Help diagnosing problem with my PC?

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CraigHarrison

CraigHarrison

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Jan 23, 2011
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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
 
Solution
prit87
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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theonerm2

theonerm2

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Dec 28, 2009
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I think it might be either the RAM or the motherboard causing it.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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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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CraigHarrison

CraigHarrison

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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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prit87

prit87

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Jun 16, 2014
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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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CraigHarrison

CraigHarrison

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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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CraigHarrison

CraigHarrison

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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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CraigHarrison

CraigHarrison

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Jan 23, 2011
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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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prit87

prit87

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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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CraigHarrison

CraigHarrison

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What about the PSU? Or should I just take both to a tech?
 
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