Computer Very Unstable

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 14:00

Hi my friends computer is randomly unstable.

It appears whenever he plays battlefield 3 after a couple of minutes his computer will just restart.

No errors of BSOD!

Now ive done loads of prime test and randomly it restarts on it, sometimes it wont and sometimes after a couple of seconds.

the CPU temp is fine and the GPU is fine

Any suggestions?

Cheers

wbc1 · 12 Mar 2012 at 14:02

Maybe the PSU is dying or not enough to power the gfx card?

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 14:04

nah coolermaster 700w should be plenty for a AMD pheonm setup and an old ATI 3870

cmndr_andi · 12 Mar 2012 at 14:07

Have you tried testing each of the RAM sticks individually with memtest?

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 14:13

yeah no errors found.

Deception · 12 Mar 2012 at 15:44

Are there any logs in the event viewer that mentions anything regarding the restart?

Also, restore any overclocks to default and run Prime95 and see if it still retstarts (I know it should give a BSOD, but no harm in ruling it out).

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 16:05

Nah still restarts randomly.

Is there an event recorder i could use while i stress the system and watch it restart?

Cheers

Lemin · 12 Mar 2012 at 16:10

Open Event Viewer

Event Viewer is a tool that displays detailed information about significant events (for example, programs that don't start as expected or updates that are downloaded automatically) on your computer. Event Viewer can be helpful when troubleshooting problems and errors with Windows and other programs. For more information about Event Viewer, see What information appears in event logs (Event Viewer)?

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Open Event Viewer by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, clicking Administrative Tools, and then double-clicking Event Viewer.* If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 16:11

Nah still restarts randomly.

Is there an event recorder i could use while i stress the system and watch it restart?

Cheers

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 16:17

Ooooo

Few errors!

now just need figure out what to do.

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 16:46

kernel dump initilization failed :S

seems be the only one really

EggCustard · 12 Mar 2012 at 17:05

Try to run something else that's demanding electricity wise as just because the PSU is 700W doesn't mean it's failing and loosing its power output and/or voltage stability.

Rusty0611 · 12 Mar 2012 at 17:08

As above - this looks a PSU issue. Watts are but one measure of a PSU's capability.

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 17:14

Il try another PSU shortly

Cheers

Darkmike · 12 Mar 2012 at 18:44

Havent got any good psus lying around

I need be sure before i go out and buy a new one.

The temps are fine

and now everytime i run prime 95 it restarts almost straight away. (Default bios)

Any other suggestions before i get a new psu

cheers

sehcure · 12 Mar 2012 at 19:08

Check for BIOS updates
Try with the minimum hardware (1 Ram stick, no addons etc, if the CPU has onboard gfx don't use graphics card etc)

Try
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html
It should beable to show any blue screens you've had (If it restarts before you get the chance to see it) which may help.

give those a go before you go and buy a PSU

danjama · 12 Mar 2012 at 19:17

If it's failing straight away in Prime it's probably a PSU problem.

trickynickyuk · 13 Mar 2012 at 01:07

i would say PSU as well try a different one see if that helps

Purgatory · 13 Mar 2012 at 01:44

PSU or Power related problem with the motherboard.

Darkmike · 13 Mar 2012 at 09:46

Hmmm.

Well took all the memory out, i could.

Couldnt take gcard out due to not having onboard graphics.

Still just reboots instantly with no BSOD