Computer randomly shutting off, but the lights on the case stay on

krookodilehunter · Apr 19, 2014

Title.
It happens when I'm in the middle of a game (Left 4 Dead 2, Saints Row 3), and it's getting worse. Before it would sort of shut off, but then come back on, but now it's just staying "shut off" until I push the power button.
Here's a Speccy shot: http://puu.sh/8fjQY.png.
Do I just need to clean the computer or could it be something more serious?

tiny voices · Apr 19, 2014

Link is dead. List specs including PSU please.

Unless heat is he problem, "cleaning the computer" will do nothing.

What are your load CPU and GPU temps?

krookodilehunter · Apr 19, 2014

Directly from Speccy:
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1

CPU
Intel Core i5 3570 @ 3.40GHz 92 °F
Ivy Bridge 22nm Technology

RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 665MHz (9-9-9-24)

Motherboard
ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP (CPUSocket) 92 °F

Graphics
DELL S2209W (1920x1080@60Hz)
Intel HD Graphics (ASRock)
2048MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 (EVGA) 88 °F

Storage
119GB M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device (SSD)
931GB Seagate ST1000VX000-9YW162 ATA Device (SATA) 90 °F

Optical Drives
ASUS DRW-24B1ST c ATA Device

Audio
High Definition Audio Device

And I believe this is is my PSU: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply

Load temps are CPU: 92-111 °F GPU: 88 °F

tiny voices · Apr 19, 2014

What are you load temps? If those are really temps in F the they are idle not load temps.

krookodilehunter · Apr 19, 2014

What should I do to get the load temps? I'm a bit confused.

tiny voices · Apr 19, 2014

Run a game or benchmark like Unigine Valley that uses the GPU max settings and then check the max temp it hit using MSI afterburner. Then run PRIME95 to stress the CPU 100% and check the temp using Coretemp or HWmonitor.

krookodilehunter · Apr 19, 2014

CPU: Core #0 78 °F-172 °F
Core #1 89 °F-176 °F
Core #2 77 °F-168 °F
Core #3 96 °F-170 °F
Package 96 °F-179 °F

GPU: 67 °C

tiny voices · Apr 20, 2014

your GPU is perfectly cool.

Your CPU on the other hand is frying. 88c is your max temp which is more than 20c higher than Tcase (max temp allowed). Your CPU is overheating and causing the computer to shut down more than likely. Make sure the heat sink is properly attached.

krookodilehunter · Apr 20, 2014

Everything looks to be properly attached. I also cleaned it out a bit, ran PRIME95 again, and the CPU temps went down about 20 degrees or so.
I still don't feel like that's good enough, though.

Edit: After running PRIME95 for a little while and checking the temperatures, the high values climbed back up to the high 160s.

tiny voices · Apr 20, 2014

Your CPU is too hot. It is probably causing the crashes. Is the cooler firmly attached? The junky Intel coolers like to break loose sometimes.

krookodilehunter · Apr 20, 2014

It appears to be, yes. Do you have any recommendations for a new CPU, since I believe I'm going to have to replace mine?

tiny voices · Apr 20, 2014

Your is probably fine. You just need to cool it properly.

krookodilehunter · Apr 21, 2014

What do you suggest I do, since everything seems to be connected properly?

tiny voices · Apr 21, 2014

Have you ever taken the cooler off and put it back on?

Does your case have good airflow?

Does the fan on the cooler spin faster when the CPU gets hot?

krookodilehunter · Apr 21, 2014

"Have you ever taken the cooler off and put it back on?" No, I have not.

"Does your case have good airflow?" Yes.

"Does the fan on the cooler spin faster when the CPU gets hot?" I'm not sure.

tiny voices · Apr 21, 2014

The cooler should be able to adequately cool the CPU so something is not right. I assume you have at least one fan in your case?

You are 100% positive it is FIRMLY attached? Like you tried to wiggle it around with your hand and it didn't move?

krookodilehunter · Apr 21, 2014

I just wiggled it around and it didn't move. And I have two fans, including the one that's supposed to cool the CPU.

tiny voices · Apr 21, 2014

How are your fans set up? Where are they and which direction do they blow?

krookodilehunter · Apr 21, 2014

One is hooked up at the back of my case and it blows air out of the case (don't know which way that spins).
The other is the one on my CPU.
Here's an image: http://puu.sh/8i7xB
Hopefully it works this time.

tiny voices · Apr 21, 2014

Well, your case doesn't have good airflow at all. You REALLY need a front intake fan to get some cool air coming into the case.

You case also looks VERY dusty. Try to clean ALL that dust out.

You can also try removing the heatsink and cleaning the old thermal paste off and reapplying new paste then reattaching the cooler.

Computer randomly shutting off, but the lights on the case stay on

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