Random Shutting Off

[bnot]

Hey gang


Recently my computer has started randomly shutting off and refusing to come back on, when I say shutting off it is without warning and can happen from playing games, to browsing the web to being idle on the desktop. Once I try to turn the computer back on the monitor just sits in power saving mode until I either wait half an hour or so or reseat the graphics card. This time the computer shut off and the monitor would not recognise my computer when I tried to turn it back on. I'm using a VGA cable from my monitor with a VGA/DVI adapter feeding into the video card. I tried the adapter on both DVI ports on my GPU and the DVI port on my motherboard but it would not be recognised. I then took off the adapter and ran it as VGA/VGA (onboard, GPU has no VGA port) and now the computer is working again. I'm wondering if you guys know what the problem might have been, and if the DVI adapter is just coincidence or was related to the shut offs.

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

It might be related, but I am kindof at a loss. I would try making sure all the connections are tight.

 

[bnot]

Just checked all the cables, definitely the adapter that's gone.

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

Yeah, I would think it's a psu problem, since all the fixes seemed to involve the power supply.

 

[bnot]

You think the PSU is randomly cutting off? How could I test if it was defective, or is this it showing signs of being defective?

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

Go into bios and check the voltages would check stability. Check the psu box for what the voltages are supposed to be and if you no longer have it then you can check online. The other way to check is by testing with a different psu.

 

[bnot]

I had a look in the BIOS but I couldn't find anything related to PSU voltage, as far as I remember only CPU and RAM Voltages were listed. Any idea where I should look?


Also I'm posting this to save me time later on:

CORSAIR VX550:

AC Input Rating: 90-264VAC
Input Current: 5~9A
Frequency: 47Hz-63Hz


DC Output/Max Load/Max Output
+3.3V / 30A / 140W
+5V / 28A / 140W
+12V / 41A / 492W
-12V / 0.8A / 9.6W
+5VSB / 3A / 15W

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

I think you can check voltages on the psu in the bios under hardware settings or something like that. But it is different between every motherboard. You need to checck this though because if the voltages are off by too much then that is an indication of a bad psu. It is really the only way to check a bad psu besides hooking your system up to a different one.

 

[bnot]

I finally found it in the BIOS, here's what I came across:


PSU Voltages:

+3.3V = 3.328V
+5V = 4.999/5.026V
+12V = 12.160V
+5VSB= 5.121V


-12V appears to be missing in action.

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

Well if that isn't there that could be the problem. Check the psu box or online