Quote:
Originally Posted by richlevy
So my desktop computer is shutting off after about 20 minutes of use. I have confirmed that this is a heat issue, since the computer stays on indefinitely if I remove the cover and the amount of time it stays on is shorter when restarted soon after an unexpected shutdown.
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Any computer should work normally even in the hottest day of the year. Heat is a symptom; typically not the problem. A computer must work just fine even with large dust balls on that warmest day.
Defective semiconductors (and other problems) are more apparent when warm. Often a failure that will get worse months later are found by simply operating that computer in a 105 degree F room.
What is causing your problem? One method to find the defective part is to selectively heat computer parts until the defective part is identified. Every component inside a computer operates at an ideal temperature even when heated by a hair dryer on highest heat settings.
How did we find problems? We used the guns designed to shrink 'heat shrink tubing'. Those temperatures will burn skin. That heat gun and soldering irons made it easier to find defective parts. One diagnostic tool that anyone has is the hairdryer. Use it.
Also useful are hardware diagnostics. Even Memtst86 (or diagnostics provided by better computer manufacturers) are effective tools if used in conjunction with heat.
This assumes you have established stable voltages exist. Heat (at trivial temperatures) does not cause damage (despite so many popular myths that claim otherwise). But heat does change operational parameters such as voltage thresholds and timing. If supply voltages are marginal, then minor temperature changes (a 30 degree temperature increase) can cause intermittent failures. Just another example of how heat creates symptoms.
Additional cooling would only be curing symptoms. Use heat to find the defect. Do not cure symptoms as so many do by worrying about dust and 'more fans'.