PC Keeps Shutting down and rebooting

bob41 · Mar 13, 2016

About once a day sometimes twice, my pc will just shut down and then reboot itself. I get a message when it comes back on saying "ASUS Anti-Surge was triggered to protect system from unstable power supply unit".

I use it for playing games and editing.

PC SPECS:
Windows 10 pro
Intel i7-3770k 3.50GHz
64 Bit
16GB RAM
Thermaltake Smart Series 850w 80plus Power Supply Unit
1 x PCI 450 Mbps Wireless Card
1 x GTX 680 2GB
1 x 225GB SSD
2 x 2TB HDD
1 x 1TB HDD
1 x DVD RW Drive

I don't know if its a faulty power supply or maybe I have too much running off of the power supply?

Please help.

Darkbreeze · Mar 13, 2016

The first thing I'd do is remove the graphics card and run the system on the integrated HD graphics, to see if the problem is due to the card. If the problem remains, or even if that is the problem, I'd replace that Smart series unit with one that's higher quality.

Thermaltake Smart series power supplies are not high quality units. We see a lot of problems with these units here on the forums. Professional reviews of those units are not encouraging either.

Of some use might be downloading HWinfo and running "sensors only", then posting screenshots of the 3, 5 and 12v system voltage readings while the GPU card is under full stress by also simultaneously running Furmark or Heaven.

You are not running too much off the power supply. If it has enough cables for the devices you are running, it should be capable of supporting them as well. However, with low budget units, that's not always the case, and in fact, is usually not the case especially if there is a discreet graphics card installed that requires supplemental PCI power.

bob41 · Mar 13, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Im just wondering but how will i test it with the GPU out? just because sometimes it can take up to like 5hours or more before it shuts down. will I just leave my pc on?

Okay I downloaded both HWinfo and Furmark. I'm just wondering what you mean by "3, 5 and 12v system voltage readings" Where do I find them? Sorry

Also what Power supply could you recommend me getting to replace this one?

Darkbreeze · Mar 13, 2016

If you install HWinfo, and then run it, a dialogue box will open. Check only the box next to "sensors only" and click ok. Then scroll down the window that opens until you see the system voltages listed which will be 3v, 5v and 12v, like this:

bob41 · Mar 13, 2016

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bqal03ul04kag7j/screenshot.png?dl=0

Darkbreeze · Mar 13, 2016

That was WITH Furmark running at the time you took that screenshot?

bob41 · Mar 13, 2016

Darkbreeze :

http://oi68.tinypic.com/287mb0m.jpg

I thought it was but I did it again to make sure and got this.

Darkbreeze · Mar 13, 2016

Ok, so at least from that, which isn't always 100% accurate, but is usually a good indicator, it looks like the PSU voltages under a GPU load are pretty good. That doesn't mean the PSU isn't to blame, because those numbers could easily change when the unit has been running for a while whether it's under light or sustained heavy loads. But it gives us a place to start.

So, I'd remove the graphics card and run on the integrated graphics for now, or swap another graphics card in it's place, and run the system for as long as it takes to assure yourself that either it's not doing it with the card out, or it still does it.

bob41 · Mar 13, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Okay I will do that and get back to you as soon as possible. thank you

Darkbreeze · Mar 13, 2016

Sure thing.

bob41 · Mar 14, 2016

Darkbreeze :

So I did what you asked and removed the Graphics card. I left it on for about 6hours and it didnt shut down/reboot. although i dont know if it was just because i wasnt really doing anything that would have stressed the pc at all. Because there is the odd day (with the gpu in) that my pc wont reboot and i still play games and stuff on them days.

Darkbreeze · Mar 14, 2016

Try this. Run Furmark and for about a half hour. See if it shuts down. If it does not. Download Prime95 v26.6 and run that for about a half hour.

http://windows-downloads-center.blogspot.com/2011/04/prime95-266.html

Be sure to open HWinfo and keep an eye on thermals during both tests to make sure the CPU does not overheat or anything. See if it shuts down during either of those tests while the GPU card is out.

bob41 · Mar 15, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Sorry for the late reply, I'm going to try this now. Thank you for all the help.

Darkbreeze · Mar 15, 2016

No problem. I'd just like to help you see this resolved one way or another.

bob41 · Mar 17, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Okay so I did the tests twice each. the Furmark twice with the gpu out and then with it in both times for 30mins, it didnt shut down. and then I did the same for the prime95 tests, also didnt shut down.

Darkbreeze · Mar 17, 2016

Then my guess would be that there is a problem with the graphics card. It's possible the PSU just can't handle the load of the graphics card and is causing the issue, but the fact that it doesn't fail during Prime and Furmark, even with only the iGPU being used, makes it a lot more likely to be the GPU card. If it's under warranty, I'd RMA it with an explanation as to why you are doing that. Make sure you tell them that it does work, but it is causing the system to shut down and that the system does not do that when it is removed. If it's not under warranty still, which it probably isn't since that's a few generations old, then you'll likely just need to replace it.

I'd still HIGHLY recommend getting a better PSU. Not only COULD it be the problem, it likely WILL be a problem sooner or later, even if it isn't right now.

bob41 · Mar 17, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Then my guess would be that there is a problem with the graphics card. It's possible the PSU just can't handle the load of the graphics card and is causing the issue, but the fact that it doesn't fail during Prime and Furmark, even with only the iGPU being used, makes it a lot more likely to be the GPU card. If it's under warranty, I'd RMA it with an explanation as to why you are doing that. Make sure you tell them that it does work, but it is causing the system to shut down and that the system does not do that when it is removed. If it's not under warranty still, which it probably isn't since that's a few generations old, then you'll likely just need to replace it.

I'd still HIGHLY recommend getting a better PSU. Not only COULD it be the problem, it likely WILL be a problem sooner or later, even if it isn't right now.

Okay I'll replace both the PSU and GPU then, thank you for all the help.

Darkbreeze · Mar 18, 2016

Do yourself, and me, a favor. Before ordering a new PSU, just check with me so I can make sure you get a good unit. Basing purchases off brand loyalty or reputation is not a good idea when it comes to power supplies. Even well known brands have a lot of junk power supply models out there, and there are even various revisions that can make a particular model good or bad, depending on which revision it is, but the model name will be the same. I'll be happy to make sure you get a good unit.

Or, you can just be sure to pick one that's listed tier 1 or 2 at the following link, and pretty well be assured of a quality unit.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

PC Keeps Shutting down and rebooting

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