Sudden Shut Down - With a Twist

[Steve25261]

I've searched this forum and others for answers to my sudden shut down problem, but haven't found an answer.

My system shuts down and immediately restarts, but on restart I'm unable to bring it out of sleep mode. The power light is on, the fan is running but there's nothing else.

I have to do a hard reboot to get my desktop back.

I have a Gateway/Acer mobo with an Intel Core2 Quad Q8400, 6gb of RAM and an FSP Group 300W PSU running Win 7 Home Edition.

I've turned off the automatic reboot, but I'm not getting the BSOD.

I don't do any gaming - just a lot of online work.

[Whir]

Is your copy of Windows fully updated? Device drivers?

[Chuckiechan]

How about a list of everything in your computer? The idea being that maybe your power supply isn't up to the task and is tripping a circuit breaker.

Since you have no BSOD, I suspect it may be a power issue. 300W is small by today's standards, but it may be just fine depending on the power demands of your MB and other attachments.

Have you added anything to the "stock" system?

[Steve25261]

Guys -- thanks for the replies. I've been away from my computer for some time and just saw the responses this morning.

Whir -- Win 7 and drivers are all fully updated

Chuckie -- I suppose that it could be the PSU. The only things that I've added are the quad-core CPU and the video card, but they were in for quite a while before the issue began.

You asked for a list -- do you mean hardware?

Thanks again guys.

Steve

[Interrupt]

I have a Gateway/Acer mobo with an Intel Core2 Quad Q8400, 6gb of RAM and an FSP Group 300W PSU running Win 7 Home Edition.

How about a list of everything in your computer?

You asked for a list -- do you mean hardware?

Yes, we'd need to know some more specs to look up the components.

1. We'd need to know what make/model PC - or did you build it?
2. Model motherboard, if you will
3. Details of PSU, model # if possible (you said, an FSP 300W but some PSUs are better than others so it helps us to know more details, if it has a model number we can look up as a reference that'll be great!).
4. Make/model/type of RAM used would be good.

May also be a CPU or GPU problem. Do you know how to run CPU, Video & RAM benchmarks? I can help with that should you need it. But yeah, I'm also not ruling out a PSU problem as well. Some problems do manifest later in time and not necessarily when you install them: the components may be right but insufficient or may be indicative of an underlying hardware problem.

So let us know some more details.

[Steve25261]

Yes, we'd need to know some more specs to look up the components.

1. We'd need to know what make/model PC - or did you build it?
2. Model motherboard, if you will
3. Details of PSU, model # if possible (you said, an FSP 300W but some PSUs are better than others so it helps us to know more details, if it has a model number we can look up as a reference that'll be great!).
4. Make/model/type of RAM used would be good.

May also be a CPU or GPU problem. Do you know how to run CPU, Video & RAM benchmarks? I can help with that should you need it. But yeah, I'm also not ruling out a PSU problem as well. Some problems do manifest later in time and not necessarily when you install them: the components may be right but insufficient or may be indicative of an underlying hardware problem.

So let us know some more details.

Thanks again guys.

Here's a screen grab of the benchmark test that I ran, along with the specs for my "Gateway" computer.

PSU model # is FSP300-60THA

Computer: Acer Aspire M5802/M3802
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 (Yorkfield, R0)
2666 MHz (8.00x333.3) @ 2634 MHz (8.00x329.3)
Motherboard: Acer EG43M
Chipset: Intel G43 (Eaglelake-G) + ICH10R
Memory: 6144 MBytes @ 395 MHz, 6.0-6-6-18
- 2048 MB PC6400 DDR2-SDRAM - Unknown GU342G0ALEPR692C6F
- 1024 MB PC6400 DDR2-SDRAM - Unknown GU341G0ALEPR6B2C6F
- 2048 MB PC6400 DDR2-SDRAM - Unknown GU342G0ALEPR692C6F
- 1024 MB PC6400 DDR2-SDRAM - Unknown GU341G0ALEPR6B2C6F
Graphics: ASUS EN210 Silent
nVIDIA GeForce 210 (GT218), 1024 MB DDR3 SDRAM
Drive: WDC WD10EADS-22M2B0, 976.8 GB, Serial ATA 3Gb/s
Drive: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH41N, DVD+R DL
Sound: Intel ICH10 - High Definition Audio Controller [A0]
Sound: nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
Network: Intel 82567V-2 ICH10(R+) Gigabit Network Connection
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Build 7601

[Steve25261]

OK guys, now I'm in panic mode!
I turned on the CPU today, it ran for about 10 minutes then shut down and rebooted to nothing. i unplugged the power cord, it came back to life but only for a couple of minutes.

Now when I rinse and repeat the fans start but the CPU power light and HD activity light don't even come on.

This chain of events less me to think that it it's a dead or dying PSU. Am I wrong?

[JPMiller]

Well its a good brand, and plenty of wattage/amperage for your setup...
Doesn't mean it cant be the power supply though...
The 2 most common parts with those symptoms are the power supply and motherboard.
Personally I'd be more inclined to think its the mobo...
I would blow any dust out that is visible, and remove the video card and use the onboard VGA to retest.
I'd also remove ANY extras, like USB peripherals, printer, etc.

[Steve25261]

Well its a good brand, and plenty of wattage/amperage for your setup...
Doesn't mean it cant be the power supply though...
The 2 most common parts with those symptoms are the power supply and motherboard.
Personally I'd be more inclined to think its the mobo...
I would blow any dust out that is visible, and remove the video card and use the onboard VGA to retest.
I'd also remove ANY extras, like USB peripherals, printer, etc.

Thanks JP

I'm hoping it is the power supply. I've got one on the brown truck as we speak.

I'll put it in tonight and test the mobo as you've suggested.

Keeping fingers crossed!

[JPMiller]

What did you buy?
I hope it was a good brand because FSP is one of the best, and youd be better off with a bad FSP than most questionable brands...
Power Supply Info - Tech Support Forums - TechIMO.com

[Steve25261]

The surgery was a success!

Replaced the FPS with this Coolmax 400W PSU and the desktop fired right up.

Thanks for the info JP -- being on a severely tight budget, I went with the lowest price but good reviews.

EDIT: It's the morning after surgery, and the fan on this PSU can be heard from the next room.

Looks like it may be going back in favor of a higher priced and better rated unit.

[JPMiller]

I was going to warn you... coolmax is garbage...
Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W Continuous Power ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Probably the cheapest good option that doesnt involve a rebate...

[Steve25261]

I was going to warn you... coolmax is garbage...
Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W Continuous Power ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Probably the cheapest good option that doesnt involve a rebate...

I replaced the Coolmax with this Antec unit, and I am more than satisfied. This thing is so quiet I have to check and make sure that it is on! Interesting that as of today, it's discontinued at Newegg.

As for the Coolmax, Tiger Direct gave me a full refund and didn't want me to ship the PSU back to them.

[JPMiller]

That just shows how truly worthless it is huh?