Computer Crashes

I've had a quick read through of this thread and I think it could well be a power problem. NVidia recommend a minimum PSU of 500/550W for the GTX 560Ti graphics card and, although you have a 650W unit, that only leaves 100-150W for the rest of your system.

Are you familiar with using a digital multimeter to backprobe the power supply connectors to monitor the voltages whilst your system is running? If so, could you use this technique to monitor the auxiliary 12V supply lines to your graphics card (the 6-pin connectors) and report back what voltage you are getting under normal conditions (idle) and again under load (running the game you're having problems with). I want to see whether the voltage drops below the ATX toleration limit of 5% (11.4V) when the card is under load.

nexuhildrix,

I will address your bios update questions.

To that end, your system specs are an absolute necessity.

My favorite program for gathering info is SPECCY.
With SPECCY you can copy and paste.
Speccy will also show you your temps, which in your case, are of interest.

Here is how to update your specs:

Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (3rd item in the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use Speccyor System Info

Add the word laptop or desktop or netbook to the
“system manufacturer” block, for example,
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on the SAVE CHANGES button.

===============================================
thanks, karl

Ignore my advice on system specs.

My oversight.

Now I'll study them before the next recommendation.

However, you might find Speccy an easy and nonintrusive method of watching over your temps.

nexuhildrix,
Go to this site to get your latest bios. Your latest is the asus version number 1001.

Here I've used the info from your system specs to get correct info from asus.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards- ASUS M5A88-V EVO

There are many ways to determine your present bios version.
One way is with SPECCY.

Another is with MSINFO32.EXE (that's a program that comes with Windows)

Okay my bios is 1001, my pc crashed 15min playing minecraft and talking on Skype..

Dwarf said:

I've had a quick read through of this thread and I think it could well be a power problem. NVidia recommend a minimum PSU of 500/550W for the GTX 560Ti graphics card and, although you have a 650W unit, that only leaves 100-150W for the rest of your system.

Are you familiar with using a digital multimeter to backprobe the power supply connectors to monitor the voltages whilst your system is running? If so, could you use this technique to monitor the auxiliary 12V supply lines to your graphics card (the 6-pin connectors) and report back what voltage you are getting under normal conditions (idle) and again under load (running the game you're having problems with). I want to see whether the voltage drops below the ATX toleration limit of 5% (11.4V) when the card is under load.

I will get back with the infomations very soon.
.

I'd say no. Most 120mm fans run on a quarter of an amp or a half amp @ 12v. So that means the use between 3 and 6 watts each. Probably a typo in whatever article you are reading.

You can look on the label of the fan and it will say how many amps it draws.
Watts = Amps x Volts.

The fan symptoms reinforce Dwarf's suggestion that the power supply could be defective. A supply that is not pumping out power on a smooth curve will cause all kinds of odd symptoms.

Can you borrow another power supply from someone to test with?