Random computer restarts...

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by StiggTheBull, May 3, 2006.

  1. StiggTheBull

    StiggTheBull Private E-2

    Hi all,

    I am having a problem with my computer randomly shutting down. I talked to one computer 'professional' who said it sounded like a bad power supply. So, I replaced it, and still had the problem. Then, it was suggested that I replace my vid card (since it only seems to shut down during graphic-intensive games like BF2, WoW, EQ2, etc) so, I did so, and the problem persisted.

    I pulled out my memory, and put it in another compy, and it too works fine. The last suggestion I had was that my moboard was going bad, but I have no way to test this that I know of, and I've watched it carefully on ASUS PC Probe, and all the settings there seem to be rock solid.

    This has been quite annoying, :mad: so any help/suggestions would be wonderful.

    This is my compy info, hopefully it will help:

    CPU Info
    CPU 1/1
    AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2700+
    Manufacturer AMD
    Family AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2700+
    Architecture 32-bit
    Internal Clock 2.3 GHz
    Internal Clock Maximum 2.3 GHz
    External Clock 166.0 MHz
    Socket Designation SOCKET A
    Type Central
    HyperThreadingTechnology N/A
    Capabilities MMX, CMov, RDTSC, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!, SSE, PAE
    Version AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2700+
    Caches
    Level 1 128 KB
    Level 2 256 KB



    DirectX Info
    Version 9.0c
    Long Version 4.09.00.0904


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DirectDraw
    Version 5.03.2600.2180
    Primary Device NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600

    Display Device 1/1
    NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Driver 4.3.5.1

    Description NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600
    Manufacturer NVIDIA
    Total Local Video Memory 256 MB
    Total Local Texture Memory 256 MB
    Total AGP Memory 256 MB
    Driver File nv4_disp.dll
    Driver Version 4.3.5.1
    Driver Date 4-2-2003
    Driver WHQL Certified true
    Max Texture Width 4096 px
    Max Texture Height 4096 px
    Max User Clipping Planes 6
    Max Active Hardware Lights 8
    Max Texture Blending Stages 8
    Fixed Function Textures In Single Pass 8
    Vertex Shader Version 2.0
    Pixel Shader Version 2.0
    Max Vertex Blend Matrices 0
    Max Texture Coordinates 8
    VGA Memory Clock 401.1 MHz
    VGA Core Clock 270.0 MHz
    PCI
    Name NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600
    Vendor ID 0x10de
    Device ID 0x0312
    SubSystem ID 0x1941270f
    Revision ID 0x00a1

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Texture Formats
    32-bit ARGB [8888]
    32-bit RGB [888]
    16-bit RGB [565]
    16-bit RGB [555]
    16-bit ARGB [1555]
    16-bit ARGB [4444]
    8-bit YUV [800]
    16-bit AYUV [8800]
    FourCC [DXT1]
    FourCC [DXT2]
    FourCC [DXT3]
    FourCC [DXT4]
    FourCC [DXT5]

    Capabilities
    AGP Texturing, Hardware Transform and Lighting, Positional Lights, Subpixel Accurate Rasterizing, Stencil Buffers, Range Fog, Table Fog, Vertex Fog, W-Fog, Specular Gouraud Shading, Anisotropic Filtering, Bilinear Filtering, Point Sampling, Trilinear Filtering, Additive Texture Blending, Dot3 Texture Blending, Multiplicative Texture Blending, Subtractive Texture Blending, Environmental Bump Mapping, Environmental Bump Mapping With Luminance, Cube Mapping, Factor Alpha Blending, Vertex Alpha Blending, Texture Alpha Blending, Texture Clamping, Texture Mirroring, Texture Wrapping, Guard Band Support, Mipmap LOD Bias Adjustment, Projected Textures, Volume Textures, Point Primitive Support, Full-Screen Anti-Aliasing, DXT Compressed Textures, Two Sided Stencil Test, Mipmapped Volume Textures, Mipmapped Cube Textures, Texture Border Color, Spherical Mapping, Automatic Mipmap Generation, Hardware Rasterization, Shading, Transform and Lighting, Scissor Test, Legacy Depth Bias

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DirectShow
    Version 9.0c
    Long Version 4.09.00.0904

    Registered DirectShow Filters
    .RAM file Parser
    AC3 Parser Filter
    ACELP.net Sipro Lab Audio Decoder
    ACM Wrapper
    ASF ACM Handler
    ASF DIB Handler
    ASF DJPEG Handler
    ASF ICM Handler
    ASF JPEG Handler
    ASF URL Handler
    ASF embedded stuff Handler
    ASX file Parser
    ASX v.2 file Parser
    AVI Decompressor
    AVI Draw
    AVI Splitter
    AVI/WAV File Source
    BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter
    BDA Slip De-Framer
    Color Space Converter
    DV Muxer
    DV Source Filter
    DV Splitter
    DV Video Decoder
    Decrypt/Tag
    Default DirectSound Device
    Default MidiOut Device
    File Source (Async.)
    File Source (Netshow URL)
    File Source (URL)
    File stream renderer
    Internal Script Command Renderer
    Line 21 Decoder
    Line 21 Decoder 2
    Lyric Parser
    MIDI Parser
    MJPEG Decompressor
    MPEG Audio Decoder
    MPEG Layer-3 Decoder
    MPEG Video Decoder
    MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
    MPEG-2 Sections and Tables
    MPEG-2 Splitter
    MPEG-I Stream Splitter
    Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Decompressor
    Microsoft Screen Video Decompressor
    Multi-file Parser
    NSC file Parser
    Nero DVD Decoder
    Nero DVD Navigator
    Nero Digital Audio Decoder
    Nero Digital Parser
    Nero ES Video Reader
    Nero File Source (Async.)
    Nero File Source / Splitter
    Nero QuickTime(tm) Audio Decoder
    Nero QuickTime(tm) Video Decoder
    Nero Splitter
    Nero Vcd Navigator
    Nero Video Decoder
    Overlay Mixer2
    QT Decompressor
    QuickTime Movie Parser
    SAMI (CC) Parser
    VBI Surface Allocator
    VGA 16 Color Ditherer
    Video Port Manager
    Video Renderer
    WM ASF Reader
    WM ASF Writer
    WST Decoder
    Wave Parser
    Windows Media Audio Decoder
    Windows Media Multiplexer
    Windows Media Pad VU Data Grabber
    Windows Media Update Filter
    Windows Media Video Decoder
    Windows Media source filter
    XML Playlist


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DirectSound
    Version 5.3.2600.2180
    Speaker Configuration Stereo
    Speaker Geometry Wide
    Primary Device SoundMAX Digital Audio

    Sound Device 1/1
    SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio Driver 5.12.1.3538

    Description SoundMAX Digital Audio
    Manufacturer Analog Devices, Inc.
    Driver File smwdm.sys
    Driver Version 5.12.1.3538
    Driver Date 12-19-2002
    Driver WHQL Certified true
    Max Supported 3D Hardware Sounds 33
    HD Audio Support false
    EAX Support Supported
    PCI
    Name SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
    Vendor ID 0x1106
    Device ID 0x3059
    SubSystem ID 0x80a11043
    Revision ID 0x0050

    Capabilities
    Continuous Rate, Primary Buffer with 16-bit Samples, Primary Buffers with 8-bit Samples, Monophonic Primary Buffers, Stereo Primary Buffers, Hardware-mixed Secondary Buffers with 16-bit Samples, Hardware-mixed Secondary Buffers with 8-bit Samples, Hardware-mixed Monophonic Secondary Buffers, Hardware-mixed Stereo Secondary Buffers


    Memory Info
    Total Physical Memory 1.00 GB
    Free Physical Memory 716 MB
    Total Pagefile Memory 2.41 GB
    Free Pagefile Memory 2.20 GB


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Memory Array 1/1
    Max Module Capacity 3.00 GB
    Supported Speeds
    Supported Types
    Supported Voltages

    Memory Slot 1/3
    Installed Enabled Size 512 MB
    Form Factor DIMM
    Frequency 0.0 Hz
    Slot DDR 1
    Manufacturer <unknown>
    Type Details
    Enabled Size 512 MB
    Total Bit Width 64 b
    Data Bit Width 0 b
    Memory Slot 2/3
    Installed Enabled Size 512 MB
    Form Factor DIMM
    Frequency 0.0 Hz
    Slot DDR 2
    Manufacturer <unknown>
    Type Details
    Enabled Size 512 MB
    Total Bit Width 64 b
    Data Bit Width 0 b
    Memory Slot 3/3
    Installed Enabled Size 0 B
    Frequency 0.0 Hz
    Type Details
    Enabled Size 0 B
    Total Bit Width 0 b
    Data Bit Width 0 b




    Motherboard Info
    Supported Slot Types ISA, PCI, AGP
    Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
    Model A7V8X-X
    Version REV 1.xx
    BIOS Vendor Award Software, Inc.
    BIOS Version ASUS - 42302e31
    BIOS Release Date 06/08/03
    BIOS Properties Plug and Play, Flash, AGP
    AGP
    Revision 3.5
    Rate 4x, 8x (8x enabled)
    Available Rate 0x0000000c
    Selected Rate 0x00000008
    Aperture Size 0 B
    Sideband Addressing supported (enabled)
    Fast Write supported (enabled)

    Card Slots
    Slot 1/7 (PCI)
    Order 1
    Designation PCI 1
    Type PCI
    Characteristics 5.0V, PME Signal
    Data Bus Width 32 b
    Details Available, Long
    IRQ 0

    Slot 2/7 (PCI)
    Order 2
    Designation PCI 2
    Type PCI
    Characteristics 5.0V, PME Signal
    Data Bus Width 32 b
    Details Available, Long
    IRQ 0

    Slot 3/7 (PCI)
    Order 3
    Designation PCI 3
    Type PCI
    Characteristics 5.0V, PME Signal
    Data Bus Width 32 b
    Details Available, Long
    IRQ 0


    Slot 4/7 (PCI)
    Order 4
    Designation PCI 4
    Type PCI
    Characteristics 5.0V, PME Signal
    Data Bus Width 32 b
    Details Available, Long
    IRQ 0

    Slot 5/7 (PCI)
    Order 5
    Designation PCI 5
    Type PCI
    Characteristics 5.0V, PME Signal
    Data Bus Width 32 b
    Details Available, Long
    IRQ 0

    Slot 6/7 (PCI)
    Order 6
    Designation PCI 6
    Type PCI
    Characteristics 5.0V, PME Signal
    Data Bus Width 32 b
    Details Available, Long
    IRQ 0


    Slot 7/7 (AGP)
    NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600
    Order 0
    Designation AGP
    Type AGP
    Characteristics 3.3V
    Data Bus Width 32 b
    Details In Use, Long
    Device Class Display Adapter
    Manufacturer NVIDIA
    Driver Version 4.3.5.1
    Driver Date 4-2-2003
    IRQ 16


    System Devices
    Name VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
    Manufacturer VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Name VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
    Manufacturer VIA Technologies

    Name VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
    Manufacturer VIA Technologies
    Name VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
    Manufacturer VIA Technologies

    Name SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
    Manufacturer Analog Devices, Inc.
    Name VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter
    Manufacturer VIA Technologies, Inc.

    Name Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
    Manufacturer (Standard USB Host Controller)
    Name VIA Standard PCI to ISA Bridge
    Manufacturer VIA

    Name VIA Standard CPU to PCI Bridge
    Manufacturer VIA
    Name VIA CPU to AGP2.0/AGP3.0 Controller
    Manufacturer VIA

    Name ESS ES56T-PI Data Fax Modem
    Manufacturer ESS Technology, Inc

    USB Devices
    Description USB Root Hub
    Driver Date 7-1-2001
    Driver Version 5.1.2600.1106
    Device Class Universal Serial Bus Controller
    Description USB Root Hub
    Driver Date 7-1-2001
    Driver Version 5.1.2600.1106
    Device Class Universal Serial Bus Controller
    Description USB Root Hub
    Driver Date 7-1-2001
    Driver Version 5.1.2600.1106
    Device Class Universal Serial Bus Controller

    Description USB Root Hub
    Driver Date 7-1-2001
    Driver Version 5.1.2600.1106
    Device Class Universal Serial Bus Controller
    Description Microsoft USB IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0
    Driver Date 7-1-2001
    Driver Version 5.1.2600.1106
    Device Class Human Interface Device

    FireWire Devices



    Monitor Info
    Monitor 1/1
    Name Plug and Play Monitor
    Manufacturer (Standard monitor types)
    Max Width 1600 px
    Max Height 1200 px



    Operating System Info
    Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
    Version 5.1.2600
    Service Pack Service Pack 2
    Windows Environment 32-bit
    Locale US
    Desktop Width 1024 px
    Desktop Height 768 px
    Desktop BPP 32 b
    DEP
    Hardware Support false
    Applications Protected false
    Drivers Protected false
    User Option On for essential Windows programs and services only

    Open Processes
    Name PID Memory Usage
    3DMark05.exe 2344 11 MB
    alg.exe 1800 3 MB
    aolsoftware.exe 1888 8 MB
    AsusProb.exe 1872 2 MB
    avgamsvr.exe 1268 5 MB
    avgcc.exe 416 9 MB
    avgemc.exe 1296 6 MB
    avgupsvc.exe 1284 2 MB
    csrss.exe 604 3 MB
    explorer.exe 180 16 MB
    gcasDtServ.exe 504 11 MB
    iPodService.exe 588 3 MB
    iTunesHelper.exe 496 3 MB
    jusched.exe 1776 2 MB
    lsass.exe 692 6 MB
    realsched.exe 1732 168 KB
    savedump.exe 684 3 MB
    services.exe 672 5 MB
    SMAgent.exe 1412 1 MB
    smss.exe 540 372 KB
    spoolsv.exe 1172 4 MB
    svchost.exe 836 5 MB
    svchost.exe 936 4 MB
    svchost.exe 972 23 MB
    svchost.exe 1024 3 MB
    svchost.exe 1104 4 MB
    System 4 220 KB
    System Idle Process 0 16 KB
    vsmon.exe 1504 14 MB
    winlogon.exe 628 3 MB
    wmiprvse.exe 2384 6 MB
    wscntfy.exe 464 2 MB
    wuauclt.exe 2428 6 MB
    zlclient.exe 432 2 MB

    Logical Drives
    Letter Label Type Capacity Available
    A: Floppy 0 B 0 B
    C: Hard Disk 111.79 GB 71.53 GB
    D: WA1 CD-ROM 544 MB 0 B
    E: CD-ROM 0 B 0 B


    Open Applications
    3DMark05
    gcasDtServHolder



    Hard Disk Info
    Hard Disk Drive 1/1
    Name WDC WD1200JB-32EVA0
    Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
    Capacity 111.79 GB
    Model WDC WD1200JB-32EVA0
    Interface Type IDE
     
  2. thesmokingun

    thesmokingun MajorGeek

    you might want to turn off the "automatic reset" option in the system control panel under the advanced tab, and click the startup and recovery settings to get there. maybe then you can see what happens next.
     
  3. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    Another thing and a lot more likely than the advice you have been given from the techs is you are overheating, hitting the defined "System Shutdown Temps" (to preserve your hardware in the case of excessive ovberheating) set in BIOS and your computer shuts off.

    This can be a common occurance during gaming as your pushing your GPU (Vid Card) and this will significantly contribute to system environment temp and once your CPU hits the upper threshold, crash!

    Okay how to check;

    Goto your BIOS and enter the PCHealth Menu > "System Shutdown Temp" (SST) (what is this set at?)

    Next time your system crashes restart immediately and enter PCHealth and observe what your CPU temp is and compare to SST if very close this is your problem.

    Ques:

    When was the last time you cleaned your PC?
    How many Fans do you have?
    What is your CPU temps and fan RPMs during idle at "cold boot"?

    Download this app:

    http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

    Goto Comp > Sensors
    What are your temps/rpms/volts while in the OS? Are they different from your BIOS? Push your system a bit (load) and what are your temps/rpms/volts?

    Start with this and we will try to rule out overheating!!!!! Or address it (can be easy to fix)
     
  4. StiggTheBull

    StiggTheBull Private E-2

    When was the last time you cleaned your PC? I clean it out about once a month.

    How many Fans do you have? If you mean case fans, I have 7. 11 fans total.

    What is your CPU temps and fan RPMs during idle at "cold boot"? After about 2-3 min once windows finished loading, I was sitting at 39C. After playing a round of BF2 Special Forces, it went up to 49C. I have seen it go up to around 58-60C on a hot day.
     
  5. StiggTheBull

    StiggTheBull Private E-2

    Ok, got some more info.

    This is from my BIOS screen:

    MB Temp: 34C
    CPU Temp: 36C (both at start-up, after the compy had been on for a bit, then shut down for 2-3 min, and restarted)

    CPU Fan Speed: 6192
    Chassis F S: 7258

    Vcore: 1.61v
    +3.3: 3.26v
    +5: 4.99v
    +12: 12.03v

    And my 'SST' was at 95C, with a option to set it to 85C

    I powered down, and removed the battery from my moboard, leting it sit for 5-6 min before puting the battery back in. Once I booted back up, I no longer had to enter my password for my bios, (guy from ASUS told me to do this, since I had forgotten my password) adjusted my setings, and then saved and rebooted.

    Turned on BF2:SF again, and with the graphic options turned to the max, it was laggy, but was running, and my ASUS PCprobe said it never got over 48C.
     
  6. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    I would set your SST to 85C just to err on the safe side but it seems we can rule out overheating at the moment!!?! Next time it crashes do quickly check you BIOS (temps/volts/rpms) and any diagnostic monitoring program so we can rule it out entirely.

    One thing that does stand out is your Fan Rpms' mine is at 2400 rpm with CPU@44C yours do seem to be spinning very quickly, must be noisy.

    Have you ever removed a heatsink? This may be an option but only if you are experienced and check the thermal interface material (paste).
     
  7. StiggTheBull

    StiggTheBull Private E-2

    Those are the settings that the fan's have been at since the compy was built, so I don't know if they are too fast or not. It is noisy, but it doesn't get hot, so I can live with it.

    I have taken my heatsink off before, to clean it out good and stuff. Maby the thermal pad between it and the processor needs replaced. *shrug*

    I've been playing a lot of BF2 lately (no net connection atm, so can't test it with WoW) and it -seems- to be runing fine, ever since I popped the battery out of the moboard, and reset everything. *shrug* Maby my moboard's setting had gotten wonky, and reseting everything to defaults cleared it.

    If it keeps messing up, I'll post again, but if not, thanks for the help and suggestions!:)
     
  8. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    Hey I'd recommend dumping that pad asap and replacing with a thermal grease. My pad became impaired after 3 months and replaced with a grease and permanent decrease of 5C. Heres a good link on application, removal, etc

    www.articsilver.com
     
  9. Doomster

    Doomster Private E-2

    Thermal paste must be applied to your cpu heatsink...also check your videocard fan rpm's...85 C' temps are very high under load...your videocard fan could be malfuctioning..check to see if there is a videocard utility from NVidia that might help increase the videocard rpm's when more cooling is required when gaming...
     

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