[Csan Tran]

Well it seems my computer was giving me trouble this past weekend. I'm usually pretty good at troubleshooting myself but I could not figured it out for hours, pretty much all of Sunday. Here's the problem, see if you can figure it out:

Everytime I run a 3D application, or rather a game, my computer would shut off completely. No blue screen no warning. I thought maybe something is overheating so I cleaned my whole computer out including redo-ing my thermal paste on both my CPU and GPU. That didn't work. Yes, my computer is overclocked but not my Video Card. I even reset the CMOS, update all bios and drivers and reformated my OS from scratch thinking maybe I had a virus. Same results. So I ran a few tests starting with 3Dmark06. Now remember, this program is quite the stress test. It passed 3 times with no shut-offs and in fact, I scored better than I ever had before, almost 13K. OK... So I did a stress test on each single components several times. The CPU, GPU, memory, FSB and disk. All passed but, if I ran them all at the same time my computer shuts off. So my first thought was maybe my power supply is the culprit but I wasn't so sure since I could not find any stability test for it. So I thought, if it's a 3D problem then it is most likely my video card's memory.

I just go fed up and orderd a new video card. I guess it's good-bye 8800GTX and hello GTX280-SSC. Since it is PCIe 2.0, I thought I might as well get a new 780i motherboard to take advantage of it. 790i only supports DDR3 memory so I just stuck with the 780i. Depending on how fast I put it together tomorrow I might or might not raid. But if it works I'll log in afterwards to say Hi. Let's see how it goes...

Csan

What is the brand & rating on the power supply? Given your description, it certainly *could* be an overcurrent protection switch triggering, but I've never seen a power supply actually hit that level. I suppose I'm always doing overkill w.r.t. the power supply in the machines I've put together, though.

[Csan Tran]

My power supply is an OCZ GameXStream 850 watts. Here is the link for a look at the specs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341003

I've been running this computer set-up for 1 1/2 years. I have only 1 video card and 2 HDs so I'm sure my computer would of ran just fine even on a 550 watts PS. Who knows, it could be the culprit. Guess I'll keep replacing parts until it works. Next thing you know, I'll have a whole new computer lol. Maybe I should of asked Fozzik and Rabb1t also...

[bozzin]

Does it shut off or reboot?

[Belarios]

The only hardware that has ever gone bad on my computers over the years has been hard drives and power supplies, so my money is on power supply. GTX280 will consume more power than the 8800GTX, so you'll know soon enough!

[Csan Tran]

Computer shuts off completely without warning. No reboot no blue screen. But again, it only shuts off when I run a 3D application…yet it ran 3Dmark06 3 times successfully? My computer is completely fine running anything else and would stay on all night, until I load a game up. So my guess is that the video memory or “maybe” the GPU is screwed up. Yes, the GTX280 does consume more power but very very slightly more that 8800GTX (I did my research), so an 850 watt PS is enough to power a triple SLI on GTX280 (triple? that’s just nuts haha). If it’s the PS then something is screwed up inside. Guess I’ll find out tonite.

• PC in Idle = 197 Watt
• PC 100% usage (wattage gaming Peak) = 530 Watt (SLI)
• PC 100% usage (wattage gaming Peak) = 749 Watt (3-way SLI)

If the power supply really is killing you on its own, then it might indicate an intermittent short somewhere (not necessarily inside the PS). On the other hand, if the PS is being told to shut off, I suppose that could be a protocol error or hardware exception somewhere, but it'd have to be a really really crucial low-level system--hardware exception handling has gotten pretty thorough and slick these days.

I think you mentioned you've already cleaned everything out, but just know that dust can be conductive and can cause intermittent shorts. I've had the exact symptoms you've described caused by dust build-up in the PS before.

I can move this thread to Fozzik's forum, if you want.

[Csan Tran]

Sure Nolaquen. I just posted here to let my guildies know what's up.

Thanks

Hang on tight, here we gooooooo...!

[rabb1t]

hum... hum... teh rabb1t are confoozled by this issue.

Scoring higher in 3dMarks is an indication that the power supply could be over-reving your system. While happy for benchmarks, that's a lightning gun waiting to happen, in a bad way.

I'd say the first thing to do, if you were keeping the system, would be return everything to factory default and see if the problem occurs then. It could be the OC is messing with a voltage somewhere.

Hopefully the change to the new bits will correct the problem and the power supply is fine. If it continues, the power supply is the most likely culprit.

Um... you have no 8-pin connectors on that PSU. You may run into an issue trying to run that GTX 280, as it requires an 8-pin connection.

If you need to change it, which I'd recommend, as Evga warned not to use pin-converters, would be the Corsair CMPSU-750TX at $100 post rebate if cables don't bother you. (The OCZ you have is a cabled type.) 750w would be plenty even for dual GTX 280. You wouldn't need more unless you were looking at tri. You could also look at the Corsair CMPSU-620HX at $120 if you want to go modular. Plenty of power for dual as well.

[Csan Tran]

Yes, I reset the CMOS via jumper and everything was back to stock form. That didn’t work. If you said EVGA warned people about using adapters then why would they include them in their package. That would not make sense to me *shrugs*. That’s another 2 day delay for me then, unless I find a store around here that carries it.

I did however just thought of something. I wonder if the driver has anything to do with the crashes. I was using the Forceware 177.70 and it seems that every time a new driver comes out, the scores increased on 3Dmark06 for many users. That would probably explain why my score jumped so high. I have not really run the 3Dmark06 for a few months prior to this test. Some people were complaining about the new driver, 177.73, that it would increase the heat of the video card. Hmmm….

Thanks for your advice Rabb1t.

[Slide]

there's a thingy in windows where you can get it to display the bluescreen instead of rebooting - reckon your pc is bluescreening, but you aren't seeing the message.

[rabb1t]

It may have been one particular card. Let me see if I can find the page... here it is.

You are right, that's very confusing. They say they don't recommend it, yet at the bottom of the page they show their 6-pin to 8-pin converter. Confusing.

Did you run a MemTest check?

[bozzin]

I had simular problems with mine awhile back and it ended up being a bad PS. Csan are you just loading Vanguard and having it crash or is it other games? Also did you just reinstall your OS or did you reformat your hard drives first?

[Csan Tran]

Ok everyone, here it goes...

So, I installed my new MB and video card. I had to test this out so I would know for sure it if it was my power supply or not. If I had installed a new PS with the others I would never know what the problem was. I power it up and 1 sec later it shuts down, power it up...shuts down, power it up...stays up yay. I go into the bios and 2 minutes later...it shuts down. Hmm either my MB is DOA or guess what, it's the power supply!!! lol

I'm going to order a new PS tonite so that means I won't get it until Thursday. I sure hope though that it isn't a DOA Motherboard *prays*.

Boz - everytime I load up Vanguard and it I get to the character select screen it shuts down. I tried EQ2 and it would get to the actual game for about 2 mins then shuts down. I blame you...

Rabb1t - I checked out the EVGA site that you linked and they recommend not getting and PS that provides the 6-pin/8-pin output from the same cable which that Corsair 750W has. I'll check out some other ones.

I guess I'm going to have 1 happy brother with a 680i MB and a 8800GTX lol. Thanks everyone for your inputs. I'll keep you guys posted on Thursday.

Csan

[rabb1t]

That fast it either has to be power supply or CPU. I'd put bets on the power supply. The fact you can't even get to the bios is a very bad sign. (And the higher power use and higher failure does most certainly point towards power.)

Note though that I recommend doing a full reformat of the hard drive whenever you change motherboards.

The Corsiar should be fine. It's got 4x 6+2 pins (aka 8-pin). I think what they are saying is there are issues with people who have a 6-pin and 8-pin connection on the same line. I think this one should be ok, as they are all the same pin type.

With the 750 and 620 you could run 2 separate lines to be sure, which I'd recommend doing anyways if you have the spare cables.

It likely isn't a big issue, as that one page was only referenced back in the day at the GX2 launch and I haven't seen it since. You can't even find it on the normal Evga site navitation. If it were an issue I think we'd have seen/heard more about it.

[bozzin]

Yep it's somnding more like a PS problem with each post hehe. I never Knew I was your brother Csan!

[WaterBug]

I started to reply to this thread yesterday wanting to voice my concern with this power supply but had to go because of work.

Lots of bad customer comments on the Egg about this unit and the problems you mention totally sound like not enough power is being sent to your system.

I'm sure once you get a new power supply in your rig you'll be back up and running.

[Giftmacher]

Hmmm got to agree with rabbit, primary candidates are PSU and CPU. I'd definitely check the CPU fan is seated firmly, someone's had power-up and rapid shut downs on here before and that was due to the cooler not sitting properly.

GL with it.

Gift.

[Csan Tran]

Damn Elladan, you were right about the feedbacks on NewEgg...sheesh.

Giftmacher - I redid the Thermal Paste twice on the CPU now lol. I also have the Zalman cooler.