[stevex33]

Hi Guys,
I've got a windows xp professional computer, built and installed everything myself.

Recently my pc has been rebooting itself when I'm doing something. It used to be just when I was playing eve-online but only when I actually went into a mission with loads of other bad guys around.

I thought windows was corrupted anyway so I bought xp professional.

Unfortunately now it's rebooting itself whenever I try to install world of warcraft. I should note that I've installed it previously without any problems. It lets me get to disk 2 sometimes and then just turns off, it doesn't shut down, it's just like someone flicks the power switch off and then it turns itself on.

So we know it's not a problem with windows.

Could it be a harddrive problem? I'll try installing other games and giving them a whirl and see if it gives them problems as well. It's allowed me to install other programs though, I image it's because of wow's size. The harddrive is about 3 years old ish.

Or is it likely to be a faulty power supply? It's not even a year old.
It's a Corsair 520W HX Series Modular PSU - ATX12V v2.2 APFC $140 roughly

How can I test what the problem is? And what further information can I provide to get the best possible answer?

I've flashed my bios to the latest version on my motherboard, I've updated all drivers, I've cleaned any and all dust from my case and I've checked temps and they're at about 35c (Graphics card at about 45c), I've even run memtest and harddriver checking tests to make sure everything is fine and it all passes.
After each crash event log shows nothing interesting, no errors.

I've also installed supreme commander (Another game that I could previously play) and can get to the menu for a few seconds and that I get the reboot.

I'm guessing that it's the psu, as it's the only thing that I can't really test and prove that it's not. Could be the graphics card, but I doubt it, it doesn't get too hot and I've installed a fan on it to keep it extra cool.

I've done nothing recently that would initiate these reboots.

If anyone thinks they have any ideas, please let me know, I really want to sort this out.

Thanks

regards
steve

[Carbon]

Yeah, if Memtest is good I'd send it back to Corsair. They have good customer service, so you should be fine.

[stevex33]

Hey, just wanted to update you guys and ask further advice.

I've got a replacement power supply (They said the old one was faulty, didn't explain how).

I also got a new cpu cooler, that keeps idles temps at about 26C and load at about 30C.

A MASSIVE reduction in heat.

HOWEVER, I'm still getting crashes. when watching videos or playing games.

So what do I do?

Could it be anouther faulty power supply?
Or should I just try and replace the graphics card or could it be a motherboard issue?

I really need your help with this one :(

[Carbon]

What's the graphics card? If it requires a supplementary power connector, have you plugged that in?

Have you tried with one or the other stick of RAM in in the event memtest was wrong somehow?

[tomthedrummer1992]

It does sound like there could quite possibly be not enough power getting to the GFX card.

[stevex33]

I left memtest on with all 4 sticks in for over an hour I think nd it was fine. I have tried using the comp with just 1 stick and the problem still occurs, but I haven't tried memtest with just 1 stick.

The graphics card was radeon x1800 gto, it only needed 1 power connector that was plugged in. I've now (today) swapped it for a sapphire 4850, a very decent card, but the problem still exists.

tomthedrummer1992, that would make sense, however, previously, with the same graphics card, it was only causing a problem with 1 game in particular, but after a reinstall of windows xp, it didn't like any game or youtube videos.