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Old Sep 26, 2010, 02:53 PM   #1
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PC resets during intense gaming. Help please!

Hello. i've posted about this problem before a few months back but instead of reviving that thread and confusing people i thought i'd start anew.

resets, restarts and reboots are used interchangeably here. to me they mean the same thing.

the story: i was into L4D2 gaming quite a lot but suddenly i noticed that the PC would reset after 10 or so minutes of gaming. googling around pointed me to one of two possible failings; either the RAM or the PSU. needless to say i've bought new RAM and a new PSU and tested the machine with each. yesterday i was playing the new Gothic 4 demo and the same thing happened, after about 10 mins of play the machine restarted itself. i was in stunned bewilderment. i don't know what could be causing these restarts. i'm thinking the CPU might be the cause, but does anyone know what else might cause this?

this PC is stable for hours when idling and doing little to nothing. it's only when under more activity like playing a graphically intense game, although i do doubt it's the gfx card as that would show artifacts or just freeze.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 03:01 PM   #2
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I had that issue long time ago were the PSU was over heating but did not lead to restarts just shutdowns.

That said MAYBE it's the voltage to the ram as for mine for a example the ram is 2.10v but have to set it in the bios to 2.02 and then i actually get 2.10v.

So check the voltage it's running at in the bios as there should be a screen that tells you the voltages( i do not mean were you change the voltages should be another screen with actual voltages ).

Another thing that comes to mind is Pagefile try putting it so windows controls it not fixed and do a check disk too and data maybe currupt do to restarts and shutdowns.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 03:17 PM   #3
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Check your OC for stability with Prime95 for a good 12 hours or so and see what happens

Also, did you recently update some video drivers that may be causing some sort of problems?
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 03:24 PM   #4
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Check your OC for stability with Prime95 for a good 12 hours
he doesnt need to - hes running stock clocks
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 03:25 PM   #5
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Quote:
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Check your OC for stability with Prime95 for a good 12 hours or so and see what happens

Also, did you recently update some video drivers that may be causing some sort of problems?
According to his specs he isn't overclocked at all.

When it restarts does it just flicker and the bios screen comes up? That's always been a power supply issue for me. Have you checked if windows if dumping any error files?
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 03:55 PM   #6
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could you post some temps?
graphics, cpu and anything else you can get
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 03:59 PM   #7
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Just some suggestions; I would:
1. Run a stress test(ex. Prime95) and check CPU temps
2. Re-seat the memory
3. Run a memtest(ex. Memtest86+)
4. If, I had not replaced my TIM in a while, I might replace it and maybe the Chipset TIM, too.
5. Dust out my system(including the PSU)

Also, you might want to run a graphics card test (gpu\memory).
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 04:12 PM   #8
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first, thanks for the replies. allow me to elaborate further; these resets have happened regardless of a re-install of OS, change of RAM (went from 2gb to 4gb using default settings in the BIOS) or a change of PSU. i haven't OC'd my specs at all. i've set the system failure NOT to automatically reset. i've updated my nVidia graphics driver but this issue was happening before that. is prime95 the only CPU stress tester available? as i've said to load and start XP, you wouldn't think there's anything wrong, it's just when it plays certain games - i suspect the more demanding games.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 04:17 PM   #9
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Quote:
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is prime95 the only CPU stress tester available?
No, there are, among others:
OCCT
Intel burn-in
StressCPU v2.0 - Gromacs Based CPU Stability Tester
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 04:50 PM   #10
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What if any errors are there in Event Logs?
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 04:58 PM   #11
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Do the basics.
Take it all out. Single stick of ram, and try other slots any hdd you don't need. Unplug your DVD/cd drive and remove the sound card.

If you have USB devices, unplug them. If your keyboard is USB and you have a ps/2 use the ps2. You need to find out if it's something hardware related. Since you've already reinstalled your os, I am doubting it is that.

I would check error logs viewer, it can help a lot.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 05:06 PM   #12
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where's the Event's Log kept? i've hardly ever used it.

EDIT: found it, the Event Viewer logs are empty.
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Last edited by Chryonn; Sep 26, 2010 at 05:37 PM. Reason: Update
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 05:32 PM   #13
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Record your maximum CPU and GPU temp using speed fan and GPU-Z. This could be heat related!
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 05:38 PM   #14
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i hope it is.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 07:34 PM   #15
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you have a faulty motherboard. Or perhaps your NB is either overheating or not getting enough juice.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 09:11 PM   #16
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Perhaps it's heat. Run Prime95 with Coretemp open to see CPU temps. Run Furmark in stability mode to check GPU temps (it has a temp graph built in). Also, as others have said, make sure your settings are correct in the BIOS—specifically, manually set up your memory speed, timings and voltage.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 09:44 PM   #17
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hey mate, where in london do you live, maybe i can come around to help ya out to find out what is wrong if you can't do some of this stuff?
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 09:52 PM   #18
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hey mate, where in london do you live, maybe i can come around to help ya out to find out what is wrong if you can't do some of this stuff?
I live near the Spurs ground
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 09:54 PM   #19
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I live near the Spurs ground
oh lol, really meant the OP,
but wow thats not far im in Harrow On The Hell
not too far from Wembly Stadium
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 09:56 PM   #20
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i know :P Id just thought it would be cool to see where everyones from. - i think there should be a small get together between London TPU members, we all live in the same city after all.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 09:59 PM   #21
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yeah that would be insane man :P

(Harrow on the Hill*)
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 10:05 PM   #22
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I've seen the same problem with the exact same board before. Go through everyone else's advice first, if problem persists I would try replacing NB TIM.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 10:09 PM   #23
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From personal experience when my Computer Restarted in heavy gaming (Mainly Crysis Explosions) it was because of my PSU. Once I replaced my PSU with a higher wattage one, I no longer got restarts while gaming. Perhaps the same apples to you.
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 10:13 PM   #24
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rom personal experience when my Computer Restarted in heavy gaming (Mainly Crysis Explosions) it was because of my PSU. Once I replaced my PSU with a higher wattage one, I no longer got restarts while gaming. Perhaps the same apples to you
1kw psu too little for that system?
you are quite deluded, that system wont even draw 700W no matter how far you overclock it...
JUST because it is an OCZ doesnt mean it is crap...
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Old Sep 26, 2010, 10:22 PM   #25
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1kw psu too little for that system?
you are quite deluded, that system wont even draw 700W no matter how far you overclock it...
JUST because it is an OCZ doesnt mean it is crap...
Oh I apologize, I didn't even look at his system specs, I was just sharing my personal experience. While now it seems far from likely its his PSU, it most certainly still is something to consider.
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