Computer shut down during boot

So I recently turned my computer off and when I go to turn it on now, it shuts off at random times. It is a brand new computer I built myself about two weeks ago. Fans are running fine. Here are specs:

Vista 64 Home Premium
Gigabyte GA-N650SLI-DS4L Mobo
Intel Quad core Q6600 2.4
4 GB Kingston DDR II
320 Western Digital Caviar SATA HD
Geforce 8800 GTSG92 (512)
750W Power supply

When I start up it gets through the DMI verification, then tells me Windows didn't start correctly, at which point I have to wait the entire 30 sec because the keyboard for some reason isn't recognized at this stage.

Sometimes it makes it through this stage, then it goes to the Vista load screen (with the bars), and after that it goes to the verify hard drive screen.

The computer will shut off randomly during any of these stages. I was wondering maybe if the CPU is overheating. As mentioned, all fans (including heatsink) are operational.

I had this problem when I first put the computer together (before any drivers or other software) but it went away.

I'm quite annoyed at this stage, and all I want to do is play WoW. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

When i get to the part where it asks how i want to boot because it didnt turn off correctly, the keyboard is not recognized so i can't switch to boot mode. (which is strange because the keyboard works during the initial mobo screen, allowing me to select the bios or boot screen if i wish). this has been the norm since i put the computer together, regardless of whether i use a normal, wired usb keyboard or my wireless one with both serial and usb plugs that must both be connected.

I am about 90% sure that it's overheating, as the time it takes to shut itself off is significantly shorter the shorter the interval between attempted boots. If I wait a few minutes, it generally stays on longer, but if i try to boot it right after it turns itself off, it again shuts off almost immediately.

What are my options if it is heat, as I said all of the fans are working correctly?

 

The next time it shuts off on you, try restarting and going straight into the BIOS and see how hot the CPU is. Most motherboards have a 'PC Health' or a 'Hardware Monitor' section in the BIOS that will report various temps (including CPU) and usually several different voltage levels. If you can make a note of these figures and post them, we could see if something here is responsible.
:major Welcome to Major Geeks!

 

this is bad, very bad, but i took the heatsink off the processor and there was a loose screw in there. i took it out and it seems to be working fine now... is that strange to anyone but me why the consequence would be constant shut downs?

 

The screw was probably preventing proper contact and was causing over heating, or it was causing a short. You are VERY lucky that nothing sustained any fatal permanent damage (that you know about yet).

 

yeah ill have to chalk this one up to me being a flaming idiot. thanks for your help, and sorry to have wasted your time.

 

one question... is there any type of scan or other such thing i can do to see if it did any damage? it could be me just being paranoid/hypochondriac but the little gadget in my sidebar that tells me what % of the cores are being used is not normal

 

UPDATE: Comp shut down again in the middle of a game, upon restart I checked CPU temp, was 97C.

 

Here's a screen from Core Temp showing my temps. High, very high. Wtf do i do?

 

Thermal paste (CPU/Heatsink) might be an issue. Too much, too little etc. Firm contact between the CPU/Heatsink?

If you mounted the CPU fan yourself, did you direct the airflow down into the heatsink (correct) or up and away from the heatsink?

Are there ancillary fans in the case (besides the encased PSU fan)? If so, mounted at the rear it should be blowing out, mounted in the front should be pulling air in.

 

The fan on the PSU is attached to the heatsink, no room for human error. As for fans, the rear one was pre-installed. There was one on the top that I moved to the side so it hits the processor, I believe it does more good there than on the top. There is currently an opening at the top for another fan.

I'm not sure which direction the fan at the back is moving air to, it is somewhat difficult to tell.

 

The fan on the Power Supply Unit is attached to the CPU heatsink?

 

yes, the fan is part of the heatsink. here's a pic.

http://flourishcomputer.com/products/desktop/desktop_right/fan/intel775fan.gif

 

OK. Like my second pic. A CPU fan/heatsink assembly.

My first pic is a Power Supply Unit, which is what I took your statement to be;
"The fan on the PSU is attached to the heatsink, ..."

That leaves the remaining possible issues;

Thermal paste (CPU/Heatsink) might be an issue. Too much, too little etc.

Have you checked the thermal compound?
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

Firm contact between the CPU/Heatsink?

Is the heatsink "tight" to the CPU chip?

If you mounted the CPU fan yourself, did you direct the airflow down into the heatsink (correct) or up and away from the heatsink?

Even though the CPU fan has been "factory-mounted", is it blowing down into the heatsink?

Given that PSU's "extract" air, the general rule of thumb on enclosure cooling is; air in from the front/side, and exiting at the rear.

 

The type of heatsink you linked to above (this link
http://flourishcomputer.com/products/desktop/desktop_right/fan/intel775fan.gif ) can be a bit tricky to correctly install if you're not familiar with it. The first time I messed around with one I didn't do it right. I'll try to explain this clearly. I have attached a screen shot below to make this easier. First pull on the handles (circled in red) and make sure they are extended like they were on day one, when it first came out of the box; you may need to turn the handles before pulling on them to get 'em to extend. Now make sure the 'handles' (circled in red) are turned and that all 4 are facing the same direction as they are in the screen shot. Use the little arrows on top (pointed to with a blue arrow) to coordinate which way it goes. Now, the 'legs' (the purple arrow) go into the little holes on the motherboard. You need to push down on the handles (red circle) firmly until you hear a nice clean "small" click. You'll hear some loud clicks as it goes down. Keep pushing even after you think it's all the way in, you won't feel it moving but if you keep pressing (it might seem like you're pressing it too hard but you're not) you will hear the nice "small" clean click. Do the same thing on all 4 posts. If you grab the heat sink and give it a shake, there should be absolutely NO movement. NONE! It should feel secure enough to pick up the motherboard with (but don't do that!). There should be no space between the pieces of white plastic and the metal "legs" (green arrows). If you look at motherboard level, there'd be the surface of the motherboard, a 'layer' of white plastic, and the metal "leg" with no gaps between the motherboard and the white plastic, and no space between the plastic and the metal, and no gaps between the metal and the bottom of the black plastic posts (orange arrows in pic 2).
Confused? Me too
I tried to make it easy to understand.....

 

dlb: I believe the heatsink is placed correctly... I went to a comp store and the guy told me it might help to get a better heatsink. He said there's no way it should be that hot. I recently turned the computer on from cold and went into the BIOS and looked at the temp. It just keeps climbing until it hits 115 and then turns off.

The guy at the comp store also told me to see if the heatsink is that hot, just put my hand near it because he said the system should be fried at that temp, he thinks it could be the temp sensor on the CPU malfunctioning. I did and the heatsink is not hot. It's a little warmer toward the bottom, but still not hot.


Dan: I was talking about the CPU fan, for some reason I wrote fan PSU instead of CPU. All fans are blowing air in the correct direction. The fan on the heatsink is blowing down on the processor, but there is no way to change that as it is attached. The fan on the side is blowing in and the one in the back is blowing out.

As for thermal paste, it came pre-applied on the heatsink, and there is still some on there. I'm not sure there is firm contact between the CPU and heatsink, as I cannot see it because it's in the case. I believe it is installed correctly though, which leads me to think that there is contact.

 

An update on that last post:

The processor is definitely getting hot, so the sensor thing is working correctly. The heatsink isn't however, leading me to believe it doesnt have contact, but I have it installed like it's supposed to be. Strange.

 

"this is bad, very bad, but i took the heatsink off the processor and there was a loose screw in there. i took it out and it seems to be working fine now... is that strange to anyone but me why the consequence would be constant shut downs?"

"The heatsink isn't however, leading me to believe it doesnt have contact, but I have it installed like it's supposed to be."

Then it has to be

Thermal paste
heatsink/CPU contact
damage from the screw
overall enclosure cooling

I would go over the paste/contact issues again. (Since you removed the heatsink when you found the screw, clean things and apply new paste.)

Pages 10 & 11 here cover your fan/heatsink assembly;
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/274

Overall enclosure cooling:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/142

 

I figured I would update everyone that helped me w/ this problem... I bought a new heatsink, and with it and a new application of AS5, My temps are way down.

My old heatsink eventually stopped working altogether, and I found out that one of the clips wouldn't connect to the mobo, making it lose contact w/ the CPU.

Thanks again and if I have more probs I'll definitely be back. The moral of the story here is, if you don't know what you're doing when it comes to building your own computer, don't think your assumed computer knowledge will be enough.

Peace,
Reg

 

Glad you found the problem.