Possible Graphics card fault

[IggyStooge]

Hello all,

What's happening is when I play any game and sometimes just using desktop the PC will shut off and restart. Sometimes in game it'll shut off as soon as the game has loaded or I can play the game for a few minutes before it goes off.

I've been having problems with the PC shutting off and restarting since earlier in the year but I thought it was down to the CPU overheating (heat sink and fan were clogged up). I had this R9 390 new in July which was maybe (not sure, can't remember) when the problems started but I just didn't think it'd be the card. What's strange is I've had phases where I've had no issues playing games.

I think I've established the CPU is not overheating, that usually reaches 70°C max and I've run windows memory check and that came back clear. Nothing is overclocked. I've tried my old 5870 and I played GTA5 (on lowest settings) for two hours without problem so it must be the 390.

I'm back using the 390 and I just downloaded GPU-Z and ran it while I played GTA5 and sure enough the PC switched off and restarted. It has created a log of events but I don't really understand it or know what I should be looking for.

Sorry this has become an essay but I've tried to explain exactly what's been happening. I'd very much appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you.

Iggy

 

[Uncle Petey]

PSU?

 

[IggyStooge]

Sorry, it's a Corsair HX620watt.

 

[Uncle Petey]

Don't suppose you have a voltmeter or know someone that does?

I only ask because it sounds a lot like what happens when a PSU trips. Obviously, it should be able to run your system just fine, but it could possibly be failing.
How old is it?

 

[IggyStooge]

I bought it new in March 2007 although actually the original one failed under warranty so maybe 2008. I don't have a voltmeter or know someone that does.

 

[Uncle Petey]

Ok, well unless someone else can suggest another thing to test, my money's on the PSU.
8 years is knocking on a bit for a PSU to still perform as it did way back when, and all the symptoms point towards it.

 

[IggyStooge]

So is the reason the system works fine with the 5870 cos that uses a lot less power than the 390?

 

[Uncle Petey]

Pretty much yeah.
You said it's been doing it randomly before you got the 390, right? And it's more regular now?
While it could be down to something else, the PSU seems to be the obvious culprit and I obviously can't say for definite from here

When was the last time you did a fresh windows install? Sometimes it can get buggered up enough to cause random things like this, though it's usually accompanied by a blue screen etc.

 

[IggyStooge]

I did a fresh install of Windows 10 a few weeks ago. I'd say I've only encountered the shut downs since I got the 390 but my memory isn't great so I'm not 100% sure.