Sudden Reboots?

beretta · 2010-10-10 13:41:03

I think this is probably the best forum to post this; my desktop is starting to behave strangely. It will suddenly power off and reboot at what seem to be random times. It happens if I leave it alone, and it happens if I'm in the middle of something. None of the logs seem to show anything unusual. I'm at a loss as to how to debug this and locate the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas on either what might be the problem or what I could do to search for it? (Something other than Googling "my desktop keeps rebooting!!! ... that type of searching hasn't been too helpful, I'm afraid.)

Spider.007 · 2010-10-10 13:46:14

Are these clean shutdowns & reboots with a normal shutdown sequence, or is it more like the power is somehow interrupted?

TigTex · 2010-10-10 13:49:19

It's probably your powersupply that is malfunctioning. Check the output voltages using sensors or a voltmeter or BIOS.
Also check your RAM, faulty ram causes random reboots.
oh.. and see if your reset button is stuck... it happens

Last edited by TigTex (2010-10-10 13:51:28)

skunktrader · 2010-10-10 13:51:32

Before tearing your machine apart, try running a live CD for a while to see if the problem still happens

hokasch · 2010-10-10 14:05:02

Also check temps for overheating.

beretta · 2010-10-10 20:08:24

Thanks for the suggestions; I'm running Memtest86+ on it right now, though so far it's found nothing. I haven't seen it reboot yet either.

The reboots are not clean; it does seem like the power is cut briefly. The power supply is brand new, though I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean it's not the culprit. When I get it opened up, I'll try unplugging the reset button and see if it still happens.

About checking temps, how do I do that? What temperatures are considered normal? (Yeah, I feel silly asking, but I just don't know.)

frabjous · 2010-10-10 20:12:24

Are you using gdm? If so, make sure it is last in your list of daemons in your /etc/rc.conf.

beretta · 2010-10-10 20:34:05

slim, but yes it's last anyway.

beretta · 2010-10-10 20:57:13

OK, I think I found a temperature monitor in BIOS; It reports:

CPU Die/Package: 56.4 C
Motherboard: 49.4 C
ICH Temp: 86.8 C
MCH Temp: 73.1 C

Not being too familiar with operating temps, these do seem a little on the high side to me. Another search suggested perhaps the RAM timings are off? Still checking that...

Edit: Using this ram, the settings in BIOS match at 800 MHz, 5-5-5-18, so that seems fine to me. Memtest found no problems. I'll try running a live cd next.

Last edited by beretta (2010-10-10 21:00:53)

iceman81 · 2010-10-11 15:03:30

beretta wrote:

ICH Temp: 86.8 C

Ouch... looks too high to me...

lagagnon · 2010-10-11 15:59:57

Temps too high as iceman81 says. Check for dust plugging heat sink, that all fans are working properly. I would renew the CPU heat sink compound also. Make sure ventilation holes in case are free and unobstructed.

gonX · 2010-10-13 12:58:06

ICH and MCH temps are too high. Those are more than likely what's causing the reboot.

I wouldn't touch anything on your CPU though - that doesn't seem to be what's causing the issues.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-10-10 13:41:03

Sudden Reboots?

#2 2010-10-10 13:46:14

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#3 2010-10-10 13:49:19

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#4 2010-10-10 13:51:32

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#5 2010-10-10 14:05:02

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#6 2010-10-10 20:08:24

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#7 2010-10-10 20:12:24

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#8 2010-10-10 20:34:05

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#9 2010-10-10 20:57:13

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#10 2010-10-11 15:03:30

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#11 2010-10-11 15:59:57

Re: Sudden Reboots?

#12 2010-10-13 12:58:06

Re: Sudden Reboots?

Board footer