PC restarts unexpectedly

average93 · Aug 27, 2014

Last month I purchased a PC (assembly of selected components). The day I received it, an hour of usage hasn't passed, until I encountered a very problematic issue. At a first glance everything seemed to work fine. I installed Windows 8.1 Pro N and all of the necessary drivers (the ones I was provided on CD with motherboard). Apart from this I updated drivers for my graphics card (everything was up to date).

My next step was an installation of Counter Strike Global Offensive (I decided to test performance with ultra settings). With all settings maxed out, the game was running flawlessly (at least 230 fps). However, after some time of playing, my PC suddenly shut down and restarted. There was no drop of FPS or any evidence of something going wrong at all. I didn't get BSoD or any error info. The incident repeated every time after few or more minutes of gameplay. On Windows 7 I ended up with the same results. This happened not only during playing CS:GO. My PC restarted also while playing Dead Island, Metro Last Light or Payday 2 (all with ultra settings). It goes down quite quickly, for example in CS:GO mostly at the moment I join team, just after a map is loaded. In other games, it needs a bit more time before dying (from few minutes up to half an hour). However every game runs smoothly for the whole time. There are no drops in framerates at all. It always ends with sudden computer restart.

As far as my components are concerned, I don't think overheating is the reason. The temperatures of GPU used to reach at most 70+ degrees (never noticed having 80 degrees). Other components were a lot cooler than GPU. My first guess was that there might be some problem with PSU (some defect or flaw). I'm not an expert, but in my opinion, such an unexpected shutdown of a PC might lead to power supply issues. The problem is, that I don't know how to verify if this is the reason.

Because this PC worked inappropriately just after receiving it from a shop, I decided to send it to them as soon as possible. I was too gullible to believe they would solve my problem. After keeping my hardware in repair service for 30 days, they told me, that they couldn't reproduce the issue.

I want to mention that I disabled the option of an automatic restart after system failure in system options. I have also enabled saving log dumps after crashes. Unfortunately none of them ever appeared in the selected directory. I used WhoCrashed and it couldn't find any dump info either. Summarizing there are no trails after the crash.

I also ran memcheck for the whole night and day. Didn't detect any errors.

I set temp limit to 95 degrees with msi afterburner. Still it didn't help. As I mentioned before, GPU temp never reaches 80+.

Right now I'm stuck with that problem and hopefully I will find an answer on this forum.

My PC specification is:
Mobo: ASRock Z97 PRO4 Z97 LGA1150
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K, LGA1150, 64bit, 3.9GHz, 88W, cache 6MB
GPU: Palit GeForce GTX 780 Super JetStream, 3072 MB DDR5
HDD: Seagate 1TB SATAIII, 7200RPM
SSD: Samsung SSD 840 Pro Series, 128GB (OS installed here)
PSU: Corsair VS 650W ATX 120mm, EU version
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB, DIMM, 1600MHz, DDR3, CL9, XMP, Non-ECC, with Heatsink
OS: windows 8.1 Pro N (restarts happen also on Windows 7)

Proofy · Aug 27, 2014

What is your case ? Is the PSU mounted on top? Is it sucking HOT air from the components?

recommendation 1) BUY CPU cooler for that baby
2) never ever ever save money on PSU for such nice build. Seasonic/XFX/EVGA/Rosewill should be your choices ( would buy only Corsair AX series)
3) check if you plugged everything correctly (cables from psu)

prit87 · Aug 27, 2014

the PSU u have chosen for your built is very poor you have a very good system so why such cheap psu ??
Corsair vs and cx series are not meant for gaming pc they are not good for even oc machines,they have cheap capacitors and throttle at load and the vs psu doesn't even comes with a 80+ certificate.
so if u have overclocked any thing set them to default .
so just replace the psu and get an EVGA G2 750 watt psu its a tier 1 solid psu and comes with 10 years of warranty.
i also dont think overheating cpu is the reason the temps are not that high to cause trouble ......but still i would recommend u an aftermarket cooler because u have an k processor and if u OC your processor now or in future then u would need that.

average93 · Aug 27, 2014

Proofy :

Thank you for quick reply.
Sorry, I forgot to point out the case in my list. It's SilentiumPC Gladius M30 Pure Black. PSU is mounted on bottom. The PSU fan is facing floor (bottom), not the inside of the case, so I assume the answer is that it's not sucking hot air from components.

1) CPU cooler for sure is a good point, but doesn't the stock cooler suffice as far as I'm not overclocking components? I have OC in plans and then the cooler is a must be. However now CPU doesn't heat too much when I play a game.

2) I realize that I probably made a huge mistake by going for a cheaper one. You are absolutely right and I am starting to consider exchanging this component. However I want to be sure that my problem lies in PSU.

3) At a first glance everything seems to be plugged well. Computer was mounted by "experts" from the store at which I bought it. It's quite popular, well opinioned IT store, so I presume, that they mounted everything correctly. However I am starting to have some doubts about that, after they did nothing in order to repair my PC after I sent it to them.

Adroid · Aug 27, 2014

Well the easiest solution is to tell them to fix it. If you are saying it happens every hour, and they are saying they couldn't reproduce it in 30 days, sounds like a bold face lie to me. One of the first things I would do in this country is call my credit card company to block the payment to their shop if they are refusing to fix it, then if you can't figure out the problem, pay another shop that knows what they are doing to tell you what's wrong with it.

It's hard to pin down issues like this sometimes. If you have another computer around with good working parts you could always try to mix and match to see what your culprit is. Random restarts could be be likely attributed to the following:

Bad power supply, dirty power, or mix thereof.
Bad ram
Ground fault of some fashion, typically from metal or wire touching the back of the motherboard, or a motherboard standoff grounding out on your metal case.
Loose wires
Bad motherboard.

The power supply could very likely be the problem, and if your windows event logger is not showing any errors, and you don't have a multimeter handy, it's hard to be sure.

average93 · Aug 27, 2014

prit87 :

Thanks for reply.
I must admit, that I lack technical knowledge about PSUs and as a result I probably underestimated the importance of this component. I'm glad that I can receive valuables answers here. I guess that my next step with this issue is exchanging PSU. I will aim for the one you mentioned. However before I buy a new one I want to make sure that PSU is the reason. Are you sure or almost sure, that poor quality of my PSU very likely leads to unexpected reboots? Can there be any other reason?

Proofy · Aug 27, 2014

Yes PSU will be the issue 90%... 10% for the motherboard but it would give you some beep signal if there's an error somewhere.. you can also check your RAM memory with mem86 if you want and your hard disk but I doubt that it's them that are causing the issue here.

If you want, try to borrow some PSU with enough W from a friend/neighbor to power your PC and try to play some game with it for an hour. See if it will shut down like it does with the PSU you own. (but take adroids advice about calling credit card company if you bought it with credit card to stop payment until the issue is fixed. If you payed with cash talk with the police if you have issue with the shops service. )

average93 · Aug 27, 2014

Adroid :

I agree with you. They either lied to me about failure in reproduction or they didn't even touch this PC at all. I don't want to have anything in common with these experts anymore.

Unfortunately there is a problem with mixing and matching other components because I don't have anyone nearby with a good quality PSU. I will try and ask somebody though.

Lack of logs makes me a bit of sick. They would really help in that case. Do you know any apps or workarounds for gaining error logs?

Proofy · Aug 27, 2014

Hmmm I really don't know if the system makes a log of unexpected computer shutdown. I know that if you see a little popup winodow after you turn your pc back on saying "Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown" and press check for the solution button, error reporting sends the data (like minidumps + systeminformation or error logs) to Microsoft and when you open the "action center", you have a reliable graph and all issues and there you can see so called "solutions" ( you can do also a screen shot of it and save it, but make sure to open some kind of software where it gives you information of your hardware with serial numbers like CPU-z / GPU-z and picture it along with the error)

average93 · Aug 27, 2014

Proofy :

I actually did a memory check with memtest provided with linux distribution. My PC worked for the whole night and day and it detect any errors at all. So RAM seems to be OK.

As far as credit card is concerned I'm not sure if I understand well. I can only say that I bought this PC over a month ago and I sent it to a service provided by the very same store as a complaint. Thus everything was for free. The service didn't cost me any money. It didn't do any help either. However I am strongly disappointed that, before assembly, they didn't warn me that my PSU might not be sufficient for that build. As if they didn't even look at the components, but only mount everything right away.

Proofy · Aug 27, 2014

650W is sufficient but the PSU itself is made of cheap components (it's poor quality)

About credit card ( you can call them and complain about your issue with the store where you bought your computer. You have warranty on all of the parts right ? And something is not working and they don't want to fix it. So you tell your credit card support people to stop sending them your money until they fix your PC )

average93 · Aug 27, 2014

Proofy :

Yes, I have warranty on all parts. I paid them a month ago. At the moment no money is being sent to them. The only thing I can do right now is keep making complaints to them and maybe after few unsuccessful attempts (which would surely take place) demand a refund. The problem is, that I'm not sure if it's worth my time at the moment. Every next complaint would probably lead to another month of waiting for my PC. Apart from gaming I need that PC for my own work. Anyway I will clarify this issue with that store.

Right now I am going to sleep. So far I am very happy, that I know something for sure, which is that my PSU doesn't fit my build.

Proofy · Aug 27, 2014

Listen they have 30 days (at least in my country) to fix it. If they don't fix it they must give you brand new part (if they don't know where the issue is they must give you brand new computer aka. all components). If they give it back to you after few days and tell you that they fixed it and the problem is still there then DEMAND you want new parts! otherwise talk with the police or customer protection

Once again 650W fits your PC but Corsair VS/CX models are poorly made and would never buy them. TX/AX versions are good but can find better PSUs for the money

average93 · Aug 28, 2014

Proofy :

I am in a process of clarifying the issue right now. I want to make a deal with the store, so that I could exchange my PSU for a better one. Could you please point out a couple of specific PSU models, that would be the best choice for my build? Price doesn't matter as far as it's not ridiculously high. Solidity and reliability of the component are most important factors for me right now.

prit87 · Aug 28, 2014

go for EVGA G2 750 watt psu its currently one of the best psu in the market. http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20750xr

average93 · Aug 28, 2014

prit87 :

Looks to be a really good choice. Moreover it's not expensive. The only problem is that unfortunately my store doesn't have any of these in stock. Anyway, if they won't feel like cooperating with me, I will buy it somewhere else.

prit87 · Aug 28, 2014

there are many more brands like seasonic, xfx,corsair ax/tx/hx but they are more costly and the coolest thing about EVGA g2 is it comes with 10 years of warranty so no need to worry about getting another psu in the next 10 years.

Proofy · Aug 28, 2014

XFX is not so pricey ( especially non modular version) and is also really good, and warranty is like 6 or 8 years right ?

prit87 · Aug 28, 2014

Proofy :

yes xfx is also not that pricy like seasonic and corsair hx/ax/tx but its more pricy than EVGA and XFX comes with 5 years of warranty.

Proofy · Aug 28, 2014

Yeah but 5 years is still good enough..

prit87 · Aug 28, 2014

if 5 year is good then 10 year is better

average93 · Sep 22, 2014

Hi guys, I wanted to thank you all for your valuable help, which happened to solve my problem. I went for evga 850 (I know it's far more watts than I need, but I couldn't get 750W in my country) and now everything works like charm.

prit87 · Sep 23, 2014

You are welcome.

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