Random Shutdowns

[Allan.T]

Hey, it’s been a while..

So, I’m back, with a little problem.

Today I was taking it easy on my computer, just surfing the web, a little bit of light gaming some socialising, an easy day for my computer. I’d closed all windows as I was about to make myself a cuppa, then, my P.C shut down all by itself, my first thought was that it had short-circuited, I panicked. I couldnt see no smoke, and power was still being supplied to both my mouse and the ethernet port (my mouse has LED’s in it which dont shut down when the computer turns off). So, I presumed the components were good. I wearily pushed the power button, I got my bios screen and a little happy beep, I sighed with relief but just a little too early, as the computer shuts itself down again.

My mind turned to over-heating. so I felt the plastic screen on the side of my computer (where it normally gets hot by my GPU), and it was cool to the touch, I scratched my head, without actually being able to load my computer, I cant actually see what temps it’s running at. I decided to open it up and check connections. All connections were fine, however, I noticed heat around my CPU. The pump that is suppose to keep the CPU cool was hotter then my cup of coffee which had only been poured 5 mins prior.

I’m guessing I have to re-paste my CPU, though I’m somewhat worried. I mean today was the easiest day my computer has had for a long while, normally i’m playing games alot, and I never have problems. I’m wondering if perhaps my liquid cooler could be the problem? I mean it’s brand new, its a Coolmaster Maelstrom 120k, it’s always done a good job, could there be a fault? The thermal paste I applied was done well too, if I do say so myself. Plus it was only applied a couple of months ago, could it really be a problem? Or am I overlooking alot of possibilites?

I dont want to keep trying to turn on my pc in case I cause any damage, but what exactly should I be doing here? Will there be dump files with it just switching itself off? I’m not getting any errors, so I honestly believe it’s hardware related.

Any Idea’s?

Edit - Spelling

Addition

I also forgot to mention, I have tried the computer since, and it got to the desktop, I tried to quickly get CPU-z open, or speccy, anything that might give me some readings, but the computer shut down once again. Unfortunately, I didn’t even have time to click on any icons, let alone open anything.

[DOUGIE]

Hi Alan. Is the Maelstrom radiator fan spinning up on boot,and is it connected to CPU-1 on the motherboard?
Is the Maelstron Icon glowing on the CPU?

[Allan.T]

Hi Dougie, thanks for the reply.

The Radiator fan is spinning fine, and all boot ups, The radiator fan is plugged into the port labelled “CPU_FAN” and the power for the sink itself is plugged into the port labelled “PWR_FAN”. The cord plugged into PWR_FAN is only a 3 pin connector, so it wont fit onto the CPU_FAN insert. I’ve looked around the mother board to see if there are any other ports but the only ones it will plug into are too far away.

It’s been running fine for months, about 3-4 months in total. I’m about to make a short video to see if it can help identify anything (chances are slim). I’ll be booting up normally though, I dont want it to shut down during any sort of repair sequence. I’ll return soon with a vid

[Allan.T]

Hey sorry for the double post, but here is the video, please ignore my ramblings, I just can’t keep quiet.


Hope this helps.. I miss my computer already.

[DOUGIE]

What OS? Allan. It could well be a stick of Ram, as it is not getting past “Post”
Try one stick of Ram at a time in each slot and test Boot on each change. Try this first.

[Allan.T]

I’m running on windows 7. As mentioned in OP, I do sometimes get to the desktop, though i will try alternating the RAM sticks, and if that doesnt yield a result, I’ll re-apply thermal paste.

If everything proves fruitless, I’ll start testing all the parts on a different computer, to see if I can find out the cause through process of elimination. At the moment though I’m in bed, so I’ll have to go through it all tomorrow. I just hope I can get it up and running! I’ve got work to do, and I need a PC for it.

[DOUGIE]

A couple of other things you can try. A startup repair.
Also go into the Bios and give us the 12v rail readings.

[Allan.T]

I tried startup repair but the pc shut down during. I dont want to try it again just in case it causes more problems. I’ll snatch the readings tomorrow. I do have some rail readings on this forum somewhere, but i’ll attempt grab them again just ni case theyve been changed.

getting anything from the PC is going to be difficult. if not impossible, with the way it shuts down all the time.

[DOUGIE]

Try another Power Supply.

[DOUGIE]

Another test you can do, is to remove the HDD, hook it up to another Computer, and run chkdsk /f C:
Take note if anything is found.
Windows could be having problems reading the segments.

[Allan.T]

So I woke up this morning, had my intake of caffeine to get me motivated, then begun the process of elimination with my computer. I booted the computer up, and tried to get into the BIOS but I missed my queue, and it then proceeded into running the C:/ repair. I let the repair sequence run, it got to about 70% before the computer shut down yet again (there was several errors that needed fixing, but I put this down to the computer repetitively shutting itself down).

I then booted up again, this time getting into BIOS, I went to check some temps and voltages for you guys, but I was in BIOS for about 3 seconds before it shut down yet again. I’ll admit, I had enough at this point. I opened up the computer and gave it a look over, I checked the capacitors, all are fine no bulges, no leaks, no damage at all. I then unhooked the CD drive, and went to pull a stick or RAM when I physically burnt myself by catching the bracket that houses my CPU cooler. This is where I think the problem lies.

I let everything cool down, had yet another cup of coffee, and chain vaped on my e-cig. Once it was cool, I disattached the cooler from the CPU, just one look I realised this compound was toast. about 80% of it was still gloopy, but on the copper plating of the cooler it was like rock. I thought I had some rubbing alcohol around, but I don’t, so I’m currently enroute to purchase some from my local town.

I’ll update when I’m back and have cleaned my CPU and cooler.

Edit - Rewrote the post, content is still the same, just a little more descriptive as the previous time I wrote it, I was on my phone.

[Allan.T]

New thermal compound applied. The pc ran into desktop. I was able to download hmwmonitor and grab some temps. I recorded it on my phoneas the temps of the cpu were quite high, and i just wanted to shut my pc down.

I’m guessing either the cooler is at fault or my Cpu? Though the pc wouldn’t start if my cpu was goosed would it?

I’ll upload video now. Excuse the noise my partner has had a massive del8very come in so she’s testing gadgets and boxes are everywhere xD

[Allan.T]

Heres the video, theres some pretty high readings on there, could it be the motherboard causing the overheat? should I try switching to a stock cooler? I dont know anymore, I just want to cry

[veeg]

Did you ever get a chance to swap out your psu? Those cpu voltages look a bit low. A low incorrect voltage to the cpu will make it over heat.

[Allan.T]

Did you ever get a chance to swap out your psu? Those cpu voltages look a bit low. A low incorrect voltage to the cpu will make it over heat.

I never got round to doing it no. I do have another PSU bashing about, but its a low quality one, it only pumps out about 300W, I will have to change the GPU as well as it has no PCIE connectors, and unfortunately my MB has no display ports (which I only found out just now). I’m guessing you would like me to do this now? I mean the PSU which im currently using is brand new but it’s not of a “high quality make” it’s an Aerocool integrator 600W. I am in the process of saving up for one, yet bills only allow me about 20 pounds a week to put towards a new one.

How come this problem is only cropping up now? Wouldn’t the voltage of caused over-heating previously? I mean it just happened all of a sudden, thats whats confusing me most.