Gigabyte Z77X-D4h possibly causing computer to switch off/reboot

denno020 · May 12, 2013

Hey all,

I recently purchased new computer components from msy and put them all together to form my new PC. More recently however, I've been having problems where the computer will just turn off (as if it has lost power), then power back up again straight away.
Checking the Event Viewer, the error that is reported is

XML:

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date:          12/5/2013 11:43:11 AM
Event ID:      41
Task Category: (63)
Level:         Critical
Keywords:      (2)
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      Dennos-PC
Description:
The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" Guid="{331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}" />
    <EventID>41</EventID>
    <Version>2</Version>
    <Level>1</Level>
    <Task>63</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2013-05-12T02:13:11.403203300Z" />
    <EventRecordID>26583</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>Dennos-PC</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="BugcheckCode">0</Data>
    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter1">0x0</Data>
    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter2">0x0</Data>
    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter3">0x0</Data>
    <Data Name="BugcheckParameter4">0x0</Data>
    <Data Name="SleepInProgress">false</Data>
    <Data Name="PowerButtonTimestamp">0</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

So from reading that I thought that it could be my PSU that was causing problems, but I've had that tested, and the voltages all appear to be consistent. I've also run a memtest on the computer, which passed with flying colours, so I'm pretty sure that means my RAM is okay (Not sure if it checks the hard drives?).

So the only thing I think it could possibly be, is the motherboard.. The other day when it did the power loss/boot up, it got stuck on the initial screen detailing the motherboard, and I had to hold the power button to turn off the machine, then turn it back on again..

Also, I'm not sure if this is related or not, but my GPU, a Gigabyte HD 7970 OC 3GB, seemingly died around the same time that my computer started doing this turning off thing (the card still gets power, the fans all start up, but it won't display anything on my monitor).

I'm a software engineer, so debugging hardware problems has never been my forte, and would really like some help to try and identify what the culprit is for this problem, so I can take it back to the shop.

Sorry for the large post, but I just wanted to make sure I gave all information possible

.

Thanks,
Luke

P.S. The rest of my computer components, if required:

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
GPU: Gigabye HD 7970 OC 3GB
CPU: Intel i7 3770 (LGA1155)
RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengance DDR3-1600
HDD1: Samsung 840 Series 250GB SSD
HDD2: Seagate 3.5" Baracuda 3TB
PSU: Antec HCG-750
After Market Cooler: Coolermaster Hyper 212-Evo

alexoiu · May 12, 2013

Hi,
Can you borrow a power supply though and test?

denno020 · May 12, 2013

I can try and find one.. So you think it could still be the power supply?

I did download a few system monitoring programs, however I couldn't find any that kept a log, so it's hard to determine if voltage loss is the problem.

I'll see if I can find another power supply though and test that out.. However I think that might prove to be very difficult without just buying a new one..

alexoiu · May 12, 2013

I wouldn't buy one until making sure that it's a PSU issue. Or, if it's under warranty, try RMA-ing it.

denno020 · May 12, 2013

Everything is still well under warranty.. But I want to try and find the problem myself so I don't have to pay the ridiculous fees they'll charge to identify the problem.

I'm not sure what RMA means?

alexoiu · May 12, 2013

Returning the product during the warranty period for having it repaired or replaced.
For Antec: http://www.antec.com/index.php?page=warranty_info&AQ=AQ3&value=en

denno020 · May 12, 2013

Oh ok.. The only problem with that is if it turns out that the PSU isn't the problem..

I'll see if I can find a PSU to borrow and use that for a little while.

Is there any other software tests I could run that you know of? Or is it basically just down to eliminating possibilities by trying alternate hardware?

alexoiu · May 12, 2013

Do the restarts occur under load, like playing games? Have you tried using the onboard graphics?

denno020 · May 12, 2013

I haven't been playing games as I've had to take the graphics card out, however yes, it often happens when I open a few chrome tabs at once, or open photoshop, or even when I go to save my photoshop file.. So it's not under great load, but it's under a little bit of load..
However it does happen when I leave the computer sitting doing nothing, as when I come back, it's at the log in screen, obviously meaning it shut off and rebooted

alexoiu · May 12, 2013

Try installing HWMonitor and check the CPU temperature. Try also running the board for a while with a minimum configuration (one RAM stick the OS HDD, keyboard and mouse). See if still the same.

denno020 · May 12, 2013

Fantastic, somewhere to start!
I've been using HWMonitor, but it doesn't have any log functionality, so it's hard to catch the voltage reading just before the computer crashes.

I will try that configuration though and post back with results!

Thanks for your help so far, really appreciate it.

denno020 · May 13, 2013

Just thought I would post back with some information about what happened last night.

I haven't got around to taking a ram stick and HDD out yet, as I've been working flat out, but last night I let my computer on overnight with some downloads going. I expected to wake up in the morning and see my log in screen (indicating the computer had shut off and rebooted, as I've done this before and that's exactly what happened), however I was surprised to find that I was still in my desktop, which meant it hadn't crashed.
So I went to open firefox and then windows explorer (which is actually Clover, a tabbed explorer program) and about 30 seconds after starting to do things on my computer it crashed..
So this is getting very confusing, as it's so random when it crashes..

I'll hopefully get around to taking components out of the computer tonight or tomorrow, but I am moving house at the end of this week, so it might have to wait until then.

TenPc · May 13, 2013

You can have the PSU tested but Antec won't have the same hardware as you have got so they only test to see if it works.
If your 12v watts is being maxed out then the video card will cark it.

Edit, unpplug extra hardware to reduce power consumption, just leave the video card plugged in and se if the PC posts and stays on for any length of time.

You really don't want to be crashing the hdd for any number of times, you just, firstly, need to make sure the barebones hardware actually stays powered and then you can plug in the hdd for the software monitor but not the cd/dvd drive, leave that until last.

spooky2th · May 15, 2013

You can purchase a Power Supply Tester at a reasonable price at Newegg and other sources. I bought one on-sale for $6 a few months ago and it has come in handy a bunch of times since.

Try bumping up the memory voltage to your Corsair memory. Sometimes that does the trick.

TenPc · May 15, 2013

"Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" that refers to your version of Windows. You need to update your version to a more stable one.

Windows 7 RC (Release Candidate) is a pre-release version of Windows 7 and is made available for free download until 30 July 2009.The RC version causes the issues you are experiencing, you need to get a full version of Windows 7, the RC version has an expiry date to which it will eventually no longer allow you to boot to desktop.

It's not the PSU nor any hardware issue.

Basel Abu Al-Adas · May 15, 2013

I'd say it's software the OS

denno020 · May 16, 2013

Thanks for the replies guys. Last night I had some spare time in-between packing boxes to turn the computer off and disconnect the second hard drive, as well as take out a RAM stick. I had my computer left on all last night, and it didn't do the shut off thing. However that doesn't mean much yet as I left it on the other night also and it didn't shut off, until I got up in the morning and attempted use it. So I'll run with this for a few days and see how it goes.

As for the problem possibly being Windows 7, I don't have an RC version at all, I have done a clean install using my upgrade disk I purchased a while ago. I am always up to date with installing Windows updates as well. However, to test every possible suggestion, I'm going to load Ubuntu onto a USB or dual boot it, and run that for a while, see if it helps.

Thanks again to all, I'll post back in a few days and let you know how it all went.

Luke

TenPc · May 16, 2013

An update from what? Vista? XP?
Any upgrade is fraught with issues, drivers in particular. You need to update the drivers for Windows 7 from the manufacturer web site for each item of hardware, don't rely on Auto Update feature, you should disable it and Choose which options to update.

You may need to update the bios as well.

denno020 · May 19, 2013

I've used the upgrade disk to do a clean install, so it's not upgraded over anything. I had it running perfectly on my laptop previously, so not sure why it wouldn't be working now.

An update: I moved house over the weekend, so got to use my computer for all of an hour/hour and a half, but in that time, it crashed at least 5 times. Just before I moved I had downloaded all windows updates and installed them, so it seems like something that was downloaded has triggered the crashing even more. I just find it hard to believe that software could cause this kind of shut off/reboot cycle..

I'm installing Ubunutu onto a USB as we speak,= (using a work computer), so I'll run from that when I get home and see if the problem is still there.

Thanks for the help so far.

Luke

TenPc · May 19, 2013

If the install upgrade disk is specifically for the laptop then it will cause issues with a desktop PC, there is no power adapter with a PC so you'd need to disable that feature in Power Options. Actually, disable all the sleep and hibernation features, as well. You then can select Sleep or standby manually rather than at a set time when idle.

Edit - You will need to update the chipsets for your PC from the manufacturer website of the motherboard, you might have to actually update all of them.

You'd need to know what revision is your motherboard, either 1.0 or 1.1 before acquiring updates.
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4144#sp

denno020 · May 19, 2013

The upgrade disk isn't a laptop specific one, it's just a Home Premium one (in the green box). I'll disable all those things as you suggested when I get home tonight.

Thanks for the suggestions

Luke

spooky2th · May 20, 2013

Have you set up the BIOS? Like what is the timing on your memory? 9-9-9-24? Or what? At 1.5 volts? I would bump up the voltage slightly higher especially if you have four sticks. Did you start in the BIOS with Optimized Settings?

denno020 · May 20, 2013

I only had 2 sticks (right now I have 1 though as I'm working through this issue), but I haven't done anything to the BIOS, as I really wasn't sure what I should be doing. So thought it best not to play around somewhere that I don't fully understand..

spooky2th · May 20, 2013

That's probably your whole problem. The BIOS needs to be set up. Get into BIOS at boot up and first thing you should do is set to optimized settings then I usually save and reboot and start with page one and refer to your manual. It is easy enough but the first time may be a little intimidating. Your memory probably needs to be set at 9-9-9-24 and 1.5V and maybe slightly higher on the voltage for good measure. I'd put your system all back together and set up the BIOS and I bet you will have a smooth running system.

denno020 · May 20, 2013

Oh ok.. The only thing with that is that I've had my computer for a couple of months, running fine.. Then all of a sudden I started having these problems.. So it wasn't straight away, and it wasn't after any change to my system.. Unless the windows updates are now exposing problems that I've left by not configuring the BIOS?

Gigabyte Z77X-D4h possibly causing computer to switch off/reboot

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