Random Reboot's for past week?

For the past week I have been having random reboots. This never usually happens but it started after I updated Catalyst and started playing Team Fortress 2. It never reboots when I am on it, but it reboots when Its idle. I thought that maybe it was my CPU overheating so I decided to switch the power options to "Balanced" which doesn't shut it down but puts the computer to sleep after about 30 minutes. I have done virus scans and I am afraid that none of them are completely due to the random reboots.

I am also dual-booted to Ubuntu so when it reboots, it loads into ubuntu.

There was one BSOD but I didn't read what was wrong and it hasn't given me one since last week, so thats when I assumed it was the CPU and decided to lower the power settings to cooldown my CPU.

I am on a Gateway GT5692 (Gateway Support - Specifications) with a 1gb RadeonHD 4650 graphics card. I upgraded the PSU to a 500w Ultra. As well as installed a Ram fan to cooldown the Ram a year or 2 ago.

Normally in this position, I would format my HD and reinstall windows but at this moment, I do not have a backup HD hooked up to backup my files and there are plenty of files on here that I wish to keep.

If there is any other information you need, I will gladly fill you in as best as I can.

What's the make and model # of that Ultra 500 watt? If it's an X-3 or an X-Pro, then you're in good shape; if it's an Xfinity or an X-2, then ... not so much. If it's an Ultra X-Connect, get rid of it now.
Official XS Power Supply Ranking Phase I - XtremeSystems Forums

Whenever you update CATs, you should always uninstall previous driver versions, then boot into safe mode (reboot, tap the F8 key), and run driver sweeper.

DL and install driver sweeper: Guru3D - Driver Sweeper

We will need that .dmp file for analysis, if you still have it ... Go to C:\Windows\Minidump and copy all of the dmp files to the desktop. Select all>right-click on one>Send to>New Compressed folder. Then attach the zip file to your next post by use of the paperclip icon in the advanced editor.

puppetmstr said:

Fumz said:

What's the make and model # of that Ultra 500 watt? If it's an X-3 or an X-Pro, then you're in good shape; if it's an Xfinity or an X-2, then ... not so much. If it's an Ultra X-Connect, get rid of it now.
Official XS Power Supply Ranking Phase I - XtremeSystems Forums

I have an Xfinity. So is that good? Its one of those PSU's that have a blue glow.

It's a tier 4 PSU. Tier 5's are so bad they can actually damage your hardware. So no, I would not say that's, "good", but perhaps it's not so bad that you need to rush out and replace it (although I would, in a heartbeat).

First I'd wait and let Tews examine your mini dumps. In the meantime, I'd install driver sweeper and do a clean install of the 10.5 CATs. Sorry.

That system would draw about 250w, at best. It's not for lack of sufficient power but the PSU you have may be defective.

puppetmstr said:

... because the graphics card needed more than 300w.

Nonsense. Where are you getting this rating from? There is nothing in your case that draws any significant power. The 300w PSU it came with would have been sufficient. But that aside, you may have a faulty PSU, or you could simply check for dust that's clogging airflow, etc.

puppetmstr said:

Main reason why I have this PSU is because the graphics card needed more than 300w. So It was my only option at the time since it was a new PSU but never used until a year later.

Whenever you're selecting a psu for the purposes of powering your graphics card, wattage is almost irrelevant. What you need to concern yourself with is amperage on the +12 volt rail. The higher the amperage the better.

puppetmstr said:

Isn't that list a bit old? I noticed that it was last edited in 2009. Just wondering. And when my virus scans are done, I will reinstall the drivers
Nevermind about the list being old I just remembered my PSU is about 2 years old anyways so yea lol.

Yeah, lol, the list is old, relatively speaking, but as you pointed out, so is your PSU. They've been in the process of "updating" it for what seems like eons now. Not sure when they'll finally get around to it, but I imagine it's quite a lot of work to do. They don't half-ass it and toss up rankings willy-nilly, so if these guys say a particular PSU isn't quite up to snuff, I listen.