PC shuts down...well kind of

[inapt_behavior]

Well I just recently put together a PC for my girlfriend's grandmother, and it was my first time so...anyway this is what's in it:

Black Enermax CS-517AL Aluminium Medium Tower
w/ Top and Side Panel Fans 80mm
Intel D945GNTL Mobo
Pentium D 920 2.8GHZ CPU
w/ Stock Heatsink
1GB (2x512) PC2 4200 OCZ Gold Series RAM
Hiper 480w HPU-4M480-PS PSU
2 ENERMAX UC-8TCFS/B 80mm Rear Case Fans
1 Thermaltake 120mm Front Smart Fan II
US Robotics Max-G 802.11g Wireless Card
Windows XP Home Edition

....everything else is integrated, audio, video, etc. It's mainly to be used to play Java games, and things that aren't really taxing. Anyhow, about 2-3 days after it was completed it would shut itself off, but the power LED would stay on as well as the fans. I'd have to manually turn it off by holding the button in and then when I'd turn it back on, the LED light would come on and so would the fans, but nothing would boot. Then after about waiting 30min or so I'd turn it on and it would finally boot. Only to shutdown anywhere from 30min to 4hrs later. Well I updated BIOS and downloaded speedfan to watch the temps. The CPU would read between 56c-60c. Internal temp would be 41c-47c. To me it seems hot. Anyways 2 days ago it stopped shutting down, and yesterday I went ahead and installed Intel Desktop Utilities. Intel's webiste said that the peak temp was around 67c so I adjusted it. It's been running fine, but it still seems hot. I tried the stress test and it got up to 65c and stayed between 64c-65c. Anyway, with Intel Utilites I've gotten a temp failure error, a cpu core power error, and a cpu i/o power error (I can post exact word-for-word tomorrow when I see the PC next). Which kind of leads me to believe that it may be an issue with my PSU, however I'm still new so I'm not sure. It is still covered under warranty and I can RMA it, but I've also been told that random shutdowns are an issue with the mobo itself. I can RMA for another Mobo, but the fact that its stopped doing it worries me that I'll be sending it back for no reason. I guess basically I'm looking for anyone who knows what would cause this, or has had it happen to them as well. I'm just not sure what step to take next. Well thanks to all in advance.

[odannyboy000]

with Intel Utilites I've gotten a temp failure error, a cpu core power error, and a cpu i/o power error (I can post exact word-for-word tomorrow when I see the PC next).

Do this. That's an interesting problem you have, and I am not sure but you MIGHT want to get a new heatsink for your processor. I understand that it is a Pentium D, and I understand they run HOTTTTT.

Why exactly do you think its PowerSupplyUnit failure?

I am sure saphilline can help you more than I.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Sounds to me like you've had several pedestrians in the road waving frantically that there is an accident ahead and you have taken no heed to the required action of STOP! :eek:

You have had many reports to a problem with heat and you are looking elswhere for blame. What I would do is reseat the HSF on the processor and try again. Those temps aren't instant frying capable but there was obvious problems as a result. Try your best to get them down even if it means lapping the heatsink.

I hope nothing irreparable happened.

[George Hallam]

this might sound stupid but when you put the heat sink on to the cpu did you use past or a pad if you used paste you may not have put enough it happened to me once

[inapt_behavior]

Messages from Intel Desktop Utilities are as follows:

+3.3v Out of Recommended range - failure
+5v Out of Recommended range - failure
+12v out of recommended range - failure
CPU Core out of recommended range - failure
CPU I/O (1.5v) out of recommended range - failure
Processor Zone Temp exceeded it's recommended maxium temp - failure

...I never said I didn't think it was a heat problem, I just said I think there might be an issue with my PSU with those errors I was getting. The random shutdowns was said to be an issue with the motherboard. I just feel like the temp was high, no one ever really told me that it was or wasn't. All I've found is that Pentium D's run hot, but for completely stock everything it doesn't seem to be such a shock to everyone that it's running at the temp it is. Anyways I just bought some AS5 and I'm going to clean and reapply paste and see if that helps. My main question was basically what would most likely cause the random shutdowns, and in turn cause it to stop? And also should I RMA things or not? Nothing has changed since the time it would shut down to the time it stopped doing it, so I don't know. Anyways thanks for the help so far.

[inapt_behavior]

Ok so I cleaned CPU and HS and reapplied AS5. The temp did drop down to between 54c-58c. Still seems hot, but then again. Anyways haven't had any errors yet, I've had it on for nearly half an hour and it hasn't reached over 58c so I guess that's a good sign. No shutdowns yet either, if it happens considering it's sudden "fixing" itself, or at least not doing it for the time being. Anyway thanks again for the help, and if anyone has anything more to suggest or even try then I'm all ears.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Unless that PSU is FUBAR, it seems odd that all readings show as wrong.

I'd take a look in BIOS to verify the few you can find in there. I'd also trust BIOS over an outside software utility.

Lapping your heatsink may get a few more degrees trimmed off if you bother to spend the time at it.