Computer losing power when gaming

[odet]

Hey everyone, so lately i've been having some power issues. I recently purchased a new GPU, the GTX 480 and it has been running great the last month. Now everyone knows this card eats power, so I made sure my PSU could handle it before buying. I have the OCZ 600W GameXstream, and from looking at the specs it seemed like it could handle the card.

It's been running good for the last month but recently has started to just randomly lose power with no warnings. At first, it would happen about 20 mins into a game, but now it happens less than 5 mins! I could just be at the start menu, not even in game yet and it can happen. I can surf the web and everything no problem, it only seems to lose power once a game is executed.

Ex: I launch Xcom: enemy unknown, load a game and within 5 mins my computer loses all power, as if someone pulled the plug. The computer doesn't attempt to restart. I push the power button and starts up as if nothing happened.

I'm pretty sure it's the PSU, its about 3 years old and makes the min requirements for the GPU. Also, once it loses power i went into bios right away to see cpu temps and they seem normal idle temps so I don't think it's the CPU overheating.

If anyone knows anything else it could be i'd like to hear, becuase im about ready to order another PSU.

 

[braincruser]

Dont look at the idle temperatures, The load temperatures are the important ones. Get a gpu burn MSI Kombustor works good. Also take Prime for CPU burn in, test both, look at the temps, if any of those two gets above 85 C you most likelly overheat. See if you can recreate the same thing outside of a game. If possible check the other sensors(MOBO, HDD, etc.)

 

[odet]

Dont look at the idle temperatures, The load temperatures are the important ones. Get a gpu burn MSI Kombustor works good. Also take Prime for CPU burn in, test both, look at the temps, if any of those two gets above 85 C you most likelly overheat. See if you can recreate the same thing outside of a game. If possible check the other sensors(MOBO, HDD, etc.)

I run some intense audio programs for when im recording and mixing that requires the CPU. I've opened some up with a lot of tracks which will make my computer lag but does not power off. Only when something that requires the GPU, does it power off. But if the GPU was failing i don't think i would lose power on the whole computer. Thats why i think it must be the PSU!

I just launched Borderlands 2, and it powered off within the first minute. Since the GPU draws a lot more power when it is being used i'm fairly sure it has to be the PSU, but i will run a program on the CPU to see if it is overheating and let you know.

 

[braincruser]

http://download1.msi.com/files/downloads/uti_exe/vga/MSIAfterburnerSetup225.zip

http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=205

Dont guess, Test. these two are meant to push your computer to the apsolute max. That means 100% on all cores, 100% on GPU.

this is Core temp, meant to measure CPU temperatures.
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

MSI afterburner(overclock tool, not important) and MSI Combustor(it comes with afterburner, in the same zip) have a GPU temperature measuring integrated.

Install Core Temp and Kombuster, and Watch the temperatures. Then activate Prime95, after that if everything is ok, Turn prime95 off, and turn Kombustor on, use GPU burn-in. if it doesnt fail, turn both on, if temperatures are in check(bellow 90) and the Computer turns off then it might be the PSU.

Again, measure don't guess. It is possible the GPU heatsink is loose and doesnt have good contact. Its good enough for Idle but not under Load. It is possible the Fan doesnt ramp up its speed. It could be any number of things.

 

[braincruser]

Also beware of the SpamWare inside CoreTemp.

 

[odet]

http://download1.msi.com/files/downloads/uti_exe/vga/MSIAfterburnerSetup225.zip

http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=205

Dont guess, Test. these two are meant to push your computer to the apsolute max. That means 100% on all cores, 100% on GPU.

this is Core temp, meant to measure CPU temperatures.
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

MSI afterburner(overclock tool, not important) and MSI Combustor(it comes with afterburner, in the same zip) have a GPU temperature measuring integrated.

Install Core Temp and Kombuster, and Watch the temperatures. Then activate Prime95, after that if everything is ok, Turn prime95 off, and turn Kombustor on, use GPU burn-in. if it doesnt fail, turn both on, if temperatures are in check(bellow 90) and the Computer turns off then it might be the PSU.

Again, measure don't guess. It is possible the GPU heatsink is loose and doesnt have good contact. Its good enough for Idle but not under Load. It is possible the Fan doesnt ramp up its speed. It could be any number of things.

OK thanks for the help. I ran Prime95 for 10 minutes(long enough considering i couldn't get more than a minute in games) cores never exceeded 60 on 100% load. I ran Kombust and my computer went off before even hitting 90. Gpu temp was around 82 when it powered off. Now would a GPU failing make the whole system power off? Becuase from doing this 'testing' it seems that it has to be the GPU or PSU.

 

[odet]

also, the gtx 480 is known to get hot, it has a max temp of 105, so even 90 would be normal on %100 load.

 

[odet]

I ended up getting a new PSU, Corsair TX850 and no longer am losing power.