Computer restarting during gameplay

Boozebeard · 10 Mar 2014 at 00:45

I'm having a problem with my computer powering off and rebooting when I'm playing Planet Side 2. It's weird because I've never had a problem until today and I can't for the life of me replicate the problem out side of running that specific game.

I've tried running stress tests on my CPU and GPU concurrently (ran prime and Haven benchmark) which ran flawlessly for over an hour but I'm lucky if I can get 30 minutes in Planet Side without a power down.

I've monitored my temps both in game and during the stress tests and that seems fine so I'm thinking it's possibly my power supply giving out as I know I have been somewhat pushing it only 550 watts but it's been flawless for 3~ years. I'm still pretty confused by the fact that I can't replicate the problem outside of one game though.

Dark Light · 10 Mar 2014 at 03:27

Boozebeard said:
I'm having a problem with my computer powering off and rebooting when I'm playing Planet Side 2. It's weird because I've never had a problem until today and I can't for the life of me replicate the problem out side of running that specific game.

I've tried running stress tests on my CPU and GPU concurrently (ran prime and Haven benchmark) which ran flawlessly for over an hour but I'm lucky if I can get 30 minutes in Planet Side without a power down.

I've monitored my temps both in game and during the stress tests and that seems fine so I'm thinking it's possibly my power supply giving out as I know I have been somewhat pushing it only 550 watts but it's been flawless for 3~ years. I'm still pretty confused by the fact that I can't replicate the problem outside of one game though.

Try turning down the graphics settings and turn on v-sync so you don't max out your card, this way if it still restarts you know it is not the PSU.

colax · 10 Mar 2014 at 06:46

Don't rule out the power supply too quick, an old power supply does not preform as well as it did on the first day. Day 1 it might have done 550watts, but with capacitors and the build up of heat in the PSU they tend to dry out resulting in lower power output. Can you list everything plugged into it, even fans, lights, etc?

Before you rush out and buy a new power supply though check your drivers, and change some graphic settings in-game. Also what happens when it turns off, is it a complete shut down, or a reboot?

Boozebeard · 10 Mar 2014 at 20:38

colax said:
Don't rule out the power supply too quick, an old power supply does not preform as well as it did on the first day. Day 1 it might have done 550watts, but with capacitors and the build up of heat in the PSU they tend to dry out resulting in lower power output. Can you list everything plugged into it, even fans, lights, etc?

Before you rush out and buy a new power supply though check your drivers, and change some graphic settings in-game. Also what happens when it turns off, is it a complete shut down, or a reboot?

It instantly powers off but then restarts its self. And I'm certainly not ruling out the power supply, it's the only thing right now I can think would be the problem. I'm just baffled that I can't replicate it with stress testing.

I have tried rolling the drivers back as there has been a problem with the latest drivers and PS2 (nothing as drastic as my problem though) but it didnt help. EDIT: Having said this I have read reports of people who are having problems not being able to fix it with roll backs so it could actually be related to this somehow as the timings of my issues and the reported nvidia problems do seem to coincide.

Dark Light said:
Try turning down the graphics settings and turn on v-sync so you don't max out your card, this way if it still restarts you know it is not the PSU.

I will try this next, I think I was already running it with vsync mind.

Dark Light · 10 Mar 2014 at 23:10

Boozebeard said:
I will try this next, I think I was already running it with vsync mind.

Just turn the graphics down so you are getting 60FPS, which means that you are not maxing out the system. This will confirm that it is not the PSU load that is causing the restart. It seems that if a stress test does not cause a restart, but a game that is not pulling as much power is, I would imagine that it is indeed drivers. Have you tried running Intel Burn in and FurMark at the same time?

Boozebeard · 11 Mar 2014 at 13:30

Dark Light said:
Just turn the graphics down so you are getting 60FPS, which means that you are not maxing out the system. This will confirm that it is not the PSU load that is causing the restart. It seems that if a stress test does not cause a restart, but a game that is not pulling as much power is, I would imagine that it is indeed drivers. Have you tried running Intel Burn in and FurMark at the same time?

I've tried running prime and haven. I'll try running those

Edit: Been running the GPU and CPU burn tests in OC scanner X for nearly an hour now with no problems.

Matt123456 · 11 Mar 2014 at 14:39

Hello, I dont think I can help but I had a similar problem with my old PC.
I found the power connector was effectivly burnt out. To the point where the PSU connector welded itself to the motherboard. It would stay on but power-off almost randomly. Perhaps you can see how black the power pins are? and maybe give them a scrape down/clean?