Random Reboot. Typically When Playing High Performance Games

onetimeuser1991 · 12 Jun 2014

So around the time of Dec. 2013 I decided it was time to buy/build my first custom computer. The computer is made of:

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz

MoBo: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. SABERTOOTH Z87

HDD: (1) SanDisk SDSSDXP240G ATA Device

Sound Card: (1) NVIDIA High Definition Audio (2) Realtek High Definition Audio

Graphic Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1

Power Supply: FirePower OCZ 850W ZX Series Fully-Modular 80PLUS Gold High Performance Power Supply

Mem: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB Kit (8GBx2) 240-Pin DDR3 1866 MT/s (PC3-14900) CL9 with 1.5V

The issue started sometime around Feb. 2014.

It started when I was playing Resident Evil 6 were my computer just randomly shut down. I dismissed the issue and rebooted my computer again and launched the game. Sure enough it ended up happening a second time. Eventually I noticed the trend in which if I played any performance heavy games (RE6, Skyrim, etc) the computer would randomly reboot. What puzzles me is that near Dec. I would play Assasins Creed 4: Black Flag for HOURS on the highest settings and it worked like a charm.

In the Event Viewer, I would get the Critical error:

Kernel-Power
Event 41
Task Category (63)

I used MemTest86+ which found no errors. I've been keeping an eye on my temperature using Thermal Radar II (software that came with MoBo) and noticed my CPU speed never goes above 60C when playing Skyrim. I made sure to clean out all my fans as my friend thinks it's a temperature issue. However, I think the issue might be my power supply or my MoBo because when my computer reboots from this issue, a screen will pop up stating: "Power Supply surges detected during the previous power on. Asus anti-surge was triggered to protect system from unstable power supply". I followed someones advice to turn off Asus Anti Surge protection feature but the reboots still didn't stopped. I'll be posting the ZIP I got from DM Log Collector for more information. Please let me know if more details are require.

ICIT2LOL · 14 Jun 2014

Hello and welcome onetimer to check the PSU see this

Using HW Info

You can test the volts on the PSU with HWInfo HWiNFO, HWiNFO32/64 -Download < download the right bit version andclose the right hand window select Sensors and scroll down to the power sectionwhere you will see what the volts are doing see my pic.

The original right hand window shows themachine running and is handy for that but for looking at the components in some detail close it and use themain left hand side panel

FOR OTHER COMPONENTS

Open each + down into the componentitself and then click on it - in theright hand side will appear all sorts of details including brands speeds andother essential info that device. See pic for example.
Seems like you have decent size PSU in there but just worth a check run this too
eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

or this one

Cooler Master Power Supply Calculator - Advance

Mellon Head · 14 Jun 2014

I wouldn't suggest leaving the anti-surge protection off for very long.

Just a point of opinion here: I've had very bad luck with OCZ supplies. I can't get them to last more than about two years and the last one took a CPU with it. Maybe it's just me. By the sound of the error messages you're getting and the messages from BIOS, I would strongly suspect your supply is faulty. It might be time to replace it before it takes other components with it when it finally goes.

onetimeuser1991 · 14 Jun 2014

@ICit2lol: So I was able to download and run HWInfo. As far as I can tell, the values look normal. I'll attach a screenshot as well as two of the logging's I saved just in case.

@Mellon Head: I'll make a note of that. This was my first built computer so I wasn't sure if there are specific manufacturers I should avoid buying from. I see Newegg throw many specials from OCZ that I assumed they were reliable.

On another note, I just has another unexpected shutdown when I came back from work. The computer was off so this was my first time booting it up today. In the event viewer, I got the same Event 41 error message on 3:35:48pm. The logs also show another event that happened at exactly the same time.

The details of this event are:
Source: Kernel-PnP
Event ID: 219
Task Category: (212)
The driver \Driver\WUDFRd failed to load for the device ACPI\PNP0A0A\2&daba3ff&2.

Two seconds after that, (3:35:50 pm) I have:
Source: Eventlog
Event ID: 6008
Task Category: None
The previous system shutdown at 3:34:35 PM on ‎6/‎14/‎2014 was unexpected.

I'm going to look further into the Kernel-PnP error as I am now seeing this error more often and almost always logged after the Kernel-Power critical error.

andrew129260 · 15 Jun 2014

Buy a replacement psu from corsair or something, and replace it. See if the errors continue. I bet after replacing it the errors will go away. You do need to make sure to buy a power supply unit that can handle your power needs. Newegg has a power supply calculator that can help you out. I would also make sure the rails are providing enough power to your graphics card. I also suggest getting at least a bronze certified PSU. Either way, replace the psu as soon as possible. Failing psu can fry things and can cause lots of invisible damage until it is to late. When it comes to power supplies, do not ever buy cheap. The psu is the lifeline to your components, don't skip on it.

And just because you see a company throw specials for a product constantly does not mean they are good. In fact if anything it means the product is crap and they are trying to get rid of it. (Not always, but most of the time) Always look at reviews and read the negative ones first. If the negative reviews are from boneheads that do not know the difference between a sata cable and an IDE cable then you know not to listen to them.

Also PSU have many different models and are made for different power needs. You really cannot say the whole brand is good, as it depends on what PSU class you buy. Cheaper PSU are always worse then the more expensive high quality ones.

ICIT2LOL · 15 Jun 2014

onetimeuser1991 said:

@ICit2lol: So I was able to download and run HWInfo. As far as I can tell, the values look normal. I'll attach a screenshot as well as two of the logging's I saved just in case.

@Mellon Head: I'll make a note of that. This was my first built computer so I wasn't sure if there are specific manufacturers I should avoid buying from. I see Newegg throw many specials from OCZ that I assumed they were reliable.

On another note, I just has another unexpected shutdown when I came back from work. The computer was off so this was my first time booting it up today. In the event viewer, I got the same Event 41 error message on 3:35:48pm. The logs also show another event that happened at exactly the same time.

The details of this event are:
Source: Kernel-PnP
Event ID: 219
Task Category: (212)
The driver \Driver\WUDFRd failed to load for the device ACPI\PNP0A0A\2&daba3ff&2.

Two seconds after that, (3:35:50 pm) I have:
Source: Eventlog
Event ID: 6008
Task Category: None
The previous system shutdown at 3:34:35 PM on ‎6/‎14/‎2014 was unexpected.

I'm going to look further into the Kernel-PnP error as I am now seeing this error more often and almost always logged after the Kernel-Power critical error.

I am sort of agreeing with Mellon Head re quality of PSU's - in reality they may show volts but not have the current delivering cability. A bit like a car battery shows 12 - 13.8v but tyr and swing the engine and -- nothing!

For brand I don't think you can beat Corsuar or Seasonic - withthe caveat that you pick the right seriesas the models are not made by the same manufuctureres - do the research first.
See this PSU Makers: C-D - Who's Who In Power Supplies, 2013: Brands Vs. Manufacturers