Hi, please help me. My PC keeps shutting down.

Here are my PC Specs -

MSI PM8M2-V SATA DDR AGP V/A/L Motherboard
Intel Celeron 2.66 LGA775 Processor
INNO 3D FX5500 128MB 128BIT Videocard
2pieces - 256MB PC400 DDR Memory
Seagate 40GB 7200RPM HD
LG COMBO 52x/32 CD/CDWritter
ACE AVR 500W
Techwill Power Supply Model: ATXP4 - 350W
Windows XP SP2

Here are my problems -

I bought my computer last November and for a couple of days it was working fine, then the trouble started. The first problem I had was whenever I was playing games my PC would suddenly freeze and then I had to unplug it and start it again. So I figured, there must be something wrong with my Videocard and so I read the user manual for the video card and surely enough I found what my problem was. The manual told me that my PC was hanging because the motherboard was not compatible with my videocard and that I should just bring down the AGP Bus to 4x instead of 8x. So I did just that and then my PC was working fine. After a few weeks there was a new problem, my PC now shuts down instantenously when I try to play games. I tried everything from reformatting my HD to checking my Videocard, fixing my computer wirings and all that stuff. I also installed a new fan coz I thought it was overheated, but to no avail, my PC still shuts down. It doesnt do any beeps or sounds before it shuts down, it just turns off. Like unplugging in from the power outlet. I also tried to check the power supply, my monitor but it still shuts down. Could my videocard be messed up due to the first problem I encountered? Is my videocard the problem? Please help, thanks. Also, can you tell me if my videocard and motherboard are really incompatible, because I just read the manual for my videocard and it told me that in some cases like on my first problem, the videocard and motherboard are incompatible. Thanks alot.

Hi and welcome to D-A-L


who built the PC?

does the PC restart after it's shut down or do you have to restart it?

is it only when using games it shuts down?

your motherboard

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/produc...il.php?UID=656

states Slots

• One AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 8x/4X slot.

your videocard

http://www.epcbuyer.com/products.asp?recnumber=1994

AGP8x

so your motherboard supports 8x AGP

Hi and thanks for welcoming me.

Well, I bought my PC in a computer dealer shop so I guess this means that they built the PC. I just had to tell them what parts I wanted for my PC and they were the ones who built it. So basically they built the PC for me. All the parts are brand new.

Also my PC does NOT restart when it shuts down. It just shuts down and I have to press the power button again to start it back.

Also, it shuts down MOSTLY when I play games like - Ragnarok and WoW. But it sometimes shuts down when Im just surfing the web or playing MP3 music.

Also you just said that my motherboard supports AGP8x right? I think it does, but why does my problem keep coming back when I turn the AGP to 8x? My PC does not hang when I have AGP8x on but when I start playing games, it does. Please help me. Thanks.

What is my problem?

Most shops and companies offer a 1 year warranty. That would be my first suggestion: Take it back to the shop.

A shutdown like that is generally a hardware issue. That board also supports on-board Video which should be disabled in the BIOS. Just to clear your Graphics Card as the issue you could try reverting to the on-board VGA port.

My first suspicion would be the Power Supply. Do you have another that you can try?