Computer Randomly Shutting off and Restarting

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Goldy90

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Feb 7, 2014
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Hi all,

I built a PC with the following specs around late December/early January (although I had been ordering parts one at a time since November).

CPU: i7-4770k
GPU: XFX GT 240 (I had it laying around, temporary till I get something better).
HDD: 2TB Seagate Barracuda st2000dm001
PSU: XFX Pro Black Edition 750W PSU
Mobo: Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit

Everything was working fine until the 30th of January, when I was unable to start my computer. I had reformatted and left the city for 2 days. When I came back, I would press the power button and the fans would spin for half a second, and then stop. Not sure whether the reformat is relevant to this or not, but felt I should include that detail.

I cleared the CMOS and it began working again. It happened maybe 3-4 times after that, and then about 2 days ago began happening more frequently (maybe 2-3 times a day?). Sometimes, it'll restart on it's own. Other times, it'll just shut off. It shuts off more often than it restarts.

When it shuts off, pressing the power button will fail to turn the computer on. I have to reset CMOS, and I've found that the time is off by however long it takes for me to get the computer running again from the time of the initial crash.

Things I've tried:
- New HDD
- Tested GPU
- Tested RAM with memtest.
- Updated BIOS
- Reformatted (did this with the new HDD)

The event doesn't seem to increase in probability during any given task. Whether I'm gaming or surfing the web, it seems to happen randomly. So I don't think it has anything to do with the PC receiving insufficient power since the shutting off/restarting doesn't seem to be power dependent.

CPUs, from what I've read, have very low failure rates so I don't think that's the issue. I don't think it's the PSU either as items plugged into the USB ports continue to receive power. I've read it may have to do with the CMOS battery dying? Which is weird since I bought this mobo in early December..

Really hoping I don't have to RMA anything.

Long post, but hoping some of you guys can help me out.

Thanks!
 
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Goldy90

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Feb 7, 2014
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I was originally betting on the issue being the PSU myself but the facts that it doesn't seem to happen more frequently under higher stress/load levels, that peripherals continue receiving power, and that the BIOS seems to somehow be involved put me more in the direction of the motherboard.

Unfortunately, this is my first build, and I have no other power supply to test with.

GPU/CPU/Mobo temps are all within the 30-low 40 range @ idle. Not sure how to check case temp as a whole. I'm using HWmonitor.
 
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Goldy90

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Feb 7, 2014
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It's happened about 4 times after I posted this thread. Becoming very annoying. Sometimes simply pressing the "clear CMOS" switch won't work, and I need to switch off and unplug the PSU, hold the CMOS button for 20 seconds, and then plug the PSU back in and press the power button.

The second to last time it happened, I couldn't get it to work no matter how long I left it unplugged and pressed the "clear CMOS" switch. Oddly enough, unplugging and replugging the 24 pin connector and then trying to switch it on worked.

My PSU has always had a very slight buzz to it too. I'm not sure if it's all in my head but I feel like it's louder?

Ugh. I live in Canada and I believe both the XFX and Gigabyte RMA depots are located in California. RMAing one would be expensive enough, but shipping a second item out there if the first turns out to not be the issue would hit me hard.

Edit: Just had another shut down where I wasn't able to get the PC running using the CMOS switch. Had to unplug and replug the 24 pin connector again..
 
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vVonder

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Jan 16, 2014
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Would you share an update? I have a similar issue with a rig i built in december as well, it restarts at random since i got it together and im pretty lost at what it could be, posted twice here but didn't receive much feedback. How is your situation now? Hope its solved.
 
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Goldy90

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Feb 7, 2014
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Very coincidental of you to message me today, since the problem stopped occurring on the 11th of February but began again out of nowhere today. It has happened 8 times since 2:30pm, and seems to occur when I'm playing battlefield 4 (I installed a GTX 770 after a few days of stability). Very odd since I've been playing the game for almost 2 weeks now with no issues.

When I originally "fixed" the problem, I removed the side panels for my PC and reseated the ram sticks. It didn't occur again after that, so I thought it must have been to due to a shifted ram stick or one of the wires on the back of the motherboard tray shortening my mobo out. I put the panels back on eventually and the problem still didn't come back, so I thought it must have been a shifted ram stick. Didn't give it much thought - I was just glad to have it resolved.

Because the crashes now seem to occur under high load, and I haven't had to reset CMOS yet, I'm beginning to think the issue is really with the PSU. I have to flip the switch on/off sometimes to get the PC started again. Sometimes the fan will spin a little, sometimes they won't spin at all. One time my peripherals weren't receiving power (weren't lit up) like they normally are after a crash/normal shutdown.

What are the specifics of your situation? What are your hardware components/rig? Maybe we can compare.
 
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Clarkinkent

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Feb 26, 2014
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I would personally try another power supply. It might be fluctuating under load ...
Some shops have the policy to return it for a money refund within so many days from purchase.
 
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Goldy90

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Feb 7, 2014
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I also think it's the PSU. Unfortunately, no shops in my city have computer component friendly return policies. Best Buy and Future Shop don't accept computer components returned unopened, and NCIX/Newegg/Canada Computers will all charge me shipping (both ways) and a restocking fee.
 
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littleleo

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May 8, 2009
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It sure sounds like a power supply to me.
 
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Goldy90

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Feb 7, 2014
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I'm in the process of beginning an RMA with XFX. I've also ordered a power supply from walmart (antec earthwatts 620w - it's all they had - not the best but it'll get the job done in terms of testing purposes and they're good with returns).

Any idea why it was occurring at random before (idle/browsing/gaming) and why it stopped happening for ~2 weeks and only starting occurring again with high load (BF4)?

Oh, and just to add my latest theory - my PSU model has a fan that only kicks in after a certain temp/load is reached. With a stock 4770k and gtx 770 running BF4 at max settings, surely it must have exceeded the threshold for the fan to turn on. However, I have never actually felt any air coming out the back. Maybe the fan isn't turning on and it's shutting off as a failsafe mechanism.
 
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Clarkinkent

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Feb 26, 2014
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I had a case where I made a PC for friend of mine I had open budget at the time... so made him one with an ASRock FX990 Fatal1ty Professional Series and the AMD FX8120 3.1GHz x8 Black Edition. For the first 6 months the PC was aircooled with the stock AMD fan ... I thought it was fluescreening often... for my liking. I blamed down to the 16GB DDR3 RAM, so I lowered the RAM speed. The CPU temps would not go more than 46C .... so I could not relate it to over heating!
Anyway ... a couple of months later and after we installed watercooling (Kulho 920) , The temp would not go more than 38C and this under full load!
However the PC started bluescreening... and even started freezing on the boot screen sometimes where displaying the Fatal1ty Logo!
Soon found out that the CPU was faulty and it was playing up acting like over heating even when it was 32C ... the tollerance got smaller and smaller time by time.

I opened and RMA with AMD, sent the CPU, I had to be without a PC my self as I loaned my CPU (Phenom II 965 BE) to my friend while his CPU was replaced, the whole thing took about 1wk. Cannot fault AMD.
They sent a brand new CPU, installed it and since then he has no problems what so ever!

I must admit though it is difficult to pin point a problem to a CPU. Especially one that has never been overclocked in it's life!


However trying a new PSU is the cheapest solution, and a good place to start.
 
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vVonder

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Jan 16, 2014
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Clark, what you said scared the **** out of me... I'm going to RMA the motherboard, and here it takes its time, if it comes back and turns out its the cpu... Damn i woulnd't stand that lol. Should i RMA both at the same time? (i bought both in the same store); should i sent them with the cpu and heatsink installed on the motherboard? Or should i send them separatedly and wait to see what they tell me?
Thanks for your input.
 
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vVonder

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Jan 16, 2014
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By the way Clarkinkent, you seem to know a lot about computers, if it is not a lot to ask, would you please visit my thread and give me your opinion? You have no idea how much i would appreciate it...
 
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littleleo

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I've been assembling computers since the 286 days and it is rare to have a CPU go bad I think I can count on one had the number of times that has happened to me, so it would be easy to over look. Very cool of you to lend your CPU to your buddy your are good friend. +1
 
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Clarkinkent

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Feb 26, 2014
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I know it is uncommon, never had a CPU failed until that moment. Since back from the 286 days as well lol ...
That is why I think it is very hard to trace.

My friend was just lucky I had an AM3 processor which could slot to his AM3+ M/B! he is using it for business therefore he needed it more than me. I could survive with my laptop.
 
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