pc shuts itself down

[liquid]

My pc is shutting itself down after a while. It's not a Windows shut down, but an instant power off.

Sometimes it takes a couple of hours, but today it happened while booting. Is there a known hardware component which could cause this?

[skeletor]

I've been fixing a PC that has been doing this. Unfortunately not always easy to diagnose.

First and easiest thing to check is the RAM. Download MemTest - http://www.memtest.org/#downiso There are options for an ISO (to burn to CD) or one to download and install on to a USB stick.

Then you just leave that running for a few hours.

If you get even a single error, then you will need to replace the RAM. If you have multiple sticks, run the test on individual sticks (it may just be one that is causing issues).

Another possibility is the power supply (PSU). If you have a multimeter you will be able to test that fairly easily to make sure the voltages etc are all OK.

Other possibilities include motherboard (no way to test other than try another one), CPU (again, no way to test unless you try another one), hard drive (again, try a different one, although you can check the SMART status while in Windows using something like Speedfan).

On the PC I have been having trouble with, I have replaced the RAM, hard drive, motherboard and now the CPU which I am still waiting for.

[liquid]

I was already afraid that there was no easy solution for it. Pc is about 6 years old now, maybe it's just time for a new one.
Replacing motherboard, CPU, PSU, RAM and hard drive is basically a new pc anyway.

Thanks anyway Skel, looks like another big investment

[sparksy]

My pc is shutting itself down after a while. It's not a Windows shut down, but an instant power off.

my last rig kept doing that due to heat problems.. CPU getting to hot... if you download CORE TEMP it will tell you what temp your cpu is.

First and easiest thing to check is the RAM. Download MemTest - http://www.memtest.org/#downiso There are options for an ISO (to burn to CD) or one to download and install on to a USB stick.

i used that in last rig also.. left it overnight.. got no errors... ram was still fucked..had to get new sticks anyway

[skeletor]

I've had it run for 12 hours and it was only in the 11th hour that it came up with an error. Other memory programs seem to detect errors a bit quicker but it's still a good test.

[liquid]

Since my computer has died on me I have to get some new hardware.
Question is WHAT

I was looking for a CPU and a motherboard, but I have no idea what to get.
I thought that the CPU has to be an Intel i7, but which one.
- i7 3.2 hexa core 12MB (very expensive)
- i7 3.4 quad core 8MB 64 bit computing
- i7 3.5 quad core 8MB

For the motherboard I only have one condition, it needs to have a digital coaxial audio socket. Looks like most boards don't have one.

[skeletor]

Digital coaxial sockets are quite rare, not sure why but they tend to be limited to some of the higher end motherboards.

CPU, I would probably get an i5 rather than an i7 especially if you want to save on money. Get one that ends with a K which means it is unlocked and can be overclocked slightly (don't need to go overboard but a modest 10% overclock is fine).

[Revolver]

My i5 3570-K has been pretty awesome without even overclocking. If anything lets my system down its the 6850 card is knocking on a bit now.

[skeletor]

Yeah, the i7's aren't really necessary for gaming above the i5's. Really wished I had saved money and got an i5 rather than an i7 but live and learn.

Money saved from i5 is better spent on SSD and better graphics card.

[sparksy]

im pleased with my i5 chip... no probs at all with heat with that antec water cooler as well. having said that im curious to see what that AMD bulldozer is like when i get that back compaired to the intel i5........ the price difference is pretty big...

im impressed with the gigabyte board as well... ive had 3 asus board go tits up on me ..and the untilitys on this one are good