(help), Random shutdown, 5 Short beeps (post), overheating.

**Tiny** · 22-12-13, 10:25 AM

OK so know every one that's been trying to help you now knows you have a lot of heat producing hardware crammed into a small box, so probability has it that it is overheating, so you need to establish if the fan is operating properly when it gets hot. I'm sure you would hear it if its spinning up as it should when it's hot.

Also have you checked & cleaned any intake or exhaust filters that may be blocking air flow? Have you got the box stashed in a cupboard or draw that may be restricting airflow?

**Tiny** · 22-12-13, 10:52 AM

Hey Phil, since this guy probably won't answer the questions, I looked up the old thread, CPU was running at 59 deg when you asked him in September. The game he plays most when it shuts down is called Amnesia, I think he has it to.

Edit: newguy, when you play the games, try without the headphones on so you can hear the fan if it's working correctly.

**newguy5725** · 22-12-13, 11:53 AM

using this thread to see the expected temperature and a program called realtemp.
i got 62C maximum and 56C minimum

P.S. sorry for being slow to reply philquad

**newguy5725** · 22-12-13, 11:57 AM

All the fans are running, i re-applied thermal past about 3 days ago, i have removed my disk drive for extra ventilation space and it is on my desk out in the open.

EDIT: Tiny i sometimes slide the case off when playing games to see if the fan is running properly.

**newguy5725** · 22-12-13, 11:59 AM

its not just amnesia it happens when Idle, browsing the web, watching videos ETC.

**Philquad** · 22-12-13, 01:01 PM

grab this from piriform,
leave it running, see if its hotter when it shutsdown, its deff just heat
my rooms 30c now with fan over me, my cpu is 45c , 55c if i play riddick movie & encode a dvd at same time
your 55c to start, in a mouse box case, in the bios somewhere, theres adjustable max temp setting (i have deja vu here)
your max (cpu cutout) is probably set at like 70c eg. hence 15c up & bingo
you need to study your bios, find this setting atleast to see what it is, otherwise, your just going in circles
you probably did nothing wrong, its just a shit hot (pun intended) intel cpu
in a shoe box, with max cpu temp set at minimum
take side off & point a desk fan str8 at it

but study bios 1st

after reading a bit, these alien boxes are,well
not only do they have a air flow ploblem, they run off a 250-300 watt external psu
& its got A gtx 650 or something in it

i suggest you buy a stock deluxe $50 case with 500w psu & a $20 zalman cooler & swap it all over

**Tiny** · 22-12-13, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by newguy5725

using this thread to see the expected temperature and a program called realtemp.
i got 62C maximum and 56C minimum

P.S. sorry for being slow to reply philquad

That link provides some interesting reading, those Aliens run f'n hot.

I agree with you Phil, they need a better box & fan/cooler setup.
You're right about the deja vu, you already told him to adjust his CPU max temp settings in the old thread.

My i7 in a Coolermaster Silencio tower with a GTX 660 GPU, 3 HDD's & 850w PSU doesn't see more than 55c while editing & processing 1080HD video.
Of coarse it has 6 fans to cool it, 3 case fans (2 intake -1 exhaust), CPU fan, GPU fan & PSU fan, all running with auto control, they barely get above idle no mater what I do, so quiet I just slid the side panel off to check they're all running.

Maybe I'll have to get a game & see if I can torture it up to 60c.

**samkostka** · 23-12-13, 11:15 AM

I'd say look into getting a better CPU cooler, or even considering water cooling. It won't necessarily be cheap, but if your problem is with overheating, that would help.

I'd also look into getting a new case that's a bit larger, but that would be a bit in-depth.

**newguy5725** · 23-12-13, 01:48 PM

Moving my parts into a new case is WAY to advanced for me is there any other options?

**Philquad** · 23-12-13, 03:46 PM

wat about pulling them out & set it up on a bench, its not hard
like this
i reckon you've done the cpu\heatsink wrong, im sorry but i wouldn't be happy having a cpu @ 55c on idle
would be bench tested & redone until it was least 45c or less
why dont you find a nice member from here near you & buy him a carton?
gotta be easier if your not confident yourself

**newguy5725** · 23-12-13, 04:24 PM

do you think opening the side panel and running a fan would keep it Cool?

**Tiny** · 23-12-13, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Philquad

i reckon you've done the cpu\heatsink wrong, im sorry but i wouldn't be happy having a cpu @ 55c on idle

Maybe he hasn't, according to that Dell link he posted 53c to 60c is what they are getting at idle in these boxes. Poor design?

Newguy; If you can't afford or don't know how to put it all in another case, then I'd be questioning Dell via their assistance line, forum or whatever means possible for info on what is acceptable CPU temps for that model. Then ask if they have a remedy or any info gained from feedback on games that crash or overheat the CPU.

**Tiny** · 23-12-13, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by newguy5725

do you think opening the side panel and running a fan would keep it Cool?

Sorry missed that while I was posting & checking the article.

Yes that would run cooler, hopefully not overheat when playing the games.
Give it a try.

**newguy5725** · 23-12-13, 05:15 PM

tried it just then with Rome 2 total war but i will see how it goes.

**jwoegerbauer** · 23-12-13, 05:22 PM

You said you applied thermal paste, the stock CPU cooler should come with a thermal pad already applied. Did you clean this away before adding more? If not I think your problem might be too much thermal paste, if there is too much is will not conduct the heat correctly and cause high temperatures.

Hint: Run "Prime 95" for some hours while monitoring CPU temps with "HWMonitor".

"HWMonitor" is freeware from cpuid.com, which reads the health-sensors of hardware. Such as the voltages, temperatures and fan speeds from graphics cards, processors, motherboards and even hard disk drives. And works well in Windows 7.

On your CPU, Intel recommends that you do not exceed 72º C

**Philquad** · 23-12-13, 06:00 PM

na, you cant over do the paste if its on right

i squashed my dick between a 40 kg teflon block & a stainless frame one day
through the levis & a apron and ill tell ya, if there was any paste in the old boy it soon smoothed out

its in the 1st post

"i was told to re-apply the thermal paste (by the friendly Austech community) on my processor/heatsink i couldnt do it as i was away on holiday for a few months. when i got back i actually decided to re-apply the paste so i did. but the problem still occurs but it is not as frequent."

buy a better cooler, one that bolts through the mb not those crappy plastic pins

**Tiny** · 23-12-13, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by jwoegerbauer

You said you applied thermal paste, the stock CPU cooler should come with a thermal pad already applied.

This will get you up to date, he didn't assemble the original system. He has cleaned the old paste off however & reapplied.

If you're talking about new processors being supplied with a thermal pad, where do you get them?
Last PC I put together with brand new i7 CPU came with quick assembly instructions advising use of thermal paste under the heatsink, the paste was not supplied as most PC & Electronics assemblers have plenty on hand.

**jwoegerbauer** · 23-12-13, 07:37 PM

This tread's title is (help), Random shutdown, 5 Short beeps (post), overheating.

I strongly believe the whole discussion here goes into the wrong direction.

POST (PowerOnSelfTest) is run when unit gets powered on. If an error occurs during POST then (depends on BIOS) beep codes are emitted. 5 short beeps may indicate Processor Error/Processor Failure - depends on BIOS, means: CPU defective - possibly CPU is over-clocked or general failure cooling the processor.

You surely will agree when system gets powered on, then in this stage the CPU cannot be overheated yet. Hence I am wondering why here this whole discussion about termal paste etcetera, pp ...

EDIT:

The CPU fan sensor which is included with some motherboards helps to ensure the computer and the CPU do not overheat. One way this sensor works is that the sensor will shut down the computer and not allow it to turn on if the CPU fan is not working.
If sensor shuts down the computer, it gives no message, except probably the Windows's own shutdown sound. In any case no beeps can be heared - as reported by OP.

A 600W PSU should be plenty for a system but it is possible that the power supply is beginning to fail and is not producing as much power as it is supposed to. That would definitely cause your system to randomly shutdown. Unfortunately there is no way to know unless you buy a new one and replace it.

What I'ld do, too:

Check "System Events" ( system events are logged by Windows and Windows system services, and are classified as error, warning, or information ) section of the Windows 7 Event Viewer to make sure there are no error messages in it around the time the system turned off (Note: You must logged on as an administrator in order to use the Event Viewer. If you aren't logged on as an administrator, you can change only settings that apply to your user account, and many event logs may not be accessible). And: Many Windows 7 errors will have similar meanings to those in Windows XP but there are additional error codes peculiar to Windows 7; use Google to get the error description to an error ID, if necessary