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Computer Started shutting off under heavy load while playing a computer game.

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  • Games
  • Computers
  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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October 5, 2014 4:21:36 PM

My computer started shutting off while playing either a computer game ( heavy graphics, powered by Radeon HD5770 ), or when making music using a DAW like Reason. Then it started to shut off randomly out of the blue. I thought this might have been a PSU issue, so I went out and got a brand new PSU, previous one wasn't even 6 months old yet. Which was a Thermaltake TR2 600W, and the new one is a logisys 575w. When I switched the PSU that seemed to correct the problem, until a few minutes later when the computer shut off again. Then I started the computer back up again, and my graphics card ( Radeon 5770 ) Starts to spin at a very high rate like its under a heavy load during post/bootup. So I restart once more and this time I switched out the graphics card. Nothing is being displayed now, after the card was just working ( spare pci-e graphics card ) Which I believe to be equal to the nvidia gs series. non powered. But like I said before, now when I try to boot the pc, completely black screen, displays nothing, not even post. Does not have any noticeable beeps. PC powers up just fine, no clicks, clanks, ca-lunk-alunk's, or anything of that nature. I was leaning towards a fresh install of windows thinking I caught a nasty little bug until she stopped even booting up. Now she just powers on and just sits there with a completely black screen. Is anyone else out there having this same issue? Or know how to resolve it? PC isn't even 2 years old.

Just to give you an idea.

Custom PC:

Windows 7 64bit
AMD FX-8120 Processor
gigabyte GA-970A mother board
Logisys 575w PSU
Mid tower ( not like it matters )
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 16gigs ram
WD 500G HD Sata2
Masscool 7WA868 heat sink/fan
Basic 24x/20x sony dvd writer

Those are the basics to help identify a potential problem.

But again like I stated. At first it would start shutting off under heavy load, or it was just a strong coincidence. Then it stopped letting me use the HD5770 video card. So i replaced it with a back up. Both used PCI-E. Was working for a few minutes with back up. Actually I let it sit overnight and it never shut off until I got back on it. And that's when it wouldn't boot back up. The pc turns on and can respond to a forced shut off just fine. But nothing is displayed on the screen no matter which PCI-E port I use. Any help? And please have some years of experience with computers before responding. I have 15+ years. Now a simple fix is buy a new mobo and graphics card. But im asking for all available options besides the obvious which wont be cheap. But if that's my only option, feel free to voice it. All comments are welcome ( that have worked for you, or others with this similar problem )

More about : computer started shutting heavy load playing computer game

a c 206 U Graphics card
October 5, 2014 4:29:36 PM

You bought a new PSU and downgraded..... Seriously, buy good parts! That logisys is meant for computers from 2003 with its -5V rail and high current 5V rail, it isn't meant for a modern system that is heavy on the 12V rail. The Thermaltake TR2 you had before was better suited but with its passive PFC it was still a PSU from an old generation, but this time only ~2007 era.

All your statements point to the PSU cutting out when underload and the low level PSUs make me lean towards this option.
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October 5, 2014 4:31:11 PM

As other's have said, that PSU is horrid. If you value your computer, feed it right, buy a good power supply.
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October 5, 2014 4:41:35 PM

I get what you all are saying. I found out the PSU was low quality after purchase. Budget didn't allow for a more expensive one. But as I stated before even with you saying the other PSU was better suited, it still shut off even with the psu that was better suited , point blank, so it isn't better suited if it's the one that started giving issues. Not jumping on your case, just putting info out there to be better understood. And as far as the question about all the fans spinning? Yes they all spin fine.
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October 5, 2014 4:56:34 PM

It sounds like a motherboard issue. Wanky fan activity and black screen means the mobo is even failing to post. If it was the memory or processor it would give you an error. In this case it seems that the motherboard is likely.

Personally I like to strip down the issue system and swap out suspect components with ones I know work until the issue is found but I don't know if you have that luxury. Did you already try removing the psu power cord and the motherboard battery for 15 min.?
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a c 206 U Graphics card
October 5, 2014 4:58:03 PM

Your logic is unsound.

A unit which had been running for 6 months stopped working, could have been a random failure or an overworked unit no way to know, it was replaced with a unit that almost certainly cannot power that system long term, the problem seems briefly resolved until the unit kicks the bucket and makes the situation worse.

Replacing something which may be a culprit with something that will definitely be a culprit actually hinders your ability to learn stuff. You need to find a known good unit to test your system with, something that can actually power it for the long term.
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October 5, 2014 5:12:26 PM

To thor, I'm leaning towards a mb issue. And I used to have that luxury when I had more spare parts. I dont have as many anymore. I used to have old systems I built laying around for parts as I stopped using them. No longer are they available. And to Hunter. The only reason I purchased that was due to my budget at that time. I understand your thought process. If I had the available parts or an equal unit to test on I would have done that. But for the moment it's looking like 2 issues then. the MB since it's not even booting into post at all. And another PSU. smh
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October 5, 2014 5:36:31 PM

Thor, the only thing I hadn't done yet was remove the battery. I just did that, I doubt it will correct the issue as it's not even showing the post screen....but we will see. I wish I could post videos or pictures up here. I'd show you what exactly is going on.
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October 5, 2014 6:02:53 PM

Ok, Thor, good news is it boots up now, bad news is it just keeps shutting off. Now what I've learned is that under guest account the computer will stay on longer than if I log in under my own account. The minute I try to log into my own account the comp restarts or shuts down. Leaving me to have to switch the PSU off for a few seconds to kill the power feed, then start it up again for another attempt. So it looks to be shutting off during windows boot now. So I'm wondering if something has hidden itself in the boot time files.
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a c 97 U Graphics card
October 5, 2014 6:06:45 PM

CuriousGamer2014 said:
Ok, Thor, good news is it boots up now, bad news is it just keeps shutting off. Now what I've learned is that under guest account the computer will stay on longer than if I log in under my own account. The minute I try to log into my own account the comp restarts or shuts down. Leaving me to have to switch the PSU off for a few seconds to kill the power feed, then start it up again for another attempt. So it looks to be shutting off during windows boot now. So I'm wondering if something has hidden itself in the boot time files.


What if you switch back to the Thermaletake?
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October 5, 2014 6:13:14 PM

smeezekitty said:
CuriousGamer2014 said:
Ok, Thor, good news is it boots up now, bad news is it just keeps shutting off. Now what I've learned is that under guest account the computer will stay on longer than if I log in under my own account. The minute I try to log into my own account the comp restarts or shuts down. Leaving me to have to switch the PSU off for a few seconds to kill the power feed, then start it up again for another attempt. So it looks to be shutting off during windows boot now. So I'm wondering if something has hidden itself in the boot time files.


What if you switch back to the Thermaletake?



Shuts off just like it did before. And now it's shutting off again. I was trying to install a fresh version of windows, and not even 2 minutes into booting up the setup cd it shut off again.
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October 5, 2014 6:16:22 PM

And also, it was in DOS while it shut off. I had the windows cd inside the drive and it was loading the files from the cd. It got half way finished then just shut off on me. It will get to the loading files screen, and get close to 80 - 90% and just either shut off or restart on it's own. This is becoming a huge headache! I even tried with the previous PSU again. ( pointless ) but I just wanted to see if it does it at the same point as the new one. And yes indeed. But at least it booting up to post again. But danget wth this is an annoying issue.

Again. Old PSU 600w
New 575

Yes, I KNOW. I downgraded. But still. it's shutting off/restarting before I even get to choose the install path or select which version of windows 7 to install. Doesn't even get that far. Shuts down/reboots at the loading files screen.
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October 5, 2014 6:52:39 PM

Can you check the windows event log for issue pertaining to what your experiencing? If you can narrow down what driver is causing the issue, you can find the bad component.
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a b U Graphics card
October 7, 2014 6:49:33 PM

I think you are going in circles. I would suggest breadboarding your pc, mobo - TR2 - 1 stick of ram - cpu & cooler - pc speaker and that's it. If it posts and remains on, start adding stuff, 1 component at a time, rebooting after each and waiting a while to see if you get shutdown. Personally I'd save the gpu for next-to-last and the hdd for last. It's entirely possible you have something as simple as a short in a cable, causing the over-current / over-voltage protections in the psu to trip, which can cause immediate shutdowns . The TR2 has these protective circuits, even that boat anchor logisys has some, so I feel this would be a good place to start. Worst case scenario, it shuts down at the very beginning, with just the mobo and cpu and ram on a piece of cardboard outside the case. If it does, swap out the ram, change the psu. If it still shuts down, then either the mobo or cpu is the culprit. It's not very often that a cpu goes bad.

Good luck.
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