Stumped!! Automatic Shut down with new computer

I am building a 3.0gig P4 on an ECS800CE MB....two Kinston 512mbs sticks...SATA 80gig HD and an ATI 9600 256mb vid card. ALL of these parts and pieces are brand new. The case is brand new with a 550 watt power supply.

The computer will post....and read from the A: drive.....but will only stay on for about 1 minute then it shuts off. No error message....just shuts off. It will reboot normally....and repost....but only in that 1 minute window....

After it shuts off I have to reset the power switch on the power supply...and then turn on using the "On" button on the case.

I am completely stumped. I have checked all connections....everything is tight and visually ok.

This is a first time start up....so I haven't even gotten the HD partitioned yet.

ANYONE?? is it the MB or the Power Supply??

Please tell me I'm stupid....and point out my dumb mistake....

 

I am not an expert by any means, just read my post above in the forum, I have big time problems but a friend of mine yhad a similiar problem as you and it was his power supply. I really hope you get it fixed soon because I know how frustrated you must feel. I am besides myself right now with my problem.

 

I'm guessing the MB, if it was rebooting during loading, then I'd say memory (seen that a few times). Is your processor fan running during that minute that it's running? You could be overheating if it's not. I'd try just using one stick of memory, then swap it out and try the other one. If it still shuts down and the processor fan is running while the computer is running, try either the onboard video or try another video card (it's easier than a PS or MB), then the PS, and then the mother board. But to me, it sounds like a MB problem, but if you've done enough computers, I've seen a little bit of them all. Good luck.

wuf@bark.arf

 

I agree, it could be either. But if it reboots after a certain time and always just about after the same amount of time, this punctuality sounds almost like a component failing possibly due to overheating, such would be PS or CPU, just because these two have fans on them and that they are spinning doesn't mean they are working in proper temperature nor would it stop from a faulty components from failing if it had nothing to do with overheating.
Motherboard reboots would be more random. RAMs do not cause reboots unless they are creating a conflict with mobo which would cause blackscreens and system freezing, though a possibility, it is still not likely.
I tend to believe it shoud be 60% PSU, 40% mobo, although I have had no problems with 3 systems I built on ECS mobos, they are not the most problem free brand, nor the most stable or performance driven.
Final comment on PC cases and the PSUs that come with them. A PSU that is Pentium4/AMD XP approved (not recommended) 550Watt fan would likely to cost $50 or more, so if you got a case for $70 or less, the chances are that the PSU is a POS. It may seem like it is working and all but it would either have a short life-span or not be reliable for consistent performance due to cheaper parts or lousy manufacturing.
If you build a system using cheap/generic mobo, RAM and PSU, IMO, you are asking for trouble.

 

Thanks for the quick responses.....
At this point....I'm thinking it has to be the Processor. The time span is exactly the same everytime. The only reason I think it might still be the power supply is....everytime it shuts down....I have to reset the power switch on the PS before I can start it back up.

Anyway....I appreciate the responses....but at this point...I guess I will take it to the shop and let them test it and find out which component is bad. If I had the time I would/could do it...but it's tedious....and I'd rather pay someone to figure this one out.

Thanks guys!

 

Changed my mind about going to the shop.....I'm hard-headed that way. Besides...I'm a do-it-yourself kinda guy.

So...this is what I did:

Because the shutdowns were at exactly the same amount of time, I suspected the processor. So...I pulled the processor....blew on it a couple of times....said my prayers to the computer gods....offered the sacrifical small animal...and put it in and reseated it. I popped on the fan....crossed my fingers and turned on the computer. It posted and lo and behold I could go into bios and take my time to set up the computer.....That was the problem.....apparantly the cpu was not completely seated....and needed some coaxing....

Now...I'm on to the other board because I can't get XP to recognize an SATA drive.
Thanks guys, once again.

 

It figures it was something simple like that, %&^(*& computer Gods