Restart Issue

[g0ra]

Recently built a new PC and I'm having a problem.

I fired up Oblivion purely to check out my new gfx card and noticed that at random intervals the computer shuts down as if someone had pulled the power lead out the back. After which it restarts itself. I've pretty much ruled out overheating as you'll see below on the SpeedFan results but regardless Ive purchased another fan to hopefully get rid of any heating issues.

Next up is drivers. As best I can I've installed the necessary drivers to my graphics and motherboard from the CDs that came with them, but as soon as I have my internet running i'll go online a have a trawl through some older/newer drivers. If you think it's worth it?

Now the PSU is the only other thing that comes to mind. I bought an 850W PSU thinking it'd be more than perfect for my farely demanding machine but beyond the wattage I know nothing, so I was hoping someone could take a look at the Voltage recordings below and let me know whether the PSU is living up to my expectations - as I don't know what it all means.



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P658XD-E
Intel Core i7 950
Nvidia GTX 480
6GB 1333MHz DDR3
OcUK Crusade 850W PSU

Link to PSU spec above. I've tried putting up another high-end game to see if Oblivion is the issue but I haven't actually got one at the moment, funnily enough. I played BF2 on max settings for an hour yesterday and there was no issue though and idling the PC runs perfect. I did do a fair bit of copying and formatting with my 2 hdd's as well though and it ate it all up without a problem.

One more thing, it only seems to crash as I enter new areas or walk through a door, so it might still be the game. I can however leave the game running and not move the character for a few hours and it doesn't restart. I also tried patching the game to no avail. Not sure if that helps.. but there you go.

Thanks guys.

[Doono]

Im afraid the spec sheet is not in depth enough, to establish if it's any good I would need to see the amps provided by the individual rails, but seeing as it's an own brand supply I would guess it's probably rubbish, RMA it and buy a decent branded PSU from someone like corsair.

[g0ra]

Right, is there any way I can check the amps provided by each rail? I wouldn't want to unnecessarily change the PSU atm.

Just had something interesting pop up, checked the temps over quickly after a restart and they were up to 60C with a fire symbol. Is that too high for a top-end card? I always thought gfx cards could hit 100C.

[g0ra]

Sorry for the double post, wouldn't mind the bump. Not sure if this is of any help?

[Bolkonsky]

If those temperatures are correct, it's definitely not overheating.

Are you mixing RAM brands? Have you updated the drivers? Did you try a clean install of the most updated driver versions you could find?

EDIT: Just got a closer look at the second screenshot. Why is it significantly higher than the first? Where you doing anything different? Anyway, your GPU is rated for ~90 Celsius, so you're good there...

[g0ra]

I thought that but the coinciding apparent fan 'not doing well' alert got me worried. All the ram is the same, and compatible too. Drivers are all updated and 'clean'. Maybe a bios update is needed?

First shot is idle, second having run Oblivion for 10 minutes.

Been playing around and letting the Gfx card cool by 10ishC (by entering the menu) and this allows me to play the game longer. Also when switching from speedfan to the game it froze. Not sure whether any of that is significant but I just thought I'd let you know.

[PoleCat]

Just a quick question - does the system shutdown/reboot when testing any other game or program? If you can't replicate the problem with any other software then it may be related strictly to Oblivion (which would make me think of drivers as the culprit).

Honestly, diagnosing power issues on a system is hard enough when you have the system in front of you - doing it over the internet is magnitudes more difficult. Keep us posted - maybe we'll get lucky. Good luck!

[irishron]

From the looks of your second shot, your 12v line is only getting 11v. I have a feeling this maybe the problem.

[g0ra]

I'm suspecting a psu problem as it was fairly cheap. Yes the system restarts instantly in CoD4 singleplayer too.

My only worry, in the second shot, is the error message in red saying the VGA fan is not performing well, an error which minimised the game and locked said game up. That could be down to power.. ?

[irishron]

It can be power related. If it's not getting power, it won't work. If it's like mine, the gpu fan runs off the 12v line and would explain why.

[g0ra]

Check this. Note the 12+ voltage and temps.

BIOS: 12.025V <- Enough


During CoD4 after 15 minutes: 11.09V <- Decreasing as temp rises


During CoD4 after 20 minutes: 10.98V <- Decreases/increases further


After which the computer restarted as expected. Now I know the temps are quite high, but for a stock card with a stock fan I think 70 - 80C is expected? Nonetheless I've ordered 2 fans. If this doesn't solve the problem I'll be investing in a new PSU. Am I right in thinking that as the temperature is increasing the PSU is struggling somehow and that eventually the voltage decreases to such a point that the PC restarts?

[irishron]

There is a very good chance it's just heat.
There could be a capacitor inside the power supply breaking down under load, too. Voltage drops are one sign of it.

[g0ra]

Yeah I'll have to see once I've installed the new fans.

What would a capacitor mean?

[Bolkonsky]

Yeah I'll have to see once I've installed the new fans.

What would a capacitor mean?

It's a part that charges up with energy, and then releases it, in a few words.

If it's not functioning correctly, it could take less and less energy each time, until it's less than the PC needs.

[irishron]

It's an electronic part. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor for a better explanation.

[irishron]

First semester high school electronics so many years ago.

[g0ra]

Cheers guys. Any recommendations for the new PSU? Need 700 watts minimum - good quality .

[Nota']

In case you havent seen it:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=412920
Mr Crusty has written a pretty good guide there. Under PSUs theres a rundown, reccomendations section etc. Very useful

[g0ra]

By the way there is a pulsating noise coming from my computer which frequents every second or two. Not sure whether it's from the fans or the PSU. Is that an issue?

[PoleCat]

By the way there is a pulsating noise coming from my computer which frequents every second or two. Not sure whether it's from the fans or the PSU. Is that an issue?

Maybe. Are you familiar with the sound of a failing bearing? That would make me think a fan is dying - either a case fan or maybe the PSU fan.

Can you tell where the sound is coming from generally - i.e. front, back, middle, high, low in the case?