DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Random Restart

13 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/random-restart.132040/

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sacank Original post #1
Sep 24, 2010 at 4:52 PM
Problem: Random restarts
Whenever I switch on my PC, it runs for a few minutes and then the monitor display just goes blank. After a few seconds, the machine restarts. Now it could be a problem of overheating, but i checked the system, cpu fan is working fine, and I have aan antec cabinet with 120 mm fan at the back and a cooling vent right in front of the motherboard. Also my XFX graphics card has its own zalman fan-heat sink combo thats working.
Also, sometimes the PC just works fine, for 8-10 hours straight, even more. So this problem occurs at random intervals, sometimes after 2 minutes of starting the PC, sometimes 5 mins, sometimes 10 mins .. u get the point. These days on an average it occurs every 4 minutes.
Could this be a graphics card problem? Or a motherboard problem?
Please let me know why is this problem occuring.
My System Info:
Intel E6400, GIGABYTE 965P-DQ6, XFX Geforce 7600, Transcend 2 GB
arpanmukherjee1
Sep 24, 2010 at 5:53 PM
forgot SMPS ???

what is the rating ? it can be the cause of the prob.

take out the unit and run other systems through it... see what turns up.
coderunknown
Sep 24, 2010 at 8:26 PM
@sacank, check the temperature of the GPU & processor from Windows using CPUID. also what PSU are you using? brand & wattage.
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sacank #4
Sep 25, 2010 at 1:45 PM
forgot SMPS ???

what is the rating ? it can be the cause of the prob.

take out the unit and run other systems through it... see what turns up.

Oops ... I have Antec SmartPower 350W SMPS installed.

Will try to check it out on other systems, but here I dont have any friend's or relative's PC nearby, so will take some time finding one....

@sacank, check the temperature of the GPU & processor from Windows using CPUID. also what PSU are you using? brand & wattage.

Using CPUID, I checked the processor voltage. It fluctuated from 1.136V to 1.28V. I compared these values with ones on intel site (Intel® Core?2 Duo Processor E6400 (2M Cache, 2.13 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) with SPEC Code(s) SL9S9, SL9T9, SL9TY, SLA97) that gives the correct operating range between 0.8500V-1.5V.
Also, the GPU temperature remained constant at 55 degrees (using NVIDIA utility).
CoreTemp showed temperature of both cores between 41C to 50C

My PSU is Antec SmartPower 350W.
coderunknown
Sep 25, 2010 at 4:06 PM
how old is the PSU? the PSU is a good one but if its very old, problem maybe there. also processor voltage is ok.
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sacank #6
Sep 26, 2010 at 2:12 PM
how old is the PSU? the PSU is a good one but if its very old, problem maybe there. also processor voltage is ok.

Well since I assembled the system almost 4 years back, so its around 4 yrs old ...

Atleast can I rule out it being a motherboard problem or a SMPS problem? Or is it still pretty much a shot in the dark?

Thanks Sam.Shab & arpanmukherjee1 but any help forthcoming would definitely be a boon ...
coderunknown
Sep 26, 2010 at 5:26 PM
well maybe PSU have started showing its age. change it. you can go for FSP/Gigabyte PSU from 350-500W & will cost at max 2.5k. for your PC, FSP Saga II 350W should suffice. cost 1.5k. but try get the FSP Saga II 400W/Gigabyte 460W. its a safe bet for you.
arpanmukherjee1
Sep 26, 2010 at 11:39 PM
well maybe PSU have started showing its age. change it. you can go for FSP/Gigabyte PSU from 350-500W & will cost at max 2.5k. for your PC, FSP Saga II 350W should suffice. cost 1.5k. but try get the FSP Saga II 400W/Gigabyte 460W. its a safe bet for you.

+1 for FSP saga 400W

400W is more than enough to power up ur rig...
the psu is REALLY old and must be replaced.

NOTE: i still retain my 125W PSU that came with pentium 3 8 yrs back. but it is only used to power two 120mm fans in the cabinet
coderunknown
Sep 27, 2010 at 12:28 AM
NOTE: i still retain my 125W PSU that came with pentium 3 8 yrs back. but it is only used to power two 120mm fans in the cabinet

:shock: 125W & its working? 1 small suggestion. ship the PSU to Corsair & they'll donate you a A1200W PSU free (maybe more) cause hardly any PSU work so long. that also 125W.
arpanmukherjee1
Sep 27, 2010 at 10:48 AM
:shock: 125W & its working? 1 small suggestion. ship the PSU to Corsair & they'll donate you a A1200W PSU free (maybe more) cause hardly any PSU work so long. that also 125W.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

yes it is working. the fan is all greasy and dusty but stilll......
and u know what? it's COMPAQ
coderunknown
Sep 27, 2010 at 8:40 PM
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

yes it is working. the fan is all greasy and dusty but stilll......
and u know what? it's COMPAQ

WOW. you one lucky guy. save it & show it to your grandsons :lol:

its Compaq branded. but its OEM is some other company. maybe Corsair itself :?
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sacank #12
Sep 28, 2010 at 4:38 PM
well maybe PSU have started showing its age. change it. you can go for FSP/Gigabyte PSU from 350-500W & will cost at max 2.5k. for your PC, FSP Saga II 350W should suffice. cost 1.5k. but try get the FSP Saga II 400W/Gigabyte 460W. its a safe bet for you.

Thanks Sam.Shab, will go in for a 400W FSP Saga II SMPS.

+1 for FSP saga 400W

400W is more than enough to power up ur rig...
the psu is REALLY old and must be replaced.

NOTE: i still retain my 125W PSU that came with pentium 3 8 yrs back. but it is only used to power two 120mm fans in the cabinet

Thanks Aparnmukherjee1 :)