Computer reboots while playing game

[bluestrobe]

Intel E7200
Crucial 2GB DDR2 800
Gigabyte GA-EG31M-S2
Sapphire 1010 ATI Radeon HD 2600XT GDDR2 PCI-X16
Seagate SV35.3 ST3250310SV
Windows XP SP3

Just built this budget computer for my wife. She plays The Sims 2. Now the game randomly reboots the computer. She only has this problem while playing the game. I've ran memtest86 on it with no issues. I've also installed the latest video drivers from the ATI web site.

This only happens when in the game, at any random point. In XP and withe other software it works fine. Game works fine on other computers.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

power supply?

 

[bluestrobe]

Generic 550w that came with the case.

I overlooked this, however, wouldn't this affect everything else no matter what is running?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Run Furmark or use ATITool's 3D window, and run Prime95 25.6 in the background. The combined power load should be approximately equal to when you game, you can see if you have power problems that way too.

 

[mdowlin2]

I am just going to go out on a limb and agree that it is a power supply. I had the same problem, I would watch videos or play a game and my system would reboot in a minute or two. I stuck a more efficient power supply in my box and all my problems went away.

 

[0roo0roo]

dying psu
dust?

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: bluestrobe
Generic 550w that came with the case.

I overlooked this, however, wouldn't this affect everything else no matter what is running?

Not if it only craps itself when trying to give the GPU all the power it wants when you're running games, as opposed to the GPU doing very little on desktop applications. Get yourself a new and good quality power supply.

Check GPU and CPU temps before that, just to rule them out.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

My first thought is the cpu temp & check your gpu temps as well

 

[bluestrobe]

I asked before and forgot the answer. What is a decent free tool for checking CPU and GPU temps? A new power supply is on the plate but I would like to check temps for peace of mind.


GPU heatsink is stock and I'm running the retail processor that Intel shipped with the CPU with some AS5 grease added.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
My first thought is the cpu temp & check your gpu temps as well

no, cpu/gpu temps wouldn't do that.
cpu would throttle on heat
gpu would cause video artifacts and frozen video
reboots are psu
if psu fails to deliver power that is demanded of it, it resets. its the safety.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Another vote for the power supply. I had a faulty Thermaltake Toughpower 750w that worked fine for a week, then started BSODing, restarting, or failing to restart randomly (sometimes after 2 minutes of booting, sometimes after playing a game for half an hour or more). RMA'd to Newegg and the new one has been rock solid for over a year.

Generic PSUs, especially in the 400w+ range are very iffy. It might seem like a waste of money, but I would just go ahead and buy a quality PSU (300-450w from something like Seasonic, Corsair, etc. should be more than plenty). You'd be saving yourself headaches and possbily money in the future anyway.

 

[bluestrobe]

Now we established by a majority that it's the power supply. Any suggestions on one for this rig? I don't need a 1000w monster or a gamer one, just one to run the above as we don't plan on adding anymore to it, maybe a budge video card in a future but that's it.

 

[Roguestar]

Corsair 550VX.

 

[CurseTheSky]

If you're not planning on making this a file server or gaming monster any time soon (1-2 hard drives, no beastly graphics cards, etc.) then I'd go with one of these, or something similar:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817151032
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817703014

If you might throw the future's equivilent of an 8800GT / 9800GTX / HD 4850 in it, I'd get something a bit heftier, probably in the 500-650w range. really, it's a matter of how much you want to spend now versus how well you want to future proof it. If you stick with a trusted company (SeaSonic, Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, some OCZ, some BFG, some Thermaltake higher-end units, some Antec, etc.) it's hard to go wrong. When in doubt, Google some reviews or head over to the Power Supply forum.

 

[bluestrobe]

<$75 is what I wanted to spend. Other than a video card (if needed), I don't plan on upgrading the unit. Thanks for the suggestions.

I am thinking of this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817171016

how is the quality? I need a 24pin so this should fit the bill.

 

[angry hampster]

Coolermaster's Real Power Pro series of PSUs is really fantastic, but I've not heard much about that series. Just grab one of these, you can't go wrong:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104954

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104037

 

[CurseTheSky]

Cooler Master is another one of those gray areas, like Thermaltake, and (I think) OCZ / BFG. Some of their PSUs are excellent, and others are mediocre at best.

I'd get a 450-500w quality unit and be done with it. If you don't mind the rebate, the Corsair 450VX is highly regarded, and should just barely fall in your price range.