power cuts out during gaming

paulxcook

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,277
1
0
I haven't really updated my system much since 2005. Here's the rundown:

600w OCZ Powerstream PSU
dfi nf4 Ultra-d mobo
7900 GT
Opteron 144 OC to 2.8 ghz

A few days ago Windows would load, but then quickly the PC rebooted. I changed to some older more stable bios settings and that stopped. Now, though, when I play a game (COD4), after about 10 minutes the PC just shuts off completely. I can power back up and play again, but each time it shuts off again after 10 minutes.

Any ideas? I don't have a spare 24 pin psu to swap out for testing, unfortunately.

UPDATE:

I don't know how common this is, but my BIOS has something called cmos reloaded which allows me to keep banks of saved settings to switch to in the bios. When I set it to my original settings, which have been stable for almost 2 years (prime and other stability test run, lots of gaming, continuously on for weeks at a time, etc), I get various errors at startup. Error loading OS, this or that .dll file is missing, etc. When I revert to older settings I had for an old processor and different RAM, I can load Windows. I haven't testing gaming yet.

Here's the weird thing: the bios options for this old bank of settings aren't the same as the ones I had available in my previous bank of settings (the one that worked stable 2 years). I can't change my multiplier or even see what it's set to, my FSB speed seems WAY too low, my ram settings are higher... Very strange. I can switch to the 2 year stable settings, go into the menu to change multiplier and fsb, and everything looks normal (but of course windows won't load with them). I change to the old, old settings, none of the usual options are where they should be, but I can load Windows.

Weird. I'll report back once I test gaming. If these settings work I might as well just limp along on them, as I don't want to put a "new" s939 board into a computer this old, and I don't have the cash to upgrade to C2d right now.

UPDATE 2:

Did I mention my rig is watercooled? No? Woops. Well, it is. Except the pump apparently stopped. I checked my cpu temp and it was nearly 70 degrees C at idle, yikes. I reseated the waterblock, drained and refilled my loop, fiddled with the pump til it started working again, and now it's down around 32 degrees.

I'm pretty sure that was the problem. During gaming the processor probably just got too hot and the PC shut down to prevent permanent damage.
 

palladium

Senior member
Dec 24, 2007
539
2
81
Try to run your CPU at stock freq ( ie don't OC it). Might also help to run a CPU stress program like superpi or primer95 to rule out problems with your video card and/or CPU stability problem.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Originally posted by: palladium
Try to run your CPU at stock freq ( ie don't OC it). Might also help to run a CPU stress program like superpi or primer95 to rule out problems with your video card and/or CPU stability problem.

might help to see if the heatsink is clogged as well or if the case fans are working properly.
 

daveybrat

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jan 31, 2000
5,781
996
126
When overclocking is involved, you always have to start with that first. Clock the cpu back to factory specs and try again. Like the others have said, make sure everything is clean inside the case. Make sure the CPU and video card fan are both spinning properly and clean.

If it continues to shut down after trying what we said, then it could be the power supply.

 

Aknosis

Senior member
Jun 12, 2003
342
0
71
You might also check all your psu wires, I had a similar problem except it would reboot. What it turned out to be was somehow a wire got snipped and wasn't always connected.
 

paulxcook

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,277
1
0
UPDATE:

I don't know how common this is, but my BIOS has something called cmos reloaded which allows me to keep banks of saved settings to switch to in the bios. When I set it to my original settings, which have been stable for almost 2 years (prime and other stability test run, lots of gaming, continuously on for weeks at a time, etc), I get various errors at startup. Error loading OS, this or that .dll file is missing, etc. When I revert to older settings I had for an old processor and different RAM, I can load Windows. I haven't testing gaming yet.

Here's the weird thing: the bios options for this old bank of settings aren't the same as the ones I had available in my previous bank of settings (the one that worked stable 2 years). I can't change my multiplier or even see what it's set to, my FSB speed seems WAY too low, my ram settings are higher... Very strange. I can switch to the 2 year stable settings, go into the menu to change multiplier and fsb, and everything looks normal (but of course windows won't load with them). I change to the old, old settings, none of the usual options are where they should be, but I can load Windows.

Weird. I'll report back once I test gaming. If these settings work I might as well just limp along on them, as I don't want to put a "new" s939 board into a computer this old, and I don't have the cash to upgrade to C2d right now.