New parts - random shut downs

[Vazaru]

Hey guys!

I just picked up a new motherboard, some RAM, and a new vid card and am having some issues with my computer turning itself off.

Heres some specs off the top of my head:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - stock speed
EVGA 790i SLI FTW mobo - just got it
4 GB Patriot Viper DDR3 RAM - just got it
EVGA Nvidia GTX 260 Superclocked video card - just got it
Ultra X3 1000W power supply
Various hard drives and DVD drives

Anyway, I connected everything, made sure everything was seated correctly, powered on my computer and it stayed on for a few minutes and then shut off without warning like the power had been cut. It lasts for random amounts of time before it dies on me, but it never lasts for more than 30 minutes. I have noticed that once it turns off the first time, it tends to turn off quicker than before (maybe heat related?).

I have done some research and most say its either my power supply or could be a failing device. I had some G Skill DDR3 RAM before the Patriot RAM and still had the same issue so I don't think thats it. I've only had my PSU for 2 months so I don't think thats it either, though I guess it still could be?

My first thought was heat, but the red light on the new board (indicating heat problems) never comes on when the system powers off. I even picked up an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro, replaced the thermal compound with some Arctic Silver 5, and made sure all 4 of the pins were secure.

Also, SpeedFan reads my cpu temp idling at around 35C and the video card temp is well within normal ranges so I don't think it is heat, though my BIOS has no idea what my temps are. They bounce around from anywhere between -45C and 60C so I don't know whats up with that.

No matter what I tried, I couldn't get the system to stay on so I swapped out the new stuff with the old. My old set up had two Nvidia 8800s in SLI but now I have the new video card in the old board by itself with old RAM and the same problem happens. The system randomly turns off as if the power had been cut but it stays on for hours before it turns off.

I can't really try a different PSU since the only other one I have does not have the 8 pin connector to fit the new motherboard.

I have a hard drive with a clean install of Vista on it and I still have the same problem, so that rules out any OS problems (I hope)


*** Currently running on all of my old stuff and have been stable for an hour so far, though the point of getting new stuff is to...use it

All drivers are up to date as well as my BIOS.

Any help would be appreciated. Been working on this for days now and its frustrating.

Thanks!

 

[kubes]

run memtest86. Try plugging in just one stick of ram and see if this solves the problem. check your bios for ram timings and make sure they match up.

It could be the power supply. Try running some bench tests and see if that will cause it to die out. One of your rails from your psu might be dieing. As your computer needs more power, the psu might not be able to keep up. Your PSU isn't the best and that leaves me wonder if that could be the cause.

Is your hard drive making any funny noises? (I dought this because your not losing data).

 

[theAnimal]

Is the RAM running at the correct voltage? Check the SPD tab in CPU-Z to see what it should be.

Edit: I'm pretty sure you can use a PSU with a 4pin connector on an 8pin mobo.

 

[Onus]

Is the PSU fan running? It might normally be capable of holding up that load (at 1kw I should hope so!), but if its fan croaked, it might be overheating and shutting off. Decreasing cut-off time screams "overheating!" so it is just a matter of figuring out where.

 

[Outlander_04]

It sounds like a heat issue . PSu's over heat farly quickly in my experience and you get a hard shut down like pulling the plug from the wall socket so that could be your problem .

As suggested check the psu fans are spinning .
Also check the case fans are blowing in from the front and out at the back [ or however the manufacturer had them set up ]

 

[Vazaru]

Ok, just got back from class. Thanks for all the replies!

kubes: I will try running memtest, but what does it tell me? Never ran it before. And I'm not really sure what you mean by bench tests. I don't know much beyond where things go inside and what plugs in where. Also, no hard drive strange hard drive noises

theAnimal: I'm pretty sure the RAM is running at the correct voltage, but I will check to be sure. I've never tried a 4 pin on an 8 pin before so I don't really know

jtt283: PSU fan is up and running. My first thought was heat also, but all my temps check out and seem to be fine but it could still be a possibility.

Outlander_04: All my fans are up and running.

I am willing to try pretty much anything to get this up and running.

Still running fine on my old parts, for now. Been running for 4 hours

Edit: Also, I have no idea how to use CPU-Z so the information it tells me...doesn't help me much lol

 

[theAnimal]

Edit: Also, I have no idea how to use CPU-Z so the information it tells me...doesn't help me much lol

You have to run it from a cmd.exe window.

 

[Onus]

I don't. I just click on its icon; no command window needed.

 

[aford10]

Same, just click the icon.

With your old hardware in, start swapping in the new parts one by one and see when the trouble starts.

First put in the new RAM 1 stick at a time
Then try the new psu

 

[theAnimal]

I don't. I just click on its icon; no command window needed.

Could've sworn it didn't work that way for me before. It does now though.

 

[Vazaru]

Sorry guys, kinda busy with school/work. I'll post back tonight after work with all the tests.

aford10: I wish I could swap parts one at a time, it would be so much easier. The thing is, my old board doesn't support DDR3 RAM, so the only way to test the RAM is in the new board

 

[ZeGerman]

Vazaru,

I think for the moment it is more crucial to identify the problem using isolation tests. This may be time consuming, but on the other hand so is rebooting your computer everytime you need to run a test through memtest etc.

You need to carefully follow the following procedure to ensure you isolate the problem, instead of creating new ones:

1. Strip all non-essentials off your motherboard
2. Turn on the system too see if it works
3. If the problem persists, consider rebuilding the system on a piece of cardboard

To do this:
****************
1. Strip everything off motherboard (including cpu)
2. Sit motherboard by itself down on a piece of cardboard
3. Carefully reapply a thin layer of heatsink paste to the top surface of the CPU and fasten in socket.
4. Mount heatsink and fan
5. Turn on the system to see if it works
(To turn on the system without case cables simply short out the two pins that your power switch plug from your case would usally go on, this can be done with a screwdriver)
6. Continue to add one piece at time, turning on the system inbetween to monitor its functionality
7. If you successfully manage to insert all parts of the system you can comfortably rule out a hardware fault

I will give further instructions after you have completed the above described set. It is important that you try and follow basic Electro Static Discharge practices by regularly grounding yourself on the computer case or any other piece of metal that is grounded. This way you reduce the risk of damaging hardware by accident. *NOTE: ESD practices are not of the greatest importance and I have never damaged any computer parts in this way. It is simply advisable as the hardware you are dealing with is to my understanding very expensive*

Please also consider that this is simply advice and may or may not give you a solution to your problem.

Kind Regards
ZeGerman

 

[Vazaru]

Thanks ZeGerman. I will try that later. No time now as I am off to class.

 

[kubes]

Memtest86 can help determine if your ram is faulty. The ram being faulty can be caused by many reasons such as incorrect voltages or its just bad hardware.

Like others noted these are symptoms of heat, but you're saying you think you've eliminated it as a cause. One last test to verify its not heat is touch your CPU's heat sink (ground yourself of course) and make sure its at a resonable tempature. It should be warm but not burning to the touch. Do the same with your gpu ram psu ect... It could be a bad tempature probe on the board.

Make sure your using the latest bios verison for the board. If you're not sure how to do this google it. Some easy walkthroughs on how to do this.

 

[Vazaru]

Thanks for all your help guys!

I'm pretty sure I've located my problem. I did what ZeGerman advised, and everything worked fine with the bare minimum, but one thing I noticed was an annoying squeeking noise I had never heard before on my old setup.

I had the same 790i motherboard before and heard the sound and thought it was the fan on the heatsink on the board and RMA'd it but now the same noise is on this board.

After some searching around, it isn't the board making the noise at all...its my power supply! Going to plus the rest of my components in and make sure its a power issue, then I guess its off to buy a new PSU if its the problem. And reccomendations? I would prefer a quality modular PSU that could support a second GTX 260 in the future for some SLI action

 

[kubes]

Antec 850 TPQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371009&Tpk=antec%20850%20tpq

This is half way modular. But if your doing an sli rig you should be using all the available rails on it.