Member Avatar for fro4lyfe

Ok here is the problem, my computer keeps shuting down and some the lights stay on and the cpu fan stops but the power supply fan is still runs. Very randomly it could stay on 5-10 hours ever since i put in a new Nvidia video card and 1G of ram before it had ingrated graphics and 256 ram.

Now it doesnt even get to the login screen it shutdowns at the loading Windows XP. I play heavy run down games like World of Warcraft too.

Now im wondering if its my power supply i tried safemode taking out the new stuff that i upgraded like the ram graphic card etc. and putting back in the old.

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Following 's report and the early suggestions from and , here is a focused diagnostic plan to separate a failing PSU from cooling, motherboard, or GPU problems. The steps avoid repeating basic fan/dust checks and instead give measurable tests and low-risk actions that reliably isolate the faulty part.

Start with a controlled minimal-boot on a bench: motherboard, CPU + cooler, one known-good RAM stick, PSU, and video only if there is no onboard output. Let the machine sit in BIOS/UEFI for 20–30 minutes and note CPU temp and fan RPMs. Run a bootable Memtest86+ for several passes to rule out RAM faults independent of Windows.

Measure the PSU under load. Use a quality PSU tester or a multimeter while stressing the system (Prime95 for CPU; FurMark for GPU only if the card is present). Target ranges: 12V within 11.4–12.6V, 5V within 4.75–5.25V, 3.3V within 3.135–3.465V. Significant sag, ripple, or fluctuation under load means the PSU or its rails are failing. If available, swap in a known-good, higher-wattage PSU to confirm the symptom disappears.

Inspect power delivery and connections: ensure the 4/8-pin CPU power and any 6/8-pin PCIe GPU power plugs are correctly used (avoid Molex-to-PCIe adapters for high-draw cards). Look for bulging or leaking capacitors around the CPU socket and PCIe area; those cause intermittent shutdowns under load. Reseat the heatsink and refresh thermal paste if the cooler has been disturbed.

If Windows ever boots far enough, collect minidumps and Event Viewer logs (look for Kernel-Power events). If the problem reproduces under load and a PSU swap cures it, replace the PSU with a reputable unit rated for the GPU. When handling internals, unplug mains power and use anti-static precautions; if uncertain, have a shop bench-test the PSU and motherboard rails.

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Member Avatar for dcc

Ok here is the problem, my computer keeps shuting down and some the lights stay on and the cpu fan stops but the power supply fan is still runs. Very randomly it could stay on 5-10 hours ever since i put in a new Nvidia video card and 1G of ram before it had ingrated graphics and 256 ram.

Now it doesnt even get to the login screen it shutdowns at the loading Windows XP. I play heavy run down games like World of Warcraft too.

Now im wondering if its my power supply i tried safemode taking out the new stuff that i upgraded like the ram graphic card etc. and putting back in the old.

If the CPU fan stops but the PSU fan continues to run then your problem may be the fan or its connection. If the fan isn't running the CPU will over heat and shut down the computer.

Member Avatar for mechbas

heat or insufficient air flow over the cooling fins usually due to accumulated dust is a known enemy of the CPU.
if the PSU fan is still running after shut down then it's possible that the PSU didn't get the msg. to stop. check if not clean the CPU fins, check BIOS settings, consider a new PSU or at least try another.

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