Korean Job Discussion Forums

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

I used to know a lot about computers. I used to make them, upgrade them, be the tech guy for family/friends etc. Now I've taken a geek-break of nearly 10 years. And I gotta a problem, and I don't really know anything any more. All my expert computer knowledge has drained away.. (plus I don't think I ever encountered this kinda problem before anyway..) So perhaps one of you guys can help me.

My computer recently started getting tempremental. What I mean by this is that every now and then it decides to almost-die every now and then. By 'almost-die' I mean that when I get it to do something 'intensive' like play a video or rip a CD it decides to turn itself off. Not only does it turn itself off, but it won't turn on again for some time. If I try and turn it on again straight away it does a bunch of bios beeps indicating a lack of a floppy drive and dies again. (It's set to boot from the hard drive.)

Anyway, if I give it a break of a little while, it'll eventually turn on again.

I thought at first it might be an overheating problem. I've had this PC nearly 2 years and never cleaned it out or even opened the case (definitely over being a geek...) and figured it might be full of dust blocking it's fans etc. Anyway, I've since opened it up, and the insides look pretty clean. I've been running it with the case open too, so heat really shouldn't be a problem.

What other reasons are there for a computer to die when performing intensive tasks? It's really annoying me because I wanta watch the last coupla episodes of Lost..

jaebea · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Location: SYD

Perhaps a powersupply that's tapering off in it's output due to age/wear. If you do intensive tasks, many of your components, CPU especially, will need to draw more power. Perhaps there isn't enough juice going to whatever needs it and something trips in the PSU?

The "cooldown time" could be the time taken for the PSU to untrip itself.

I definitely thought it was heat initially, but it seems you've taken the usual tests. Maybe surge related damage might be an issue as well.

jae.

SeoulFinn · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: 1h from Seoul

Overheating came immediately to my mind, but since you kinda checked that one... Well, I still think it could be an overheating problem. Check that all the fans (CPU, PSU, chipset if any) are running. If not, you might have found your culprit.

Is the CPU heatsink hot to your touch? If not, it could indicate that the contact between the CPU and heatsink is bad (ie. the heat doesn't conduct away from the CPU). This could be caused bt the thermal paste gone bad. (Silica based pastes should be replaced now and then.) But if you're using something like Arctic Silver, I don't think that this is the problem as it doesn't go bad so easily.

Then there's always the PSU. It might be just about to die with a big bang! I don't want to scare you, but if it does die, it will very likely take your PC or at least some of your components with it when it finally dies. Umm... do you smell any electric/burned smell coming out from the PSU?

If were you I would check the fans, heatsink and the thermal paste first. Post your findings on the board so that we may try to find other reasons for your sudden crashes. Good luck and... BOOOM!!! Laughing

muggie2dammit · Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Location: Ilsan, Korea

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

The cheapest way to test out your problem would be to buy a new PSU and replacing the one you have now. If your problem goes away, then you're golden. If it doesn't, you won't be out of very much money anyways and at least you've eliminated one possible reason for your problems.

The King of Kwangju · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Location: New York City

Like you, I have no idea what could be causing it.

So when I get a problem like that, I take it into a computer shop and ask them to fix it. Then I meet my friends in a pub, or go home and read comic books.

These guys work for peanuts, and they fix these things professionally. Just like you used to.

keninseoul · Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul

muggie2dammit · Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Location: Ilsan, Korea

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

Thanks for the advice people.

I'm pretty sure it's not the heat problem, and so I'm pretty sure it's a PSU problem. I think I'll try replacing it and see how that goes. Will be a week or two 'til I do it though. Will let you know if that was indeed the problem.

thanks guys.