GPUs are crashing my PC, why?

[Fallbreaker]

So I recently bought a Gigabyte 780 OC 3gb GPU. I followed the instructions, installed it correctly, installed the drivers, removed the old ones etc etc, and it worked fine for 2-3ish hours. Then my PC began crashing, it would simply crash, the screen would say No Signal and then it would immediately restart and then crash even before reaching the login screen or when in BIOS and it would just keep going until I turned the power supply off.
I removed the card, it stopped altogether.

I tried my back-up GP a barely used 5450 AMD card, and it worked for a short while with all applications and then the same thing started happening again.

The previous GPU I had was an ASUS 7850 2gb and it worked fine for a year, then it started crashing my PC in a similar way. I took it back to the store and they tested it, and it crashed their PC too.

So I assumed that it was just that card that was causing it, but apparently not.
I highly doubt that tempreture is the issue since both of these cards are brand new and I have 4 fans in my Case, plus GPU-Z says my temps are in normal range, although I can't test it with the cards.

Components:

CPU: Intel i7-3770K 3.50ghz (With stock fan)
MB: ASUS P8Z77-V LX
RAM: 2x 4GB G.Skill Ripjaws
HDD1: WD Blue 1TB
HDD2: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
PSU: Cooler Master GX Bronze 650W
Case: Thermaltake Armor REVO ATX/Full Size
CD Drive: LG Blu-Ray COmbo
+ Wireless PCI card.

GPUs (Used one at a time, and they use the same PCI slots):
Gigabyte GTX 780 OC 3GB
Sapphire HD5450 AMD

Please help me 🙁

 

[techgeek]

I'm betting its your power supply. I remember reading HardOCP's review of Cooler Master's GX series and they didn't have anything nice to say about them. Also that series has been around for quite awhile, have you had it long?

 

[Fallbreaker]

I'm betting its your power supply. I remember reading HardOCP's review of Cooler Master's GX series and they didn't have anything nice to say about them. Also that series has been around for quite awhile, have you had it long?

I've had it for just over a year.

 

[techgeek]

Do you have another power supply that you can try? One you could borrow? Or if you have more than one system to take it from.

I've run your configuration on a PSU calculator and it came out a little over 600W so the supply you have is sufficient power wise. However the fact that it's been reviewed poorly, and you've had it more than a year, and you've had this problem for a long time with multiple graphics cards makes me think that yours is flakey.

 

[FaqirKhan]

I suggest you try the card with another power supply , borrow it from a friend or two for the time being , just to test it.
The Power supply is sufficient for the card you have mentioned but I think there is something wrong with your PSU.

 

[Fallbreaker]

Do you have another power supply that you can try? One you could borrow? Or if you have more than one system to take it from.

I've run your configuration on a PSU calculator and it came out a little over 600W so the supply you have is sufficient power wise. However the fact that it's been reviewed poorly, and you've had it more than a year, and you've had this problem for a long time with multiple graphics cards makes me think that yours is flakey.

Thanks techgeek and FaqirKhan, I don't have a another system or power supply though.
What is a PSU that you could recommend that what I need, and affordable?
Is there a test, piece of software or something I could use to test it?

 

[techgeek]

As for a recommendation: power wise 650 - 750 watts
As for a manufacturer, XFX, Seasonic, Corsair (some), Antec (some) all make good supplies. The first two would be my go to brands. So a Seasonic 650W supply would be great.

Seasonic 650W Supply

Affordable is subjective, this one is just under the $100 mark. Of course they have more expensive units as well.

 

[Fallbreaker]

As for a recommendation: power wise 650 - 750 watts
As for a manufacturer, XFX, Seasonic, Corsair (some), Antec (some) all make good supplies. The first two would be my go to brands. So a Seasonic 650W supply would be great.

Seasonic 650W Supply

Affordable is subjective, this one is just under the $100 mark. Of course they have more expensive units as well.

I'm in Australia, and this is the best supplier in my city, is this one good? It;s the only 650w Seasonic they have http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_972&products_id=21503

Also, you didn't say if there was any way I could test the PSU?

 

[techgeek]

That is essentially the same supply as the one I suggested (54A on the 12V). Yes it is a good supply.

As far as testing, there really isn't a good way for you to test it. Not without tons of equipment. There are power supply testers out there, but they only measure the rails essentially unloaded. I don't put much faith in them. The only good way to eliminate the PSU is to run another (borrowed) that's known to be good and see if you experience the same problems.

 

[Fallbreaker]

That is essentially the same supply as the one I suggested (54A on the 12V). Yes it is a good supply.

As far as testing, there really isn't a good way for you to test it. Not without tons of equipment. There are power supply testers out there, but they only measure the rails essentially unloaded. I don't put much faith in them. The only good way to eliminate the PSU is to run another (borrowed) that's known to be good and see if you experience the same problems.

Okay something weird has happened.

I took the HDMI cable out and put in an older bulkier one whose name I can't remember, and I flicked this switch on my motherboard for GPU Boost which is a feature this motherboard has. I flicked it the opposite way, which has enabled a red light which is now on and the 780 is working fine! I don't know if I turned GPU Boost on or off but everything seems to be working now....

 

[Fallbreaker]

Aaaand, I left my PC on over igth to download Titanfall. Come back this morning, I try and open Firefox.... and it crashes again!

 

[Fallbreaker]

And now Firefox is randomly crashing, and eventually my PC crashes and goes to a blue screen, does a disk dump and then restarts...
WITHOUT the graphics card!

 

[FaqirKhan]

Well That is drastic , I don't think so there is any problem regarding your PSU , It has something to do with your Motherboard maybe , I can't tell.
Here is something I suggest you try :
Plug the Graphics card Out of the Motherboard.
Run the Computer with integrated graphics , Leave it over for a couple of hours and see If it Crashes.
Uninstall the Drivers of GFX (Graphics card)
Make sure to reset your BIOS AFTER the test.
Plug The card back in , Plug all the power connectors to the card correctly.
Take the RAM sticks out , and Check them one by one , by first putting a single stick and test your PC , again pull the other one out and Test it with the second one and so on and so forth.
Make sure your Hard drive is plugged well.
Make sure all the connectors on main board are tight.
Turn the PC on again and see how it does , install the Drivers again.
Run In safemode if needed.
It could be a possible software problem and even a problem with your Hard ware as PSU , motherboard.
Do these steps and see.

 

[Fallbreaker]

Well That is drastic , I don't think so there is any problem regarding your PSU , It has something to do with your Motherboard maybe , I can't tell.
Here is something I suggest you try :
Plug the Graphics card Out of the Motherboard.
Run the Computer with integrated graphics , Leave it over for a couple of hours and see If it Crashes.
Uninstall the Drivers of GFX (Graphics card)
Make sure to reset your BIOS AFTER the test.
Plug The card back in , Plug all the power connectors to the card correctly.
Take the RAM sticks out , and Check them one by one , by first putting a single stick and test your PC , again pull the other one out and Test it with the second one and so on and so forth.
Make sure your Hard drive is plugged well.
Make sure all the connectors on main board are tight.
Turn the PC on again and see how it does , install the Drivers again.
Run In safemode if needed.
It could be a possible software problem and even a problem with your Hard ware as PSU , motherboard.
Do these steps and see.

My PC has been running for a while now and no crashes, with just the Integrated graphics. I did used Memtest 86 last night and it came up with zero errors, so should I still test the memory?

 

[FaqirKhan]

No , Try putting the card back in and lets see.

 

[Fallbreaker]

Kk. How do I reset the BIOs? and you want me to do that after I've put the memory out and back in? And does it matter which socket I put each individual memory stick into?

 

[FaqirKhan]

Kk. How do I reset the BIOs? and you want me to do that after I've put the memory out and back in? And does it matter which socket I put each individual memory stick into?

No It doesn't matter , Just make sure that you put it in correctly , Just go into the BIOS and you will have the option to reset everything to normal, even fi you are unable to find such an option just remember which things you messed up and put it back into its default state , and then try , I think you can solve this problem , If I would have been there with you It wouldn't take me a while to fix it , don't worry , we will fix this.

 

[Fallbreaker]

Kk. How do I reset the BIOs? and you want me to do that after I've put the memory out and back in? And does it matter which socket I put each individual memory stick into?

No It doesn't matter , Just make sure that you put it in correctly , Just go into the BIOS and you will have the option to reset everything to normal, even fi you are unable to find such an option just remember which things you messed up and put it back into its default state , and then try , I think you can solve this problem , If I would have been there with you It wouldn't take me a while to fix it , don't worry , we will fix this.

Both memory sticks seem to be fine and the PC hasn't crashed with the graphics card in.
All the power cables ar e plugged in the right way, the cards fans are spinning but it's not detected at al lby the PC, certain games won't play, because they can't sense it.

Should I put both mem sticks in now, restart and download the card drivers again?
By reset, do you mean put back to default? And, should I update my BIOS?

 

[FaqirKhan]

Kk. How do I reset the BIOs? and you want me to do that after I've put the memory out and back in? And does it matter which socket I put each individual memory stick into?

No It doesn't matter , Just make sure that you put it in correctly , Just go into the BIOS and you will have the option to reset everything to normal, even fi you are unable to find such an option just remember which things you messed up and put it back into its default state , and then try , I think you can solve this problem , If I would have been there with you It wouldn't take me a while to fix it , don't worry , we will fix this.

Both memory sticks seem to be fine and the PC hasn't crashed with the graphics card in.
All the power cables ar e plugged in the right way, the cards fans are spinning but it's not detected at al lby the PC, certain games won't play, because they can't sense it.

Should I put both mem sticks in now, restart and download the card drivers again?
By reset, do you mean put back to default? And, should I update my BIOS?

Yes by Reset I mean default , Please do upgrade your BIOS as it is an option that is worth trying but I am not sure how to do that as i have never upgraded my BIOS , I think that there is some problem with your motherboard.
Put the sticks back in , and redownload the drivers , but I don't seem to see any problem , prohibiting your PC from detecting a graphics card....Best of Luck.

 

[Fallbreaker]

Kk. How do I reset the BIOs? and you want me to do that after I've put the memory out and back in? And does it matter which socket I put each individual memory stick into?

No It doesn't matter , Just make sure that you put it in correctly , Just go into the BIOS and you will have the option to reset everything to normal, even fi you are unable to find such an option just remember which things you messed up and put it back into its default state , and then try , I think you can solve this problem , If I would have been there with you It wouldn't take me a while to fix it , don't worry , we will fix this.

Both memory sticks seem to be fine and the PC hasn't crashed with the graphics card in.
All the power cables ar e plugged in the right way, the cards fans are spinning but it's not detected at al lby the PC, certain games won't play, because they can't sense it.

Should I put both mem sticks in now, restart and download the card drivers again?
By reset, do you mean put back to default? And, should I update my BIOS?

Yes by Reset I mean default , Please do upgrade your BIOS as it is an option that is worth trying but I am not sure how to do that as i have never upgraded my BIOS , I think that there is some problem with your motherboard.
Put the sticks back in , and redownload the drivers , but I don't seem to see any problem , prohibiting your PC from detecting a graphics card....Best of Luck.

I updated my BIOS, reset it. Downloaded the drivers again, restarted the PC, and then it just started goign to a black screen and crashing again before it even get's to the login screen.

 

[FaqirKhan]

Kk. How do I reset the BIOs? and you want me to do that after I've put the memory out and back in? And does it matter which socket I put each individual memory stick into?

No It doesn't matter , Just make sure that you put it in correctly , Just go into the BIOS and you will have the option to reset everything to normal, even fi you are unable to find such an option just remember which things you messed up and put it back into its default state , and then try , I think you can solve this problem , If I would have been there with you It wouldn't take me a while to fix it , don't worry , we will fix this.

Both memory sticks seem to be fine and the PC hasn't crashed with the graphics card in.
All the power cables ar e plugged in the right way, the cards fans are spinning but it's not detected at al lby the PC, certain games won't play, because they can't sense it.

Should I put both mem sticks in now, restart and download the card drivers again?
By reset, do you mean put back to default? And, should I update my BIOS?

Yes by Reset I mean default , Please do upgrade your BIOS as it is an option that is worth trying but I am not sure how to do that as i have never upgraded my BIOS , I think that there is some problem with your motherboard.
Put the sticks back in , and redownload the drivers , but I don't seem to see any problem , prohibiting your PC from detecting a graphics card....Best of Luck.

I updated my BIOS, reset it. Downloaded the drivers again, restarted the PC, and then it just started goign to a black screen and crashing again before it even get's to the login screen.

Well this should not happen , I think you should get your PC checked by a hardware store near you right away.
I don't see any problems , Why is it crashing? I can't tell , Please go check it by a Computer Store.
They will get it fixed likely.

 

[techgeek]

I really think that it's your power supply. The only way to eliminate it is to try another one. If it doesn't fix it, it's not the power supply, if it does, then you've found the problem. Short of that, it could be the motherboard, but I'm pretty sure you're not going to have another one sitting around and the power supply is the cheaper of the two options to check. It's also the most likely.

 

[Fallbreaker]

OKAY! So I bought a 750W Corsair PSU and it seems to be working fine!

 

[techgeek]

Good to hear. Glad you got it sorted out. It sucks when all your fancy computer parts don't behave.

 

[FaqirKhan]

I just Flopped :/ Good , You got it fixed though.
CONGRATS