Crash and reboot during OCCT CPU test

Pedro Bernardo

Honorable
Apr 22, 2013
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10,510
Hi. I've been getting random restarts when working, or even when I leave the computer idle with software open. In my case, Pro Tools LE 8.0.5, a CPU intensive audio workstation. The thing is, it restarts even when the software is not using up any system resources. Also, there is no BSOD.


It has been a long journey trying to find a software/driver culprit, but it came down to hardware issues.

I ran MEMTEST 86+ and passed it (only ran 1 pass 'thou)

Then I tried OCCT CPU test in large data mode, and it crashed after 13 minutes, just like it did in the software, that's the first time I was able to reproduce the crash outside Pro Tools.

There are no heating issues. Temperatures are just fine. The machine isnt overclocked either.

I tried removing the video card, running the Intel HD 4000 onboard video instead, and ran the OCCT CPU test again. It crashed in about 2 minutes, with a pinkish artifact-filled screen, and then rebooted. That's the same behavior I had observed in pro tools before I got a dedicated GPU.

I WAS going to provide a SANDRA report, but it crashed during that as well, in the PROCESSOR phase. And I wasn`t even benchmarking it. So... here are my specs:

GA-b75-d3h GIGABYTE MOBO
i7-3770k 3.5GHz CPU
1x8gb Corsair vengeance 1600MHz RAM
120GB SSD Kingston (System)
500GB 7200rpm Seagate HDD (Data)
Zotac 8400GS 512MB/DDR3 GPU
Mbox Mini (3rd Gen) Audio Interface
Corsair 430W PSU

Now, I'm coming to terms with the fact that my CPU might be defective (the whole machine is brand new). But I'm still not sure.

Could it be something else? Is there anything else you guys recommend I should try before sending this CPU back? Also, i couldn't find a log of the OCCT test since it crashed and automatically restarted. Thanks.





 
if you are sure that the temps are fine and its not a heating problem.
then it is for sure a power supply problem. when you are running stress tests you are pushing your system to highest level and your power supply usually cannot provide enough power and it shuts itself down. try with a better psu (better quality which provides stable power and higher power ofc.)
 


I forgot to mention. I have a 430w Corsair PSU. I know it`s not much, but crashing during idle software time EVEN WITHOUT THE VIDEO CARD INSTALLED?

I will try to run the OCCT power supply test. And I'm going to try to unplug the external audio interface (USB powered) to see if ti makes a difference.


Also, I should make a note that before rolling back to Win 7 x64, I was using Win 8, and back then, the computer DIDN`T restart. It would just freeze and I had to hard-reboot it. It would freeze in the very same situations that this configuration is restarting now.

EDIT: It did restart during OCCT Power supply test with the audio interface disconected.

EDIT 2: I unplugged the secondary HDD also and it still crashed during power supply test

Another note: It freezes for about 1 minute before it reboots. If it was a power supply problem it should simply reboot, correct?

And for the skeptics out there. In the last OCCT CPU test I ran, it froze and rebooted with a steady 70 degree core temperature. So.. no... it is not a heat issue at all.