WTH!?!?! PC reboots itself for no reason?!

obieone

Built this gaming pc last spring, and it was cutting out and rebooting itself on occasion. Last month, I moved it to my office from my LR, and it worked fine, until NOW. This morning it's happened twice. Specs are:

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H M.B.
AMD 64 x2 6000+ 3.0 ghz proc.
Nvidea 8800gt
Earthwatts 650w P.S.
Vista 64 bit
Seagate 500GB HDD
Antec 900 gaming case

I didn't like AMD to begin with, and this BS is not helping THEIR case any:mad::mad::mad:

Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks

janmike

The times I have seen this happen were all caused by different problems.
Bad memory, bad power supply, virus. Good luck.

BAD ASP

I am no computer expert but FYI, ours would reboot itself after any automatic updates which required rebooting. I'd bet this doesn't apply to yours but until we turned off the auto updates it would happen. good luck.

Happy New Year!!!

John30_30

AMD processors typically run hot, and if the case is not properly ventilated, overheating will cause it to reboot. Make sure all the fans are working. If the one in the power-supply has died, it can kill the mainboard, and stock power-supplies are notoriously cheap quality. Take the side or top or whatever off so you can check to see all the fans working properly as it comes up, then down it again.
You should probably open the case and blow it out with a can of compressed air, or if you have a compressor and an adjustable nozzle tip. P.C. power supply fans will typically pull in dust bunnies and all kinds of crap.
Keep in mind that you don't want to be blowing hot, dry 80 psi air into it as that builds enough static to damage or destroy mainboard components.

Edit:
Okay, as I'm checking your specs, it looks like you have a nice custom P.S., but make sure the fan on it is blowing properly.

VSchneider

To the list of problems already listed, I'd say most any faulty or overheating PC component can cause a panic reboot (nothing to do with AMD). Check for any obvious Event Log records just around the time of these reboots.

Also, I am assuming you are not overclocking? Check BIOS for one or another "intelligent auto-overclock" feature. I think that was the cause of a couple of panic reboots in my PC before I had the feature disabled.

obieone

Thanks for the feedback folks. All the fans are running-4x the case, VG card, and heatsink.
Couldn't find one for the PS though, at least I couldn't see one on the back the PS??
Where do I find the 'event log'??

I think I'll see what it does from here on out, if it keeps happening, I'll probably change out the MB & processor to Intel.

Fongolio

I used to work full time as a pc tech and the #1 cause of random reboots is and overheating component. However any one of many many variables could be causing it. Make sure you are clean of spyware. Make sure all your components are properly seated. Make sure heat sinks are properly seated on chips and that fans are clean and running. Make sure power supply fans are running. And lastly......pitch vista and install XP. The last one is a personal preference. Good luck.

WilliamM2

Most likely causes would be a bad PS, driver issue, or incompatible/bad memory. Random reboots can be very tricky to diagnose if you don't have spare parts around to swap out. The last one I had turned out to be a bad sound card, swapped out just about everything else first. Who would have guessed?

disneyjoe7

I like swapping componets when you're not sure what the problem is. So I would boot the computer on another OE software like Slax on a CD to rule out software from hardware.

shadowofnight

Did you add the extra fan on the side panel ? While the 900 has great CPU cooling with the large fans above and at the top rear of the case...if you dont add the missing fan ( I just got the Antec 1200 which I love, but antec cheaped out and left the side panel fan off of that one too...I threw another 120mm fan on ) to the side panel it will have really poor Northbridge/Southbridge cooling.

And seeing that your M/B doesnt use active fans on those ( Just passive heatsinks ) ....I would follow these guys advice and address that issue.

Since this has been sporadic since the build though, it may also be one of your bios settings is tweaked a little fast for your ram...with the AMD chipsets ( Actually your AMD cpu has the memory controller ON the cpu...so when you tweak the bios settings you are tweaking how the cpu is addressed memory wise ) you see this a lot more then with Intel chipsets.

A lot of ram spd chips ( One per memory module ) are incorrectly programmed or the bios doesnt read it and set parameters correctly....I LOVE Gigabyte M/B's ( Just bought their GA-EX58-UD3R for my Intel Core i7 cpu ) but their bioses are set up for overclocking and you usually have to go set most values manually .

Run Memtest ( Get the ISO file and make the bootable cd ) and let it loop for a while to see if you have ANY errors...if so go into the bios and either back off on some of the timings or increase the vdimm voltage ( And in your case the vcore as well just a bit ) a bit to see if it clears up...you may have had a limping module from the build...but that would be what I would do to verify. Good Luck

obieone

Well, it happened for a 3rd time since my last posting, and I ran windows Memory diagnostics upon start-up, it was clean. I then ran AVG scan and came back w/ a bunch of cookies, but they were either fixed or removed? I've since cleared all logs. I did check event log on AVG, didn't show anything other than starting and stopping times, no mention of ????
I've got 4 gigs of ram, which Vista sees so???
The fan on the heatsink is working, the coil looks a little dirty, BUT, this was happening back right after I got it so I don't think that's it.

What should I set my BIOS to for this AMD/ MB/ ram set?

BTW, I REALLY appreciate the tech support

obieone

UPDATE: The mouse just froze up on me. Couldn't get the keyboard to do anything either???? Had to manually shutdown & restart:mad::mad:

I'm gonna go get a sd card to back up everything and install xp!!!

jon s

that's not gonna fix it... check the voltage from your power supply...

obieone

Thanks. Any idea how I get to "Windows Error Reports"?? I just did a disk clean up and saw that it had 'archived error reports' and I wanted to look at them. I'm doing a search now but, it's taking forever!?

VSchneider

The Windows Event Viewer is one of the links on the Computer Management screen (right-click on "My Computer" -> Manage) or a separate entry under Control Panel -> Administrative Tools, and even easier in Vista - check this link (http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_event_viewer.htm#Launching_the_Vista_Event_Viewer)

I am not sure what the "Error Reports" refers to though.

obieone

Update, clarification, and some history: I built this pc at an independent shop, after buying a majority of the components from them. This was my FIRST build, and I had them checking my progress as I went. I just discovered that I installed the PS with the fan facing DOWN against the bottom of the case- DOH! I'm no pc guru, but I'm pretty sure that airflow is important.
2nd, I just discovered which heat sink y'all were talking about-I thought you were talking about the AMD heatsink/ fan. The MB heat sinks were hot.
I do have a an 80mm fan that'll fit on the side panel, but it's 120vac? There room is the case to run a chord thru.
I'll see how long it last this time.
Thanks again for all the input

PolkThug

My mom's computer was doing this because heat was triggering it. All I had to do was blow all the dust out from the stock AMD heatsink and fan and it was fine after that.

lightman1

...cooties....


I had the same problem with heat build up. Kept a small fan on the heat sinks and the problem stopped.
But yours may have the Cooties.

WilliamM2

obieone wrote: »

Update, clarification, and some history: I built this pc at an independent shop, after buying a majority of the components from them. This was my FIRST build, and I had them checking my progress as I went. I just discovered that I installed the PS with the fan facing DOWN against the bottom of the case- DOH! I'm no pc guru, but I'm pretty sure that airflow is important.
2nd, I just discovered which heat sink y'all were talking about-I thought you were talking about the AMD heatsink/ fan. The MB heat sinks were hot.
I do have a an 80mm fan that'll fit on the side panel, but it's 120vac? There room is the case to run a chord thru.
I'll see how long it last this time.
Thanks again for all the input

The fan on the power supply should be facing down, it draws air in and exhausts it out the back of the power supply. Due to the screw pattern, they usually only mount one way anyways.

nadams

William- I believe he may have a case where the PSU mounts in the bottom. In this case, you would need to mount the PSU "upside down" so that the fan points UP.

If this is the case, you may have overcooked the PSU slightly by not giving it enough air.

WilliamM2

nadams wrote: »

William- I believe he may have a case where the PSU mounts in the bottom. In this case, you would need to mount the PSU "upside down" so that the fan points UP.

If this is the case, you may have overcooked the PSU slightly by not giving it enough air.

I see, I found a picture of the case, and it looks like Antec did design it to mount the PS either way.

nadams

PS- Antec power supplies are notorious for having bad capacitors. This would cause the symptoms you are mentioning. I won't touch an Antec PSU with a ten-foot soldering iron. Had too many of them fail. Inexcusable for the price they charge.

WilliamM2

nadams wrote: »

PS- Antec power supplies are notorious for having bad capacitors. This would cause the symptoms you are mentioning. I won't touch an Antec PSU with a ten-foot soldering iron. Had too many of them fail. Inexcusable for the price they charge.

I couldn't agree more. At one time, we only used Antec power supplies at work, they were dead reliable, and made by a company called CWT. Three or four years ago they changed suppliers, and started selling these quiet "smart power" supplies. I don't think any of those we bought are still in service, or lasted more than a year. The ones we bought five or more years ago are still all in service.

nadams

Rumor has it the newer Earthwatts supplies are being made by Delta, which is a top-notch OEM. CWT is good, as is Seasonic. They all OEM for Antec. Unfortunately, so do a few lower-end suppliers, which mostly cover their SmartPower series. Regardless, my opinion of Antec has been permanently tainted. I've had their PSUs fail and take the board with them more than once.

obieone

It happened AGAIN since my last posting- that was after I added the 80mm/ 120vac. fan to the outside panel. When it came back up, I just put it in sleep mode for 45 min. then played with it. Just printed 80+ pages thru a PDF files, and it didn't crash???
I'll probably look at PSU's tommorow.
Thanks again for all the feedback.

disneyjoe7

Antec must of came down from a high point. Going back some 20 years ago, when I was in a manufacture position Antec power supply were KING worked and was reliable sorry to see them fallen to a such unreliable level today. Its ashame.

Face

http://www.pcpower.com/index.html

It'll last longer than the rest of your computer. Their silencer series are perfect if you use your PC as a music server.

dudeinaroom

I have seen this a few times. Pull the box apart make sure all of your cards are in tight, and make sure your have the screws in the back of them tightened down. When you use the washer, microwave or any other appliance that uses a lot of power do the lights in your house flicker. I had a HP that when you would use the washer, dryer, heater, microwave, vacuum, or the water pump would kick on the computer would freeze. loose usage of mouse and/or keyboard, to random system error and/or restarts. I fixed that problem by purchasing a line conditioner from tripp lite, I also found that the plug it was pluged into was wired backwards.

Just some point to look at

Later,
Ted

shadowofnight

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Antec must of came down from a high point. Going back some 20 years ago, when I was in a manufacture position Antec power supply were KING worked and was reliable sorry to see them fallen to a such unreliable level today. Its ashame.

All of you hit the nail on the head....in their day Antec was the power supply god....then like a light switch they turned to crap...I had to replace more then I could count.

Then I switched over to PC Power & Cooling like Face mentioned ...and never looked back. I just picked up their Silencer 750 in red for my latest build...rock solid and they use a SINGLE +12volt rail rated at over 60 amps...none of this lower rated current limited multi +12volt rail crap ...they are great supplies.

Sherardp

Mine was doing the same thing last yr. Had no clue as to what causing it, then sure enough one day it just crapped out, wouldnt come on or nothing. Replaced the power supply and all is well. I had a thermaltake power supply.

mmadden28

I only briefed thru the above posts, and what I say may have already been suggested. As said it really could be any number of issues, less likely related tot he OS but more to be a hardware issue. You may just have an underrated power supply. Could be intermittent becuase the demand on the PS is under the max, but then when you try to do something that requires more juice, it maxes out and shuts down.
You can try to disconnect some of your components just to see if you'r using too much juice. Such as d/c your DVD drive, and maybe a 2nd Hard drive (assuming its only used for data and not any running apps). Don't have any external USB devices connected (which may pull power), etc. You will have to determine what you can pull out and still run the system. Also lower your screen resolution, or switch to a single display (if your using two). If the lock-ups/reboots stop, that may be the cause. The recommendations above are all strictly temp just to determine the cause or rule out an issue.

Of course it could also be just a failing compnent or an overheating issue as stated.
You might also want to check to see that there are no shorts, esp where the motherboard is mounted to the standoffs in the case. This is another typical cause of intermittent issues.