pc shutdown problem

[overclocking101]

so My buddies rig that I built for him started just shutting down. it runs fine for web browsing runs fine for furmark, runs fine on prime 95 intel burn test etc etc. BUT when playing games like battlefield, mass effect 2 , civilization etc etc it just straight shuts down when gameply time comes. I tried the gpu in both my systems and it runs any game fine. We went out got a corsair 650TX did the same thing, so we got the corsair 850TX same thing, even tried my corsair 950TX same thing. tried my ram in his system his ram in my system, same thing. im stumped. maybe someone here can help or has knowledge of this type of problem.

SPECS:
Intel i7-860 @stock and overclock doesnt make a difference same thing
MOBO: Asus Maximus III formula
Ram: Patriot VIPER Sector 5 2000mhz, also tried my Gskil tridents 2133mhz
GPU: HD5770, also tried 8800 GT
PSU: Corsair 850TX
HDD: WD Velociraptor
OS: win7 64 bit ultimate.
COOLING: thermalright Venomous-X and stock for everything else.

Please help im seriously getting frustrated. I even tried over volting the cpu with no avail.

EDIT, updates:
latest bios installed on board
would/could software do this?? it seems to be its only doing it with DX11 games. like mass effect 2 or batlfield BC2. any other games are working, COD4, CIV 4, anything that is DX10 and under is working.

[hellrazor]

Probably a buggy mobo/BIOS.

[overclocking101]

I though bios at first so I installed the latest bios. one would think there would be other reports of the problem if its the board yes??? all temps are in line i.e. SB, VRMS etc. cpu is running at 40C load gpu never above 71c furmark load. it acts as though it is an over heat shut down or something. no bsod or error reports whatsoever

[lyndonguitar]

problem is with the mobo, all your other parts worked as you said. try to replace only the motherboard and see what happens

[overclocking101]

would/could software do this?? it seems to be its only doing it with DX11 games. like mass effect 2 or batlfield BC2. any other games are working, COD4, CIV 4, anything that is DX10 and under is working.

[scaminatrix]

Could be software, but if it is, it's still conflicting with hardware i.e. NB chipset
I put my X1900 into my brother's PC, pretty much the same system except Mobo, and Crysis gave a "shader error" screen and then rebooted sometimes (mostly when aliens attacked in cut scenes with funky light effects, sometimes without the error screen). Figured it must have been NB chipset limitations...?

[erocker]

You've tried both a 5770 and a 8800GT? A 8800GT isn't DX11, so did the computer shut down with the 8800GT? If so, I can't think of any software that would shut down the system unless the copy of Windows is invalid or corrupt. I would try reinstalling the O/S. If that fails, it's the motherboard.

[overclocking101]

its an asus maximus 3 formula sorry I tottally spaced that. well im installing the o/s again because thats the only other thing I havent tried. Legit o/s so im thinking it got corrupt. it would shut down with the 8800gt but no where near as often as with the 5770 and only with DX10 games. its odd really

[scaminatrix]

Originally Posted by overclocking101

its an asus maximus 3 formula sorry I tottally spaced that. well im installing the o/s again because thats the only other thing I havent tried. Legit o/s so im thinking it got corrupt. it would shut down with the 8800gt but no where near as often as with the 5770 and only with DX10 games. its odd really

The only thing I can imagine is something overheating (or maybe HDD although it seems unlikely)
My beast used to crash randomly until I redone all the TIM (SB, NB, CPU and GPU). Still gammy but doesn't crash anymore.
The fact that it's only with DX10 and higher suggests that it something to do with strain/heat, I'd say if the OS reinstall is no better, use a temperature checking program to monitor mobo chipset temps and work from there.

[overclocking101]

so ughhh, im just getting deeper and deeper here. reinstall went perfect. drivers all installed installed some benches and some games, and WCG. well everytime the cpu starts to load be it bench or WCG wham! sut down. im like WTF!!!! again I try his cpu in my rig perfect, so I try my cpu in his rig, PERFECT!!!!! WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!! if it was the board it would not work with my cpu, if it was the cpu it wouldnt work in my rig!! this is seriously making me madder than mad, i need to take a break any suggestions/ insight on why 2 identical cpu's are acting like this. both are i7 860's just his wont work in his rig and mine does.

[scaminatrix]

Crazy!
I would suggest swapping cpu's with your mate if your chips work fine in eachothers!