Computer turning off, restarting, graphics glitching

shauncr91

shauncr91

shauncr91

Soldato
Joined
28 Dec 2007
Posts
11,551
Location
Sheffield
Hi,

So a couple of days ago I was playing some games and my PC crashed, I shrugged it off as something that you expect to happen occasionaly.

However, the problem has been very repetitive since then and the problems comes in two different ways :

Restarting - The computer will randomly reset and then attempt to boot several times before finally working.

Graphics - The computer will be working fine and then the graphics will completely freak out for a few seconds, then the computer restarts about 10 seconds later. (Click for image of what the break looks like)

I've checked my temps any they all seem to be completely normal, and I've made no changes to my computer at all lately apart from upgrading to Windows 7.

Any ideas on what else it could be? Thanks :)

Edit: Figured my spec may be relevant:
Q6600
4GB OCZ Hyper X
J&W P35 Pro
BFG 8800GT OC
160GB Hitachi Deskstar
500GB WD Caviar
Hiper Type-R 580w
 
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Hey Shauncr, have you got another graphics card lying round you could try? If that fixes the issue, the graphics card is probably dying (may be the mem).

Did the issue start as soon as you upgraded to win 7??

Which graphics card and power supply do you have?

Thanks and good luck :)
 
My bro has another 8800gt I could potentially borrow but I'm a tad nervous incase it's my PSU and it goes bang with his card in there.

Win7 was fine for about 2 days and then the problems started setting in.

Thanks for response :)
 
You could try your graphics card in his machine to see if its the card :) (same drivers I assume, so no conflicts). Does your computer start up properly (without rebooting loads) without the gpu?
 
CAn't really test it as the crashes are very random, some times it can be fine for several hours and other times it will do it 8 times before I even get chance to use the PC.

Just after I made me last post I had a whole new kind of crash though...
Comp rebooted itself as normal, then the system tried to boot itself but the CPU fan wasn't spinning (No side panel on case atm), and the GPU fan was spinning fast and slow alternately very quickly. In the end I turned it off at the plug and then turned it back on, and it was fine.

Oh forgot to mention in OP, sometimes after a crash it doesn't restart and I go to use the power button to turn it on, and it doesn't work until I disconnect kettle-lead from back and plug it in again.


Really nervous about this because I gotta LAN party to go to on 23rd :(
 
hmm, I would have to say it does sound like a PSU problem, is it old?? :P

Have you overclocked any component? cos it be that you just need to clear the CMOS :) (hopefully..)

It could also be your motherboard as well, although it wouldn't make sense seeing as it happens so randomly..

Also, have you run memtest?
 
Right I reset my CMOS back to standard and everything was fine for over 2 hours. However I've tried launching games 3 times (Fallout 3 and WoW), and they both crash after around 60 seconds...

Wtf :/
 
Definately sounds like a PSU problem now, if you've had a good look at your GPU and cant see any faults with it.

Sounds like it cant provide enough power for your componenets (GPU) to do their job, or its overheating or something.

Also arnt HiPER's Notorious for throwing fits and generally self destructing?

EDIT: Guessing you've had that PSU for a good few years now?
 
David91 said:
Definately sounds like a PSU problem now, if you've had a good look at your GPU and cant see any faults with it.

Sounds like it cant provide enough power for your componenets (GPU) to do their job, or its overheating or something.

Also arnt HiPER's Notorious for throwing fits and generally self destructing?

EDIT: Guessing you've had that PSU for a good few years now?
Click to expand...

Don't think it's overheating, since the temps are fine at idle so can't see them getting to silly temps after 60secs of gaming. I'm leaning toward it being a PSU problem too.

And ye Hiper's are notorious for dieing, but more in spectacular explosions than just dieing slowly. It's only about 2 years old :confused:
 
Hmm... i'd definately point my finger at the PSU. unfortunately theres no REAL way of testing this apart from using a spare PSU that can do the job.

When it attempts to restart a few times and fails, but then eventually does. Are there any signs of odd noises coming from Components in your PC, an odd wirring or squeeling or something?
 
David91 said:
Hmm... i'd definately point my finger at the PSU. unfortunately theres no REAL way of testing this apart from using a spare PSU that can do the job.

When it attempts to restart a few times and fails, but then eventually does. Are there any signs of odd noises coming from Components in your PC, an odd wirring or squeeling or something?
Click to expand...

No noises, just the fans spazzing out when it fails to boot.
 
Thanks for the help guys, I managed to pick up a new PSU today and it appears to have fixed my problems!!

Only problem is...the cables are about half the length of the ones on my old PSU, and those were only just long enough. So can someone point me in the right direction on OcUK for an extension cable for both wires which link into the motherboard please?

Edit: Nevermind, I've found them:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-022-AK&groupid=701&catid=48&subcat=153
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-021-AK


Thanks again for the help :)
 
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