[SOLVED] PC hard shut down but only during gaming and memory stress test ?

[k0nkii]

Hello Everyone,

I'm having pc shutdowns while gaming. The type of shutdown that would occur if the power supply was switched off.

I assumed it was a dying psu (I've had it for a while). So I ran stress tests on the CPU and GPU at the same time (to get high power usage) but couldn't get the pc to shut down like it does when I'm gaming.

After a lot of trouble shooting, I found that the shutdowns are affected by my ram. With both ram sticks installed the pc shuts down after a somewhat random amount of time. With only one stick installed the shut downs are rare but still happen. To my knowledge, nothing particular in game causes the shut down, the timing is seemingly random.

I've tried all ram configurations, and even one stick at a time. Both sticks act the same when installed individually. XMP profile enabled with 2 sticks installed, the pc shuts down faster. Ive triple checked to make sure all power connections are secure and confirmed that my cpu is seated correctly.

This has been happening for a while, a couple months ago I updated the bios and chipset but that did nothing.

A shutdown only occurs when in game, or when doing a memory stress test. I have the whocrashed program but that doesnt catch anything, which leads me to believe that its the psu. But with how the issue is only affected by the ram I'm really unsure. Maybe the ram is incompatible with what I have? idk...

All system temps are fine, ram included. So I'm stumped. At this point I've reached the limit of my technical know how. Before I start replacing parts I decided to post about it hoping someone that knows more can make any suggestions or can see anything wrong.

Specs:
2x32 gb Gskill Ripjaw V 3200 CL16-18-18-38
Ryzen 3700x
Mobo: gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO mATX
Nitro+ 6700Xt
Thermaltake BX1 650W psu
1TB ssd Boot drive
2TB ssd Storage

** Also lately I have been noticing that my google chrome has been displaying, "Out of memory" errors too (resolved by just refreshing page). Not sure if that helps with diagnosis.

 

[Vic 40]

The ram is in the 2+4th slot from the cpu out?

You have the latest bios?

Tried when XMP enable set the ram speed to 2933mhz? See if abit lower helps, might be a memory controller issue although doubt it. meaning that i think that a 3700x should be able to cope with 3200mhz even 64gb especially since only using 2 sticks
.
Can try and set ram voltage to 1.4V in the bios to see if that helps. Or set the "SoC" voltage to 1.1V, see if that helps.

Kept an eye on ram usage? Like with hwinfo, see if you have a memory leak.

Could just be that you should return the sticks under rma, maybe something not right with iether or one of them. Tested with memtest86? Even this can get it wrong, but is the best tool to do a test. Think with syptoms do it on one stick at a time and let it run for at least 4 passes.

Do each on it's own, don't change all things in one go.

 

[k0nkii]

I am on latest bios and chipset drivers. Shutdowns have happened with all ram positions, including single stick. So I dont think the position of the ram is the issue. Memory usages are all ok too.

Im super unsure at this point... Last night I made the effort to update all of system drivers, including all of the Realtek drivers. I did a memory test using OCCT and with both sticks installed, the test ran for an entire hour with xmp disabled.

I did the test again with xmp enabled and it also lasted the entire hour. I thought everything was fixed. But right after the test I went to start a download on Steam and the pc shutdown again. This was the first time it had shutdown outside of memory test and game.

I did notice that when I enable xmp it sets the ram voltage to 1.312V, is that enough? Even if it wasnt would that cause a BSOD or hard shutdown? I've never experienced a BSOD, only ever hard shutdowns.

Also would a memory leak cause a shutdown?

Ill try and mess with the ram speed and voltages later and report back. Ill try memtest86 too.

Thanks

Edit: Just wanted to add that when using 1 ram stick, the shutdowns happen alot less. This is true for both ramsticks when used individually...

 

[Vic 40]

I did notice that when I enable xmp it sets the ram voltage to 1.312V, is that enough?

No that should be 1.35V

Also would a memory leak cause a shutdown?

Not as such, but with memory completely filled wil other things like even windows get wonky and maybe cause shutdown.

 

[k0nkii]

Ok now something I've never seen. I just entered the bios to double check some stuff. Didnt change anything at all. Im currently running one stick.

When I hit save and exit (even though i didnt change anything). The pc shutdown and tried to boot up again 3 times on its own before it finally started up on the 4th attempt.

Each time the pc tried to turn itselft back on everything turned on except the gpu. The forth attempt everything come on fine.

Is my psu just dying? The issue has gotten worse and worse over time, and its inconsistant.

Could maybe the 3.3V rail on my psu be messed up. (Im not too sure how it all works)

 

[Vic 40]

Might be psu, the Thermaltake BX1 isn't great, is in one of the tier lists categorized as "avoid". Think i read over that one, wouldn't hurt to replace anyway.

 

[k0nkii]

Just messed around with soc and ram voltages and still shutting down. I'll buy a new psu tomorrow and hope its over. Thanks for the help so far

 

[Vic 40]

Would be a good place to start. Buy a quality one, even decent quality doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

 

[k0nkii]

So I bought and installed a corsair RM 850x. The pc seems to be working fine now with both sticks and xmp enabled.

I did some mem tests and got some small errors but I just increased the soc voltage a little bit and all seems well. Haven't had a shutdown since.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[Vic 40]

Good choice in psu. 👍