Need tech support: Computer reboots with no warning or error while gaming.

[Caliostro]

My computer just randomly reboots while playing videogames, generally after 10 to 20 minutes.

There's no warning.
No crash.
I've disabled the windows "restart on error" thing.
It's not overheating (checked temps during gaming, and in the BIOS right after a crash).
It's not RAM. I've tried pretty much all possible combinations, and it still crashes. I doubt ALL 3 sticks are corrupted.
I've recently acquired a new PSU, but it's supposedly far better than my old one.
Tried resetting the BIOS. Didn't work.

As of right now, this is my computer:

- Abit IP35P Motherboard
- Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 @ 2.66Ghz
- 3 Gb DDR2 800
- XFX GeForce GTX 275 896 GDDR3 (latest drivers)
- PSU Uranu II 630 W
- Windows XP, with the latest update (whichever it is).

Any thoughts? Any help would be greatly appreciated... It's driving me nuts.

 

[Tharwen]

All games? Maybe it's just ones with a Steam overlay or something?

The 10-20 minute timeframe tends to imply that something's overheating... Have you tried running it with the case completely open?

Otherwise, I'd suggest your graphics card is broken.

Oh, and when you say 'reboot', do you mean it just flicks off then starts up again, or windows does a full restart?

Another thing: You could try partitioning the hard drive and putting a couple of games on a fresh install on there to see if it's hardware or software that's breaking.

 

[Marowit]

I had this happen to my computer, oh now, 4 years ago and I had a dying Mobo. I eventually figured it out by putting all my parts, including CPU, into a friends computer with a compatible mobo. Goodluck

 

[Hateren47]

Sounds weird that you don't get a BSOD. You could try starting your computer in safe-mode and just letting it sit there? If it restarts by it self in safe-mode it's hardware related (probably PSU since you don't get the BSOD)) if it doesn't it's software related. Did you try running your antivirus (Microsoft Security Essentials is pretty good if you need a one) and something like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware?

 

[Caliostro]

All games? Maybe it's just ones with a Steam overlay or something?

The 10-20 minute timeframe tends to imply that something's overheating... Have you tried running it with the case completely open?

Otherwise, I'd suggest your graphics card is broken.

Oh, and when you say 'reboot', do you mean it just flicks off then starts up again, or windows does a full restart?

Another thing: You could try partitioning the hard drive and putting a couple of games on a fresh install on there to see if it's hardware or software that's breaking.

Don't have non-steam games installed, but doubt it's steam related. And I'm sure it's not overheating. As I said in the OP, I've checked temps during gaming and after an "episode". Perfectly fine.

And by reboot I mean the computer completely shuts itself down and restarts like I used the "restart" feature... Except I didn't.

I'd rather not partition as I've had bad experiences with it before (namely, wiping out an entire drive instead of partitioning), but as a "last ditch", I'll just format and reinstall.

I had this happen to my computer, oh now, 4 years ago and I had a dying Mobo. I eventually figured it out by putting all my parts, including CPU, into a friends computer with a compatible mobo. Goodluck

I sure fuck hope it's not the same thing... Did you have the exact same problem? From what I've read, when it's the MOBO it restarts randomly, and stuff starts going haywire. In my case, it's a very specific situation, and it only crashes then. Nothing else suffers loss of performance, or is even having issues.

Sounds weird that you don't get a BSOD. You could try starting your computer in safe-mode and just letting it sit there? If it restarts by it self in safe-mode it's hardware related (probably PSU since you don't get the BSOD)) if it doesn't it's software related. Did you try running your antivirus (Microsoft Security Essentials is pretty good if you need a one) and something like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware?

No BSOD, no post-mortem bug report, no windows error log... Nothing. Computer just shuts down completely and restarts.

And it doesn't restart randomly. It ONLY happens when I'm gaming. If I'm not gaming I can just leave it on indefinitely and nothing happens.

And I'll try running anti-viruses again soon, but didn't find anything last time.

 

[Tharwen]

Ubersnip

I know it gets mentioned a lot on here, but use MalwareBytes as well as a normal antivirus scan (assuming you aren't alreay).


Beyond that...

[sub]...disk format?[/sub]

 

[Formica Archonis]

It's not overheating (checked temps during gaming, and in the BIOS right after a crash).

Check the video card temperature specifically?

I've recently acquired a new PSU, but it's supposedly far better than my old one.

Old one still work?

 

[syndicated44]

I will go with the guy earlier and say it might be your Mobo. Another thing is it might be your PSU not giving enough juice or overcharging things which could cause a burnout. If it is just restarting or shutting off randomly I would say your comp is dieing. I am sorry give it a nice burial and start looking for new parts.

 

[Caliostro]

Check the video card temperature specifically?

Yep. It's hot (around 75ºC), but not anymore than it's supposed to be (it's made to go up to 80/85ºC) Temperatures are fine.

Old one still work?

Nop. Died on me. Which is why I bought the new one.

I will go with the guy earlier and say it might be your Mobo. Another thing is it might be your PSU not giving enough juice or overcharging things which could cause a burnout. If it is just restarting or shutting off randomly I would say your comp is dieing. I am sorry give it a nice burial and start looking for new parts.

"Underpowered" PSU problem wouldn't make any sense, considering that it's a new PSU, it's stronger than the old one (old one was 600, this is 630 W), and supposedly higher quality too (old one was "white brand", this one is NOX).

If all else fails, I might try taking the PSU back and asking for a different one/buy another one instead... But I kinda doubt that's it.

 

[syndicated44]

I will go with the guy earlier and say it might be your Mobo. Another thing is it might be your PSU not giving enough juice or overcharging things which could cause a burnout. If it is just restarting or shutting off randomly I would say your comp is dieing. I am sorry give it a nice burial and start looking for new parts.

"Underpowered" PSU problem wouldn't make any sense, considering that it's a new PSU, it's stronger than the old one (old one was 600, this is 630 W), and supposedly higher quality too (old one was "white brand", this one is NOX).

If all else fails, I might try taking the PSU back and asking for a different one/buy another one instead... But I kinda doubt that's it.

The only reason I suggest that is thats what happened to my old computer. The PSU decided it wanted to overcharge everything. I had a Volcano which pumped out way more power then my comp would ever need but bigger and badder was great when I was younger. But all that did was fry my video card and probably started a catalyst for further problems because soon after my mobo started dieing and even when I was going into the bios and whatnot the thing just restarted over and over again. It would not even get past the first stage of the boot without restarting.

But the first tell tale signs that things were going bad was when the comp just started restarting while I was gaming. Before long it was hitting that stage. I guess my other question is how old is this puppy and did you make it yourself?

 

[Formica Archonis]

"Underpowered" PSU problem wouldn't make any sense, considering that it's a new PSU, it's stronger than the old one (old one was 600, this is 630 W), and supposedly higher quality too (old one was "white brand", this one is NOX).

Better amperage on the 12V rails?

If all else fails, I might try taking the PSU back and asking for a different one/buy another one instead... But I kinda doubt that's it.

Depends where you bought it. They might need to test it before they'll do a swap.

I'm sorry to say the system needs some kind of diagnostics. If you know someone who doesn't mind taking machines apart and has a gaming rig they'll donate, you could try swapping vidcard (and then PSU) and see if it still manifests. If not, you'll have to pay to have someone else test it.:/

Alternately, stress test everything separately if you want to be as sure as you can be without swapping parts.

 

[Danzaivar]

Sounds like the PSU to me.

 

[Laughing Man]

Silly question but did the PC randomly reboot prior to installing the new PSU because if it didn't then you answered your own question by saying 'I got a new PSU' Also the 275GTX is rated as needing close to 40A on the 12V rail if the Nox PSU you got is the Urano II 630W then the combined +12v amperage is only 38A.

 

[zfactor]

I will go with the guy earlier and say it might be your Mobo. Another thing is it might be your PSU not giving enough juice or overcharging things which could cause a burnout. If it is just restarting or shutting off randomly I would say your comp is dieing. I am sorry give it a nice burial and start looking for new parts.

It might be the PSU...

Swap it out with a namer brand (I never heard of NOX...) 650 W one (I have a Corsair 650 W PSU, fixed a similar error I was having, games reset computer with no warning. My components were drawing too much power and the PSU was restarting the system.). Plus Corsair ones are more efficient (80% vs 72%).

 

[Zer_]

Sounds to me like a PSU issue, TBH.

12v on one rail is the best option, check the amperage, as previously stated. Compare it to the old PSU. I use a Corsair 750Watt psu, and it works wonders.

 

[meticadpa]

Do this:

Download Furmark and LinX. Run both at the same time. This will stress your power supply harder than it will ever be stressed in a game. If it has no issues with this, then you know that your issue lies somewhere else in the system.

Edit: and don't pay attention to things like "the PSU is supplying too much power" - you're only drawing as much amperage from the PSU as your system needs. Excessive voltage or voltage ripple can damage things, but they're very different from power.

Silly question but did the PC randomly reboot prior to installing the new PSU because if it didn't then you answered your own question by saying 'I got a new PSU' Also the 275GTX is rated as needing close to 40A on the 12V rail if the Nox PSU you got is the Urano II 630W then the combined +12v amperage is only 38A.

40A alone for the video card? That's 480W - the card has two 6-pin connectors and a PCI-E 2.0 connector, meaning that it can draw a max of 225W.

I will go with the guy earlier and say it might be your Mobo. Another thing is it might be your PSU not giving enough juice or overcharging things which could cause a burnout. If it is just restarting or shutting off randomly I would say your comp is dieing. I am sorry give it a nice burial and start looking for new parts.

It might be the PSU...

Swap it out with a namer brand (I never heard of NOX...) 650 W one (I have a Corsair 650 W PSU, fixed a similar error I was having, games reset computer with no warning. My components were drawing too much power and the PSU was restarting the system.). Plus Corsair ones are more efficient (80% vs 72%).

PSU efficiency isn't important. It's just a measure of how much power you're getting from it per W you pull from the wall.

Sounds to me like a PSU issue, TBH.

12v on one rail is the best option, check the amperage, as previously stated. Compare it to the old PSU. I use a Corsair 750Watt psu, and it works wonders.

How do you know it works wonders? Have you got adequate testing equipment?

 

[Zer_]

Do this:

Download Furmark and LinX. Run both at the same time. This will stress your power supply harder than it will ever be stressed in a game. If it has no issues with this, then you know that your issue lies somewhere else in the system.

Silly question but did the PC randomly reboot prior to installing the new PSU because if it didn't then you answered your own question by saying 'I got a new PSU' Also the 275GTX is rated as needing close to 40A on the 12V rail if the Nox PSU you got is the Urano II 630W then the combined +12v amperage is only 38A.

40A alone for the video card? That's 480W - the card has two 6-pin connectors and a PCI-E 2.0 connector, meaning that it can draw a max of 225W.

I will go with the guy earlier and say it might be your Mobo. Another thing is it might be your PSU not giving enough juice or overcharging things which could cause a burnout. If it is just restarting or shutting off randomly I would say your comp is dieing. I am sorry give it a nice burial and start looking for new parts.

It might be the PSU...

Swap it out with a namer brand (I never heard of NOX...) 650 W one (I have a Corsair 650 W PSU, fixed a similar error I was having, games reset computer with no warning. My components were drawing too much power and the PSU was restarting the system.). Plus Corsair ones are more efficient (80% vs 72%).

PSU efficiency isn't important. It's just a measure of how much power you're getting from it per W you pull from the wall.

Sounds to me like a PSU issue, TBH.

12v on one rail is the best option, check the amperage, as previously stated. Compare it to the old PSU. I use a Corsair 750Watt psu, and it works wonders.

How do you know it works wonders? Have you got adequate testing equipment?

A 750w runs both my 5870s without issues. I am, of course running a Phenom II 965 with that.

 

[Avaholic03]

Sounds like a PSU/overheat problem. Temp increases under system load, which increases the resistance in all components, until the point where the PSU is maxed and shuts off to protect itself and other hardware.

Other option is a faulty mobo, but that seems less likely.

I'd say first step is to borrow a new PSU and see if it fails the same way.

 

[Berethond]

I had the same problem with my last videocard right before it died.

 

[Wolfram23]

How do you know it works wonders? Have you got adequate testing equipment?

A 750w runs both my 5870s without issues. I am, of course running a Phenom II 965 with that.

Corsair is a top PSU brand, no doubt about.

I also happen to have a 750TX, and it's powering my i5 750 OCed (3.7ghz with turbo on), two 5850s OCed (from 700/1000 to 850/1200), a sound card, a GT 240 for PhysX, an SSD, two HDDs, and 8 fans. Pretty damn solid! I'd like to run some wattage checks and all that but don't have a multimeter at home (yet...).

I'd bet even a Corsair 550VX could power that system (the OPs) no problem.