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Help diagnosing problem with my PC?

Tags:
  • Crash
  • RAM
  • CPUs
  • Constant Reboot
  • Systems
  • Stress Test
Last response: in Systems
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July 28, 2014 11:59:55 AM

Build -
CPU - AMD Phenom X4 3.6GHz
RAM - 8GB Corsair DDR3 RAM (4GBx2)
GPU - Zotac Nvidia GTX570
HDD - WD Cavier Green 1TB 7200RPM
PSU - Corsair GS600
Mobo - MSi 880GM-E41

Symptoms/Issues -
Turns off abruptly and reboots, without any warning, while playing certain games (FarCry 3, Total War Rome 2, Assassin's Creed 3, Company of Heroes 2, etc)
Very occasionally wont turn. When I hit the Cabinet power button, the System power light starts flashing in a steady beep-beep-beep-beep, around a second apart

My local Computer tech has no idea what the problem might be
I have run plenty of stress tests trying t replicate the reboots (Unigine and various CPU StressTests). It wont reboot/crash/fail. runs smoothly for hours, without issue
Then I close the StressTests and open say, Total War Rome 2, and a few minutes into a game, it just goes off and reboots

Any help would be really appreciated

Cheers

More about : diagnosing problem

Best solution

a b à CPUs
July 28, 2014 12:23:21 PM

single beep means the card is not set properly or faulty
3 beeps means the ram
continuous beeps is for processor..so do a prime 95 test for an hour...
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a b à CPUs
July 28, 2014 12:23:58 PM

CraigHarrison said:
Build -
CPU - AMD Phenom X4 3.6GHz
RAM - 8GB Corsair DDR3 RAM (4GBx2)
GPU - Zotac Nvidia GTX570
HDD - WD Cavier Green 1TB 7200RPM
PSU - Corsair GS600
Mobo - MSi 880GM-E41

Symptoms/Issues -
Turns off abruptly and reboots, without any warning, while playing certain games (FarCry 3, Total War Rome 2, Assassin's Creed 3, Company of Heroes 2, etc)
Very occasionally wont turn. When I hit the Cabinet power button, the System power light starts flashing in a steady beep-beep-beep-beep, around a second apart

My local Computer tech has no idea what the problem might be
I have run plenty of stress tests trying t replicate the reboots (Unigine and various CPU StressTests). It wont reboot/crash/fail. runs smoothly for hours, without issue
Then I close the StressTests and open say, Total War Rome 2, and a few minutes into a game, it just goes off and reboots

Any help would be really appreciated

Cheers


I think it might be either the RAM or the motherboard causing it.
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a c 379 à CPUs
July 28, 2014 12:30:46 PM

When you play games, the graphics card works much harder and takes more power.
If your psu is underpowered or a cheap unit, then that is what I would first suspect.

The second possibility is a failing graphics card.

See if you can test with a different psu or graphics card.
A GTX570 should have about a 550w psu with 2 6 pin connectors.
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July 29, 2014 10:21:28 PM

Now I have a bigger problem

In the middle of formatting a flash drive
The screen froze, displayed white random checkers all over interspersed with the image
And then went black, making a loud continuous static sound from the speakers
I waited several minutes, seeing nothing happen, I pulled the Flash Drive, and forced the power button down for a few seconds until it powered down

Then after maybe 10 minutes I turned it on again, only it wouldnt turn on
It still wont, Ive checked all the cables, the power, The cable fuse and nothing
The components inside appear intact, no high temperatures, no apparent damage

Whats gone wrong

Update : The USB ports seem to have power, when I plug in a Flash drive of my Wireless adapter in, it lights up
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a b à CPUs
July 30, 2014 12:50:13 AM

CraigHarrison said:
Now I have a bigger problem

In the middle of formatting a flash drive
The screen froze, displayed white random checkers all over interspersed with the image
And then went black, making a loud continuous static sound from the speakers
I waited several minutes, seeing nothing happen, I pulled the Flash Drive, and forced the power button down for a few seconds until it powered down

Then after maybe 10 minutes I turned it on again, only it wouldnt turn on
It still wont, Ive checked all the cables, the power, The cable fuse and nothing
The components inside appear intact, no high temperatures, no apparent damage

Whats gone wrong

Update : The USB ports seem to have power, when I plug in a Flash drive of my Wireless adapter in, it lights up


the symptoms u have given above the static noise thing from the speakers seeing that i highly suspect that the mobo is going bad, if not the card....
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July 30, 2014 1:19:49 AM

My thoughts too, if it was the card, the system would still power on, maybe even POST, but definitely power on, I could eliminate the card by using the onboard VGA connection, which I did, it still wouldnt turn on
Im guessing its either the Motherboard or the PSU
But seeing as the USB ports are still powered Id assume its not the PSU, although I hear in some rare cases, the USB ports may still be powered, as they're supposed to be on a seperate power rail that may not be defective

Plus, a month ago, I had the MOSFETS on my board changed out after they failed (and caught fire, i should add)

Either ways, how could check to be sure, besides finding temporary replacements (I wont be able to do that without actually buying new parts, I wouldnt want to risk my friends equipment)
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July 30, 2014 1:22:31 AM

geofelt said:
When you play games, the graphics card works much harder and takes more power.
If your psu is underpowered or a cheap unit, then that is what I would first suspect.

The second possibility is a failing graphics card.

See if you can test with a different psu or graphics card.
A GTX570 should have about a 550w psu with 2 6 pin connectors.


I have a Corsair 600w on 80% eff, so I think thats covered, I hope, unless my PSU itself is failing
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July 30, 2014 1:25:53 AM

prit87 said:
single beep means the card is not set properly or faulty
3 beeps means the ram
continuous beeps is for processor..so do a prime 95 test for an hour...


I think I accidentally picked this as the solution, lol

Isnt that for the audible sounds you hear when the system POSTs?
Mine wont even power on, let alone POST, only the system activity light near the power button flashes continuously
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a b à CPUs
July 30, 2014 1:28:04 AM

CraigHarrison said:
My thoughts too, if it was the card, the system would still power on, maybe even POST, but definitely power on, I could eliminate the card by using the onboard VGA connection, which I did, it still wouldnt turn on
Im guessing its either the Motherboard or the PSU
But seeing as the USB ports are still powered Id assume its not the PSU, although I hear in some rare cases, the USB ports may still be powered, as they're supposed to be on a seperate power rail that may not be defective

Plus, a month ago, I had the MOSFETS on my board changed out after they failed (and caught fire, i should add)

Either ways, how could check to be sure, besides finding temporary replacements (I wont be able to do that without actually buying new parts, I wouldnt want to risk my friends equipment)


well its hard to test the motherboard the best u can do is checking your system with a different board or vice verse or take your system to a pc repair store who will test it for u for a price ....
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July 30, 2014 1:29:45 AM

prit87 said:
CraigHarrison said:
My thoughts too, if it was the card, the system would still power on, maybe even POST, but definitely power on, I could eliminate the card by using the onboard VGA connection, which I did, it still wouldnt turn on
Im guessing its either the Motherboard or the PSU
But seeing as the USB ports are still powered Id assume its not the PSU, although I hear in some rare cases, the USB ports may still be powered, as they're supposed to be on a seperate power rail that may not be defective

Plus, a month ago, I had the MOSFETS on my board changed out after they failed (and caught fire, i should add)

Either ways, how could check to be sure, besides finding temporary replacements (I wont be able to do that without actually buying new parts, I wouldnt want to risk my friends equipment)


well its hard to test the motherboard the best u can do is checking your system with a different board or vice verse or take your system to a pc repair store who will test it for u for a price ....


What about the PSU? Or should I just take both to a tech?
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a b à CPUs
July 30, 2014 1:40:21 AM

take your whole case to the tech its better ....
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July 30, 2014 2:13:11 AM

Sounds good, thanks mate
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a b à CPUs
July 30, 2014 2:15:46 AM

your welcome..
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