emerge overheating my PC? power supply powering off!!

Gauss_Cleric · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 85

Hi people. Listen, I'm getting a very weird behaviour from my Gentoo machine. I already tried some forum searches without much luck so I'm posting this here since I don't know where it fits best.

The thing is that my computer crashes everytime I do an emerge -uD world. But itś not a common crash... my PC TURNS OFF! and after it even the POWER button doesn't work... I have to manually set the power supply off, wait, and then on again. After wich the computer's power button works again. I don't know why it happens when emerging but I think it has to do with overheating. My reasons are the following:

1) Code compiling is very processor intensive and the emerge crashes don't occur at the same point. The PC even compile the code it didn't the previous time, It's like the crucial is how long it stays compiling. After some time...BUM

2) Internet browsing seems to work ok. I need to test with other processor-intensive apps. TeX editing/compiling also works OK.

3) This kind of behaviour (the power supply turn off) looks like a protection intended device.

I need some feedback... did anyone see this kind of thing happen before?

My specs:

AthlonXP 1800 512MB
K7T266 Pro2 MSI motherboard
40GB hard drive
TermalTake Power supply
ATI Readeon 9800 Pro

Think this is it. Hoping to get some response, in the mean time, no system update

tukachinchila · Apprentice Joined: 11 Mar 2005 Posts: 274 Location: Oregon

I've never seen that before, but I think you're right that it could have to do with overheating. It could also be that your power supply isn't rated high enough. If you have a 400 Watt PS, and during heavy CPU usage the draw is 420 Watts it might shut itself down.

Something kind of related happens to me. I have a graphics card in my computer that requires a lot of power (geforce 6800gt), so occasionally I get a really annoying "overload" alarm from my UPS when playing graphics-intesive games. My 500 Watt PS can handle the heavy load, but sometimes it's too much for the UPS.

It definitely sounds like a hardware issue though. You might try swapping PSs and see what happens, or find a way to use less power (e.g., remove any components you don't need, replace the radeon with a cheapo 2D graphics card), then run emerge again. If the problem goes away, you may need a bigger PS.

moocha · Watchman Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 5722

First check for failing or dead fans though - it's an easier check.
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Muso · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:46 am Post subject:

Buy a can of air and dust it out .... if that dosen't help, remove the side panel and put an industrial strength room fan next to it

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bollucks · l33t Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 606

Try a pure cpu load to see if that is the thermal trigger. In a console or shell, try this:

Gauss_Cleric · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 85

Thanks everyone, I managed a temporary solution: I've remaked my kernel without the fatal check options and without the power management utilities. It didn't power off anymore. Of course this is a bit dangerous but I don't think the core is really overheating. I mean, I'm positive that this is a fan RPM reader or temperature reader error. Sometimes in the BIOS the temperature indicator keeps oscilating between 28ºC and 98ºC (this last is clearly an error). very strange... does anyone know of a temperature indicator utilitie for my motherboard/linux?? Thanks for the replies guys...

bollucks · l33t Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 606

If the BIOS is reading it wrong then every single other piece of software will also read it wrong since they use the same sensors.

Gauss_Cleric · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 85

Further news...

Although emerge seems to work normally most of the time, when I recompile kdelibs or qt the system shuts down like before. But ONLY with these packages. THAT is quite strange...

Running out of ideas...

moocha · Watchman Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 5722

That's not surprising; both kdelibs and qt are C++ applications making heavy use of templates. Compiling such C++ software places a greater strain on the system than compiling C software (most of your typical Linux desktop is compised of C software). Higher strain being defined as much greater memory demand and heavy processor usage over a longer period of time.
That would indicate a problem with your RAM chips or your CPU being driven outside of their normal operating parameters. Are you sure you didn't increase their driving voltage in your BIOS?
A way to test it would be trying to emerge another package with similar requirements - koffice comes to mind.
_________________
Military Commissions Act of 2006: http://tinyurl.com/jrcto

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- attributed to Benjamin Franklin

tukachinchila · Apprentice Joined: 11 Mar 2005 Posts: 274 Location: Oregon

I agree with moocha that C++ programs are going to put more strain on your system for longer periods of time.

gimpel · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:06 am Post subject:

nearly same hardware specs here, athlon1800+ etc...

hmm, i had that problem too once, UCOP protection shut down the PC...

and on my box the only reason that time was: tons of dust & dirt in the cpu fan and behind it, really tons of it...
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Gauss_Cleric · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 85

Iĺl try cleaning it up and also emergeing koffice. Let's see what happens...

dragonsbreath · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 93

my system is a pentium 4 3ghz prescott and when I emerge applications the cpu temp reading goes to 120C. Under normal usage like surfing it stays within 50-55C... so your problem could be that when you emerge your processor get so hot...

Gauss_Cleric · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 85

OK,.. good news! (at least for me)

I removed my cooler dusted it out and put more thermal paste on top of the processor. Now everything is OK. The problem was definitely overheating and that was because of dust deposited in the cooler. So... thanks you guys for all your help. It was much apreciated.