Power cutting out on PC

Yodameister · 25-01-2007, 07:03

At the moment after starting up my PC the power totally cuts out after between 10 and 20 minutes.

Not talking restarting itself - just power cut out. Checked the obvious i.e. loose power lead.

Tonight when I get home going to open it up and check all the connections from the Power Supply Unit to see if there's anything wrong there.

Don't think it can be anything to do with VIrus/SPyware etc. Scanned it with up to date anti virus anti spyware - and anyway it really does look like its power supply physically cutting out.

Not really sure what else I can do other than check connecting leads - anyone got any ideas?

mrmist · 25-01-2007, 08:19

What has changed?

If nothing, and connections are fine, I'd consider replacing the PSU.

Yodameister · 25-01-2007, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmist

What has changed?

If nothing, and connections are fine, I'd consider replacing the PSU.

I can't spot anything at all that is different in anything until the power cuts out.

To be honest, replacing the PSU was probably next on the list - though I don't really want to do this until I've eliminated any other obvious things I could test.

sallonoroff · 25-01-2007, 08:34

Could be shutting down to protect itself from overheating?

Can you check the cpu/sys temps, after the PCs been on a while...?

.

Yodameister · 25-01-2007, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonlight

Could be shutting down to protect itself from overheating?

Can you check the cpu/sys temps, after the PCs been on a while...?

.

Yeah thats probably a good idea.

It did last a bit longer when I tried it this morning after it being off all night - so would have taken longer to overheat I guess.

sallonoroff · 25-01-2007, 08:55

Have you opened it up recently?
Could be full of dust and fluff...

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Yodameister · 25-01-2007, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonlight

Have you opened it up recently?
Could be full of dust and fluff...

.

I gave it a good dust about 2 months ago and had a quick look last night and it looked pretty clean, but will give it a more thorough check tonight.

mickc · 25-01-2007, 10:44

Check that the Processor fan is working, also the thermal paste between the processor and heat sink assembly may have dried out, disconnect the heat sink and check. It does sound like an overheating problem.

Funky_Gibbon · 25-01-2007, 12:55

I had this problem and it was the motherboard that was the cause.

Ginger_Kitty · 25-01-2007, 13:02

i had the same problem and it was the power supply....

if you take the case apart, as many sides off as you can do then switch it on, if it runs longer that way then its definitely a heating problem, you just have to figure out which bit!

sallonoroff · 25-01-2007, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickc

also the thermal paste between the processor and heat sink assembly may have dried out, disconnect the heat sink and check.

...though in taking the sink off the chip you are almost guaranteed to ruin the 'connection'. So if it wasn't that before, it will be afterwards...

Check for general dust and dirt.
Check whether the fans are running properly/at all.
Try a different PSU if you can.
If you still have probs, then somat is up with the mobo and/or chip... so then you could have a try separating heatsink and processor to look at the paste.

.

SimpyTimpy · 25-01-2007, 13:40

Your PC is shutting down to prevent your CPU being damaged by overheating. Basically, you should definatly check the fan on your processor and clean all the dust out of it, buy some insulating fluid from any PC shop which is around £3-5 and make sure you place enough between the fan and the processor.

Then it should be fine, you shouldn't have to replace your CPU as the PC was turning off in the first place to protect it.

Yodameister · 25-01-2007, 16:55

Well given it a damn good sort out inside, and its lasted longer than last night, still heating up at the moment though.....