Comp shutting down

[kibb]

My computer often shuts down for no apparent reason.
Normally when running programs.
I dont know much about hardware so any help is appreciated.

 

[Trifid]

High demanding prgrams?

Its usually one of two things, your CPU is overheating, and is going into thermal hibernation. It usually refuses to boot up for about half an hour until the CPU is fully cooled. Or the PSU is crap, and is not supplying enough juice/is dieing.

 

[pcrobot]

I don't know what your specs are, but one of my older PCs would shut down, when running programs, but I'd get an error message saying "insufficient memory" first.

Does your computer freeze before shutting down? Does it just suddenly go blank? Or do you get an error message?

 

[Chankama]

50 Monopoly $$ says it's an overheating problem..

 

[PZEROFGH]

have you looked at elbatrons guide for random restarts?

 

[kibb]

I thought it was overheating too.
when I run stuff eg games it shutsdown and doesnt turn on till
20 mins later.

how can I fix this problem?

 

[PZEROFGH]

clean out the dust

use a can of compressed air

get a couple of case fans

try to clear the wires and what notq

 

[kibb]

will do soon!
thanks for the help u guys own.

 

[kibb]

waht it did it again, this time

I took off the cover for ventaltion and cleaned out a lot of dust.

maybe Ill need a fan.. but it never used to do this...???

 

[Trifid]

Have you lifted up the heatsink recently? Is it hotter in your room? And there is always the chance that your temperature sensor has gone, and is now reading an incorrect temperature, and causing your PC to shut down to protect its self.

If you don't mind spending a bit of money, you could get a new heatsink. Or for less, re apply the thermal compound. You will need to clean the old stuff off with isopropyll/anything 90%+ alcohol.