[SOLVED] Computer crashes if I have a second monitor plugged in. Please help!

[domismeh]

I've been having an issue for a bit in which my computer completely freezes when playing certain games. I've figured out the issue is having two monitors set up. I've tried to run the games on both monitors while the other is off and it works fine. However, when I have the second one plugged in, whether it's into the graphics card or motherboard, my computer completely freezes after a few moments on games. It seems to spike my graphics card to 100% usage.

1080 TI 11GB

i7-8700k

16 GB DDR4-3000 RAM

z370-E Motherboard

850 Watt PSU

Windows 10 Pro

 

[Ralston18]

Does the following link show your 1080 TI?

https://www.newegg.com/evga-geforce-gtx-1080-ti-11g-p4-6696-kr/p/N82E16814487338

If so, the recommended GPU PSU wattage is 600 watts.

Although you have a 850 watt PSU that PSU is also powering all other components as well.

What make and model is that 850 watt PSU? Age, condition?

Its wattage was likely established/tested under ideal conditions.

And, even if new or old may not be up to the power demands in a two monitor environment.

 

[domismeh]

Does the following link show your 1080 TI?

https://www.newegg.com/evga-geforce-gtx-1080-ti-11g-p4-6696-kr/p/N82E16814487338

If so, the recommended GPU PSU wattage is 600 watts.

Although you have a 850 watt PSU that PSU is also powering all other components as well.

What make and model is that 850 watt PSU? Age, condition?

Its wattage was likely established/tested under ideal conditions.

And, even if new or old may not be up to the power demands in a two monitor environment.

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ROG-STR...isplayPort-Overclocked-Graphics/dp/B06XRWYXJY
It's not quite the same that you linked but I'd assume it'd take around the same wattage.

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Supernova-Modular-Warranty-220-G2-0850-XR/dp/B00IKDETOC
This is the power supply I purchased on 10/14/18 brand new.

Not saying your wrong just need help understanding-if it was the PSU would the GPU spike before crashing the pc? Also I can run games like league of legends fine with the two monitor setup, is that because it's a less demanding game?

 

[domismeh]

Does the following link show your 1080 TI?

https://www.newegg.com/evga-geforce-gtx-1080-ti-11g-p4-6696-kr/p/N82E16814487338

If so, the recommended GPU PSU wattage is 600 watts.

Although you have a 850 watt PSU that PSU is also powering all other components as well.

What make and model is that 850 watt PSU? Age, condition?

Its wattage was likely established/tested under ideal conditions.

And, even if new or old may not be up to the power demands in a two monitor environment.

Also is there any way to test whether it's the power supply?

 

[domismeh]

Does the following link show your 1080 TI?

https://www.newegg.com/evga-geforce-gtx-1080-ti-11g-p4-6696-kr/p/N82E16814487338

If so, the recommended GPU PSU wattage is 600 watts.

Although you have a 850 watt PSU that PSU is also powering all other components as well.

What make and model is that 850 watt PSU? Age, condition?

Its wattage was likely established/tested under ideal conditions.

And, even if new or old may not be up to the power demands in a two monitor environment.

And I'm pretty sure the recommended 600-650 is for an entire system including a 1080 ti maybe?

 

[Ralston18]

PSU - test with a multimeter:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually-test-a-power-supply-with-a-multimeter-2626158

Not a full test per se as the PSU is not under load.

600-650

"And I'm pretty sure the recommended 600-650 is for an entire system including a 1080 ti maybe?"

"Maybe" being the operative word.

By specifying a PSU wattage (e.g., 600 watts) the GPU is pretty free to be whatever wattage it happens to need without being pinned to some specific wattage value or some "low to high" wattage range. Worked for awhile when GPUs were not as power hungry and tended to demand less of a PSU. Both in terms of wattage or some % thereof.

As for wattages what PSUs can provide and what components require are often established under ideal circumstances.

So if the PSU is "over-rated" and the various components likely "under-rated" the difference between the two values is likely to be actually less than expected.

Then if the PSU is older, lower quality, defective then there is a narrower margin. That is all the more reason to take a closer look at quantifying the wattages.

As for some % spike, GPU or otherwise, the event may happen and crash the system faster than the event gets processed and visible in the graphs.

Reliability History and Event Viewer may capture and record some pre-requisite event so you end up interpreting the chain of events....

Overall I would not be surprised if the GPU is okay with supporting one monitor but the demand to support two monitors may be more than the system/PSU is able to handle.

Do you have a Kill A Watt type meter? If so you can put the meter between your computer and the wall outlet. Then measure the wattages while system is idling, while doing light work with one monitor, two monitors, and then gaming: again one monitor, two monitors.

The results may be revealing.