Why does my Comp keep turning off?

[lolper]

My comp is always sounding this alraming sound and then shuts off when i am playing Halflife or using my Virus Scan it also does this when im trying to efrag my comp why does my comp do this?

[Bill in SD, CA]

Does it sound like a French ambulance?

If so, try cleaning your CPU fan and heat sink.

Excessive heat may be the problem due to dust and lint build up.

Bill

[lolper]

yeah it kinda sounds like a siren but this is a totally new ahtalon xp 3000 and a new volcano 9 why would it do this

[HeadBand]

Yep this definatley sounds like heating make sure you have the righe amount of thermal grease and have a good case airflow

[dafanman]

Its amazing these days how many are putting their hsf on backwards, especiall the gigabyte nforce2 boards where the cpu socket is rotated 90 degrees.

So make sure and check that.

[lolper]

but is the volcano 9 good enoguh for the athlon 3000 xp

[mr.jiggyfly]

Yep definitely heat issues, most motherboards have a BIOS configurable shut off feature that shuts down the computer if the cpu reaches a specific temperature.

[lolper]

do i need a new heat sink and cpu fan?

[jmichna]

Some considerations...
- HS is oriented properly (there is a ledge on the CPU socket, and a corresponding shelf on the base of the HS)
- HS is lying perfectly flat and parallel, making good contact with CPU core
- Use to use good Thermal paste (IM prefer Arctic Silver-3 or Arctic Silver-5)
- Only apply the proper amount of thermal paste (too much or too little is bad... refer to www.arcticsilver.com for installation instructions)
- Make sure the fan is attached directing airflow in the correct direction (most HS designs require fan blowing down onto them)
- Does your specific fan make/model provide sufficient airflow (are you using one of those super quiet/super slow fans that only generate 20-25CFM airflow?)

[Omardeth]

also check the level of the alarm . it might be set really low .