I just built a new computer, and whenever you turn it on, it starts up, starts booting, and then at some point, it shuts off again. It doesn't shut off consistently at the same point though, sometimes you can get into windows, sometimes it shut off almost right away. I thought it was the power supply, so I replaced it with a more powerful one, and it tends to last longer, but it still has the problem. I'm out of ideas on what to do. Any help would be appreciated.

Two things:

1. Are your absolutely 100% sure you only installed standoffs (those brass support screws that go into the case) where there is a corresponding motherboard mounting hole? Note that cases are designed to support 1000s of motherboards so there are often more locations for standoffs than the motherboard has mounting holes. If there are any extra standoffs under the motherboard, it will shortcircuit the board, and can permanently damage the board and CPU.

If you are not 100% sure, remove the board and check - at this point, you might want to assemble the system outside the case, with the motherboard on a hard non-conductive surface, such as a wood cutting board, or the motherboard box.

2. This is also a common symptom of overheating. Did you use TIM (thermal interface material) between the CPU and heatsink? If not, you MUST. If you did, what type and how was it applied?

Other common causes are too small of a power supply, failure to connect both power supply connectors to the motherboard, failure to connect power to the video card (if needed), bad RAM, bad motherboard, bad video card.

Post back with standoff and TIM answers and include hardware information - motherboard, video card, PSU make and models, etc.

Originally Posted by Digerati

Two things:

1. Are your absolutely 100% sure you only installed standoffs (those brass support screws that go into the case) where there is a corresponding motherboard mounting hole? Note that cases are designed to support 1000s of motherboards so there are often more locations for standoffs than the motherboard has mounting holes. If there are any extra standoffs under the motherboard, it will shortcircuit the board, and can permanently damage the board and CPU.

If you are not 100% sure, remove the board and check - at this point, you might want to assemble the system outside the case, with the motherboard on a hard non-conductive surface, such as a wood cutting board, or the motherboard box.

2. This is also a common symptom of overheating. Did you use TIM (thermal interface material) between the CPU and heatsink? If not, you MUST. If you did, what type and how was it applied?

Other common causes are too small of a power supply, failure to connect both power supply connectors to the motherboard, failure to connect power to the video card (if needed), bad RAM, bad motherboard, bad video card.

Post back with standoff and TIM answers and include hardware information - motherboard, video card, PSU make and models, etc.

Standoffs were good, video card and RAM are good. I added more TIM and it seems to be working fine.

I have another computer which had the same problem, so I tried the same solution, and it worked. Sort of. The computer boots, and stays running, but the monitor never comes on. My video card is a brand new ATI RadeonX1050, so I don't think it's the card, any ideas?

You added more TIM? Why? The purpose of thermal interface material is to fill in all the microscopic pits and valley in the mating surfaces of the CPU and heatsink, pushing out heat trapping air. Any excess is in the way and is counterproductive in the heat transfer process. The layer of thermal paste should be as thin as possible while still providing complete coverage, and no more.

any ideas?

What are the make and model numbers of your motherboard and video card?

Originally Posted by Digerati

You added more TIM? Why? The purpose of thermal interface material is to fill in all the microscopic pits and valley in the mating surfaces of the CPU and heatsink, pushing out heat trapping air. Any excess is in the way and is counterproductive in the heat transfer process. The layer of thermal paste should be as thin as possible while still providing complete coverage, and no more.

What are the make and model numbers of your motherboard and video card?

It is only a thin layer, the only TIM on there was a SMALL patch that came on the heatsink, that didn't provide coverage.

The Video card is an ATI Radeon X1050, and the motherboard is a Gigabyte P$ titan, but i can't remember the model number.

The small patch, or pad actually, is all that is needed. You don't add to it. If it needs to be replaced, it is completely removed, the surfaces cleaned thoroughly with alcohol or Acetone, and then a fresh thin layer is applied.

I would take everything out of the case and see if the motherboard works on a smooth non-conductive surface.

Did you observe necessary ESD precautions to ensure you did not destroy the motherboard, RAM, video card, and/or CPU with static from your body?

Originally Posted by Digerati

The small patch, or pad actually, is all that is needed. You don't add to it. If it needs to be replaced, it is completely removed, the surfaces cleaned thoroughly with alcohol or Acetone, and then a fresh thin layer is applied.

I would take everything out of the case and see if the motherboard works on a smooth non-conductive surface.

Did you observe necessary ESD precautions to ensure you did not destroy the motherboard, RAM, video card, and/or CPU with static from your body?

I always observe necessary ESD precautions when working inside my computer.

I took everything out of the case, and the same thing happens, everything starts up, except the video card.