Computer shuts down while playing games

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

Acillatem

Honorable
Dec 29, 2013
21
0
10,510
My computer keeps shutting down whenever I enter a game, or sometimes when I play a few minues. No, the cause is not overheating, I checked that. I cleaned my pc recently, monitored the temps while playing and they were normal and I even went as far as opening the side of the pc, placing a big fan infront of it and cooled my whole system a lot and it was still happening. I also did the ram test (memtest), cpu test (prime95) and gpu test (furmark). I have had this pc for 4 years now and this only started happening a year ago, happened every now and then, but lately it has been happening much more often. My psu is some Nitrox fp-750W which you can apparently still buy these days for 40 bucks and a psu for that price probably isnt exactly top quality. So what I think happens is, that when I run the game and the actual game starts running, the hardware needs more energy, which the psu fails to deliver, which then results in my pc shutting down. Could I be correct with that theory?

My other specs are:
4 Gb DDR2 Ram
Intel Core 2 Quad
ATI Radeon HD 4890
 
Solution
skit75
Start by replacing your power supply. The partial voltage on the +12V is likely causing that regulator to go into runaway. A nice clean +12V rail will probably take some load off that regulator.
Sort by date Sort by votes
skit75

skit75

Splendid
Oct 7, 2008
2,684
1
21,460
Could be many things. Best not to assume what it isn't, so quickly.

Start with a a good visual inspection of the capacitors on your motherboard - checking for any signs of bulging or leaking of electrolytic fluids.

Post up your actual voltage/temperature readings from something like CPUID HWMonitor while your machine is under load(playing a game).

When an issue is so unreliably reproduced, you shouldn't short yourself on troubleshooting steps and just start at the beginning.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Acillatem

Honorable
Dec 29, 2013
21
0
10,510

This is the last time I was able to even play the game:
http://i.imgur.com/4chWYg2.png
http://i.imgur.com/LGjNhQD.png
I then got to play 4 more hours after these pics and the max temp of the cpu was 65°C and max temp of the gpu was 68°C.
I can try again with HWMonitor, but as I said most of the times my pc shuts off the instant I get into the game, I dont even get to play it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
skit75

skit75

Splendid
Oct 7, 2008
2,684
1
21,460


I was hoping to see your power supply rail voltages is why I asked. Your CPU/GPU temps look normal.... nothing telling here.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Acillatem

Honorable
Dec 29, 2013
21
0
10,510

Been playing for 20 minutes now. That is how it looks like.
http://i.imgur.com/HLfZKJ4.png
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
skit75

skit75

Splendid
Oct 7, 2008
2,684
1
21,460
Something is horribly wrong with your +12V value.

Also your TMPIN1 Max is showing 74C. You have a regulator in thermal runaway on your motherboard or your power supply +12V rail is damaged.

I am blown away that your rig is even running, to be quite honest.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Acillatem

Honorable
Dec 29, 2013
21
0
10,510


Finally some results! So what would you suggest I do?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

tsnor

Splendid
Nov 20, 2008
3,702
2
24,965
Agree with dumping the PSU for a good one. But no way the HWMONITOR data is correct. The video card could not be generating it's voltage if the 12V input was less than 3V.

Does the BIOS display voltage ?

IF you can run these "I also did the ram test (memtest), cpu test (prime95) and gpu test (furmark)." then your PSU is working enough to let the CPU and GPU run under heavy load. IF you can run furmark and prime at the same time then power is not an issue. (although I would still junk the cheap power supply for a $50 antec or ...)

Suspect instead a software problem. Do you have a spare hard drive? If so pull your current drive out of the PC, install the spare drive and do a fresh windows/game install and see if the problems go away. If problems stay then put your old disk drive back in. If problems go away with the fresh copy of windows then you need to decide if fixing your current windows install is worth the effort.

edit: "..Already ordered one! http://www.corsair.com/us/power-supply-units/cx-series-... .." Good. That is a good PSU.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Acillatem

Honorable
Dec 29, 2013
21
0
10,510

Wanted to give that a shot, but when I only ran furmark my pc instantly shut down, so I think that the problem is indeed the psu right? Well I have been planning on reinstalling my windows sometime now anyway, so I will do that aswell. Thank you!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

tsnor

Splendid
Nov 20, 2008
3,702
2
24,965
Furmark hurts the power supply and the video card. The sudden shutdown could be caused by either of those failing or something else like a bad MB or even the cpu fan stopping. ".. but when I only ran furmark my pc instantly shut down.." seems to conflict with "..I also did the ram test (memtest), cpu test (prime95) and gpu test (furmark).." I assume memtest and prime95 worked ok?

Since you have a power supply on order, I'd wait for it, install it and see what problems remain (if any). Aside, the way I install PSUs is to leave all the wires in place on the old one. Remove the old PSU (4 screws). Insert the new PSU then do a 1 for 1 replace of the cables from the old PSU to the new PSU. That way I don't forget any.

re: "I have been planning on reinstalling my windows sometime now anyway, so I will do that as well..." Excellent. A bunch of sudden system failures can leave things like file systems damaged even if they were not the cause of the shutdown. You'll fix all those problems with a clean install.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Acillatem

Honorable
Dec 29, 2013
21
0
10,510

Well I did those tests a few months ago when the shutdowns were not that common as they are now. It was the same as with games. First time I used furmark today it worked, the second time it shutdown, so I am still guessing that it is the psu, considering what the hwmonitor showed. But who knows, it could be anything, just have to wait and see now. Thanks for the advice though!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
skit75

skit75

Splendid
Oct 7, 2008
2,684
1
21,460
If the protections built into your current supply did what they were supposed to do, your motherboard should be fine. If it let those regulators run away in an over-current draw too far, you may need to replace the motherboard also but... the new supply will let you know what step is next, if any.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Acillatem

Honorable
Dec 29, 2013
21
0
10,510
So finally I recieved the PSU yesterday and I have to say that so far everything worked fine. Although the voltage on the 12+ only went up to 4, its still more than it was with the old one. So thats that i guess.
 
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