Computer randomly reboots

[jmebonner]

Wondering if it could be my psu...


Asus A7N8X Dlx
Barton 2500
512 Mushkin pc2700
psu that came w/ my chenming case
memorex 2.4 burner
buslink(liteon) 52x burner
Radeon 8500 aiw
ibm Death Star


Every once in a while it'll just bomb. No rhyme nor reason. It'll just absolutely quit and then just start from the beginning again.
I ran memtest on the ram for 34+ hours, it gave no errors at all. The processor is fine, as the problem happened w/ the old one too. Hdd is new, again, the problem happened w/ the old hdd too.

Would prime 95 tell me where the failure was if I ran it until it barfed?

So, whassya think? PSU?


EDIT:

I can post the minidump file if someone can translate it and tell me how to do it

[imac9556]

Hi,
I think check the PSU votages. Then try to reset the CMOS

Thanks, Paul

[Bovon]

A deficient PSU has been known to cause reboots...there are other anomalies that can cause a random reboot...not just low voltage. I do not have many answers because there could be quite a few possible answers...but if you can get your hands an another PSU...I'd say give that a shot.

Other possibilities may be a 'noisy' PSU...this is not noise that you can hear..it is a hum..or, AC type noise that comes in when a power supply's filtering capacitors begin to leak voltage (not any liquid..LOL).

Motherboards were made with defective capacitors for about 2 years..we are still having motherboards die from these things..that could definitely cause a reboot.

BTW...what is the wattage of the PSU that is there now.

[omalleytrading]

The other thing to look at is the heat. Is your PC enclosed in a cabinet? Tucked somewhere without a lot of airflow? I've seen PCs that overheat and start to reboot themselves.

[The Real Bingo]

That happens to me too...I always thought its because I have a crappy emachines. Intriguing.

[MitaDC]

Quote:

Originally posted by The Real Bingo
That happens to me too...I always thought its because I have a crappy emachines. Intriguing.

No that is just from the crappy emachines lol

[Omardeth]

ya it could be the power supply . i have found that that is what causes random reboots most the time . heat would be my next quess then ram . any one of the 3 can cause the problem . but most the time it is the power supply . what are the posted specs on the side of the power supply ? and what are the voltage reads ?

[ZX48K]

To rule out heat, when the PC randomly reboots, go into BIOS and take a look at the temp, most BIOS's ahve a menu item that allows you to do this.

[jmebonner]

I checked heat, pc is only 45 or so under full load, mb is 28.

Ram, is fine.


Not sure on the posted specs omar as I have modded the thing and the specs are now gone Readings on the psu right now are :

12v 12.16
5v 4.703
3.3v 3.248
Vcore 1.664

I have Asus' pcprobe recording the voltages, so next time it bombs I'll check the history.

[ZX48K]

To rule out heat, just after the PC decides to reboot, go into BIOS and take a look at the temperature. Most BIOS's have a menu item that allows you to check the CPU temp.