first guess, and the very first thing I would replace. It's probably rated for some number of watts - I'd now get one at double that rating.
The other thing that your new components are probably doing is also generating more heat. It's possible that your power supply is ok, but that one fan isn't enough to keep the motherboard and other components from overheating. This is relatively easy to test ... keep the cover off of your computer, and get a table-top fan to blow air at it. If it stays running, then one way or another, you're probably overheating when the box is closed.
The solution may well be the same. That more powerful power supply I mentioned above may well include a more powerful fan capable of moving more air. Alternately, you might see if you can mount a second fan in your case to help move air through.
There's also a small chance that the problem is only the CPU overheating. If it doesn't already have a fan mounted directly on or over it, you might look into adding that as well.
Your new motherboard probably has thermometers in various places to help measure the state of various components. Check out Motherboard Monitor, a free tool that will report your CPU's temperature among other things. It's a tad geeky, but there's good information.
Related:
Article C2474 - November 28, 2005
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Posted by: John Keeler at February 18, 2008 10:24 AMmy pc shutting down alone after 10 minits if i stay on the piczo site any help? thx very much
Posted by: adriana at March 7, 2008 3:36 PMI just went in and the PC was turned off. I turned it back on figuring it would reboot and got the screen telling me that Windows didn't shut down correctly and do I want to start up in safe mode. So I continue and then the machine just shut off. I tried this several times and several different ways and every time I have about 30 seconds before the machine shuts off.
Posted by: ishtarzana at March 22, 2008 1:24 AMIs this a power issue or is it just time for TAPS on the PC?
I had been having problems with my computer, recently installed 1gig memory to my already 1gig.
Posted by: steveo at March 25, 2008 2:45 PMComputer would run then for no reason crash, went on for a couple of weeks,gradually getting worse checked leads etc, was certain it was a faulty power supply and was going to buy one, then as a last resort I took the memory sims out cleaned channels of dust and reinstalled in different slots, the flamin thing works perfect now... Just shows you it can be the simpleist thing and saved me 20 quid, by not buying new power pack.
Hope this helps...
my system is shutting down when ever i am downloading any file from net.
Posted by: sachin at April 2, 2008 10:51 PMso,any suggestions
computer shutdown had a new upgrade mb and graphics card but i can restart it do you think it is power supply? or is it my registry had a new mb put in runs good when it is on donald
Posted by: donald cox at October 29, 2008 3:59 PMHey guys i read ur comments i tried to solve urs throush Dell and Hp, but they couldnt help me either, so guys my problem is same as urs, My computer keeps shutting off, whenever i try to turn on, it work only for 5 min and then turns bak of immediately i have every kind of protection Anti virus, Avg, anti malware, but still if any of u guys find anything useful paste on this topic thx
Posted by: Parth Kadakia at February 20, 2009 7:32 PMThere are many possible reasons for a machine to shut down suddenly.But most of them are often associated with a "blue screen of death"(BSOD).
There are many causes for a BSOD to pop up-
*Software or device drivers may have a problem
*A piece of hardware is malfunctioning, or it is not supported by windows.On older machines,outdated BIOS information can cause problems
*Corrupted startup files
and the like.
The first thing to do if any such things happen is to go through the error message and try to identify the problem.But in most cases this message pops up very briefly,and the Automatic Restart checkbox in Startup and Recovery should be unchecked, provided that you are able to work on your PC for some time.If this is not the case, then press [F8] during POST and boot into Safe Mode.If you are able to do so, then the problem is not hardware related.Then run a virus scan, uninstall any recently added software and roll back any updated device drivers.You can also run System Restore.If there is an intermittent error which crops up in Safe Mode, then its a hardware problem and you should troubleshoot any hardware which you suspect might be causing the problem.If it is due to a software then remove it from startup and uninstall it.If you get a problem during installation it can be due to any of the peripherals.Even after all your efforts, if nothing works then press [F8] during POST and select "Last Known Good Configuration".If this fails,then perform a reinstall of Windows after all other hardware related issues have been sorted.
Posted by: Tamz Maj at March 18, 2009 2:22 AMmy computer shuts down when ever my avg scans the whole com.i cant stand my com i feel like punching it everytime it shuts down
Posted by: someone at June 11, 2009 7:22 PMMy pc shuts down to a black screen at random intervals, some times i hear the click when like when you hit the reset button im starting to think its the case, i just replaced the power supply about 5 months ago with a 850w, im runing a Q6700 just replaced on friday and the temperature is not a factor when the restart happens, Core temp has shown in the logs that it happens when my cores are at 45* or 55*, i just replaced the memmory friday too along with another dvd drive, the only thing left is the case????? I'm thinking maybe my cable to the reset button is bad or has a short some where but i have moved my case around and it doesn't restart???? maybe its cursed, the motherboard is new and so is the video card there about 4 months old and 8 months old.
Posted by: xyberviri at June 28, 2009 11:57 AM