How to diagnose random shut down

Forums › Desktop computing › How to diagnose random shut down - CPU?

xxspinalxx

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#261568 4-Dec-2019 09:48

Hey all, having some trouble with my PC randomly shutting off.

Sometimes it will run fine all day and then other times like this morning it has shut off like 5 times.

I get the feeling it's a CPU issue as it sits at 99% sometimes for a while (especially when opening Google Chrome)

It will shut off every time i try to render a video from Camtasia (video editor) so i have stopped that. I presume that uses CPU only to render

What would be the best way to trouble shoot this before replacing the components?

If you agree its the CPU. Any recommendations?

Computer was built in 2013 so it's had a good life

Thanks,

Cam

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AMD FX-4130 Quad Core 3.80GHz Turbo Core CPU - 1.00 EA
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Samsung 24x DVD-RW SATA Optical Drive - 1.00 EA
Aywun A1-101 Black Micro ATX Case - 1.00 EA
Corsair VS650 ATX 650W Power Supply - 1.00 EA

xpd

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#2367933 4-Dec-2019 09:53

CPU sitting at 99% shouldnt cause a shutdown unless its overheating.

When did you last clean out the fan/heatsink ? Replaced the thermal paste ?

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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#2367935 4-Dec-2019 09:54

I'd take a look at the CPU heatsink fins to see if they were clogged up with dust.

Tzoi

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Ultimate Geek

#2367936 4-Dec-2019 09:54

Check temperature of parts
Try with only one stick of ram
Try with the monitor plugged into the motherboard (if it has onboard graphics) and remove the graphics card

tehgerbil

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#2367940 4-Dec-2019 10:05

A few things to look into -

Reseat ALL connectors, especially 24 pin ATX connector on motherboard. (Possible they're loose and heat expansion is causing it to work itself out of socket)

Re-goo heatsink.

Clean out PSU/CPU heatsinks.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2367941 4-Dec-2019 10:09

are you hitting max temp by chance....

being an old AMD FX, it's probably running at 90C when under load...

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timmmay

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#2367943 4-Dec-2019 10:13

Sounds like it's overheating and shutting down. Install Open Hardware Monitor and watch the CPU temperature when you're doing anything CPU intensive. 30 - 50 degrees is fine. Most CPUs have a limit of around 80 - 100 degrees before they will limit or shut down.

If the temp keeps rising you should check for dust, and check the heatsink is properly connected to the CPU. Most likely you will need to remove the heatsink from the CPU, clean it, reapply thermal paste, and refit.

xxspinalxx

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2367948 4-Dec-2019 10:32

Thanks a lot team!

Gave it some hard work with Open Resource Monitor open and it got to 88deg.

I will air gun the whole system, buy some thermal paste and re-sit the heat sync then see how it goes

Is the CPU maxing out of any concern or does that mean it's just a bit slow to load?

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#2367952 4-Dec-2019 10:40

Its of concern in that it will make your system slow. You'll need to track down whats causing it.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

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#2367954 4-Dec-2019 10:43

xxspinalxx:

Is the CPU maxing out of any concern or does that mean it's just a bit slow to load?

more likely your OS & Software needs a good clean up. Or reload .
Or/and your vid editing software is simply maxing out the CPU .

"I get the feeling it's a CPU issue as it sits at 99% sometimes for a while (especially when opening Google Chrome)"
Reset Chrome for a start .

timmmay

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#2367955 4-Dec-2019 10:48

Reinstalling the operating system and applications can help, especially with older operating systems. Windows 10 seems to be regularly refreshed by updates so is less necessary unless the PC is showing signs of problems like yours is.

That CPU is getting a bit old now, it's probably due for replacement. It's still faster than some modern CPUs that get put in laptops though.

gehenna

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#2368010 4-Dec-2019 11:18

Look at your Event Viewer System logs around the time you're having issues and see if there's any warnings/errors/critical alerts.

tripper1000

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#2368022 4-Dec-2019 11:59

+1 overheating issues, particularly as it is load sensitive.

Is the CUP fan running and clean?

Had similar trouble - most recently it was because a wire had moved and was jamming the CPU fan.

Time before it was because there was a fan heater blowing toward the computer so it was sucking up hot air and overheating.

Time before that the CPU Fan & heat sink was totally clogged with dust.

gehenna

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#2368063 4-Dec-2019 12:40

Check your event logs before going crazy. Start simple, work your way up to complex.

xxspinalxx

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Wannabe Geek

#2368085 4-Dec-2019 12:59

Just did a big clean out and re-sat the CPU with new thermal grease. Video rendering is maxed out at 58C instead of overheating past 80C

Will look into what is causing the load on CPU but at least it wont be crashing.

Thanks to all of you legends