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Re: [LUG] Hardware Issues

 

Mike Martin wrote:
> My Box has all of of sudden started shutting down without waring under
> fairly heavy load (video encoding)
>
> I have replaced PSU (350-450 unit)
> Monitor,mouse and keyborad still show as functioning - but obvoiusly
> with no inputs
>
> To restart I have to take out plug and restart
>
> Any ideas on which part of HW to look at next?
>
>   
Totally agree with the heat issue mentioned.  Look in the BIOS to see 
what warning and shut-down temperatures are currently.  The same screen 
ought to show you what the current CPU temperature actually is - or more 
specifically what the BIOS thinks it is, not always the same thing!  If 
they look a bit close that's likely to be the problem because if they 
are close while the CPU is idling they'll overlap under load.

Then go to the motherboard website and check for BIOS updates - my BIOS 
was misreading the CPU temp by over 20C, and a BIOS update fixed it.  If 
heat is the problem and it is being read correctly then you'll probably 
need to invest in a new CPU cooler and possibly some case fans.  IMHO a 
PC can never be too cool.

It *could* I suppose also be the PSU dying under load - how old is it, 
what wattage, and is it the one supplied with the PC [don't suppose you 
know what make it is?[1]] - these are usually, although not always, 
cheap and nasty and the power rating quoted is *peak* not the constant 
output.  IMHO the only time you get a good PSU with a case is when the 
case is from a quality manufacturer.  Also have you done any upgrades to 
the PC e.g. CPU, memory etc. and not upgraded the PSU?

Kind regards,

Julian

[1] Having said that I had an Enermax die on me and that was a good PSU, 
so it's not a perfect science.  In general the heavier the PSU the 
better quality.

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