A bit worried

[sithlord3k]

Hi,

I've just built my new system recently, and I have a problem:
a few times a day, my pc seems to shut down for a few seconds, and then reboot. At first, I thought it was something in BIOS that shut down my system after a period of inactivity, but then it happened twice in the last 20 minutes or so. Is it possible that my PSU isn't able to handle all my bits and pieces ?

BTW the way, CPU and MOBO temps seem normal, 40c and 37c respectively. The voltages are:

CPU Voltage: 1.296v
3.3 Voltage: 3.280v
5 Voltage: 4.632v
12 voltage 11.368v

I've also got 1 SATA DVD-RW, and 1 IDE DVD-ROM, a floppy disk/sd card reader, 2x 80mm fans and 1x120mm fan, and two cold cathode tubes.

Nothing is overclocked, and I'm using a Zalman CNPS9500A Heatsink/Fan

[Jay]

thats a strange one... sounds like a PSU problem to me though.

[Infinite]

ye, probably ur psu

[0iD]

Sounds symptomatic of a PSU, what size/brand is it?

[Agent]

What make / model is it?

[sithlord3k]

OCZ Stealth Extreme 600W

[0iD]

Well I got to say, that should be able to handle it.

[joshwa]

Tried removing / unplugging bits one by one to see if the problem goes away? It's possible that having too much stuff on one particular rail could be overloading the PSU?

[sithlord3k]

Yep, tried it. Looks like it is a problem with the PSU, as my reading for the +5v and the +12v are quite low, 4.66v and 11.48v, respectively. I tried reading with only the CPU,RAM,VGA,Zalman Cooler and HDD connected, and the readings were the same...

[peterb]

How were you measuring it? A multimeter is the most reliable way, rather than using software tools.

[Infinite]

Yep, tried it. Looks like it is a problem with the PSU, as my reading for the +5v and the +12v are quite low, 4.66v and 11.48v, respectively. I tried reading with only the CPU,RAM,VGA,Zalman Cooler and HDD connected, and the readings were the same...

I think mine are something like that aswell (i will check when i get to my computer), but my system is stable.

[sithlord3k]

I don't have a multimeter right now, so if someone could tell me which is the best out of the following:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...imeter&doy=2m7
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...imeter&doy=2m7
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...imeter&doy=2m7

[sithlord3k]

I think mine are something like that aswell (i will check when i get to my computer), but my system is stable.

Thanks mate

[joz12345]

I know it might seem weird for a new PC but it could be a software problem. I recently started getting random shutdowns after windows update did an automatic driver update for my mouse or somethin like that. Anyway, i have only just built my PC, so i was doing all of the above, thinking that couldnt be it, but i randomly decided to try a system restore, and it solved it.

[sithlord3k]

I know it might seem weird for a new PC but it could be a software problem. I recently started getting random shutdowns after windows update did an automatic driver update for my mouse or somethin like that. Anyway, i have only just built my PC, so i was doing all of the above, thinking that couldnt be it, but i randomly decided to try a system restore, and it solved it.

It's funny that you say that. A couple of days ago when I installed my soundcard, I decided that I didn't want to use it after all. When I disabled the soundcard in device manager, the pc rebooted. When it came on again, the soundcard was still enabled in device manager, and so I tried again, and it rebooted again. I tried twice more, and each time, the pc rebooted...

But a soundcard can't cause random reboots, can it ?

[Agent]

I don't have a multimeter right now, so if someone could tell me which is the best out of the following:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...imeter&doy=2m7
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...imeter&doy=2m7
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...imeter&doy=2m7

They are all well over what you need for basic PC testing

Just go into the store and pick up one of the cheap £5 ones they always have on offer