Computer powers off suddenly while playing certain games.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510
I have had my desktop PC for close to a year now and I am getting an odd issue that I cannot seem to solve. When playing specific games, my computer shuts off after a few minutes of playing.
It only seems to happen while playing Dead Space 2 and Mine craft. Sometimes it would be 30 minutes before my computer shuts down and sometimes it would be 5 minutes. I don't even think the computer is fully off because the fans on the CPU, GPU, and PSU seem to still be running but no signal is displayed on my monitor and I have to hold down the power button to fully shut it down in order to get it booted up again.
What really confuses me is how I can play games like Crysis 3, Battlefield 3, BioShock Infinite, ARMA 2, and other demanding games for hours without any issues.
I have dusted out my case and hardware but it doesn't seem like heat is the issue. The computer is much warmer playing the more demanding games and the computer never had an issue with them. Can anybody help me find out what's wrong?
I will post the specs of my PC below:

CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K OC'd @ 4.0ghz http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2373004&Sku=I69-3570K

Mother Board: GIGABYTE GA-Z77-DS3H Intel 7 Series Motherboard http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2276160&CatId=6976

RAM: 2x ADATA Premier Series AD3U1333C4G9-SH 4GB Desktop Memory
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2225792

HDD: Seagate ST1000DM003 Barracuda 1TB Hard Drive - 7200RPM, 64MB, SATA 6Gb/s http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=744346

GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 570 HD Superclocked 1280 MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130622

PSU: Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276573
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
I'd suspect the PSU too, except that the crashes aren't happening in the more demanding games. It IS still possible though. Ultra does not enjoy a good reputation for PSU quality. If the money is available, buying a better one isn't going to hurt anything. In that wattage range, I'd find one built by Seasonic, Delta, or Super Flower.
Another possibility is RAM. Run memtest86+ on each of your RAM sticks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510

My Vcore Is clocked at around 1.116 V. While monitoring it in the bios, it will jump to 1.128 V every once in a while.
The CPU utilization when playing the games that cause the crash is around 40-55%. The utilization on the games that don't cause the crash jumps up to 65% but stays around 55%.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990
A 650 Watt power supply that only has a maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 38 Amps? There's something suspicious going on. Monitor your voltage on all of the rails and see if any of them go out of spec.

A reputable brand 650 Watt power supply, like Seasonic, will usually have a maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of at least 53 Amps.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510

I'm not sure how to use the event log but I see an event called Kernel-Power occur when the crash occurs. I am not sure what this event means.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510


I ran a few passes of memtest86+ on each ram stick individually and both together; all of which showed no errors.
I also went and ordered an Azza Dynamo 850 watt PSU which should be here later today. When it arrives and I get it all hooked up I will run the games again to see if my computer crashes.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
Oh hell...that's an ancient, obsolete design. They've got some new units that are decent, but I wouldn't count on that one for any more than 550W-600W. With the exception of the Antec VP series (and possibly some Enermax NAXN units), if a PSU still has a little voltage switch on it, skip it. Look for something that has 80+ certification; not so much for the efficiency, but because it was tested at 100% load and didn't blow chunks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510


Unfortunately I don't have the required equipment at home to monitor the rails of my current PSU; that is if I was to use an external device. I don't know of any software that can monitor the rails on my PSU and record/save the voltage history before, during, and after the crash.

I have also been searching around the internet for reports of similar issues and I've read somewhere that my video card to run, without worry of errors, will need a minimum combined +12 Volt continuous rating of 48 Amps. If so, the problem is most definitely in the PSU. Still though, I find it odd that I don't experience crashes on the more higher demanding games that I have been able to run for many hours at a time. I have ran Crysis 3, Battlefield 3, and ARMA 2 for lengths close to 10 hours without an issue. The temperatures of the video card have peaked at 90°C, but that's not uncommon for the model I am using.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510


I've got a new Azza Dynamo 850 watt being delivered today which, as I've been told by friends that use it, is a trusty PSU and will cover me when I decide to SLI my GTX 570 HD SC with another one. I also plan on adding one of them spiffy Corsair water coolers to my system so I should have enough power for that as well.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
Well, it's an old one, but I see that the Dynamo series is made by Superflower, so that gives me a little cause for hope. Their new units (e.g. Rosewill Capstone, new Kingwin) have been reviewing very well lately, but that one is an older design. See how hot it gets running the single GTX570 before deciding to run a second one.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510
Sorry for getting back so late but, unfortunately, my computer still seems to be shutting off while playing the mentioned games. I have put in the Azza Dynamo 850w PSU and replaced my ram with some Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2x4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 ram, and still my computer shuts off.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510


I just finished some testing with the side panel of, clocking CPU at default speeds, and with a fan blowing directly over the motherboard and found that it took quite a while longer for my PC to crash on both games. Seems like the motherboard might be the issue here then...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Androcles

Honorable
Apr 11, 2013
9
0
10,510


Have you had any experience with ASRock motherboards? From what I have heard, they seem very good and are have great prices. I don't need a top of the line motherboard; just something that can handle some over clocking and is reliable for a NYC climate.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
37,037
12
89,965
ASRock is one of my preferred brands, after Asus. My wife, mother, father, and my own test system are all ASRock. I've used them in builds for friends too. None have failed. I am only a mild overclocker though, and if it's AMD, I'll unlock cores (if possible).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom