Pc turning off

cocoluvsmummy

Hoping for some help here.
My 7 month old pc has started to turn itself off randomly, it is when it is under a load at the time and why playing a game where there is more action going on.
I have run virus/ malware scans (super antispyware and malwarbytes) and I have avast and windows defender set up on the pc. I have updated my drivers and also verified files for the game
PC specs are:-
AMD Athlon II x3 453 processor
3 GB ram
NVidia GeForce 9800 gt
Power supply 750 watt (I think?)
Unfortunately I have upgraded the graphics card and power supply so have voided my warranty (may have to reassemble and take back to shop)
I have tried running with the case open and have also downloaded speedfan programme to monitor temps (but have no idea what the results mean)
Speedfan
When running IE, Facebook games, general surfing, GPU 62c , temp 39c core 15c
When loading a “proper” game but no actually moving in game GPU 78, temp 39c core29c
When demons summoned in game lots of graphic effects GPU82, temp 41c, and core 31c
Just before pc turns its self-off when moving /zoning/fighting in game, GPU79c, temp41c core34c

I have no idea what to do next and am after any advice, please talk like I don’t know what you are on about as I don’t:o
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

JasX

Does it just shut down or do you get a blue screen and any kind of error message/dump? they would be a big help in pointing a finger.

temperatures would be my first port of call too but nothing there looks excessive.

worth checking RAM for faults downloading memtest86 or memtest86+ (both free) and running tests for 15 mins or so would show up a problem there.

updating drivers would be another 'general' thing to do (particularly chipset and graphics card and get the latest version of DirectX) , is it always the same game or does it affect various different games?

do you have your old graphics card still? that would be fairly easy to swap back in and see if the problem goes away but would be a bit of a long shot.

cocoluvsmummy

Hi
Thanks, the pc completly shuts down, its like some one pulled the power lead out, when i turn it back on i get a screen asking me do i want to restart windows normally or in safe mode. No error messages as far as i can see.
i will run the mem tests and all the drivers say they are up to date
It's the same game that it happens to, but to be honest its the only one i play, will try another game tomorrow and see if it happens then as well.
i still have the graphics card so will also try that back in (or pinch my sons to try)

thanks for the advice

JasX

cocoluvsmummy wrote: »

Hi
Thanks, the pc completly shuts down, its like some one pulled the power lead out, when i turn it back on i get a screen asking me do i want to restart windows normally or in safe mode. No error messages as far as i can see.

in that case having a peek at the windows event log would be worth doing, without knowing which version you're on can;t tell you exactly how to brng it up but google can

cocoluvsmummy wrote: »

(or pinch my sons to try)

unless thats a very cheap/dated one i'd leave expensive working hardware well away from trouble shooting a suspect machine..... thats what your OLD hardware is for

Hammyman

cocoluvsmummy wrote: »

Unfortunately I have upgraded the graphics card and power supply so have voided my warranty (may have to reassemble and take back to shop)

No you haven't voided your warranty, even if it had a warranty seal on it. PCs are modular and designed to be upgradeable. This very issue was tested in court a few years ago when an electrical chain claimed the warranty was void because the computer had been upgraded and the judge ruled that they were designed to be and that the breaking of a seal to upgrade a PC didn't invalidate the warranty however if the user caused damage whilst doing it, they couldn't make a claim.

cocoluvsmummy

Ok, hopefully last bit of advice needed now.
i removed my graphics card and enabled my onboard one, have used the pc and played game (although on reduced graphics lol) and have not had the pc turn off once.

Should i assume for now that i have a fault with my graphics card and go down the route of getting that tested/replaced?
Thanks again for you help

HO87

cocoluvsmummy wrote: »

Ok, hopefully last bit of advice needed now.
i removed my graphics card and enabled my onboard one, have used the pc and played game (although on reduced graphics lol) and have not had the pc turn off once.

Should i assume for now that i have a fault with my graphics card and go down the route of getting that tested/replaced?
Thanks again for you help

That looks like a logical conclusion. My son ran an identical graphics card (Radeon XFX IIRC) and suffered similar problems with random shut-downs and it was just out of warranty, of course.

A driver update had no effect whatsoever.

Our original thoughts were that there was a power supply issue but swapping his 550W PSU out for a brand new 700W (It didn't need anything like that) but the problems continued to occur in exactly the same way.

We then looked at the cooling fan and found that it wasn't that free running and there was some clogging of the cooling tubes (dust adhering to the sides of them). Gave it a good clean but couldn't free up the fan to any greater degree. The problems lessened somewhat but you could guarantee that it would shut down at a crucial point.

Hunted around for a suitable replacement fan (40mm I believe) and although they're not difficult to find the most commonly available versions rise up their spindles slightly on being powered up and fouled on the cover. After several days son 1 tracked down a slimmer version made (IIRC) by Vantec which he sourced from an outlet in Canada.

Worked fine for another year before a major electrical problem at Uni fried the whole kit.

Linbox

Either a faulty graphics card,
Resolution set too high system cant handle the required load.
Power supply not rated high enough or faulty. You said 750w that should be ok, but you never know.