Strange error, requires forced shut down.

[EpicShweetness]

I'm having a strange problem with one of my media computers.
Every once in a while the computer will basically shut off. The screen goes black the input does not stop, monitor still detects a signal, the keyboard mouse doesn't do anything. However the fans stay on, all of them, and the case fans (CPU fan) which are connected to the motherboard ramp up to 100%.
To further the power button does nothing you press and hold, you click, nothing. Same goes for the restart button. I'm required to flick the PSU switch to shutdown, and then restart the computer.

I thought for a second my 4.4GHZ overclock to the 750k was the reason of the error, but the issues stated above are not what a computer does when thermal limits are reached, or an over-voltage, or destabilization occurs. Furthermore I backed the computer back down to 3.4GHZ and the problem persists.

I've had a couple talks with some co-workers, they determine it's the motherboard, which would make sense, some point to the PSU. Any idea guys?

Motherboard: Gigabyte F2A85X-D3H
PSU CorsairCX 500w M(odular)

If you require any other info just let me know. This "error" only occurs once or twice a month, so no big deal with it, just curious.

 

[satsol]

Sounds motherboardish in nature. You said your screen goes black... are you using onboard graphics or dedicated? If you have a spare psu or can borrow one I would definitely swap it out to see if the problem persists. Ruling out a possible psu issue is always a -very- good thing. I would also make sure your motherboard BIOS is up to date.

 

[EpicShweetness]

Full computer specs
Processor: AMD Athlon 750k
Motherboard : Gigabyte F2A85X-D3H
Cooling: CM 212 Evo
Memory: G-Skill 2x2GB 1866mhz
Video Card: MSI GTX 650ti BOOST
Hard Drive: 1TB Black Western Digital
Power Supply: Corsair CX500M
Case: CM 690 II

 

[theFOoL]

even though from a good brand 500w is cutting it close buddy. check with a more higher WATT PSU

 

[rtwjunkie]

You are above the watts you are using, although I would want more breathing room. I calculate you are using 444 watts total there. How old is the PSU? that will affect it's max wattage. RK3066 is probably right about looking into more wattage. Is there anything in the logs?

 

[Mussels]

thats just a hard crash/lockup.


could be just about any part in the system, but i'd be leaning away from CPU (rarely partially stable - they work or they dont) ram (should BSOD).

possibly PSU, graphics, or mobo - or some bad settings.

If you have sleep mode enabled, that could be related as well - systems can screw up waking from S3 sleep if ram or PSU is bad.

 

[EpicShweetness]

thats just a hard crash/lockup.


could be just about any part in the system, but i'd be leaning away from CPU (rarely partially stable - they work or they dont) ram (should BSOD).

possibly PSU, graphics, or mobo - or some bad settings.

If you have sleep mode enabled, that could be related as well - systems can screw up waking from S3 sleep if ram or PSU is bad.

I had that idea as well, and yes the problem does seem more frequent after S3 state of sleep mode, which has been disabled. Has it fixed the problem.... no
However it did change it's frequency, again once or twice a MONTH.

 

[Mussels]

I had that idea as well, and yes the problem does seem more frequent after S3 state of sleep mode, which has been disabled. Has it fixed the problem.... no

bad ram/ram settings can very often cause the black screen/no wakeup problems you described when coming out of sleep. shouldnt cause it when operating normally, but you might as well start there. try with just one stick of ram for a few days, if the problem persists swap the ram stick.

 

[EpicShweetness]

You are above the watts you are using, although I would want more breathing room. I calculate you are using 444 watts total there. How old is the PSU? that will affect it's max wattage. RK3066 is probably right about looking into more wattage. Is there anything in the logs?

CPUID Hardware monitor reports 88w at 4.4GHZ and the GPU hardly reach's more then 80% usage, as stated by W1zzard in his review MAX 131w 219+system total. I should be safe.

 

[EpicShweetness]

Shouldn't cause it when operating normally, but you might as well start there. try with just one stick of ram for a few days, if the problem persists swap the ram stick.

That's just it the error occurs at random, it can happen after the system operating for 2min or 2 days. I can try a different PSU, and I can try different RAM, but replicating the error might prove problematic.

 

[rtwjunkie]

CPUID Hardware monitor reports 88w at 4.4GHZ and the GPU hardly reach's more then 80% usage, as stated by W1zzard in his review MAX 131w 219+system total. I should be safe.

Try this to get a much more accurate number than you've got there: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

 

[Mussels]

oh actually this reminds me of something i had on and old DFI mobo - make sure that your RAM, NB, SB, and VRM's arent overheating - basically look at everything that can get hot, but doesnt have its own fan (VRM's sometimes have temp sensors that arent accurate)

on my old old old system, the CPU was dumping heat onto the ram and it was fine 99% of the time, but after about 8 hours of gaming/heavy load the ram and NB would sloooowly heat up, i finally found them at 95C one day in summer via a temp probe when the stickers melted off :/

 

[EpicShweetness]

Try this to get a much more accurate number than you've got there: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

it said 356watts, lol 373 w/ a high-end motherboard. So, as you were saying.....
391 Peak (100%) w/ high-end motherboard 409

 

[Mussels]

those PSU calculators are beyond useless.

that calculator shows 455W for my system, whereas in gaming i barely pull 250W from the wall. you simply cannot trust them even slightly.

 

[rtwjunkie]

it said 323watts, lol 341 w/ a high-end motherboard. So, as you were saying.....

Sorry, Just trying to help. You didn't give a whole lot of info. I had to assume 4 fans, dvd player and at least one PCIe/PCI card in there. When calculating wattage needs, it's always best to overestimate anyway. If in fact you filled everything out accurately, and you're only at 341, then you are good!

 

[rtwjunkie]

those PSU calculators are beyond useless.

I've found that on my server at least, it's pretty accurate, comparing the wattage on my UPS panel, the calculator estimates about 30 over, which is pretty darned close.

 

[EpicShweetness]

those PSU calculators are beyond useless.

Agreed I go off the fact of most single GPU system's are 500-600w.
I've abandoned multi GPU system's

Sorry, Just trying to help. You didn't give a whole lot of info. I had to assume 4 fans, dvd player and at least one PCIe/PCI card in there. When calculating wattage needs, it's always best to overestimate anyway. If in fact you filled everything out accurately, and you're only at 341, then you are good!

Thanks's though, I've had alot of experience w/ watt requirements from the Army

 

[micropage7]

maybe you could try to reset your bios too and check it again, does it return?

 

[Shou Miko]

what are temps on the system? i had a CM 690 II myself and never had a issue with temps bcs of all the options u have for mounting fans.

if you keep thinking it's the psu, try with another one, but it doesn't have to be that, like Mussels talk about, check the boards temp but do it with external measure so u can get proper readings.

also update chipset and gfx drivers to the newest version.

 

[EpicShweetness]

Temps are of no concern MSI Afterburner reports 52C on the GPU at full load. The PWM doesn't come into play till 72C on the CPU is reached at which point the fan ramps, and keeps it their at just 1000RPM again full bore. Most of the sensors on the motherboard never even see 25C just 1 which is the VRM see's 40C or a little more. Plus this is a modern computer, if it reaches thermal capacity it just down-clocks the effected part or your frame rates take a dump, nothing like that happens.

 

[EpicShweetness]

I a different light I did mange to swap the RAM with my APU system in my room, I'll let ya know if this occurs again. I also updated the bio's. Right now it's happy at 4GHZ.

 

[Mussels]

Temps are of no concern MSI Afterburner reports 52C on the GPU at full load. The PWM doesn't come into play till 72C on the CPU is reached at which point the fan ramps, and keeps it their at just 1000RPM again full bore. Most of the sensors on the motherboard never even see 25C just 1 which is the VRM see's 40C or a little more. Plus this is a modern computer, if it reaches thermal capacity it just down-clocks the effected part or your frame rates take a dump, nothing like that happens.

you missed the point there - the sensors are often inaccurate. your VRM sensors might be two inches away from the VRM's themselves, and could be wildly inaccurate if air blows over them, but not the VRM's. you have to test them with a thermal probe/your finger to be sure (if you cant hold your finger on it, its too hot)

 

[Arjai]

I a different light I did mange to swap the RAM with my APU system in my room, I'll let ya know if this occurs again. I also updated the bio's. Right now it's happy at 4GHZ.

If it happens again, My two cents, PSU or, possibly, re seat your CPU.

I am thinking, since the fans go to 100%, the cpu is shutdown...not seated cleanly. I may be wrong.