Random... power failures?

[KnickNut3]

Hey. Twice in the last hour, my monitor randomly went blank, my tower looked (possibly) as if it were rebooting (HD light on, but no physical booting, I think). The monitor didn't receive a signal.

Both times I was watching a video with my video player. Don't know if that has anything to do with it. Lights didn't flicker or anything. I've got an Energizer battery backup, but it's pretty much just an expensive surge protector--if you pull the plug the machine automatically dies, then reboots while the "your power is running out" lights and beeps.

Anyway, any idea how this coudl be happening? Is a part going bad? I'm not in a place where I can fix it...

[LeftCoast]

When you were waching the video, did the sound go out at the same time as the video? If not, may be monitor issue.

I think probably you have a bad or underpowered power supply.

Another possibility might be the CPU shuts off due to overheating, but I'm still thinking the PS is a POS.

No CompUSA/Best Buys around?

[KnickNut3]

The PS is a pretty new, 400W good brand name (forgot which).

Yes, the whole machine died. Wasn't a monitor, I don't think. It is the warmest day so far this year, it got really warm in my room, so maybe it is, although my CPU's only at 45C right now.

[LeftCoast]

You can poke around in your bios to check if there is a temp shut-off somewhere, and if is, what temp it is set at...

Or also, apply some good thermal paste (Artic Silver 3) to help keep temps down. How's your cooling?

If you post your system info, you'll probably get more answers.

[KnickNut3]

I've got an SLK-800, some AS3, and a bunch of pretty powerful fans, so I don't think I can get the temps down any more. (Not OCed, either.)

I'll check the temps, but I'm pretty sure it shuts down at 75C or something. MBM would get to it long before that.