Curse

Zeppo · Apr 23, 2005, 09:35 PM // 21:35

I am actually thinking its a power problem. The same sort of thing was going on with my friends computer. HE would play a game for 5 - 15 minutes, and then it would restart. It ended up being the power supply. He upgraded and it hasn't happened since. So my guess would be power supply.

dstock · Apr 23, 2005, 09:49 PM // 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstock

with the temperature monitoring program i downloaded, it says my cpu and case temperatures are changing as much as 40 degrees in 5 seconds, back anf forth. is this ea problem with my motherboard temperature sensor? if so, what can i do about it?

what can i do about this?

Darkmane · Apr 23, 2005, 09:54 PM // 21:54

I am not ready to say its the power supply yet... although of course it is a possibility. What kind of Heatsink / fan do you have on your processor? Did you put it together yourself? Is there a fan on the northbridge or just a heatsink ... bleh let me go look it up. bbs. I agree with checking out the heat issue by taking the side panel off and stickin a fan near it to see if it stays on. IMO if it was the power supply it would have totally failed on you by now with all the shutdown and restarts.

Sin · Apr 23, 2005, 10:17 PM // 22:17

Right back to the power supply regarding the temperature changes. Reason? The power supply isn't able to sustain power accurately so any number of things can be going wrong, including sensors not working properly--say you have a fan that is starting to wear, therefore drawing more current. That's current that isn't available to another device, like maybe a sensor? If you fans were sensor driven this would look like the sensors were bad, when it's not they or the fan, it's the power supply having so little reserves to buffer currency demand fluctuations. Your computer will also perform better just in having more available when the CPU needs more power.

First get the new power supply and that will rule this out entirely. Why? If you need a new video card for instance, you'll probably need more power too. More ram? More power too. You see? Start with the most essential component to having a computer: The power supply.

I am sure people have had similar expriences with their car when the battery or alternator was acting up. Please change the weakest component in your system pursuant to specs. Again: Intel and AMD recommend having a 400 Watt power supply for todays machines. Please heed this and your problems may be gone entirely.

dstock · Apr 23, 2005, 10:47 PM // 22:47

ok i have a 420W power supply that i could buy, and i probably will. but to sidetrack from power for a moment. my MBM temperatures for my cpu, then case, have been fluxuating extremely, for instance both going from 5 degrees celcius to 61 degrees celcius in 5 seconds. and i have the side of my computer open while these fluxuations are occuring, and i feel no difference. this leads me to believe that my motherboard TEMPERATURE SENSOR, or thermometer, whichever you call it, is faulty. and if my temperature sonsor is faulty, that could be why my computer shut itself off an unpredictable intervals while playing GW. if the tempterature sensor is awry, what can i do to fix it? new motherboard? or is the broken temperature sensor repairable?

Sin · Apr 23, 2005, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Alright. I don't know about repairable, it may be bypassable but probably not good to do that. Again it might just be power fluctuation that is causing the sensor to be cooky. I don't know of it being all that common for a temp sensor to get messed up. Lansing Kai Don would know this one for sure. If you get the new PS and still have a problem I'd consider it. I just never seen one of those go bad before and what you describe is classic power supply failure for my experience.

Ask Lansing Kai Don, Mss Drzzt, Loviatar, SSE4 or even ZennZero might have some ideas, as well as a bunch of other people who frequent the tech corner. They'll likely post if they see anything they can add or help you with.

Lunarbunny · Apr 23, 2005, 11:00 PM // 23:00

There is a band-aid solution if the thermometer is on the fritz. It's slightly dangerous, as your processor will obviously fry if it gets too hot. There should be a setting in your CMOS setup that has a temperature threshold. You can either turn it off if allowed, or turn it up to some absurd number.
To be safe, I'd say switch the PSU first. Much less risk than doing some of these things, and it will most likely be a long-term investment.

dstock · Apr 23, 2005, 11:00 PM // 23:00

it could be power failure? hmm ok, well i'll try and get that 420W asap and see what happens then, it's just odd. the temperatures go below room temperature, a few degrees above freezing, which is impossible. i never would have thought that could be from p/s failure. the readings are all over tha map. plus, my motherboard's only a year old, and it'd be hard to believe the temp sensor is messed up already. should i also look into that case with all the fan slots, but keep the front ones empty like you suggested sin?

Lunarbunny · Apr 23, 2005, 11:02 PM // 23:02

Sorry about posting so fast again, but an edit seems silly now.
Any component that's not getting the proper voltage/amperage continuously will most likely go on the fritz. That may be what's happening.

Sin · Apr 23, 2005, 11:20 PM // 23:20

Dude a good case with good ventallation always is a good thing. Put the front fans in if you want. I only take the front one out with trouble situations and that's been 4 times not like 100. Like I said above, I mentioned it here if yours was one of these. I don't think it is. Get what you can and deck it out, why not? hehehe

The key here is not do too much at once or you'll almost never figure out where the problem is. Lunar has an idea there with adjusting the temp threshhold, if you have to. Let's make sure you got clean, abundant power first. That might be the whole thing.

dstock · Apr 23, 2005, 11:22 PM // 23:22

alright thanks, i'll have the power spply by monday, and then i'll see what happens, and probably come back for more suggestions and questions. thanks alot guys

Sin · Apr 23, 2005, 11:25 PM // 23:25

I hope that's all it is. Make sure to blow out the dust bunnies while you got it all apart too. Good luck with it man!

dstock · Apr 23, 2005, 11:28 PM // 23:28

thanks again, and 1 more quick question, with the case, it comes with 2 front fans, 1 side, 1 top, and 2 empty slots at the back. should i fill those slots for a total of 6 fans, or move the 2 front ones to the 2 back slots??

Sin · Apr 23, 2005, 11:30 PM // 23:30

There should be some info on the case you are buying showing the flow they designed it for. That is called thermal dynamics. I'd follow their recommentations unless they prove to be inaccurate.

Darkmane · Apr 24, 2005, 12:10 AM // 00:10

Accoring to the manual for your motherboard, there is a section in your bios that will inform you of possible problems with your power supply. Didja check that section out?

I am not saying that the bios will tell you for sure. And many times the bios has a problem determining actual voltage. But it is something to look at.

Sin · Apr 24, 2005, 12:18 AM // 00:18

There may be something to that, the difficulty is in the bios being supplied from the same faulty power supply. Meaning what it tests may be different than just a marginal draw beyond maximum. That's a nice feature, dont' get me wrong, in fact it will be far more useful with a better power supply in the system. I am just hoping this will clear up the temperature sensor problem he is having. The motherboard is 1 year old. If this doesnt' fix it, he's likely gonna need a new mother board, which something like this doesn't usually occur but with dirty or demanding power draws in the first place.

Mss Drizzt · Apr 24, 2005, 12:37 AM // 00:37

If you are getting those kind of readings you really must I mean must take the Heatsink of and wipe it clean and put on some new Artic silver 2 paste and reaply. Also get a new fan for the heat sink. It will cost you very little.

Then check the Psu. As above mentioned will be cheap and definetly will not hurt. Also you may need a new battery for your mb.

You can not fix the mb prob unless you really know how to solder and are prepared to take a very big gamble.

Darkmane · Apr 24, 2005, 01:00 AM // 01:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mss Drizzt

If you are getting those kind of readings you really must I mean must take the Heatsink of and wipe it clean and put on some new Artic silver 2 paste and reaply. Also get a new fan for the heat sink. It will cost you very little.

Then check the Psu. As above mentioned will be cheap and definetly will not hurt. Also you may need a new battery for your mb.

You can not fix the mb prob unless you really know how to solder and are prepared to take a very big gamble.

Well I wanted to say this because personally I think that is what is the problem. Poorly mounted HSF..... IMO. But since everyone is hell bent on possible power supply. I just don't think it is because 'normally' Intel based mobos do not have a problem with power. As they use much lower voltages than AMD. It could be that the HSF just sucks. (HSF could be warped) I lap every HSF for every system I build. I have seen some pretty warped HS's from reputatable vendors. Anyway.. thats why I thought we should determinne if it IS heat .... and powr supply later.

Mss Drizzt · Apr 24, 2005, 01:06 AM // 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkmane

Well I wanted to say this because personally I think that is what is the problem. Poorly mounted HSF..... IMO. But since everyone is hell bent on possible power supply. I just don't think it is because 'normally' Intel based mobos do not have a problem with power. As they use much lower voltages than AMD. It could be that the HSF just sucks. (HSF could be warped) I lap every HSF for every system I build. I have seen some pretty warped HS's from reputatable vendors. Anyway.. thats why I thought we should determinne if it IS heat .... and powr supply later.

I believe you are correct. That mb and cpu do not have a big power draw so it would be much better to check the HSF than to spend money you don't have to. I'm a big beliver of cheap first expensive second. And since reaplying the HSF to the CPU will only help try it first........oh yessss.

dstock · Apr 24, 2005, 06:18 AM // 06:18

a motherboard battery? whats that?