Tech problem

[Pyros]

I have the feeling either my motherboard or PSU is failing

My system

AMD Duron 700

Gigabyte XE motherboard

256mb Ram

Geforce 2 mx Graphics card

Simptons, machine will do an instant shutdown as in one sec im happily typing next screen is blank and whole system is in pwer down mode (only psu is still chugging can hear fan)

This isn't critical yet never happened while i was playing a game always usually within 5-20 mins of turning pc on and only happened 6 times in the last 2 months but is getting more frequent.

Any ideas

All power consivation is turned off

CPU Temp is fine no spikes

once pc is on for over 30 mins it can be on rest of day no pwer down.

As I said its happened during writing notes browsing the web and reading emails but never during a game.

Kinda got me stumped

Any ideas greatly appreciated

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

---

I have the feeling either my motherboard or PSU is failing.

---

Maybe your PSU, but how powerful it is?

If it's a 250w, you MUST change it.

If it's a 300w, it might no be enough.

If it's more than that, I don't think it's the problem.

How many hard-drive, CD/DVD/CD-R do you have? Do you have USB stuff? Anything that could eat your power?

[Guest]

make sure you dont have a "power saving" or "stand-by" button on your keyboard. I've seen cases where keyboards with these features either have those keys stuck OR its the keyboard thats fubar and it sends those signals to the pc at random.

If not, then check your power supply. Anything below 300W is a must to replace. Then check your BIOS and windows settings for power conservation/sleep mode settings. Finally, do have that MBD checked. Perhaps even try a BIOS FLASH or resetting the BIOS through jumper (check with the MBD man. or the tech support of the company you bought the computer from for this, every MBD brand does this differently).

[Pyros]

Hiya, okay new details, as you know both mine and my wifes pc are almost identical same MB/HD/CPU/Graphics Card/soundcard/case.

It just happened for the first time on her pc, now we are both running on 220w psu's (hey hadto buy the cheapest case out there when I upgraded both machines)

So i'm going to order a couple of 330w psu's should fit in these generic cases thanks for the advice (was begining to think it was a hardware/software glitch with it happening on both pc's)

Better do it quick as tomorrow I'm having ADSL installed so thats another usb drain

[ 05-28-2001: Message edited by: Pyros ]

[jstuart]

Pyros, one thing of note. If you had a 220PSU

and a AMD 700, the AMD chips required a specific power amperage. Usually something around 0.70amp + or - 0.05 amp. I believe that a PSU below 250W does not have the capability to properly run the system and distribute power to the MB and all of it devices. If the new 330PSU does the trick so be it, if not try the FAQ at AMD or Gigabyte websites.

Jstuart

[Pyros]

My choice was made for me

Had ADSL installed on tuesday, love it to death pages load fast!!

But the modem was USB (PSU was 230) and wonderful things started happening. Just bought a new case with a 300W (only one I could afford) now I just hope my wife's pc holds together till I get her new case.

Well its been 24hours and no auto shut downs and none of the other graphic/sound anomalies.

Thanks guys would have never thought of the case (would have changed MB CPU and GC first)

[ 06-01-2001: Message edited by: Pyros ]

[Epsilon 5]

Your modem is eating your power? Sheesh, you must have an USB modem then... hehehe. My ADSL modem is powered independantly.

If I repair&upgrade my computer... BCM will rock! *sigh*