System restarting all of a sudden

[edithegodfather]

Hey guys, i've been having this problem for a while; sometimes the computer just restarts instantaneusly and it always does this right before something memory consuming is about to happen (ex. a game loads, windows loads etc).
My guess is the memory is causing this, or the lack of it, but i have a friend with almost the same computer and with w7 and he never got that restarting.
Also here are my specifications

intel core 2 quad 2.4 ghz
2 gb ram
windows 7 64bit
nvidia 9600 gso 768 mb/ram

Ow, and the only difference with him is that he has w7 32bit.

 

[Venths]

Hi,

* In this regard, I would suggest you to increase the page file size

 

[edithegodfather]

You mean the virtual memory?

 

[Venths]

Yes, That's right

 

[edithegodfather]

Ok, i increased the paging size, don't know if that helped or not cuz those crashes were completly random but, it is true that the recomended virtual memory was 3 gb and my virtual memory was 2 gb (now it's 5 gb) so that might just be the solution.
Thnx for the help .

 

[Venths]

Glad to hear that my instructions have helped you. However, keep me posted if the issue was completely resolved. If not, we can try alternative solutions

 

[edithegodfather]

Ok, i just had another random restart . So i'm guessing it's not from the paging size, what do you think it could be? :huh:

 

[Venths]

* At this point, the issue might be with the heat sync. You could have a check of it

* Or, you may have to notice carefully if this occurs when you open a specific application

 

[edithegodfather]

Well, i don't know how to check the heat sync but i'm pretty sure it doesn't do that for a specific application or type of application, well, it does: only for games but regarding the games it does it for any game i mean i had this happening for company of heroes, test drive unlimited, wow and trackmania nations, so i don't really know what the algorythm would be :-/ .

[Edit]

Ok, it doesn't do that for only games, for example, 5 minutes before i edited this message i just had a sudden restart and at the time i was talkin' to my friend on xfire (with the mic), listening to music on winamp and working on a model in mudbox :-/ .

 

[Fantail]

intel core 2 quad 2.4 ghz
2 gb ram
windows 7 64bit
nvidia 9600 gso 768 mb/ram

Just my 2-cents but wouldn't it be better on x64 if you were 4 gigs or more and then let the os manage your page file?

 

[edithegodfather]

That's correct, actually i just ordered recently a 2 gb memory which i hope i'll have it and installed on the computer by the end of the week. But come to think of it, i had a shitty computer before (256 mb memory xD ) and it never shut down unexpected and you can image it was constantly lacking memory. Well, it is true that i had windows xp then on 32 bits but still :huh: .

 

[edithegodfather]

Hey guys i just got the memory i ordered (a 2 gb dual channel kit) so i mounted the 2 pieces on the main board and started the computer. Not only that the restarting occured as soon as xfire was starting up but after it got up 'n' running i noticed that my processor rating dropped from 7.1 at 3.9 and it has a lot of awful side effects, i can't do anything right now because of the processor.
It's as if i had only 2.4 ghz 1 core instead of 4.
Thing is i don't know what's goin' on, i'm affraid i might've damaged something when i opened the case but it could also be a setting that needs to be implied, i don't know :huh: ; here's a screenshot of my specs right now:



So my problem's now why is the processor consumed all the time after i installed the memorys?

[Edit]

I removed the memorys but the processor rating dropped to 3.4 so i'm guessing it has something to do with 4 cores out of which only 1 is identified, i'm not sure :-/ .

[Edit]

Ok, i mounted the memorys back on but i didn't run the computer rating test and i runs just nice so i'm guessing that's where my problem is, after making the system rating windows just restricts all that processing speed thus making my life a living nightmare xD . So, i'm thinking, how do i fix that core issue?

 

[edithegodfather]

In the end i kept all the memorys mounted but my processor score is still 3.4 and the memory score not only that it didn't improve but it decreased from 5.4 to 4.3; and both of the low grades are being fully felt in everything i do (more precisely i don't do xD ).
Any ideeas what the problem might be? (my guess is the os got ****ed and i have to reinstall it :huh: )

 

[chev65]

Usually these sudden restart problems are caused by a weak or faulty power supply. That is the first place I would look for this type of problem.

From what you are saying it could also be a CPU overheating issue. I would check the CPU temps to make sure it's not overheating. Everest has a good CPU test that will show the temps and also if the CPU is throttling or not.

 

[edithegodfather]

I checked the temperatures but not with everest (i couldn't figure it out xD ) i used core temp instead and here's what i got



What do you think? :huh:

 

[edithegodfather]

I kinda solved the processor issue, the inside of the computer had a lot of dust and also the cooler on the processor had some sort of sheet of dust formed below the airscrew which prevented the processor from being cooled properly thus making it overheat like hell. I solved everything with the vacuum cleaner .
About that power supply: i don't know, i have this computer for quite some time, with both windows xp and w7, and when i had wxp it never crashed once, all the restartings started to occur while i've had w7 and not even right at start when i installed w7 but in time and very rarely, now it kinda restarts frequently.
Anyway i'm thinking of the power supply too cuz sometimes when i keep it unplugged for a while, after i plug it back in i can barely get the computer starting and running, it restarts about 5-10 times before the os starts with all the utilities so i'm wondering how do i check for a brocken power supply?

 

[chev65]

As I suspected your CPU is running way to hot. Man that is hot! I would get in there with an airhose and get more of the dust out. I would also reseat the CPU and use new TIM "themal interface material". I would still like to see a screen shot of the CPU temps after the cleaning.

As for the restarts, the CPU overheating was enough to cause that to happen but the power supply could also be going out on you. I would reseat the CPU after blowing out every bit of dust with an airgun. Check the temps after that. If you are still getting restarts and the CPU temps are ok then simply replace the power supply.

 

[edithegodfather]

Hmm, thing is the power supply is very sealed, very cased. I sweeped everything i could get around it but not much inside of it except some dust i could get through some holes. Also the core temperatures are fine now.
I'll also try that unplugging and replugging after a while thing and see if i get the many restarts when i try to get it running.

 

[edithegodfather]

I just had another restart, i was talkin' on xfire, listening to winamp and test drive unlimited just loaded when it occured.

 

[edithegodfather]

And another one, only exception this time is that i wasn't mic chatting to anybody.