NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

Hi all;

Have a problem that is stumping me here. I'm usually pretty good with this stuff but this one is a bit odd.

I'm running a home built comp;

Windows XP Pro
AMD Barton 2800
ASUS MB (not sure the model # offhand, A718NX or similar)
512 MB Corsair Ram
ATI Radeon 9500 Pro

Everything was fine until a few weeks ago. I installed a new cd burner and also updated my catalyst drivers (these are the only changes that come to mind).

I have about 4 software applications (games) that will run for a random amount of time, usually 1-5 minutes (with no significant trigger) - it will lock up for 3-5 seconds, then suddenly the whole system shuts down. I found this odd; I've had problem with crashes and lock ups before, but never anything that would shut the whole system down like that.

The obvious culprit would be overheating but I hadn't changed any settings, all fans are still running, and I run other, more resource intensive games without a problem. Most of the games crashing the system aren't that resource intensive.

First note is that all the problems were with newly installed software, so the problem isn't necessarily new, it could just be being triggered by the software.

I rolled back the drivers to my last install and unhooked the new burner; this seemed to fix the problem with one of the four games, but the other three continued to cause the problem.

At this point I'm kind of stumped; what else would force the power off / system shut down problem like this? Is there any program I can run to monitor the heat that will log it and I can examine after the crash? I've got an ASUS heat monitor utility, but I don't see anywhere to log it, and besides I dont' think that is the problem anyway.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

How strong's the PSU?

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

rollback drivers...then you need to re install the servicepack?.
does the shutdown comes with a message...

check the event viewer [ctrl panel/admin.tools or r mouse my computer/manage/event viewer]...

remove the cdburner [scsi or ide ?]
\0/ anoe

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

is there any kind of message to be seen in windows?

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

Hi all;

Let me update you;

450 watt PSU. I ran my voltage monitor and absolute no problem with power supply.

I unhooked CD-ROM; still crashed.

Rolled back video drivers, directx, nothing.

The only thing I noticed is that my idle heat is at 51-54C. At the time of crash it has risen as high as 65C.

My question, if this is a overheating problem, why is it doing it in Planetside Farscape but not Far Cry or Rainbox Six or any other new game?

Thanks!

Shane

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

Oh sorry;

Also event log shows NOTHING at the time of crash or prior to it.

There is no error; the screen locks up for about 3 seconds then completely powers down (as if I had flipped the switch in the back).

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

I also built my computer from scratch. I don't know if this would help you or not, but I had problems with my computer from installing SP1 after XP was installed for the first time. Though my computer never crashed; they were just other problems. You might want to consider making a bootable Windows XP CD with SP1 slipstreamed on it. That means when you install XP using that CD, SP1 is installed like it is part of XP. That fixed all the errors I was having on my computer. But like I said earlier, that might not fix your problem....http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp1_cd.htm

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

this was happening to me kind of..
it would start up and then crash after 30-50 secs with bsod
to this i started up in safe mode reinstalled video and sound card
works like a dream now :naughty:

P4 2.6 ht <800mhzFSB>
1024mb PC3200 <400mhzFSB> dual channel
120gb sata barra v 8mb cache
GF4 4800 TI 8Xagp 128mbddr
GA8IG1000 mb
forrtissimo3 7.1

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

Make sure that the heatsink on the video card is still on there tight, or make sure that the fan is not obstructed by anything that would stop it from turning. If it is overheating, you chould buy a GPU heatsink, or you could buy a PCI slot fan to put next to it.

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

if you check your motherboard out again it my have c.o.p. or something like that 65 is a bit warm *edit*
ASUS C.O.P (CPU Overheating Protection) is a hardware protection circuit that automatically shuts down the system power before temperatures go high enough to permanently damage your CPU.
check out there tec site if you think that is the culprit also flash bios i had problems like yours after i flashed em they went away

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

http://www.asus.com/support/english/techref/index.aspx



ASUS® C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection)


Introduction

ASUS C.O.P (CPU Overheating Protection) Technology is specially designed for ASUS AMD CPU Platform to prevent accidental cooling malfunction to cause CPU's burning down. Combined with ASUS' unique Hardware Monitoring mechanism and AMD AthlonXP thermal pins design, ASUS C.O.P Technology can protect the safety of both AMD CPU and users' ASUS motherboards better than ever before. When the CPU's temperature is over the default threshold, a signal will be sent to automatically shut down the system immediately. Thus the hardware investment is kept safe and sound. Unlike other ways controlled by BIOS or software, ASUS C.O.P Technology is more hardware-controlled and uninterruptible. However, this wonderful feature only works when users adopt AMD AthlonXP CPU.

How does C.O.P Technology work?

According to AMD AthlonXP's specification, a proper threshold temperature is set for secure criteria of ASUS models with C.O.P feature. And this is also the threshold temperature for ASUS C.O.P Technology to trigger. Under normal condition, CPU fan works great and the system temperature should keep far beneath the threshold temperature. However, some accident may happen such as fan failure or improper fan installation. No matter what factor it is, the temperature of CPU, because of heat CPU produces, would ramp at fast speed. On motherboards without C.O.P feature, the only result of this is that the user finds his computer slowing down, and then hanging up, and then blacking out and finally CPU in smoke. However, with C.O.P technology, as the temperature of CPU fluctuates, there will be a fluctuating voltage difference between specific two pins of AthlonXP CPU. With this, an ASUS sensor ASIC onboard can get the approximate temperature and judge if it is over the threshold. As long as the number reaches the temperature set, the ASUS ASIC will send a signal out to abort the system by cutting the electricity supplied to CPU. And then CPU temperature comes down. So, when users are using ASUS motherboards with C.O.P and find their system abort, very possible something goes wrong with their fans.

Why by hardware control?

ASUS found that traditional software-controlled method fails to guarantee the safety of CPU because heat produced may make the operation of application program and operating system unstable or even in malfunction. Thus, in the golden time of overheating, software-control method may fail to stop the system due to out of control. However, ASUS C.O.P monitors the system via hardware mechanism and it is more uninterruptible even though the OS or application program hung than other method does.

What benefit can user get from C.O.P Technology?

Of course, the biggest benefit users can enjoy is security of your computer. You can still keep the healthy CPU and the board. And all AMD platform motherboards will own this feature to pass the verification. Actually, users are enjoying the future technology earlier than other players for six months.

Which asus models provide such function?

Presently, ASUS models including A7M266-D, A7N266 Series, A7V266-EX, A7S333 and A7V333 own this feature. Actually all ASUS AMD ATX models will finally own this feature.

CPU Burning Live Show

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

Ive had the same problem as you the computer randomly turning itself off. At first I thought it was a problem with my cooling system then I found it was just bad ram replaced it and it was fixed never happened again.

Re: NEED HELP / computer shutting down for no reason
 

Umm is it when you hit space or enter, ive had that happen on ATI cards