[DuaneZ]

Hi, can someone please tell me what could be wrong. I built a pc and turn it on. The fans come on and it will boot to the BIOS, but than the power goes out. Any idea what can cause this?

Duane

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It would have helped if you had given the spec's on the computer. The first 2 things that come to mind is that the processor is overheating quickly and the Mb is shutting down to prevent damage. Did you use thermo grease to install the heatsink on the cpu?( Don't laugh as someone brought me a computer with just such a problem) The second thing that comes to mind is that the power supply does not have enough wattage to power everything. I had a computer( athlon 2400) that would freeze while i was in the bios, would not even start installing XP, and froze up after only a few minutes every time. Replacing the elcheapo 450 watt PS with a thermotake 430 watt PS stopped the freezing. Double check that all power connections and other connections are good. Checking the elcheapo PS on a older computer, speedfan said the 12 volt line was only getting 11.6 volts.

If these check OK pull the computer apart and set the MB on a cardboard pizza box. Hook up the cpu+ heatsink&fan, 1 stick of memory, the video card, the Power supply, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The wires from the case power switch may be long enough to reach and if so hook it up. I have spare switches i use for this although i have used a small screwdriver to touch the 2 pins for the switch to start the MB. You dont need any lights or the reset button hooked up. If you can boot to the bios and the puter is stable look to the other hardware for the problem.

If it still does not boot or keeps shutting off, try switching the memory, check to see if its stable. If not, then try switching the video card. I know this is a PITA but you just have to check everything to find out whats wrong.

SRX660

[SRX660]

It would have helped if you had given the spec's on the computer. The first 2 things that come to mind is that the processor is overheating quickly and the Mb is shutting down to prevent damage. Did you use thermo grease to install the heatsink on the cpu?( Don't laugh as someone brought me a computer with just such a problem) The second thing that comes to mind is that the power supply does not have enough wattage to power everything. I had a computer( athlon 2400) that would freeze while i was in the bios, would not even start installing XP, and froze up after only a few minutes every time. Replacing the elcheapo 450 watt PS with a thermotake 430 watt PS stopped the freezing. Double check that all power connections and other connections are good. Checking the elcheapo PS on a older computer, speedfan said the 12 volt line was only getting 11.6 volts.

If these check OK pull the computer apart and set the MB on a cardboard pizza box. Hook up the cpu+ heatsink&fan, 1 stick of memory, the video card, the Power supply, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The wires from the case power switch may be long enough to reach and if so hook it up. I have spare switches i use for this although i have used a small screwdriver to touch the 2 pins for the switch to start the MB. You dont need any lights or the reset button hooked up. If you can boot to the bios and the puter is stable look to the other hardware for the problem.

If it still does not boot or keeps shutting off, try switching the memory, check to see if its stable. If not, then try switching the video card. I know this is a PITA but you just have to check everything to find out whats wrong.

SRX660

[DuaneZ]

Thanks for the help. I looked at the heat sink and found that I had left the plastic on the bottom of it. I took that off and the power stays on now. I guess I was in a hurry to get it up and running.

Duane