Computer reboots after gaming session. Help!

[Jonzey]

Okay so about 6 months ago I bought my first prebuilt system. For the first 4 months it worked liked a charm with no problems what so ever. For the past two months usually after about two hours of playing Counter-Strike GO after I exit the game it will reboot. It is not an instant reboot but usually after 5 minutes of being idle or turning on netflix ect. At first the screen would flicker black and say the video driver stopped responding so I did a clean reinstall of all the drivers and that solved that problem but not the rebooting. Sometimes I can reboot back up instantly but other times it will not make it to the windows screen and I have to hard reset it. I figured it may be a dust problem so I opened it up and cleaned it thoroughly. This solved the problem for like 2-3 days and then the problem persists again. Once in awhile while playing the screen will actually freeze but I can still hear my friends on skype and the game sound and about 5 seconds later the computer will reboot. From what I've read this seems to be either a Gpu or psu problem. I've finally ran out of ideas and decided to come to the pros. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Processor- AMD FX-8320 CPU (8x 3.50GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
Processor cooling- Asetek 510LC Liquid CPU Cooling System [AMD] - Standard 120mm Fan
Memory- 8 GB [4 GB x2] DDR3-1866 Memory Module [AMD] - G.Skill Ripjaws X
GPU-NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 - 2GB - Single Card
Motherboard- Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P -- AMD 970
PSU-600 Watt - Corsair CX600 V2 - 80 PLUS Bronze

 

[iwillruinyou]

It would be a pretty strange thing for a PSU to act like this after a gaming session (when its probably starting to get cooler). But, I guess, it might as well be it - can you maybe borrow a different PSU from your friends? Another probable cause of this issue could be your RAM - have your tried using MemTest86 in order to test for possible memory issues? Also, have you checked if your HDD or SSD is doing okay? Maybe it is starting to show some errors.

Btw, have your checked the Event Log after these restarts occur? Maybe it has more to do with conflicting drivers or applications on your system rather than the hardware.

 

[Jonzey]

It would be a pretty strange thing for a PSU to act like this after a gaming session (when its probably starting to get cooler). But, I guess, it might as well be it - can you maybe borrow a different PSU from your friends? Another probable cause of this issue could be your RAM - have your tried using MemTest86 in order to test for possible memory issues? Also, have you checked if your HDD or SSD is doing okay? Maybe it is starting to show some errors.

Btw, have your checked the Event Log after these restarts occur? Maybe it has more to do with conflicting drivers or applications on your system rather than the hardware.

Thanks for the response ruin. How do I check the event log after the restarts?

 

[Jonzey]

I've seen multiple people with the issue of their system rebooting while gaming but mine reboots 5-10 minutes after I exit the game. I have no idea what is going on.

 

[Darkbreeze]

What is the brand and model numbers of the prebuilt system and/or case? How many case fans are there and in what configuration, i.e, two intake and one exhaust etc. Have you used anything to monitor the GPU and CPU temps. I'd recommend that you do so. It could be a temperature issue causing a hard reboot.

I'd use Core Temp for the CPU temps and whatever GPU utility you prefer for the GPU temps. Try to notice temperatures in situations where the reboot is likely to occur. Download HWinfo (NOT HWmonitor or Open hardware monitor) and run sensors only. You can also use this for both CPU and GPU temps as well if you prefer. Take screenshot of all sensors and post them here. It will usually take three screenshots. Take the screenshots of HWinfo during a gaming session or immediately after.

 

[Jonzey]

The brand of the prebuilt is Ibuypower, I customized it. The case is a ARC 647 CASE. 1 x 120mm Side Fan
1 x 120mm Front Fan
1 x 120mm Rear black Fan
I will get the Hwinfo right now and get you the temps asap.
Im assuming the back is exhaust I hand checked it and its blowing out.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Sounds good, all but the part where you mentioned iBuypower. That part sucked. Heh. JK. Well, not really kidding, but being facetious.

 

[Jonzey]

It was suggested by a good friend that knows his in and outs around a computer and he customized it. But this problem I have now has him baffled. He figured it may be an overheating issue but why would my computer reboot 10 minutes after exiting a game? Wouldn't the system be cooling down?

 

[Darkbreeze]

No, the longer the system is on, the more heat that has been created. It may simply be a faulty hardware circuit on the GPU, IN the PSU, or on the motherboard, that doesn't handle the cooling down process well after having been very warm or it may not be cooling down well. Have you visually verified that ALL of the case fans are working correctly, as well as ALL of the GPU and CPU cooling fans? If those fans are not working, those components may be continuing to heat even though the load has been removed.


It actually sounds like it could possibly be a motherboard VRM problem. That board isn't a very good option for FX 8 core chips. iBuypower is well known for pairing incompatible or unlikely hardware together so that's not surprising. iBuypower and CyberpowerPC, being the same company, are both known for, well, crappy pairing of hardware that no reputable builder would use together, use of low quality parts and terrible customer service after the sale.

Is the CPU configured with a manual overclock or have any of the CPU settings for voltage or multiplier been altered from the stock configuration, even if it was from the vendor, or is it running at the stock 3.5Ghz with turbo enabled? I'm very curious to see the temperatures at the time or just slightly before it shuts down and during a gaming load. If there is any kind of issue with the pump or the rest of the liquid cooling system, it may be cumulative and have a delayed effect is the only guess I can come up with as to why it happens AFTER you shut things down.

Let's see those sensor readings at idle and at load and go from there.

By the way, if you want to see some data on the reliability of those two companies, take a look at these threads, which are only a few among thousands. I'd kick your friend in the shin and tell him to do his homework next time. I've personally dealt with more than fifty failed units from those two companies, in real life, not even counting the systems I've helped with here on the forums that were assembled by them.


http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2283361/ibuypower-cyberpower-buy.html


http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1720121/ibuypower-cyberpower.html


http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/323621-31-cyberpower-warning

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2654541/cyber-power-success.html


http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/387498-31-digital-storm-power-cyberpower-alienware


Keep in mind, that they both have the same parent company. So while it LOOKS like most of the problems are with CyberpowerPC, iBuypower has the same exact issues. I just don't have the time to find those threads too.


Also, the Corsair CX, CS, VS and RM units are not of sufficient quality to rate being recommended for use with gaming cards or overclocked systems. If your PSU has a fanless mode, or ECO type switch for quieter operation, make sure it's not set to that as well.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'd also try running the same procedures you normally do with the side cover off to see if it still has a problem. That can tell us some things as well.

 

[iwillruinyou]

It would be a pretty strange thing for a PSU to act like this after a gaming session (when its probably starting to get cooler). But, I guess, it might as well be it - can you maybe borrow a different PSU from your friends? Another probable cause of this issue could be your RAM - have your tried using MemTest86 in order to test for possible memory issues? Also, have you checked if your HDD or SSD is doing okay? Maybe it is starting to show some errors.

Btw, have your checked the Event Log after these restarts occur? Maybe it has more to do with conflicting drivers or applications on your system rather than the hardware.

Thanks for the response ruin. How do I check the event log after the restarts?

If you are using Windows 8.1, you could just search for an application called View Event Logs, after you open it go to Windows Logs and then System. There you can check for the most recent ones, especially, if they are marked as Errors or Critical.

 

[Jonzey]

Okay guys. I'm posting from my phone. After 6 hours of playing cs go with no problems I turned off the game and checked my temps. They were the same as when I started. 5 minutes later my computer went black screen and turned off. I have not been able to reboot it since then. I log into Windows and it goes straight black screen. I have no idea what to do at the moment. I rely on this system due to online classes.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'm thinking there is also the possibility of a memory hole issue. If the title you're playing, or any title for that matter, has a memory hole issue and memory is not being released when the game ends and you open other applications after closing the game, at some point it may simply run out of memory and that's it. That usually results in blue screens, but I suppose it's possible. It could even be related to GPU VRAM issues rather than system memory. Having the sensor data I asked for would certainly be helpful in trying to determine what's going on. If it will not even post though, that's pretty much out the door. Will the system not POST, or just not boot to windows?

 

[Jonzey]

Just will not boot to windows, I make it to the log in screen, click my account and then goes to a black screen.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Will it boot into safe mode?