[SOLVED] Is this a Power or Cooling problem?

bobpah · 01-30-2009, 10:03 PM

I got my first build up and running with Vista installed. It ran fine for about four hours, but when I tried to run a newly installed game, system shut itself down without warning.

After having this happen several times, I opened up the case and noticed that when I ran an application, a red light would appear right under the CPU fan socket. Sometimes it was solid, sometimes it would blink and eventually the system would power itself down again. If I quit the application, the red light turned off and the system stayed powered on.

I'm open to all suggestions; if it is a power issue, is there a way to adjust settings through BIOS to make sure the MB and fans are getting enough power?

Here is my build:

- MOBO - EVGA nForce 780i FTW
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core
- Single XFX PVT98GYDF4 GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card – Retail
-CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 – Retail
-Thermaltake 700W PSU
-Case – Coolermaster Sileo 500

I have stock case fans (2 120mm) plus the generic 60mm fan for the MB

Thank you in advance!

dai · 01-31-2009, 12:48 AM

first check what your manual says about the red light

what does the bios list for the line voltages and cpu temperature

see what you get from this

http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download

at this stage i would suspect the cpu is not fitted and pasted correctly

bobpah · 01-31-2009, 10:07 AM

First off, it seems I need a bigger PSU. The manual says a I need a minimum 1000w power supply, and my PSU is only rated at 700w.

The red light apparently means the CPU is reaching a temperature threshold.

I'm off to get a new PSU and probably an aftermarket HSF. Any other suggestions on how to help cool down the case? I'll update this after I put in the new PSU and HSF.

dai · 01-31-2009, 09:31 PM

redo the paste on the cpu with some arctic silver

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

Power Supply Information and Selection

bobpah · 02-03-2009, 02:11 PM

I went ahead and upgraded the PSU, put in a Zalman CPU cooler and used Arctic Silver thermal compound. One of these things, or the combination of them have finally solved my problems. Please mark this post SOLVED.

dai · 02-03-2009, 05:36 PM

glad you have it sorted

01-30-2009, 10:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
bobpah Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	[SOLVED] Is this a Power or Cooling problem? I got my first build up and running with Vista installed. It ran fine for about four hours, but when I tried to run a newly installed game, system shut itself down without warning. After having this happen several times, I opened up the case and noticed that when I ran an application, a red light would appear right under the CPU fan socket. Sometimes it was solid, sometimes it would blink and eventually the system would power itself down again. If I quit the application, the red light turned off and the system stayed powered on. I'm open to all suggestions; if it is a power issue, is there a way to adjust settings through BIOS to make sure the MB and fans are getting enough power? Here is my build: - MOBO - EVGA nForce 780i FTW - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core - Single XFX PVT98GYDF4 GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card – Retail -CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 – Retail -Thermaltake 700W PSU -Case – Coolermaster Sileo 500 I have stock case fans (2 120mm) plus the generic 60mm fan for the MB Thank you in advance! Last edited by bobpah; 01-30-2009 at 10:33 PM.

01-31-2009, 12:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,539 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Is this a Power or Cooling problem? first check what your manual says about the red light what does the bios list for the line voltages and cpu temperature see what you get from this http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download at this stage i would suspect the cpu is not fitted and pasted correctly __________________

01-31-2009, 10:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
bobpah Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Is this a Power or Cooling problem? First off, it seems I need a bigger PSU. The manual says a I need a minimum 1000w power supply, and my PSU is only rated at 700w. The red light apparently means the CPU is reaching a temperature threshold. I'm off to get a new PSU and probably an aftermarket HSF. Any other suggestions on how to help cool down the case? I'll update this after I put in the new PSU and HSF.

01-31-2009, 09:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,539 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Is this a Power or Cooling problem? redo the paste on the cpu with some arctic silver http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm Power Supply Information and Selection __________________

02-03-2009, 02:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
bobpah Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Is this a Power or Cooling problem? I went ahead and upgraded the PSU, put in a Zalman CPU cooler and used Arctic Silver thermal compound. One of these things, or the combination of them have finally solved my problems. Please mark this post SOLVED.

02-03-2009, 05:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,539 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Is this a Power or Cooling problem? glad you have it sorted __________________