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Computer shuts down while gaming

M

mcatrage

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 30, 2006
Messages
115
The following build works perfectly however when I try to game or run a video card benchmark the computer just turns off. No errors or sounds and it stays off until I hit the power button again. When I first built the machine I didn't have any problems (around 2 years ago) however the last few months this gaming problem has started up.

Case: Cooler Master 690
Processor: Intel Q6600 with XIGMATEK HDT-S1283
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
Mem: G-skill 4 gb (2x2)
GPU: ATI 4870
HD: WD 640
WD 500
OS: Vista Home Premium 64 Bit
Disc: Samsung SH-S223F
PSU: Corsair VX550

I replaced the GPU with a 4830 from a friend and the same problem still happened. Note this only happens when stressing the GPU and I've never had the machine turn off during any other use. Also no overclocking.

The PSU is the only thing I can really think of that makes sense to me being the problem.

Anyone have any ideas?
 
check cpu temps? sounds like a overheating problem. if it is, redo the thermal paste on cpu?
 
skuzzzzy said:
check cpu temps? sounds like a overheating problem. if it is, redo the thermal paste on cpu?
Click to expand...

Almost definately a heat issue, but dust is substantially more likely to be the culprit than improperly applied thermal paste.

Best solution: go buy an air compressor, take it and the PC outside, turn the air on, and blow that sucker out for a good 5 minutes from every angle and every spot humanly possible. That sucker is literally as good as new --from a hardware perspective.
Working solution: go buy some compressed air in the form of aerosol cans and conservatively (that stuff is annoyingly expensive and annoyingly short lived) blow out the dust in heat sinks.
Probably functional solution: pull a 3-piggies on the heat sinks. DO NOT SPIT ON YOUR COMPUTER.

Edit for readers and future googlers: there are three main heatsinks you need to worry about: the GPU, the CPU, and the NB (North-Bridge). The CPU heatsink is the one probably labeled intel (or in your case Xigmatek) and probably reasonably high up on the motherboard. The GPU heatsink, which is the hardest to clean because of the big plastic shrouds typically associated with them, will be mounted sideways approximately 2/3 of the way down on your motherboard. And the NB heatsink will be much smaller located in between the two.
 
Last edited:
When this first started happening the first thing I did was cleaned out the case with the compressed air. I'm also able to run the intel burn test and the CPU temperatures do not go above 60 c when fully stressed.

The GPU does run hot which is why when I installed the 4830 it ran much cooler but it still crashed even though the temperatures were around 70 80 c which I thought the ati cards could easily handle.
 
[Testing the CPU]
Use Prime 95, OCCT, Orthos or Intel Burn Tool to stress test the CPU.

Also try a different PSU. That's the surefire way of figuring out if the PSU is the culprit.
 
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