newly built computer automatically shuts down

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hamish225

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#110674 14-Oct-2012 11:41

hey, I just built my computer yesterday, it has been going great, but when i went to run the sims 3 to test out the graphics the whole computer turned off and on again, then in the BIOS it said that it had detected a power surge and that it had turned off to protect my system from an unstable power supply.

i have 2 theories so far, either I've got a dud power supply or it's overloaded, witch it shouldn't be because it's 500 wats.

the sims 3 is probably the most graphical intensive game i have installed currently, i just tested civ V on full settings and it didn't shut down and im about to test half life 2.

anyone have any ideas?

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#700920 14-Oct-2012 11:51

What do you mean by turning off and on? Does it go through the shut down procedure?

Unless you're running an extreme build, I doubt 500w isn't capable of running your system, it may be a faulty PSU.

Also check for any naked wires in the case that could cause a short within the comp.

hamish225

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#700928 14-Oct-2012 11:59

nah it just completely powers down, the fans and everything stop for a few seconds, then they power back up again.

the power supply isn't hot to the touch and none of my components seem to be overheating

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

quandum

204 posts

Master Geek

#700930 14-Oct-2012 12:04

Can you post some more info:

Motherboard make / model / fw version
Graphics make / model / fw version

Also, in Bios, have you turned off power management?

I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

#BOFH

Zeon

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#700933 14-Oct-2012 12:24

Sounds like an overheating issue possibly. You sure your fans are all spinning?

Speedtest 2019-10-14

hamish225

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#700938 14-Oct-2012 12:34

Motherboard is an asus P8H77-V
graphics card is a nvidia gforce gtx 560

and all my fans are spinning, the computer doesn't feel hot, ill start it up again with a program set to make a sound if the cpu gets above 70?c

so far it's just the sims 3 that does it.

I also did that windows system rating thing and it didn't shut down when i did that, witch appeared to utilize all the components to 100% of what they could do.

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

hamish225

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#700946 14-Oct-2012 12:48

nether the gpu or the gpu got over 70? that time

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

PANiCnz

990 posts

Ultimate Geek

#700967 14-Oct-2012 13:47

What brand of PSU? A cheap nasty 500w one might not be powerful enough for a 560 under load.

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hamish225

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#700995 14-Oct-2012 15:13

Thanks for your suggestions guys, I took it back to dragon pc and they didn't have any other 500W ones left so they gave us a 650W one, just started up the sims with no problems! :D

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

Athlonite

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#701004 14-Oct-2012 15:29

So it turned out to be a dud or not powerful enough PSU then

hamish225

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#701009 14-Oct-2012 15:44

one of the two, I guess we'll never know :P

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

Athlonite

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#701134 14-Oct-2012 20:52

From nVidia's own specs sheet

Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 150W
Minimum System Power Requirement (W) 450W

so yeah a 500W cumquat PSU probably wasn't enough power to run your system

If there's one thing I've learned over the 20 years of building PC's is never skimp on the PSU quality name brands only

hamish225

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#701207 15-Oct-2012 01:02

hmm, it was the guy in the shop who recommended that PSU though, oh well, works okay now anyway.

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

richms

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#701314 15-Oct-2012 10:37

hamish225: hmm, it was the guy in the shop who recommended that PSU though, oh well, works okay now anyway.

Probably means it has the highest margins on that power supply, nothign about the quality of it.

Richard rich.ms