PC Shutting down randomly but frequently

[Lighty]

OK a mate of mine's PC keeps on shutting down on him and then it wont turn back on unless he unplugs the mains for a min or two. It stinks of PSU tom me but I dont live that close to him tried to get him to find the V-Core and Vdimm voltages for me in the BIOS to see if there was any big fluctuation thing is he's totally fuckin useless with technology. Anyway althought im convinced it will be the PSU I needed to know is there any difference between PSU's for a P4 and an Athlon 2400? I ask as I never build Athlons never have never will I like intels and thats that THing is I have a brand new PSU at home that I could try but its a P4 one not an athlon one would I be able to try it?

[Over Carl]

Shouldn't be a problem as long as it's rated high enough and has all the right plugs. Iirc, the problem/incompatibility years ago was that intel boards had the extra 4 pin connector and amd ones didn't.

[Lighty]

thought as much just wasnt 100% cheers pal

[cbenn]

It prob is the PSU. But check the m/board for bulged caps as well seems you have to open it anyway.

[Greyfox]

Sorry to hijack but i kind of have a similar problem. When i start-up my comp sometimes it gets to the windows loadign screen then reboots and usually logs onto windows the second time. Sometimes it trys to load windows 2 -3 times and then automatically reboots until windows logs on. This happens about once a week. Any ideas?

[cbenn]

I would think it's 1 or both the problems mentioned.
PSU or m/board caps.

[ZX7R]

Also check CPU temperature in CMOS setup. If it's overheating then it will cut out and perhaps not reboot until it has cooled down again. I've seen a few heatsinks become dislodged and casue this- they only have to be ever so slightly loose for it to happen too.

[Lighty]

Yeah I already saked him to check CPU temp as thought the same. Anyway get this!! I went round to see this PC as I was working nearby luckily, so I didnt have the new PSU with me but thought i'd have a look anyway so booted it up then this is weird as soon as you turn on his printer it powers off so its gotta be PSU I reckon as maybe the printer being USB is just drawing a little something from the 5v rail?

[psxcity]

aye possible..did u check the event viewer log??

[Lighty]

5 V rail was putting out 3.8v changed the PSU all fixed
Cheers

[ilscuro]

Had a similar problem on one of my pc's, turned out that the area where the PSU is was full of dust and shite, stripped it down and cleaned it and not had a problem since

[littlebilly1]

i had the problem of randomly shutting down as well but was cured by just chucking another fan in to it