The overheating problem has been fixed with the new CPU I got yesterday. Now the problem is that it shuts down before I can enter Windows or even the BIOS.

That is technically impossible, your computer doesnt have an AI integrated chip so it cant hate you :pwklzip

In hindsight I shouldn't have opted for the motherboard with an onboard advanced AI chip. Be a little rough installing him and he never forgets. :(

Well, I'm posting about computer problems once again.

Here is a quick run down to bring you up to date: I bought the parts at the beginning of May. Around the start of June I was surfing the web when my computer shut down without warning. Upon booting it back up it would not stay on long enough to even enter BIOS. After relaying this problem to the people of the forums I was told it was most likely due to an insufficient PSU (It was a 450W CoolMax PSU powering my SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950PRO).

Two weeks and $110 dollars later I have myself a 500W Enermax PSU. After installing that bad boy I boot up my computer and success! I am able to get into Windows. I open a game to further test my new hardware. This is where it all goes downhill again. The games frame rate is wonky and the computer is making weird noises. I alt-tab out of the game to check out my computer temperatures but the computer shuts down. After starting the computer back up I enter BIOS and check out the temperatures. Jimminy Christmas! My CPU temperature is 90C!

Later that day I boot up the computer and check the CPU temp. It starts off at 60C and rises above 75C until I turn it off all in a matter of minutes. Whelp, the CPU is done. I contact Intel and send it back for a replacement. Yesterday, I get back a new CPU. Put it in the computer and... the same exact problem before I got the new PSU: It won't make it past the screen where you can press 'delete' to enter BIOS before shutting down!

That is the history. Now, here is my new diagnosis. I believe the key to the problem is: When pressing the button to turn on the computer I often have to press it many times before it turns on. This has been a consistent problem even after all the hardware replacements. I think if I solve that I will solve the whole problem.

I don't know if something isn't receiving enough power? What could be the solution be? Any other suggestions or ideas of what the problem could be? I am not that experienced when it comes to putting together computers and computer hardware so even obvious suggestions are welcomed.

Rich seems like an awesome guy and was really fun to watch. I'll definitely miss him on On the Spot, he was perfect as the host. And what about "OOOON the spot"? No one can do that as good as he can.

Well, I hope he is happy and successful with his future endeavors. Good luck, Rich!

Still looking for some more suggestions. Reading my previous problem and my current one does it sound like my heatsink/fan is broke? I didn't feel much heat from it when I turned it on to check temperature. The RPM is at ~2300, is that normal? Also, how will I know if my CPU is already fried? I would probably chuck my computer at a wall if I bought a heatsink/fan and find out I have to buy a new CPU because mine is fried.

I can't afford to keep buying parts that may or may not be the problem. If you know a different site that is good for hardware problem solutions please post it; I need all the input I can get.

Thanks again.

They still make P4? And why did you get a P4? I reread and you say your CPU is at 90c?! Thats dangerouse right there! You need a new fan im pretty sure they are pretty cheap on newegg.LouieV13

Yes, much like I realized with my PSU I went a little cheap on the CPU. BTW, the computer was only on for about 5 minutes before it shut down and only about 2 minutes of that was game play.

Also, the CPU wasn't always running that high; it's temperatures were ~40C if I remember correctly before I installed the PSU. Unless the CPU was the culprit to my first problem as I was unable to check the temperature once it started shutting down.

Are you sure your heatsink is seated properly, and your thermal paste is applied properly? Looks to me like your processor is hitting its safety shut-off point (heat-wise), and shutting down. On the plus side, that means your machine is working just fine, since it recognizes that your temperatures are too hot.RayvinAzn

I will check this before I do anything else. I'm hoping this is the problem seeing how it would be the cheapest solution.

I never thought about that lol figured he knew what he was doing :?LouieV13

Unfortunately, I'm not as computer savvy as I should be when it comes to hardware. I built my last computer 7 years ago when I was 12. If I got stumped while building it my dad would help and surprisingly it had no problems until a few years ago when my graphics card was shot; so I didn't pick up much knowledge from my mistakes.

That 7-year-old computer is pretty strong, using it right now to post. :)

Yea it is the cpu, not the fact it's old but b/c it is way too hot and you may have fried it.millerlight89

I really hope I didn't fry it. During the those two minutes when I was playing the game it was making noises during intense loading. It sounded like how older computers use to sound when they were processing.

Replace the heatsink/fan and see if that helps or like the post I quoted said it is fried.roulettethedog

If RayvinAzn's solution doesn't work then this will probably be my next plan of action. Is there a way to tell for sure if I fried my CPU though before I spend more money on the heatsink/fan?

Thanks again for all the replies, still open for more comments!

I just got the CPU less than two months ago so I doubt it's from being too old. I really hope I don't have to spend money on a CPU after spending $120 on a PSU that might not of been the problem after all.

More replies appreciated, I really don't know what to do.

About a week ago I posted about having troubles with my computer (problems quoted at bottom of post). It seemed the diagnosis was unanimous in it being my PSU. Today I recieved my new PSU (Enermax Liberty; link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194003).

After putting in the new PSU I turn on my computer and it makes it past where it previously shut off. I decide to test it out some more and open a game. It was running real glitchy. I try to minimize the screen and suddenly the computer turns off. I start it back up and open BIOS to check the temps. Turns out my CPU was running at 90C. The fan on the CPU is working and the temp on the graphics card was 40C.

What could the problem be? Could I have hooked up something wrong on the motherboard to the PSU? Or (FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T LET IT BE) did my CPU crap out?

My first post is quoted below for more insight and includes my PC stats. Thanks for any help.

Here's my hardware:

Video Card:SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950PRO 256MB

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 650 Prescott 3.4GHz

Motherboard:Foxconn 915A01-P-8EKRS2 LGA 775 Intel 915P ATX Intel Motherboard

Power Supply: COOLMAX CA-450 ATX v2.01 450W Power Supply 115/230 V

Symptoms: While browsing the internet my computer shut down without warning. I turned it back on and got to the start up screen where you are able to press 'delete' to enter BIOS. I tried entering BIOS so I could view my CPU temperature but before it could enter BIOS it shut down again. I tried this once more with the same results. I opened up the case and all my fans seem to be working and the CPU didn't appear to be hot. Thirty-minutes later I tried again... same results. A few hours later... still unable to get past the first screen.

splutty1

BTW, remember the PSU in the quote was my old one.

I just did some reading on PSUs (a little over a month too late ;)) and realized how substandard my PSU is. I knew $20 PSU was cheap, but did not know that good PSUs average ~$100. I guess this will be a little more expensive than I thought. This is the third thing I've had to order since I've had the computer (not any defective parts... all result of my amateur computer assembling skills) so the time spent waiting for parts to arrive is starting to rival the time spent actually being able to use it. :(