Problem breaks old computer, new computer breaks.

[czglory]

Hello, I am in need of some help here... I just purchased a new computer because I was having a persistent problem with my last computer that I tried to solve for a long time with no success, and now my brand new computer is having the exact same problem.

Basically in games the computer just shuts down. Monitor goes into "idle" and system lights remain on. My last system I ran a lot of tests and took to a few shops and noone was able to find any problems.. anyways, I am pretty lost and feeling hopeless and need some help!

Farcry 3 and Sc2 both crashed it every time, same as was happening with my last system. I was playing fine for the first few days, tried rolling back drivers and same issue.

New spec:

Win 7 64 bit
Intel i7 3770k
Asrock Extreme-4
His Ice-Q HD7950
Seasonic 750w bronze

only thing I can think of is I am in an old house, the outlet is two-pronged and I am using a 2 prong->3 prong converter to get the surge protecting power strip plugged in. Computer is plugged into the power strip along with monitor etc.

Any help is much appreciated.. I am happy to investigate any possibility
thanks.

 

[Eeqmcsq]

When you say that you bought a new computer, are you saying that you bought an ENTIRE new computer? Or just new parts, with some old parts reused from the old computer?

 

[Gunbuster]

Are you putting the PC someplace with no ventilation causing it to overheat?

 

[czglory]

this computer is entirely new with no parts from the old compy at all. I don't think it is overheating it is in an air conditioned room but I will DL some programs to monitor temperature;

dling 3dmark and I will run some benchmark tests

Processor running at 32C Idle, card at 37 idle, I will update when I get some stress test temps. FWIW the games were crashing very quickly, a few seconds in.

 

[Ketchup]

Only playing games? Does it ever crash while web browsing?

 

[Eeqmcsq]

Well, that eliminates the computer as the most likely cause of the crash. Do you have a friend's house you can go to where you can play Far Cry 3 for a while and see if it still crashes?

 

[czglory]

only while playing games; I can probably try another house but it would be a hassle (would have to get a taxi and all), if nothing else works I will do that.

 

[Bubbaleone]

I believe your old house wiring system is most likely the cause of the problem due to fluctuating current supply. Though today's computer PSUs are pretty good at handling some current fluctuation, if your house current varies by more than +/- 15 volts, from 120V AC, it will definitely cause problems for a variety of electronic devices.

If possible, I think I'd want a licensed electrician to do an inspection of the wiring in the entire house first. An electrician can tell you if your fuse or breaker box has been grounded at all. If all your outlets are two-prong than you can easily assume that the building has not been grounded, but if you have a few three-prongs in the mix (say behind your fridge) then your house wiring may be grounded but no one has put in the time and money to convert all the outlets to grounded three-prongs.

Either way, it's best to have a licensed electrician tell you what's been done and what would be required to install grounded 3-prong receptacles. After getting a grounded 3-prong receptacle installed; for under a hundred bucks you might also consider a Line Conditioner if you plan on living there for a while.


.

 

[C1]

You could also rig up a voltmeter to run in parallel off the power strip to provide a realtime display of outlet voltage level (check from time to time).

A concern is the AC that you mention. It should really have its own circuit off the main. Do the lights in the room flicker when the AC motor cycles? Does the AC share the same line as another major appliance such as a stove, clothes dryer, refrigerator?

Does the computer ever crash with the AC off?

You may be able to diagnose the issue (which is a good thing), but be sure to hire a licensed electrician to correct any major current supply issue that requires rewiring.

 

[czglory]

So... I am starting to get crashes while web browsing even, I was clicking on a different tab and computer froze, then I got a "driver has stopped responding and recovered" error. A couple of minutes later the monitor shut off and system went unresponsive. (I have only set up this computer a few days ago and this had not happened before.) As I was typing up a reply on here, it happened again.

So, I rebooted in safe mode, ran driversweeper, rebooted in safe mode again, uninstalled 7xxx device/drivers and rebooted, windows automatically installed a driver, and I went on here to post about this, and then it crashed again. This is pretty frustrating. I hope this is a driver issue but I seriously doubt it, it is probably multiple issues. Anyways, newest drivers are installed again...

Bubbaleone; thanks for the response, I am actually in Thailand where the electricity is 220v and it is ungrounded. Electricians here won't deal with this problem. The lights don't flicker at all when the AC runs, and it is a power efficient one, I think it runs to the main fuse box that everything is on. I don't know if it would crash without the AC on, but I will try.

 

[Matt1970]

What about peripherales like keyboard, mouse, printer, USB devices?

 

[Ketchup]

I wonder if a battery backup with AVR would help with this. Something like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842102082

 

[czglory]

peripherals seem to be fine and remain on, monitor remains on it just goes into "idle" like I have my computer off. I looked into getting a UPS here, and they are FAR more expensive than in the states and I don't think I can afford one now ($500+).

 

[Matt1970]

They seem fine? I have seen defective keyboards cause all kinds of issues.

 

[czglory]

I have no reason to believe any of the peripherals are causing problems, any way to check? I do get a random "9" typed in sometimes when I am typing.

 

[Matt1970]

I have no reason to believe any of the peripherals are causing problems, any way to check? I do get a random "9" typed in sometimes when I am typing.

I would go buy a keyboard & mouse from somewhere that allows you to return it or you could keep them as a backup.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

I am using a 2 prong->3 prong converter

I think that the above, is a big part of your problem.

Googling it finds lots of people with almost exactly the same problem.

For example http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110223213200AAM1cjr

Anyway, it sounds to me like the trouble is with the electricity supply/wiring/grounding to your computer(s).

If possible, I think I'd want a licensed electrician

I wish I could be of more help, but I have very little experience with 2 prong electricity. Reading up on it seemed to also say that your surge protector would not like the 2 prong electricity.

If it were me, I'd try getting the house socket(s) properly wired up to 3 prong type.

 

[czglory]

i've been switching out keyboards/mice and I don't think they are the problem, I think it is more likely that the elctricity is the problem. I don't own this house, and electricians here aren't really willing to do grounding in general, anything I can possibly do? My room mates use similar computer+monitor systems, but use laptops, and have never had any problems. I have a desktop.

 

[Fardringle]

Laptops have their own internal power source (battery) and power management system so they are not as prone to problems related to power issues. You are going to have to fix the electrical wiring in the house if you want to fix the problem you are having.

 

[Nate_007]

If you are experiencing the same symptoms as your old PC then it could be your house's electricity. You may be experiencing slight power surges and spikes. Try getting a power surge protector, even if it does not help, it is a good way to protect your PC anyway if you do not want your whole system to get toast. I always connect all my devices to a power surge protector.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

i've been switching out keyboards/mice and I don't think they are the problem, I think it is more likely that the elctricity is the problem. I don't own this house, and electricians here aren't really willing to do grounding in general, anything I can possibly do? My room mates use similar computer+monitor systems, but use laptops, and have never had any problems. I have a desktop.

If you want to read more about this, there was a big discussion about it previously on these forums.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2232540

 

[XavierMace]

I've been living in the same 60 year old house for almost 30 years. Not a single outlet is grounded and I've never had an issue.

Did you get a new monitor too or is this the same monitor?

 

[Fardringle]

It's not necessarily the grounding that is the problem (although it certainly could be). It's more likely power fluctuations that are causing it.

 

[czglory]

I am using a surge protector and always have been, I haven't thought to change out the monitor but I will try that also. The "GFCI receptacle" seems like a promising solution and I am looking into that, thanks for the help everyone, I will be really happy if I can fix my problem

 

[Fardringle]

A surge protector won't have any effect on minor power fluctuations. It only prevents large surges from reaching and damaging the computer. Minor fluctuations that can create system instability can only be managed by using a UPS or voltage regulator, and as far as I know those don't work well (if at all) on ungrounded circuits like yours.