My computer suddenly shuts down

Question

I have a Dimension E521, I bought it 2 months ago and after that I pimped it with an extra gig of RAM, a new psu and a video card. Here are my specs as of now AMD Athlon X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor 2 GB RAM (4 x 512MB) (added 1 GB but the same brand, one friend sold his ram to me) EVGA geforce 7900 GS KO 256 MB GDDR3 PCI-E video card (new addition) 500W Coolmax PSU (new addition) 160 GB Hard Drive 19' Proview Widescreen LCD monitor Now the problem is sometimes (may be once every two days), the computer shuts down itself while I am working. Now its not a normal shutdown because the screen suddenly goes blank and I see no lights on the tower. I then have to switch it on again and then everything seems fine until the next time when it will happen (which I dont know when because there are no prewarnings). I dont know whats the problem, I have also checked the temperatures of different components, like right now the temp is (10 mins after the last abrupt shut down) Hard Disk - 40 C GPU - 50 C CPU Core 1 - 24 C CPU Core 2 - 26 C I am usually surfing the net when it happens so I am not even stressing the CPU out to its limits. Does somebody have a solution? Thanks,

joy83 · Answer

The RAM is of the same brand because my friend also has the same model E521 and he bought the computer a week before me. So basically all 4 sticks are the same. I dont know why that will create a problem.

DELL-Donald K · Answer

take out your friend's RAM

DELL-Donald K · Answer

Was the problem occurring PRIOR to the RAM installation?  If not, then take it out, see if the problem goes away.  Electrostatic discharge for one could have damaged the RAM with no external visible damage.

Gb755c · Answer

The OP did mention that he/she also installed a coolmax power supply.  I don't know if this holds true or not to this day but I've heard that Dell does or did funky things with their power supplies and the motherboards so that you have to use their components on the systems. I wonder if his shut down issue is all centered around the Coolmax PSU?

joy83 · Answer

I downloaded the Windows memory diagnostic tool and ran it before the boot, it seems like there are no errors with the ram. It passes all the tests. So what is the conclusion now? Possible problem with PSU? Is there any diagnostic tool for the psu or any other way to check it? Can there be a problem with the video card too? I bought it recently from newegg and it shouldnt have a problem. Its a EVGA geforce 7900 GS KO 256 MB GDDR3 PCI-E video card. Please help

Gb755c · Answer

The Video card COULD cause the shut down but most likley not If your video card was bad or having problems you would either get messed up graphics while the system was on or you would get beep codes because the computer can't recognize the video card.  I think it's the coolmax PSU most likely.  I have a Dell E521 in fact I'm using it right now.  The PSU sits sideways in the thing which I've never seen before.  I wonde4r if there is something with the Coolmax PSU that the Dell doesn't like.  I was building a computer for myself one time and I didn't have any money to replace the PSU that was defective in the case I got so in desperation I pulled the PSU from my old Dell 4400 While the unit appeared to power on I got nothing from it no beep codes no nothing.  I took the motherboard back to Gigabyte after replacing the PSU with a standard ATX PSU.  I was told by them that Dell Power supplies have a change int eh polarity of the way the power is distributed to the 20pin or 20+4 pin connector that goes to the mobo.  So it's possible you may have to unpimp the system as far as the Coolmax PSU is concerned.

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My computer suddenly shuts down

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