Unable to explain random rebooting.

[justmatt]

For the past few months I have been having some VERY strange issues with my system. Here is what I'm running:

ASUS P5N-E SLI
Core2Quad Q6600 (Kentsfield) (not overclocked)
4GB (2x2) DDR2 800 OCZ RAM
eVGA GTX 260 core216
1x SATA HD
1x IDE DVD/RW drive
2x 120mm fans
Corsair 650W PSU (52A)
Antec Sonata II case.


What is happening is I'm getting random reboots, usually when gaming. I have run Memtest86 on my memory for many many passes with no errors. I have tested my hard drive with diagnostic programs, no issues there. I have even had to upgrade PSU's thinking that maybe THAT was the problem. I have updated every single driver and aspect of windows. For a while I thought the problem had gone away, but last night it was being weird again. I booted up the machine and started playing Unreal Tournament 3. I played it for about 40 minutes with no problems. Just after exiting, I checked temps and everything was normal. CPU and mobo were about 45C and video card was about 60C. Then, I try to launch GTA4 and BOOM! Instant hard reboot. No blue screen, no nothing (I do have my system to freeze on a blue screen, rather than autoreboot). The computer just restarted like normal, giving me the option of safemode for windows.

Now, I don't want to sound rude or anything, but please no basic suggestions about checking my RAM or my HD or getting some ungodly 900W PSU. I know that this PSU is a good one and that it is adequate for my system, and as I said, I have tested the RAM and HD multiple times. I have even gone so far as to take EVERYTHING out of the case, sweep it completely clear of all dust/etc, reinstall the motherboard ensuring that it is screwed in with the standoffs properly. Basically, I'm on the verge of trying to RMA this board with ASUS and I want to see what people here think. This is driving me nuts. I know my video card uses a lot of power, but based on EVERYTHING I've researched about it, and talking to people with similar setups, this PSU is plenty. Thank you.

 

[Dangman]

What is happening is I'm getting random reboots, usually when gaming.

Based on the above info, run a 3D stress app like ATI Tool or Furmark. If you start seeing artifacts or having restarts during the test, it means that your GPU is the culprit.

And just for the hell of it: Run Prime95, Orthos, or OCCT to stress test the CPU.

And if you really want stress test your system (Do this if the GPU and CPU testing come up clean): Run one of those CPU and GPU stress apps as well as HDTach to stress test the hard drive at the same time. There's a possibility that your mobo can't handle all being stressed like that.

 

[sirmonkey1985]

id go with danny's first and third suggestion.. its either the gfx card or the northbridge..but at the same time watch all the temps and see if any of them look out of the norm..