My computer restarts continuously

[JulioX]

I just built my own computer and it restarts continuosly and randomly. I already upgraded my Power Supply to 500W and it is not the problem. I don't think the Processor is overheating because I used one of the best thermal compounds, the Arctic Silver 5. I tried revoming the motherboard from the case and powered the motherboard and it continues to do the same thing.



Pentium 4, 3.0E HT, 800 MHz FBS, 1MB L2 cache.
MSI Motherboard 865PE Neo2
Two PC3200 256MB GEIL Ram

 

[LifeStealer]

Does it just restart or does it stay off? Are you sure the heatsink is seated firmly over the cpu providing contact between the two?

 

[JulioX]

My computer restarts. And yes, I'm sure the heatsink is seated firmly over the CPU.

 

[0roo0roo]

well at this point you have to get another m/b and see if that works.

 

[JulioX]

The motherboard is brand new and replacing it or send it back to the company is my last step.

 

[LifeStealer]

Thats the step we're at o_o

If you want you can go ahead and start taking parts off of the board (RAM, PCI CARDS ect..) and see if you can pinpoint it before you send the board back.

 

[JulioX]

I already turned on my PC with the motherboard out the case, with the RAM, the AGP card, and the processor, and I took off every other device or peripheral but the PC continues restarting.

 

[LifeStealer]

Have you tried switching the ram around? If so then,

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well at this point you have to get another m/b and see if that works.

 

[mrweirdo]

I had a similar problem with my system that kept restarting randomly mostly during the point that windows first loads though but it was caused buy a faulty IDE cable. One thing worth checking if you have spare around. Does it restart when its still just at POST or only after it starts to load from the hard drive?

 

[JulioX]

Yes I have tried switching the RAM around but stills the same.
The PC restarts in windows and in the POST. It is randomly. It is not an OS problem.

 

[mrweirdo]

if you havent allready tried it see if removing the pins from the header on the mobo for your reset button on your case. I've seen those act up sometimes and cause strange resets due to shorting with the case metal. Worth a shot though

 

[JulioX]

I am going to do what you suggest mrweirdo, and I'll write back the results.

 

[Jojo7]

Will the system restart when in the bios too?

What do the temps look like?

Can you try with other ram? You said you tried switching ram around. Did you use completely different ram or just sawp slots with current ram? Try using different ram if you didn't.

I know it's not likely, but have you got a different video card to test with?

Seems like a bad mobo, however.

 

[mechBgon]

If you can get into the BIOS for long enough, set your memory voltage to 2.8 volts and immediately Save & Exit.

Also, what brand of power supplies are you using? A very good brand like Enermax, Antec, PC Power & Cooling or Fortron? Those Prescott processors can take quite a bit of power. I wouldn't try to get away with a cheap brand of power supply for a system with a Prescott and a modern video card in it.

 

[CraigRT]

It's gotta be that garbage GEIL memory.

surprise, I had that crap in a system of mine and was experiencing similar problems to you.

changing to a good brand like Kingston/Crucial/Corsair, pretty much anything but GAYL should solve the problem.

/rant off.
but seriously it does seem like RAM.

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
If you can get into the BIOS for long enough, set your memory voltage to 2.8 volts and immediately Save & Exit.

Also, what brand of power supplies are you using? A very good brand like Enermax, Antec, PC Power & Cooling or Fortron? Those Prescott processors can take quite a bit of power. I wouldn't try to get away with a cheap brand of power supply for a system with a Prescott and a modern video card in it.

YES YES YES

A Cheap 500W power supply is not worth the money, you are better off with an antec 400W IMO

I would not do anything PHYSICAL to the board as it would void your warrenty.

does it restart at the same time every time?

 

[chopinboy99]

JulioX,

I have the same problem you did on 9/27... My computer can only SOMETIMES make it into Windows... Even if it makes it in, often it will reboot randomly... This is very frustrating.

I have an Athlon FX 53 Chip- with an MSI K8N Neo2 MB.... I know RAM is not the issue. I know Video Card is not the issue. I know power supply is not the issue... I know the m/b battery is not the issue...

I'm dreading taking the computer apart to send the m/b back to MSI.... so before I do, I thought I would you send you this messge to see if you reached a solution.

Hope to hear from you soon-

chopinboy99

 

[Porter21]

i think over-heating is your problem.

 

[Bovinicus]

Most often, random restarts are related to one of two facotrs: heat and/or power. Since you have eliminated the PSU as the culprit by replacing it, you should consider heat. Check your CPU and system temparatures. Perhaps your case is not adequately vented. Always trying resetting the CMOS. Also, try using only one stick of memory at a time, or an alternate stick of memory. Get a stability test, such as Passmark's BurnInTest. See if any errors result.

 

[JulioX]

I have tried everything. I already alternated the Ram's. I checked everything. I tried another video card, and nothing. It is not a heat problem because sometimes the computer restarts immediately and sometimes it takes more than 20 minutes to restart, so I don't think it is a heat problem. Also, I changed every device on my computer with some other devices that were working fine, and none of those were the problem. I tried another working CPU and memory and computer stills the same. I'm thinking in contacting MSI and sending back my motherboard.
I'll stay in contact.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

It sounds very power related to me, what are you voltages looking like?

 

[JulioX]

I don't think is voltage related because I bought a brand new Power Supply, and also tried another power supply just in case, and computer wouldn't stop restarting.

 

[Laffctx]

well it sounds like to me that the only thing you haven't ruled out is what ? The Motherboard! So, I would say your on the right track when you say your about to contact MSI. I had a problem similar to this a few years ago and it was indeed the motherboard.........seemslike if I remember correctly it was a cold solder joint in the motherboard or something but once i replaced the motherboard everything was fine.

good luck,

Laffctx

 

[mrweirdo]

MSI hasnt been know for high quality stuff anyways so it has to be that . Just reading all the problems people have with MSI made me put it on my blacklist of companys not to buy products from.

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: mrweirdo
MSI hasnt been know for high quality stuff anyways so it has to be that . Just reading all the problems people have with MSI made me put it on my blacklist of companys not to buy products from.

Okay Mr Expert...tally up all the MSI complaints you have. I'll go find even more for companies like Asus, Abit, Gigabyte, etc.