PC crashing...

[Lie-in King]

Hi guys - I really hope someone can help me here...

For the last couple of months, my PC has been shutting down completely & suddenly.

It occurred to me that it seemed to happen when I was watching something on YouTube - until last night, when I'd watched a clip on mamya's thread successfully & was trying to think of a track to post, when the screen suddenly gave the familiar message "No Signal Received".

I don't recall it happening without YouTube either currently or recently having been used.

On a few occasions, moving the mouse has brought the box back to life, otherwise the ONLY way back in is to power-off at the mains & restart. Both actions lead to the "Windows shut down unexpectedly..." message.

I've run MSE, Spybot & Malwarebytes & appear to be clear of oogly-booglies...

I've checked that my NVIDIA drivers are up to date & that there are no M'soft updates outstanding.

My box is (taken from the "System Information" screen) -

Packard Bell iXtreme M5722 x64
Intel Core2 Quad CPU - Q8300 @ 2.50 GHx, 2499 MHz
Windows 7 Home Premium, Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
6 GB RAM

NVIDIA GeForce GT220 1GB
Driver Version - 8.17.12.9610

If you need any more info, I'm happy to provide it, if I know where to find it - fair warning, lol!

As always, thank you for your time & attention,

L-i K

[MarkRae]

Remove the full stop from the end of the hyperlink... :-)

[Old_Geezer]

Really ? I took it from the address window.

Try the home page http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

[Old_Geezer]

:-) now how did that happen I wonder.

[Lie-in King]

Can I also throw this in?

Is OG right with the 'parts' theory? The box has behaved itself since I bought it in 10/09 - old enough for wear & tear?

[Lie-in King]

Got the link now - it says

Fan1 - 991 RPM

GPU 78C (with a 'flame' symbol)
Temp1 - 53C (same 'flame'..)
Temp2 - 49C
Temp3 - 27C
HD0 - 42c
Core 0 - 44C
Core 1 - 44C
Core 2 - 44C
Core 3 - 44C

Everything from 'Temp 2' down has a green tick

[TheNovice]

Just found this link that might be useful LIK......good luck!!! Although it does mention OG theory of overheating. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2028504

[Old_Geezer]

Flame symbols are not good. But you can get rid of them by changing the settings so it doesn't warn until you are at 792 degrees ;-) Check out the fans and clean. The GPU will be the graphics processor on your graphics board. Unsure which Temp1 is but maybe your main processor ? Heat the fans above each and the heatsinks.

[Lie-in King]

Aye, TN - saw that one & ranked it in the "don't understand the words" file :-)

I DO appreciate all the help, though I don't think I'm savvy enough to provide the right info...

[Old_Geezer]

Why did my hand type 'heat' when I clearly informed it that it should type 'check' ? :-( Getting worse every day.

[Lie-in King]

Lol, OG - smiling here :-)

[Lie-in King]

I'm going back in - though 792C seems excessive? :-))

Shutting down, back asap...

[Old_Geezer]

It's a pity I can not load it to my PC and see what it runs at. In my limited knowledge I'd have thought 53°C wasn't that much of an issue, but if the ap default setting says it is ..... 78°C seems rather warm though, although again I'd have hoped it would cope. Maybe it does for a while and then suddenly turns off the graphics, whilst the PC is still actually still on ?

[Lie-in King]

OG - I've had the case off again & everything looks pristine - to my eye at least...

When it dies in the middle of a YouTube clip, the screen goes black, but the sound continues for a few seconds before the whole thing goes kaput, with a very loud "buzzzzz" sound. Does that help?

I'll be back asap - must attend to mundane stuff like recycling, the washing, dinner... :-)

[Old_Geezer]

I note that you are nervous about taking things apart so won't encourage you to do anything you are not happy about, but I will say that when I undid the couple of screws holding the fan on top of my processor it was easy to clean away the dust that wasn't visible when the fan was in position, and putting it back in position and screwing the screws back was not an arduous job. But it is up to yourself.

If all else fails you can take it to the repair shop. (Whether you had a bash or not.)

In your case the main problem seems to be with the graphics board. Have to say I didn't have that fancy a set-up when I was cleaning fans.

Maybe the addition of more fans in the case might help, but I'd not try that before cleaning the ones you already have.

Anyway hope we are not barking up the wrong tree and have found the actual cause of the problem.

[Lie-in King]

Thanks again, OG - I'll do as you suggest, but it'll have to be tomorrow afternoon now.

It's just that I believe the Universe looks down & says "Ah-ha! Let's put a crimp in his day again - never gets boring..." If it can go badly, it will...

Meh - let's see if I win for once! :-))

[Lie-in King]

Just a quick update - OG, I finally had time this morning to get at the fan.

Naturally, it wasn't just a couple of screws, but 4 stiff clips holding a 'funnel' in place, each of which have to be released in turn. Work on the 2nd, the 1st closes again! Eventually got the 'funnel' off & vacuumed all the clag out.

The readings now show (although they go up & down as I watch) -

Fan1 - 1009 RPM

GPU 71/72C ('flame')
Temp1 - 43C (green tick)
Temp2 - 44C ( " " )
Temp3 - 18C (blue ↓ from here)
HD0 - 32C
Core 0 - 35C
Core 1 - 35C
Core 2 - 37C
Core 3 - 42C (green tick)

I've yet to try a YouTube clip - meh! Who needs YouTube at this time of day? Fingers crossed though & thanks for all the help to everyone :-)

[daffy654]

It sounds like a graphics card issue to me. My old system used to do similar things to yours when watching videos or playing games. It was temporarily solved by removing my graphics card, cleaning the fan on it and then refitting it. It did signal the beginning of the end for that system though and I ended up buying a new PC... which was then given to my son and I built the one I am using now from scratch (as a complete novice) :)

[Lie-in King]

Thank you daffy - it never rains, blah blah - the printer's now dead!

[HowardKennitby]

I am not an expert but 70+ °C seems hot to me.
I have just checked mine and it is at 43°C.
Admittedly it is not doing much at the moment, I will try to check again when it is working harder.

[SlackAlice]

I think it's Graphics card temperature as well. Remove the card (it's easy, one screw, one clip, one power supply lead) clean the fan with a soft brush and blow out detritus with a air spray, refit card. Whilst you've got the side panel off clean any air vents at the back of the case as well.

Just a thought seeing as your running W7, are you using 'Aero'. If so, disable by using a different theme. 'Aero' can put a bit of strain on the GPU.