PC shuts off

[rage4order]

My pc recently started shutting down for no apparent reason. I did notice today though that it would do it when I was running a cpu intensive program(I was converting a DVD movie into divx format). Now, when I try to turn on my computer, it turns on for a split second and then just shuts off. I think my problem might be one of two things- either my cpu fan is going bad causing an overheat, or my power supply is going bad. Am I about right or could it be something else?

 

[plugwash]

CPU fan going bad and causing an overheat would expain shutdowns under heavy load but if it's refusing to boot even when cool that is unlikely to be the issue unless the CPU has been permanently damaged (which is unlikely with the thermal protection in modern CPUs). Even without a fan a heatsink should get you further into the boot process than that.

Another possibility is poor contact between CPU and heatsink. This will cause a much faster overheat than a failed fan.

The PSU is indeed also a possible culprit.

I'd say try removing the CPU heatsink and remounting it with new thermal compound, then try replacing the PSU.

 

[rage4order]

Apparently it looks like one of my hdd's is keeping my pc from booting. I removed the cpu fan and put new paste and pc still wasn't booting. I then disconnected all unnecessary drives(except the OS drive) and it booted up. I then plugged one in at a time and come to find out it's my newest one that seems to be the problem. Does this mean it is going bad? It's only about 4 weeks old!
EDIT: I don't think the hard drive is the problem now. I left the suspect one unplugged and ran the video converting program again and my computer shut down again.

 

[Dangman]

What PSU do you have?
Also did you try setting everything back to stock speeds?

 

[/usr/sbin]

It could be PSU related. How many drives are we talking here? Drives really peak in power consumption when starting up. If you have a PSU with a problem, that might have been enough to keep it from booting. If you unhooked a buttload of drives the drop in instant power drain would be measurable. Maybe the burst power consumption is tripping your PSU?

 

[rage4order]

What PSU do you have?
Also did you try setting everything back to stock speeds?

It's an Allied brand 500W. I haven't tried re-setting to stock speeds.

It could be PSU related. How many drives are we talking here? Drives really peak in power consumption when starting up. If you have a PSU with a problem, that might have been enough to keep it from booting. If you unhooked a buttload of drives the drop in instant power drain would be measurable. Maybe the burst power consumption is tripping your PSU?

Total drives I have connected are 3 SATA HDD's and 3 optical drives.

 

[Dangman]

It's an Allied brand 500W. I haven't tried re-setting to stock speeds.

Yeah there's both your problems: You're overclocking with a PSU brand known for making pretty SHITTY PSUs:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story3&reid=65

So replace the PSU ASAP or you're gonna risk further damage to the PC. In fact, don't turn on the PC at all until that new PSU is installed. And hope that Allied PSU hasn't already cause some long-term damage.

Go with this PSU as a replacement:
$64 - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W PSU

 

[rage4order]

Yeah there's both your problems: You're overclocking with a PSU brand known for making pretty SHITTY PSUs:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story3&reid=65

So replace the PSU ASAP or you're gonna risk further damage to the PC. In fact, don't turn on the PC at all until that new PSU is installed. And hope that Allied PSU hasn't already cause some long-term damage.

Go with this PSU as a replacement:
$64 - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W PSU

Ok, I'll be buying a new one tomorrow. I've reset all my bios settings to stock but I just may go ahead and shut it down till I get a new psu. Thanks for everyone's help!