PC crashes in the middle of gaming. Need help diagnosing.

[cwtech]

Hey guys, I've been having problems with me pc crashing when I'm playing games. It's not game specific, its crashed at one point or another whether I'm playing rocket league, star wars kotor, payday 2, ESO, killing floor 2 ect.. I suspect my GPU (reference R9 290) because when it crashes the only monitors that go out are the ones I have connected to it. The one connected to my mobo stays on. When it crashes I can do absolutely nothing at all just hard restart. I've tried drivers and that wasn't it. Any one got any other ideas?

 

[Kursah]

How are your temps?

Check event viewer, go to Windows Logs > System. Find the error, bugcheck, drivercrash.

You could also download OCCT and run the GPU test to stress test the GPU and verify if it's the culprit. It sounds like the card is having issues, be it power, heat or impending doom. I'm not familiar with FirePower and their quality so that could be the issue too.

Is gaming the only time your PC crashes? Have you tried without overclocks?

 

[EntropyZ]

This is what usually would happen with temps over 75-80 with AMD GPUs or with relatively low temp like 50 and the driver derps out.

As Kursah already mentioned a good start is to look at the event viewer to check what caused the freeze/crash.

What are your temps during gaming sessions? Do you use V-sync or a frame limiter when going over 60 or 75 FPS, if not you should really limit games because there isn't much point using more power when it isn't needed, that's just increasing temps further for no real gain.

Is your GPU heatsink clean? It's common sense to blow dust out when temps rise beyond what you would expect. When did you get the GPU? Maybe the thermal compound has dried out, this could be the case if the GPU sees a lot of gaming for sustained periods over 3-4 years.

You should provide as much information as possible.

 

[ninjacore]

I remember having black screen issues with my PCS+ 290s a couple years ago. Definitely graph those temps with GPU-z while you game. If temps are in line, you could try overvolting just a bit with afterburner. If that fixes it, you could try a new bios or RMA the card?

 

[cwtech]

I have had this card since November 2012. It runs at an average of 95°C (has done so ever since I bought the card and problem is a recent problem) I use frame limiter at 60fps. Use v sync on a few games. I clean the heat sink twice a month when I do my system cleaning. Have not thought the thermal compaund may be out though. I will check events soon and get back to y'all on that though.

 

[EntropyZ]

I have had this card since November 2012. It runs at an average of 95°C (has done so ever since I bought the card and problem is a recent problem) I use frame limiter at 60fps. Use v sync on a few games. I clean the heat sink twice a month when I do my system cleaning. Have not thought the thermal compaund may be out though. I will check events soon and get back to y'all on that though.

95 huh, damn that's near it's thermal threshold of 100 at which point the card just stops working, I'm surprised it still runs to this day, but I wouldn't expect anything less from a reference cooled 290.

Edit: And then I'm surprised it doesn't thermal throttle.

 

[cwtech]

2013 not 2012. Sorry guys.

 

[EntropyZ]

2013 not 2012. Sorry guys.

Just use edit on your post, so you don't have to make a new one for such a simple mistake.

 

[cwtech]

95 huh, damn that's near it's thermal threshold of 100 at which point the card just stops working, I'm surprised it still runs to this day, but I wouldn't expect anything less from a reference cooled 290.

I've been wondering if it isn't just the heat finally killing it. But, all the same, I'd rather not have to buy another card right now. So I'm trying to find if it may be something else. A fools hope I'm thinking.

 

[Countryside]

I have had this card since November 2012. It runs at an average of 95°C (has done so ever since I bought the card and problem is a recent problem) I use frame limiter at 60fps. Use v sync on a few games. I clean the heat sink twice a month when I do my system cleaning. Have not thought the thermal compaund may be out though. I will check events soon and get back to y'all on that though.

Changing the thermal will not make a big difference because the reference cooling is not good enough i would suggest getting a new cooler like Accelero Xtreme IV , 290s are notorious for running hot.

 

[EntropyZ]

I've been wondering if it isn't just the heat finally killing it. But, all the same, I'd rather not have to buy another card right now. So I'm trying to find if it may be something else. A fools hope I'm thinking.

Well, if the card this showing any artifacts on the screen it should be fine. Your case seems to indicate you probably have adequate airflow.

Changing the thermal will not make a big difference i would suggest getting a new cooler like Accelero Xtreme IV , 290 are notorious for running hot.

Yeah that could be true, I guess his options are pretty limited, getting an aftermarket cooler for the card is a good choice, but I suggest looking in his system for any oddities before buying anything.

 

[cwtech]

Changing the thermal will not make a big difference because the reference cooling is not good enough i would suggest getting a new cooler like Accelero Xtreme IV , 290s are notorious for running hot.

I've tried some of those. They usually end up making it heavy and pull down on the card and make it sag.

 

[cwtech]

Well, if the card this showing any artifacts on the screen it should be fine. Your case seems to indicate you probably have adequate airflow.


Yeah that could be true, I guess his options are pretty limited, getting an aftermarket cooler for the card is a good choice, but I suggest looking in his system for any oddities before buying anything.

What exactly do you mean by oddities? Not sure I'm understanding you.

 

[EntropyZ]

I've tried some of those. They usually end up making it heavy and pull down on the card and make it sag.

The downside... I wonder if there are any less extreme options. Since I think those made by Arctic are more or less meant for overclocking.

What exactly do you mean by oddities? Not sure I'm understanding you.

If you can find anything out of the ordinary on windows logs like the event manager + graphs on any GPU monitoring. It is wise to explore if there are any other solutions to your problem.

But I think it's pretty obvious that it's the GPU heat that's bringing the system down.

 

[Countryside]

The downside... I wonder if there are any less extreme options.

Water cooling if the OP is up for it

 

[EntropyZ]

Water cooling if the OP is up for it

I found some closed loops from Arctic but they seem to have ratings that are average or slightly above that from customers.

Anything else that's good seems to cost around and over $100 from other manufacturers.

Can't recommend anything myself though, since I haven't used a custom cooler on a reference card myself.

I would quote a specialist, but I don't know anyone in particular here.

 

[cwtech]

I found some closed loops from Arctic but they seem to have ratings that are average or slightly above that from customers.

Anything else that's good seems to cost around and over $100 from other manufacturers.

Can't recommend anything myself though, since I haven't used a custom cooler on a reference card myself.

I would quote a specialist, but I don't know anyone in particular here.

I've thought about water cooling it but the problem is, is acceptability for the radiator. With the length of most closed loop coolers only place I could put it is on the case door. Not the best for accessing the inside of my rig :/. Not trying to be a downer or anything just doesn't seem plosible to me really unless y'all know of any closed loops with decently long hoses?

 

[Rowsol]

If the card ran at 95c from day one, I woulda returned it. With that said, the 290 is still a very powerful card, more than mine. You'll have to do the math, but your 2 options as I see them are 1. get a new card 2. get a new cooler.

 

[trog100]

cant you alter the default fan profile.. set it to run flat out at something like 70 C.. it will be quiet whilst browsing but always flat out while gaming..

often these things are set more for quieter operation more than maximum cooling..

i would run something like the heaven benchmark to test the card.. games vary too much.. heaven just flogs the card but not the cpu or anything else..

this isnt 100% but normally if its a card or driver crash sounds and the like will keep playing.. if its a cpu or memory crash everything stops or the system resets..

trog

 

[vega22]

my 290x gamer sits around 55/75c (depending if heating is on/fanspeed) with nzxt g10 and a 120mm aio loop(astek 920 something or other).

run the fans loud and it wont see 60c, run it silent, yes a 290x that is silent!!!! and it tops out around 75c. used to sit at 94c silent or 75c sounding like a v22 osprey in uber mode....

from what i recall all the bits used on 290x are spec'd to fuction upto 115c so while the use could of damaged something, i would doubt it happened now as most freak fails tend to happen early in their life.

i would guess that heat is baking your case and either the mobo vrm or even the psu is just shitting the bed after so long.

does it take longer for the crash to happen with the side off your case? if so you need a better case/case cooling.

 

[Bill_Bright]

or with relatively low temp like 50

Low temp? Never heard of stability problems with low temps, except with extreme low temps using refrigerated alternative cooling. And not sure I would call 50°C as low, relatively or not.

I note that Firepower PSU (if the one in your specs is what you are using) appears to be the first "new design" since taking over from OCZ (according to this). That does not mean it is a flawed design, but it is not uncommon for there to be bugs in the production or design when new models of just about anything come out. Is this the PSU you are using? And if so, did you just swap this in? And if so, why? What happened to the old?

In any case, I would swap in a spare supply just to see what happens.

I've been wondering if it isn't just the heat finally killing it.

With your temps pushing 95°C for several years now, those high temps over an extended period may have taken its toll with increased aging.

I agree with vega22 and look at case cooling (assuming the interior, including the card's heatsink is free of heat trapping dust). You might try removing the side panel and blasting a desk fan in there at full speed to see if it holds.

 

[hat]

Changing the thermal will not make a big difference because the reference cooling is not good enough i would suggest getting a new cooler like Accelero Xtreme IV , 290s are notorious for running hot.

Wow... the thing performs well, but jesus christ, the installation... and I've never heard of a 5 slot video card before.

 

[cwtech]

Hey guys sorry I was out of commission for bit, ran into some difficulties and didn't have time to handle any of this. It is the gpu getting hot. Took the side panel off my case and amped up my fan on the gpu and it hasn't crashed since. Thanks for all the help guys decided to invest in a new gpu soon. Figured it's bout time anyways and I've got the cash to do so. Thinking nvidia 980ti or going cheap and staying amd with a 390 and over clocking it. Again thanks for all the help it helped a lot.

 

[AsRock]

Changing the thermal will not make a big difference because the reference cooling is not good enough i would suggest getting a new cooler like Accelero Xtreme IV , 290s are notorious for running hot.

And Su'scon capacitors are known to be trash and don't last long typically which that his PSU uses.

Maybe try getting better positive air flow though the case.