(I'm from Québec, I speak French. Sorry if some of the terms used here doesn't make sense or are hard to understand, I try my best)
Hey, I'm not sure if it's the proper place to post this, but since it's probably a hardware problem I'll take a chance.
Description of my build is at the bottom.
Let's start with the symptoms :
None. Every time it happens there aren't any tell-tale signs that the protection is about to go On. It happens suddenly without warning.
Effects :
Everything shuts down except the tower - which remain powered on. Drawing tablet, keyboard, mouse, screen, audio.. everything plugged to the tower isn't powered on when the protection is triggered.
Consequences :
I have to reboot my Pc by the power switch, or the CheckRAM switch located on the motherboard.
During booting it's written that the power surge protection has been triggered and the MB shut the computer off as a preventive measure. I select to boot Windows normally, and everything runs as if nothing had happened minutes before.
When does the problem occur ?
While playing games that requires the GPU to be running.
Heck, it even happened sometimes while playing Minecraft on a vanilla .jar. There were no extremely greedy graphic mods or anything. Just vanilla Mc, on normal settings.
Lately it happened on Skyrim (since I only got it today on PC, dumb xbox..), on which the protection is triggered after 10-15minutes of idling around, or during a moment where a lot of action takes place (Like fighting a dragon, let say).
Every other game that does not require the GPU to be running are doing fine.
What's already been verified :
The power coming from the wall is stable and never wavers : 115V @59.9Hz
I paid a tech that took a look at my problem.
He certified me the Power supply was stable and powerful enough to run the PC.
He also said the GPU was running along fine.
That same tech said he had solved the problem and when I got back home, I checked in the BIOS and he had deactivated the power surge protection, so his claim about my power supply and GPU being okay might be wrong. The problem was still there after putting back the protection ON.
What's in there?
Processor: AMD FX-8150
Motherboard: Asus M5A88-M (BIOS updated)
Video Card: Radeon HD 6850
Memory: 8 GB, DDR3, 666,7Mhz (1333Mhz) @1.5V
He certified me the Power supply was stable and powerful enough to run the PC.
He also said the GPU was running along fine.
That same tech said he had solved the problem and when I got back home, I checked in the BIOS and he had deactivated the power surge protection, so his claim about my power supply and GPU being okay might be wrong. The problem was still there after putting back the protection ON.
Did he actually take out a volt meter and measure the voltage? If not, then he did not certify anything.
How did he know the GPU was fine. Did he run tests?
I'm also not sure what you're talking about with BIOS surge protection. AFAIK no such thing exists, and if it does it certainly can't be disabled, at least I've never seen it before.
What is the brand and series of the power supply? The specs themselves don't tell us the quality.
Assuming the PSU is fine, this almost sounds like a problem with house wiring. The circuit you are plugging the PC into is not giving enough amps or volts (or both). The wattage might be sufficient, but the watts aren't what causes any damage or trips anything.
The solution is to either plug into a different circuit, or run a new dedicated line for the PC.
I'm also not sure what you're talking about with BIOS surge protection. AFAIK no such thing exists, and if it does it certainly can't be disabled, at least I've never seen it before.
Here, It's called Anti Surge Support, and it can be disabled
(I didn't take that screenshot, but it's the same)
I would've taken a picture myself, but it seems that right now I'm too dumb to access the Bios... it brings up another menu and I don't want to mess something up, lol.
Assuming the PSU is fine, this almost sounds like a problem with house wiring. The circuit you are plugging the PC into is not giving enough amps or volts (or both). The wattage might be sufficient, but the watts aren't what causes any damage or trips anything.
The solution is to either plug into a different circuit, or run a new dedicated line for the PC.
So I should check for a breaker that is relatively free and run an extension cord from one of the plug it feeds to the power supply? I'll admit I never checked what else is running on the same circuit as the computer.
Hey, I'm not sure if it's the proper place to post this, but since it's probably a hardware problem I'll take a chance.
Description of my build is at the bottom.
Let's start with the symptoms :
None. Every time it happens there aren't any tell-tale signs that the protection is about to go On. It happens suddenly without warning.
Effects :
Everything shuts down except the tower - which remain powered on. Drawing tablet, keyboard, mouse, screen, audio.. everything plugged to the tower isn't powered on when the protection is triggered.
Consequences :
I have to reboot my Pc by the power switch, or the CheckRAM switch located on the motherboard.
During booting it's written that the power surge protection has been triggered and the MB shut the computer off as a preventive measure. I select to boot Windows normally, and everything runs as if nothing had happened minutes before.
When does the problem occur ?
While playing games that requires the GPU to be running.
Heck, it even happened sometimes while playing Minecraft on a vanilla .jar. There were no extremely greedy graphic mods or anything. Just vanilla Mc, on normal settings.
Lately it happened on Skyrim (since I only got it today on PC, dumb xbox..), on which the protection is triggered after 10-15minutes of idling around, or during a moment where a lot of action takes place (Like fighting a dragon, let say).
Every other game that does not require the GPU to be running are doing fine.
What's already been verified :
The power coming from the wall is stable and never wavers : 115V @59.9Hz
I paid a tech that took a look at my problem.
He certified me the Power supply was stable and powerful enough to run the PC.
He also said the GPU was running along fine.
That same tech said he had solved the problem and when I got back home, I checked in the BIOS and he had deactivated the power surge protection, so his claim about my power supply and GPU being okay might be wrong. The problem was still there after putting back the protection ON.
What's in there?
Processor: AMD FX-8150
Motherboard: Asus M5A88-M (BIOS updated)
Video Card: Radeon HD 6850
Memory: 8 GB, DDR3, 666,7Mhz (1333Mhz) @1.5V
Power Supply:
•600W
•3.3V - 22A
•5V - 25A
•12V1 - 16A
•12V2 - 16A
•-12V - 0.5A
•5Vsb - 2.5A
I don't really know what the general specifications for a power supply are, so I'm leaving them all here, in case it's relevant.
If you need more ask and I'll provide.
So. Questions.
Since I'm pretty sure it's not a software problem, what parts could be responsible for that sort of problem to happen on a regular basis?
Are there a few simple, efficient tests I could run to pin point what exactly causes the problem?
Even if I'm really not limited on the monetary side, I don't want to waste it on useless parts that won't solve the problem.
Thanks!
How did he know the GPU was fine. Did he run tests?
I'm also not sure what you're talking about with BIOS surge protection. AFAIK no such thing exists, and if it does it certainly can't be disabled, at least I've never seen it before.
What is the brand and series of the power supply? The specs themselves don't tell us the quality.
Assuming the PSU is fine, this almost sounds like a problem with house wiring. The circuit you are plugging the PC into is not giving enough amps or volts (or both). The wattage might be sufficient, but the watts aren't what causes any damage or trips anything.
The solution is to either plug into a different circuit, or run a new dedicated line for the PC.
I don't know. That's why what he said might not be true
Here, It's called Anti Surge Support, and it can be disabled
(I didn't take that screenshot, but it's the same)
I would've taken a picture myself, but it seems that right now I'm too dumb to access the Bios... it brings up another menu and I don't want to mess something up, lol.
RetailPlus® 600W Power Supply
Model: RP-PS60-600W
Series? Didn't find anything.
So I should check for a breaker that is relatively free and run an extension cord from one of the plug it feeds to the power supply? I'll admit I never checked what else is running on the same circuit as the computer.
Any of these would do:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028
Would This one be satisfying enough? I'm used to order from Ncix so..
I certainly could. Though I'd probably end up paying as much because the rebates doesn't apply to these particular items.
Thanks for the help. I hope this really solves the problem.