My PC been restarting randomly whenever I game. I tried running FurMark test and instant restart even when running at 720p. Any idea what's the problem? I'm guessing it should be either PSU or GPU right? The PC is slightly more than 6 months old only.

Specs:
CPU: i7-6700
GPU: Gigabyte Windforce gtx 970
Ram: 4 x 4gb DDR4
HDD: 1 x ssd, 1 x 5.4krpm hdd
PSU: Corsair VS 550

Thanks

This post has been edited by Candlenie: Jan 5 2017, 12:32 AM

Have to isolate the problem one by one. I suggest you test the CPU first with programs like OCCT or Prime95 as it can test the RAM at the same time. If everything look stable, then it could be either the display adapter or driver issue. PSU is usually the last thing you should consider unstable.

Most probably your PC is dusty. You should clean up the dusts in the fan of your desktop. I used tohave the same problem, but that was after a few minutes of gaming.. Lol. Once i cleaned the fans then no problem till this day.. But just to make sure, try cleaning it first, unless youre using a water cooler. The other option is to check the temps of your cpu and gpu. I dont think your psu would be causing the problem. Corsair PSUs are in good rating. im using a corsair one too. No problem whatsoever. haha.

intel auto restart when temperature too hot right?try change thermal paste

I've already tested with prime95. Ran at 100% load for like 5 min and no problem at all. CPU temp is around 70-75.

I've updated my GPU driver as well. I suspect PSU because I'm not really sure whether is 550W sufficient when GPU running full low.

Your PSU should be more than enough to support.. Lol. 970 is about 90W your i7 also maybe at most 125W. lol.

Dust cleaning seems like a good idea. I noticed it was a bit dusty few days back when I open the case. My GPU is factory oc-ed that's why I was wondering whether is it sufficient or not.


I'm using stock cooler + stock thermal paste. I dont think it's cpu temperature...since I was pushing it with prim95 and seems fine.

Thanks guy!

Have you check your GPU temperature? Furmark generates lots of heat and can be the source of problem.

Btw, 5 min of Prime95 is way too short to test a CPU.

Mine used to do that. I thought it was my PSU. After I changed my ageing PSU, it started happening again. Turns out the BIOS battery died (date kept resetting) and for some reason, the PC would just restart at random. After changing the battery, never had the issue again touch wood.

What's the recommended time? Furmark couldn't run at all. The moment I hit start it restart instantly.

Doubt it's CMOS battery. I thought if CMOS battery died it will reset system clock?

Run a 3D demo like Unigine Heaven and check the temperature with HWMonitor.

Prime95 requires at least 8 hours. OCCT is more sensitive but need at least 1 hour. But anyway, your problem doesn't look like a CPU problem.

Thanks! I'll try running Ugine Heaven after I clean the dust and see if it restarts.

some updates...when I run unigine heaven, and monitor with GPU-Z, seems like it'll instant restart when the load is heavy. 720p seems fine. So it all looks like PSU lack power to power GPU? VRAM usage is less than 1gb when it restarts.

try to eject the RAM from the slots and rearrange them...it works for me

It is possible that your PSU is faulty. Downclock your GTX970 or power limit it using MSI afterburner and see if it restart.

Last time my Silverstone ST56F (560W) has this problem, it restarts when I OC.

Cheapest issue to solve is Dusty PC. Please clean all the fans inside the PC (including CPU Cooler and GPU Cooler). Better if you can re-apply them with a new reliable thermal paste.

Big change it is a faulty PSU. In my personal experience, dust will not cause PC restart.

Run Prime95 and Furmark same time.

If CPU, GPU and PSU all no problem it won't breakdown.

You might want to try gaming this time but with only 1 stick of RAM, see if it happens.

Can I know what GPU u using at that time?

Cant run FurMark at all, click start instant reboot. Tried running unigine heaven and it ran high quality@720p for a couple of min then reboot. GPU power consumption was about 70% before it reboot.

I guess maybe really PSU problem. Already did dust cleaning and it's not really dusty. Gonna get new PSU and try. Which is better? seasonic vs super flower leadex.

Go Leadex la, good brand. Seasonic also good actually. All depends on model.

You ran Unigine Heaven 720p for a few minutes and it rebooted.

You ran Furmark confirm sure reboot.

From the above, I'd say it's GPU problem rather than PSU problem.

You see, i7 6700 on Prime95 would've loaded the PSU quite a fair bit. Running Furmark would load it a lot more (from GPU) - higher wattage drawn and if there's an issue here it might be because it draws more power than your PSU can supply (happens on old PSU)

but you said your system is new, so given the above that you run Unigine Heaven at 720P for a few minutes and it reboot, it could be the GPU having problem.

I think another thing you can try running is 3Dmark, try out other games too.

Try out ASUS RealBench as well. https://rog.asus.com/tag/realbench/

If ASUS Realbench pass and Prime95 no issue but running games and graphics benchmark results in reboot, I'd point it to GPU first.

But i7-6700 TDP is only 65W, almost 1/3 of 970 right? I managed to dota on second lowest settings for an hour without any issues. Gonna try ASUS RealBench now.

If your PSU cacat, what voltage also may cause problem.

GTX 970 typically draws around 170-180W, higher than the 145W on Nvidia specs sheet.

I have the VS550 and it last ages and it shouldn't have problem handling your PC load but being an entry level PSU, do consider upgrading it for better protection.

However in this case we have to go into greater detail, just in case you change PSU already and problem still persists.

I think one good way to determine is you take note at which part Unigine Heaven crashes. Run at Full HD (you have FHD monitor?) at 8xAA, Ultra settings and what not set to max.

Dust accumulate causes heat build up, not reboots.

970 is 145w on specs, typical 970 draws 170 - 180w range.

i7 varies but typically i7 draws under 100W but even so they don't draw their rated TDP wattage all the time.

Processor power draw is subjected to load.

The same GPU I'm using now, GTX970 msi gaming. I switched to a new PSU then no more problem already.

I've tried re-run prime95 together with unigine heaven and it instantly crashed. Run at FHD with ultra settings will have instant crash as well lol.

Actually after reading feedbacks here and digging around..maybe it's PSU problem so gonna try that first. I've just ordered super flower leadex 750W and see if it works.

Thanks a lot btw!

Meantime, you can try setting the Power Limit % in MSI afterburner to 60-70%. Gigabyte's GTX970 has a modified power limit of 250W (means the board can draw up to 250W). Setting it to 60% will limit it to ~150W draw (which is the same as stock GTX970).

my win10 usually Alt-Tab out when gaming.. annoying

oh I'm using Gigabyte, they call it Gigabyte OC guru. So reducing clock speed or set power target?




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Set Power Target to 60% (-40). No need to reduce clock speed. The GPU will auto adjust clockspeed based on the power.

your keyboard key stuck is it?

OK so based on your latest post, it's most likely the PSU.

Too bad my VS550 already KO if not I can test it to see whether same result.

Shop give you old stock ah?

And no, don't need to do the power target thing. You lower power target it also will run at lower performance.

When I say your reply I need to double check to see if I posted in /k

I bought my PSU from All IT...should be fine right? It was ok for the past few months. Only happens since last week.

Why? Auto alt-tab might be because your alt was jammed ma...haha

Actually senang case just bring it back to them see how they settle for you.

And why did you buy a GTX 970?

I buy the parts (from different seller) and assemble myself one. Why 970? It's quite decent...can play most of the titles out there.

970 is old, but hope you got it at a good price under RM 1,000.

Well, in my case, dust build up in the stock heatsink fans and cause heat ups when i play any games. After about 20mins or so my PC shuts down. Then i cleaned the fans no problem whatsoever after that. It could be due to the dust stuck at the PCBs of my boards... lol

Haha. Well thanks for the clarification. But I was just assuming that its around that range, since from 900 series onwards they are reducing the power consumption of GPUs.. xD

Setting a lower power can test if the PSU is the problem.. if it doesn't insta reboot when it is set lower, then it means the PSU is tripping due to overcurrent.

That gigabyte has a power limit of 280W (not 250w as i originally mentioned). I tried setting my gtx970 to 75% power limit and it still able to clock 1340mhz.

Shutdown is correct. Not reboot. Our systems will power down when overheat.

haha I got it before 10 series is out so it's a bit pricey. A bit sad...once I got mine and then they announce 1060 which offers about the same performance as 970

Yeah dust is bad. Thats why dust filter is so expensive

Eh when 1070 / 1080 were released the 970 price dropped below 1000 already.

Nmind la, LYN forum is a good place to consult next time.

Oohh. Right.. Lol.

The pc is quite new, thermal paste i guess wouldnt b d culprit unless it was assembled incorrectly or with pahlia thermal paste.

Check one by one by some stress test prg to identify the culprit.. CPU, RAM, GPU....

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If you take back to the shop, the technician test out no problem, most probably need to fork out extra to buy a higher rated PSU..

Anyway TS can sell the old PSU at garage to subsidize new PSU

This post has been edited by AMenzZ: Dec 28 2016, 02:00 AM

haha the thing is when I ordered my 970 10 series not out yet...so the price still sky high. But true...lyn is best place to get consultation...unless u post in /k

Waiting my new PSU...hopefully it'll solve once and for all.

Just some updates in case someone in future found this thread, upgrading PSU works like magic. PC seems fine now.

What is your PSU watt sir?

oh I got a new 750W from superflower leadex. previously was using VS550 from corsair.

is it mod or non mod? 750W is able to handle 1080 and few ssd/hdd properly?

what do you mean by mod? I think 750W gold rated is probably sufficient to handle 1080. I'm using 970 and I think 650 is good enough actually.

haha sorry i mean is it modular type or non-modular type

oh...I got a new full modular psu.

try piece by piece for ram....try with 1 piece first. see if the problem happens...then add another

reinstall correct gpu driver.


take out your gpu then try to run everything n c.


check your windows event viewer after restart.


run gaming with all low spec gpu setting n c.


run heavy gaming benchmark and monitor your temperature. U have at least 1 120mm pc fan right?

haha thanks. the real culprit is PSU. problem solved once i upgraded it

ic good to hear that, although strange 550W should be more than enough for your spec