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My desktop pc switches off for no (apparent) reason

Tags:
  • Power Supplies
  • Crash
  • Motherboards
  • BIOS
  • CPUs
  • Samsung SSD
  • Components
  • GPUs
  • Monitors
  • Blackout
Last response: in Components
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August 19, 2014 11:26:41 PM

Dear Toms hardware people

I've been in here quite a lot these past weeks, as I have been troubleshooting on my home PC. I am at the end of the road as far as my 2 cents will take me, so now I'm posting. I really don't now which category to put this in because I no longer have any idea what is wrong.

It's an older rig, but from quality parts.

Problem: Computer sets out after short periods of browsing, or immediately after launching games. It's fine when idle on the desk top and running small diagnostic prgms and such. Now and then, though, it will allow me to play a game for several hours. This is rare.

Most of the time the PSU shuts down (still light in the power diode, though), but sometimes it doesn't. I do get a black screen every time, however.

The PC has been idle, disconnected from power for some 10 months.

The PC boots immediately, when I activate the power switch on the PSU.

Tried solutions: Took the whole thing apart and cleaned it with compressed air and cotton tips. This resulted in nice temperature drop to 25 C idle on the CPU and 30 on the GPU.

Crash

Uninstalled and removed the GPU and plugged the screen directly in the mobo.

Crash

Tried a different monitor cable, then a different monitor (with both cables).

Crash

Replaced the PSU with a brand new one (500w to 550w).

Crash

Switched the SATA cables

Crash

All my drivers are up to date (says windows auto detect).

My parts:
Motherboard: GeForce 6100PM-M2
CPU: AMD Athleon 64 X2 DC 6000+, 3100mhz
BIOS version: Phoenix Award Workstation v6.00PG
PSU: 550W LC-power "LC5550 v2.2"
2x2 DDR2 RAM (don't know the brand)
GPU: Nvidia GeForce 9500GT
Monitor: AOC 2436
SSD: Samsung 250gb
OS: Windows 7 ultimate

Next: I'll try one RAM block at a time, though I doubt it is that...
Edit: it's not that.


Question: Could it be the BIOS that can't cope with something -needs upgrading or something?
Is the motherboard busted or flawed in some way? Is it, after all, a software problem?

Please be thorough in your -how to's- that would be most useful - and appreciated!

Thank you in advance (and for all the passive support i received already from reading the site).

More about : desktop switches apparent reason

August 20, 2014 11:32:47 PM

SOLUTION: OK, so luck would have it that I stumbled upon the answer my self: In a defeatist conversation with a friend, he suggested that maybe it was the battery. I patiently explained to him that we are dealing with a stationary home-computer. -No, no. The battery on the motherboard that powers the cmos. - Say what?

So I have learned that there is a small battery on the motherboard (CR2032 3V) and that this needed replacing. It was about 5 dollars for three at the local supermarket and it took just about 2 minutes to replace. And voila: System stability! Had I only known, I could have saved many hours of effort! But who cares: It works! thx.
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August 21, 2014 9:22:44 AM

OK, so it wasn't the CMOS battery after all. Computer just went black screen again after a day or so operating without issues. Any suggestions, will be MUCH appreciated.
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September 21, 2014 12:43:12 PM

Really? Nothing?
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!