For the last two weeks or so I've been trying to figure out what's wrong with my cousin's computer but I have failed and so am turning to GW in hopes that someone with more technical expertise can assist us. It is important to note that I do not have access to the PC so testing will be delayed.

Summary of Problem: Random shutdowns. The computer doesn't bluescreen, it will just turn off. This doesn't happen immediately but after about five minutes it will shutdown. Playing games or doing other intensive tasks seems to accelerate this. After the initial shutdown after a 'cooling off' period the computer starts shutting down faster with each subsequent attempt to start it. Of course my first thought was that it must be heat, but Speedfan returned normal values even while running Prime95 in attempt to max out CPU usage and/or get the computer to bum out. This lead me to believe it may be the GPU but problems still continued even when the GPU was removed. Similarly changing around the RAM had no effect. So what do you guys think? I'm now beginning to think that the CPU cooler may have been improperly installed and that there is a hotspot on the CPU despite it returning a cool temp reading, but I'm running out of ideas.

System Main: gigabyte technology co
System Model: m61ome-s2
Bios: award modular bios v6.00pg
Processor: amd athlon 64 x2 dual core processor 5000+, mmx, 3dnow (2cpus)
Memory: 3072mb Ram
GPU: 9800GT
OS: XP 32-bit
PSU: 500W CoolerMaster

this set up looks like he got it from a shop? has he formatted since he first got it? there was an issue not too long ago where if a computer had the copy of both the intel and the amd drivers present (shops tend to do this so they don't have to mess around with loading different drivers etc) then a windows update would activate the intel power drivers and cause mad havoc. the next update rectified this though iirc so maybe just run a windows update

this is a bit far fetched but it's worth a shot (easy with low risks)

also: when you press the power button on the computer does it shut-down or restart? check your psu fans as well because this sounds like a temperature problem!!

I would take one of the CPUs out and try with just one, and if still the problem, then just the other CPU. It does seem like a heating issue, but I never messed with multi-cpu systems.

You may want to use some other programs to check the temperature, and even go into the bios and see what its readings are, as well as check what shutdown temperature is (if any).

Is this a new system, or did this just start happening? Last time I got "system automatically shuts off after increasingly shorter intervals of time" it was a brand new mobo that was DOA :\

All the fans were spinning, all temperature readings were in normal ranges.

I would take one of the CPUs out and try with just one, and if still the problem, then just the other CPU. It does seem like a heating issue, but I never messed with multi-cpu systems.

You may want to use some other programs to check the temperature, and even go into the bios and see what its readings are, as well as check what shutdown temperature is (if any).

Is this a new system, or did this just start happening? Last time I got "system automatically shuts off after increasingly shorter intervals of time" it was a brand new mobo that was DOA :\

It is a single CPU system, goat. It's just a dual core. The BIOS temps were consistent with speedfan and I didn't see any irregularities. This is a frankensystem that started out as store bought system and had parts replaced by a relative who is a hobbyist. The system shuts down with increasingly shorter intervals of time only if you don't leave it off, which then repeats the cycle starting with a 5-10min running time and decreasing from there which makes me suspect heat.