Computer turns off during game play after GPU upgrade New Build

[Jason_176]

Hi Everyone and thank you for taking the time to read and offer assistance. This is an interesting one as I have spent a lot of time reading through all the similar threads and nothing has yet offered me a solution...

PC is a new build where the only original is now my RAM and HDD: Spec. is

i3 4170 CPU
Asus H81M-P Plus MB
1 x 4GB Corsair
1 x 2GB G-Skill ripjaws DDR3
600GB WD HDD
Corsair CX500 PSU
Windows 7 64

GPU
For the Graphics cards I have been playing with three as I believed this to be the cause.
iChill GTX 970 3GB (Second Hand purchased Online) PC Shutoff
Strix Asus GTX 970 4GB (Second Hand Purchased Online) PC Shutoff
Sparkle GTX 750 1GB (Original purchased from New) Working perfectly no issues

PSU
Recently had 600Watt Storm with 24 Amps on the 12V line when running games the frame rate was either terrible or the game didn't finish load followed by either a blue screen or black screen with the PC still running and the sound loop. I upgraded this to the Corsair CX500 which seemed to be working better actually allowing the game to run for 5-10 minutes now with a different problem of the PC just shutting itself off. The screen would go black and the fans stop dead, Sometimes the PC wont allow you to turn back on for a few minutes.

The Fans and heat sinks are completely clean and monitoring the temperatures:
CPU doesn't pass 50 degrees
GPU doesn't pass 66 degrees

I have attempted a fresh windows install with fresh driver installs and pretty much everything else listed on the forums.

I think I can rule out faulty cards as it would be unlikely that two would be acting the exact same way.

My suspect is that the PSU still isn't powerful enough to supply these cards but reading online there are many people using this supply and card if not lower Wattage with no problems at all. Since changing the PSU over I have noticed a big improvement in speed of the PC. I really don't know what else to do..

 

[n0ns3ns3]

It seems like power issue.
though CX500 should be enough, it might be not able to do the job.
any chance you can test it with other, better PSU?
second thing i'd suspect is the MB.

 

[hang-the-9]

So from your post, you have 3 cards, one is working fine. The two cards that have issues were used, it's likely you just have two bad used cards.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

^ the two "less working" are two times power consumption 😉

 

[Jason_176]

^ the two "less working" are two times power consumption 😉

Thanks for your thoughts on the PSU, I know the two new ones are more power hungry vs the old especially the 780 which requires minimum stated 600W but I would have thought the 500W would be enough for the 970...

I think I will try and replace the PSU again. Can you suggest one which would be suitable or to at least rule the PSU out 100% without breaking the bank of course? I was looking at the corsair CX600 or VS650 they are both around £50

Out of interest what are your thoughts regarding the mb?

 

[hang-the-9]

Both CX and VS on the low spec models form Corsair, you want a good power supply in a system with higher power needs.

There is nothing much very good under $70 or 80 to get for a gaming system. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096&cm_re=SeaSonic_S12II-_-17-151-096-_-Product

Did you test the system with one RAM stick at a time? Did you do a clean Windows setup when you installed the new parts?

 

[n0ns3ns3]

those two around 50 mark are pretty decent:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/98tCmG/xfx-power-supply-p1650snlb9
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/bZL7YJ/antec-power-supply-vp550f

this one is a bit more expensive, but awesome and can serve you in any future build (any CPU + any single GPU):
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/nB3RsY/seasonic-power-supply-s12ii620bronze

The MB is basic, but should work as it's not intended for overclocking or something.

 

[Jason_176]

Both CX and VS on the low spec models form Corsair, you want a good power supply in a system with higher power needs.

There is nothing much very good under $70 or 80 to get for a gaming system. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096&cm_re=SeaSonic_S12II-_-17-151-096-_-Product

Did you test the system with one RAM stick at a time? Did you do a clean Windows setup when you installed the new parts?

Thanks Hang-the-9 I have attempted the same thing with one RAM stick at a time and I started a full fresh windows setup with the 970 installed to make sure it wouldn't be a driver issue. Only recently have I attempted with the 780 but am seeing the exact same thing. I'll do some research on the PSU and see what that brings

 

[Jason_176]

those two around 50 mark are pretty decent:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/98tCmG/xfx-power-supply-p1650snlb9
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/bZL7YJ/antec-power-supply-vp550f

this one is a bit more expensive, but awesome and can serve you in any future build (any CPU + any single GPU):
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/nB3RsY/seasonic-power-supply-s12ii620bronze

The MB is basic, but should work as it's not intended for overclocking or something.

Cheers guys. I but the bullet and purchased a 750 watt PSU which is complete overkill as has enough cables to support 2 cards! I have just played on it for about 30 minutes with no issues will run a proper test on it soon but convinced it's solved the problem. Thanks a lot for your suggestions and quick responses