Computer shuts off running GFX-intensive games

hi19hi19

Commendable
May 24, 2016
2
0
1,510
A few years ago I got my PC at an auction for super cheap and was kinda hoping it would last a while without issue, but I'm having a problem that is forcing me to learn more about hardware stuff. The computer I got was mostly a standard Dell T7500 Workstation; as far as I know the only major modification was that the previous owner stuck 6TB of HDD space in it as well.

A few months ago, whatever graphics card came with the computer died. I know the card was the problem because I tried the card in my friend's computer and he suddenly got the same issues, so I replaced it with a new Radeon R9 390. Now, I can run certain games - League of Legends, Diablo 3 on low settings, Skyrim on lower settings, old stuff like Diablo 2 - without issue for hours.

However, when I go to play modern games that ask a little more in the graphics department, my computer shuts off. Instead of bluescreening, it just instantly goes to black and the power light indicates the computer has turned off. Then a second or so later, the computer starts up again automatically.

I've had the issue happen trying to play Far Cry 4, Heroes of the Storm (which causes the crash almost instantly after hitting the play button in the Blizzard launcher), and Diablo 3 on the highest settings. I'm sure some of the other games I play could cause it but I'm not going to push anything until I figure out what's wrong.

Motherboard: Dell 06FW8P Precision T7500 Workstation Motherboard
Processor: Intel Xeon E5620 2.4GHz Quad?Core
New graphics card: AMD Radeon R9 390
Power supply: Dell W301G H1100EF-00 Precision T7500 Workstation Power Supply 1100W

I've looked at CPU temperature - I have CoreTemp, all 4 cores are usually around 35-40C and they show nothing unusual right before a crash - but beyond that I don't know. My gut sense is that this could be a power supply issue but I don't know enough to know for sure, or diagnose anything specific myself.

I'll be glad to provide other needed information. Any help is appreciated!
 

hi19hi19

Commendable
May 24, 2016
2
0
1,510


I went on vacation for a month. I'm back now. Computer still having problems, of course.

I ran GPU-Z while playing Heroes of the Storm. I made a log while I played for about 10 minutes, surprisingly without a crash, then tried to watch the intro cutscene (which always causes a crash) and sure enough that did it.

During the entire time playing the highest highest GPU temp hit was 66C. It was at 64C when it crashed, so I don't think this is a GPU temp issue.