Random Shutdowns 2

[mrf0979]

My system has been up and running for two years just fine after some initial HD and modem issues. My mobo and CPU have not given me any problems. (Asus a7v8x/athlon xp2200+ in an Antec tower, running WinXP Pro) I recently added a DVD burner, which works fine. What I'm writing about sprung up about a week after DVD installation.

Here's what's happening: System will be running normally, either in idle or while I'm using it and suddenly it will power down. So I reboot and I get the 'System failed CPU test' vocal. At this point all I can do is cut the PS. I wait until the green light on the mobo goes out, then I power back up and reboot and everything is fine. no vocal, no 'windows has recovered from a serious error'. Then a few minutes/hours/what-have-you later it shuts down again.

My feeble observations/attempts:
-Maybe 6 mos ago I noticed a click, CLICK sound on occasion coming from the case. It seemed to be completely random, sometimes happening again a minute later or not at all. I haven't noticed it lately, though.
-Also, the fan over the heatsink seems to be intermittently rattling and running at inconsistent speeds. I've ordered a new one because they are cheap, but don't know if that's the problem.
-My case is open and I have a fan pointed at it. I also have intake and exhaust fans, PS fans and a fan on the vid card.
-I regularly clean out dust.
-My caps look fine.

I've already spent hours browsing other forums for similar posts and they mention everything from CPU overheating to video card incompatibility, but everyone's problems seemed to be on brand new systems. Mine has been fine until now. Bearing that in mind, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions (besides tossing the Asus or buying a Mac)

Also, since I'm hoping/leaning towards CPU overheating, how do I check the temp of my CPU while I'm in windows?

 

[braddds]

You could try Motherboard Monitor

mbm.livewiredev.com

It'll tell you your temp while in windows.

As a side I don't recommend running your case open with a fan pointing at it...amoung the various hazards of open eletrical it doesn't provide good cooling! Getting more fans (internal) and closing your case would do a better job! Also, with your case open your existing exhaust fans are rendered useless!

Cheers

 

[garebo]

The pc owner has to have a good look at the system first of all, make sure there is a fan in the front pushing in air and at least one in the back, nearer the top. And that should be taken care of first, even if it means turning the fan on the power supply around! Not only that, but the pc owner knows the situation better than we do right off the bat.
However, i do feel that a good sized table or square house fan at the right speed can do a very good job of cooling with the side of the case off. I feel its a good diagnostic tool to use. If the pc is running hot and the table or house fan corrects the problem, then the pc owner knows they have some fan work to do. So, a good diagnostic tool. I dont believe it renders other fans useless either, but i guess I have a right to my opinion, and, again, its only a diagnostic tool, but its a tool that can help.






Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[mrf0979]

Thanks for the monitor link.

The house fan does drop the temp for me. I'm thinking the new CPU fan was a good idea after all. My CPU fan is running way too slow, sometimes it says '0' for a minute then goes back up. The CPU temp starts to increase at this point (obviously). When I shut it down myself it was 61C and rising. AMD website says the 'die' temp for my processor is 85C. Unfortunately I do not know at what temp it is shutting down randomly, but it wouldn't suprise me if it was getting that hot.

We'll see what happens when I get the new fan.

 

[garebo]

I'm wondering what kind of fan you have now, maybe its a variable speed fan with a thermistor or other type of sensor and, if so, perhaps faulty.
Look around in bios for a sign of having such type and look around for possible manual adjustment for it. Im not saying you do have, just that its possible.
An example of an older one is the volcano for P3 and for AMD cpu's. Some of these have adjustable, automatic and manual controls. Course yours may be a standard fan.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[mrf0979]

I wondered about that myself. The Q-fan feature on my mobo that regulates fan speed is disabled and always has been, so the fan is fluctuating all by itself. It's a dynatron fan but I don't have the specs on it. Whatever type it is, it is not keeping the CPU at a constant temp even when I'm not doing anything and without the house fan pointing at it, things start heating up. I could try enabling Q-fan to see if it makes a difference, but I never needed it before and for less than $10 I'll just put in a new fan.

 

[garebo]

Sure, try Q-fan at higher levels or even permanently on, whatever you can do with it.
While waiting for your new fan, you can peel back the label on your current fan a bit, just enuf to get a few drops, maybe even 3,4,5 drops of light oil in it, then tape it up and see if that helps the fan work a bit better.
Again, only until you get the new fan. Although i have had great success with a combo of oil and powdered graphite, and such fans have run for years after that, i cant say it will always work, but it does for me on certain fans. Oil by itself will only work for a few weeks or so, then the oil tends to dissipate and fan goes back to the condition it was in before the oil, but oil with powdered graphite lasts virtually for years. You can get powdered graphite in hardware\auto stores, a small plastic tube, about $3 or less.




Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

Sure, try Q-fan at higher levels or even permanently on, whatever you can do with it.
While waiting for your new fan, you can peel back the label on your current fan a bit, just enuf to get a few drops, maybe even 3,4,5 drops of light oil in it, then tape it up and see if that helps the fan work a bit better.
Again, only until you get the new fan. Although i have had great success with a combo of oil and powdered graphite, and such fans have run for years after that, i cant say it will always work, but it does for me on certain fans. Oil by itself will only work for a few weeks or so, then the oil tends to dissipate and fan goes back to the condition it was in before the oil, but oil with powdered graphite lasts virtually for years. You can get powdered graphite in hardware\auto stores, a small plastic tube, about $3 or less.



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[mrf0979]

It was definately the fan. The replacement I ordered is the same exact fan and it is running about 5000 rpm constantly while the dying one was only running 2000 tops for just a few minutes. Temp is consistent now too around 40C.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[garebo]

Great!

Good advice + great people = tek-tips