PSU Issues? Overheating? Hmm....

Soldato
Joined
20 Jun 2011
Posts
3,675
Location
Livingston
I was sitting playing BF3 last night and after about 20 mins my pc randomly shut itself off, turned itself back on and then back off again.. I was able to boot back into windows a couple of times but 9/10 times I try the motherboard powers up but the screen remains blank. I tried unplugging one of my graphics cards and I was able to boot into windows briefly. I then restarted and plugged my second card back in and got the same as before start, restart, start, restart then halting on a blank screen. I then unplugged the second card again but this time it made no difference and I wasn't able to boot into windows.

I left my pc off for a couple of hours while watching a movie and I was able to boot first time with both cards plugged in. I sat browsing the web for 10 mins then as before it turned itself off then on again then off again :(

This happened once last week which I 'fixed' with a couple of restarts, but now I can't even browse the web without the thing going into spack out mode :(

I'm thinking this is either a PSU problem or due to something overheating. I have a custom loop which has been running great so I would be surprised if it's the CPU or GPU's.

This is what I'm using in my rig:

ASUS Maximus IV GENE-Z
Intel i7 2700k @ 4.8Ghz with XSPC Raystorm
16gb Gskill 1600Mhz 9-9-9-24 (4GB x 4)
2 x Asus GTX 480 with Aquagrafx full cover blocks (@870MHz)
2x Crucial M4 64gb
1x OCZ Agility 3 120gb
1x OCZ Vertex 2 40gb
1x 500GB 7200rpm SATA II
1000w Coolermaster Gold 80 plus PSU
D5 vario pump
Zalman fan controller
LG BDRW
Some UV cathodes.

I have been playing games for a few months and haven't had any problems, was playing Battlefield 3 fine for a couple of weeks and no problems at all with Skyrim.

Any ideas guys? I'm pretty sure I'm maxing the output capacity of my PSU which would be my first guess (maybe I have slowly killed it :confused:), but I don't have another 1000w+ PSU to plug in to try. I have been looking at getting a new PSU from somewhere but obviously I don't want to spend £200+ unless absolutely necessary.

Anyone? :confused:
 
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Have You tried with no overclock and remove the cold cathodes lights.

I very much doubt your maxing out your psu, I recon around the 800w max.
 
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I have tried without the CPU OC yeah, same problems as before. I have been running stable @ 4.8Ghz for months now.

The GTX 480's are @ 1.125v so my guess is the whole system is pulling around 1100w under load. My Coolermaster Gold PSU says it's rated up to 1200w.

Could it be that I've been sucking too much juice out of the PSU and it's somehow deteriorated or overheated? Never had this problem before so any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Have a go without the lights, 480 Tri SLI looking at reviews pulled up to 1009w and that's with a overclocked i7 9xx system which is more power hungry than your system.

Can you get hold of a power monitor to check the power draw of your system, even though your overclocked I would surprised your hitting 1kw.
 
Thanks again, I'll need to wait until I get home tonight but I'll try unplugging the lights see if that makes any difference. I have just finished reading about a similar issue which was caused a faulty lighting transformer. I'm hoping this is the case and it'll be a quick fix.

Not really able to get my hands on a power monitor without buying one unfortunately :(

I remember someone saying they were hitting 1200w with GTX480 SLI @ 1.138v. Which made me think I might be pulling something similar.
 
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Ok so I'm home from work now and I've been messing about with the inside of my case. I unplugged both lighting transformers from the PSU, booted in to windows fine but after 10 minutes or so the power supply did it's on/off thing as before.

I found an old 800w PSU in my box of pc stuff and it seems to have eliminated the problem. Been running for 30 mins without a crash. Would be nice to test BF3 but I think it might catch fire if I try :eek:

Will see how I get on but I guess it's probably time for a new PSU.

Any recommendations for a 1000W+?
 
No probs :)

Looking at the website they have a 5 year warranty, but it might be worth confirming with Ocuk.
 
No probs :)

Looking at the website they have a 5 year warranty, but it might be worth confirming with Ocuk.

Thanks again. Pay day tomorrow so I might treat myself :cool:

The 1200w Corsair looks great too but :eek: at the price.

Gutted my Coolermaster gave in. I just recommended one to someone a few weeks ago.. :o
 
Thanks again. Pay day tomorrow so I might treat myself :cool:

The 1200w Corsair looks great too but :eek: at the price.

Gutted my Coolermaster gave in. I just recommended one to someone a few weeks ago.. :o

Your Welcome, hopefully the nice new PSU will put back on track :D. Some of the prices are quite steep!

Don't show him this thread :p

(you only get paid once every 4 years for the month of February ;) :p)
 
Haha good point :) I'm thinking, I'll return the Coolermaster if it's still under warranty and sell it if they replace it with a new one. Would be nice to get some money back to go towards the all-important new monitor :D
 
Haha good point :) I'm thinking, I'll return the Coolermaster if it's still under warranty and sell it if they replace it with a new one. Would be nice to get some money back to go towards the all-important new monitor :D

If its under warranty definitely return! did you manage to get into the Members Market before the rule change? stick the replacement on there! :)

What monitor are you after :D
 
Nah no members market for me.. :mad: 1000 posts? Grrr.. I almost had 250!

Would be nice to know why it changed :confused: I was looking forward to using it and selling off my old gear. It's a shame someone here can't have it.


Thinking about getting one of these :cool:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-036-DE&tool=3

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-013-HO&groupid=17&catid=1120&subcat=

If I can find the extra cash :) Need something a bit smaller than my 40" tv for Photoshop and Illustrator. Higher res would be nice for gaming too.
 
Yeah, monitors (especially those) will be much nicer than any TV!

Also, 1000 posts isn't that many. Get in GD and you'll have 1000 in no time
 
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