Computer randomly shuts off?

Question

I'm running Ubuntu 10.10 and I've had this issue for a while (not just with Ubuntu). I figured I'd ask some people who know what they're talking about to get a feel for what the problem is.

I built my computer from scratch, here is my system info:

cpu:                                                            
                       AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+, 3100 MHz
                       AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+, 3100 MHz
keyboard:
  /dev/input/event2    Logitech USB Receiver
mouse:
  /dev/input/mice      Logitech USB Receiver
graphics card:
                       ATI VGA compatible controller
sound:
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] High Definition Audio
                       ATI Audio device
storage:
                       Floppy disk controller
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] IDE
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] SATA Controller (non-AHCI mode)
network:
  eth0                 nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] Ethernet
network interface:
  lo                   Loopback network interface
  eth0                 Ethernet network interface
disk:
  /dev/sda             WDC WD2500AAJS-6
  /dev/sdb             WDC WD10EALS-00Z
  /dev/sdd             WDC WD10EARS-00Y
  /dev/sdc             WDC WD10EARS-00Y
  /dev/sde             Generic STORAGE DEVICE
  /dev/sdf             Generic STORAGE DEVICE
  /dev/sdg             Generic STORAGE DEVICE
  /dev/sdh             Generic STORAGE DEVICE
partition:
  /dev/sda1            Partition
  /dev/sda2            Partition
  /dev/sda5            Partition
  /dev/sdb1            Partition
cdrom:
  /dev/sr0             HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22LP20
usb controller:
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] OHCI USB 1.1 Controller
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] OHCI USB 1.1 Controller
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
bios:
                       BIOS
bridge:
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] LPC Bridge
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] PCI Bridge
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] PCI Express Bridge
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] PCI Express Bridge
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] PCI Bridge
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] PCI Bridge
                       AMD K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
                       AMD K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
                       AMD K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
                       AMD K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
hub:
                       Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ehci_hcd EHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ehci_hcd EHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ohci_hcd OHCI Host Controller
                       Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ohci_hcd OHCI Host Controller
memory:
                       Main Memory
firewire controller:
                       Agere FW323
unknown:
                       FPU
                       DMA controller
                       PIC
                       Timer
                       Keyboard controller
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] Memory Controller
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] SMBus
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] Memory Controller
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] Co-Processor
                       nVidia MCP78S [GeForce 8200] Memory Controller
                       Serial controller

It will completely shut off at random times. However I can almost guarantee it shuts off during a 1080p or other HD movie. The way it shuts off is also weird. To turn it back on, I need to turn the killswitch on the power supply off for about 5 seconds until my bass speaker makes a noise like it is getting power (wtf?). Then I can reboot and everything is fine.

I'm not familiar with linux log files so if someone needs the last entries of one of them, I'd be glad to send them.

Thanks!

Answer 1

My guess would be your power supply.

Because:

A) Its being overloaded

or

B) It is on its way out. I have seen this before where the computer would shut off and weird things would have to be done, use the kill switch then unplug and plug back in, to get the PC to boot again.

Test your power supply as Im sure the issue is there.

Answer 2

I would go for the other answers, although I wouldn't suspect your PSU to be underpowered. Looking at what you posted it shows you haven't got an overly power crazy CPU so it shouldn't do anything crazy to your PSU. And if you do have a powerful GPU, it isn't being used properly as it looks as if you haven't installed the latest ATI Drivers for Ubuntu to recognize your GPU.

I would give an update to your drivers, if it still crashes then I would reinstall Ubuntu and take things one step at a time to make sure you haven't installed a corrupted program or something.

Also about the PSU, it could be on it's way out as well as stated in the other answers

Answer 3

I'd suspect your PSU. Look at the rating on it and compare it to whats in your system. You likely bought something underrated

Answer 4

Might be Video.

Have you considered removing your "ATI VGA compatible controller" and running off of the on-board Nvidia video? You'll need to change your X driver when you do so.