Processor Intensive Applications Crash PC

[crashy]

Everytime I run a processor intensive application (Video Compression, Running Market Simulations, etc.) After five to ten minutes my machine crashes.

If I run the same applications with shorter jobs it completes and the machine doesn't crash.

This is a hard crash where everything just blanks out.

I haven't made any hardware changes to the system and this issue is a new issue.

I ran all my avg anti-virus, ad-aware, and advanced system care and everything is running fine.

I am stumped.

 

[Uberlamb]

What do you mean everything just blanks out?
It just shuts down? Freezes?

 

[crashy]

Power cuts out.

 

[SledgeDG]

Welcome to SF, crashy

On the first view it looks to me like a Thermo problem. Any chance the machine overheats (due to dust build up in the heatsink and/or fan(s)?
Here are some applications that monitor your thermal diods:

Core Temp

Real Temp - CPU temperature monitoring

SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

see what temps you get under load and get back to us

-DG

 

[crashy]

I think you may be right. I will try out the apps and report back. I will also try cleaning dust from the cpu area.

If it is a temp issue how can it be resolved? I have an Antec Sonata 2 case that has three fans. Do CPU's run hotter over time?

 

[SledgeDG]

Absolutely...depending on the actual situation/is the pc on the floor or on a desk, are there pets like cats or bunnies around etc the dust build up can be too much in as little as 6 months
The more dust build up you have, the less effective is your cooling thus the cpu gets hotter and eventually shuts down (or worse gets destroyed in the process)
I usually just use canned air and a stiff paintbrush/old toothbrush to remove dust from the fan blades and the heatsink "griddle" but in extreme cases I take off the heatsink, clean it out, apply new thermal compound and be good to go for another 6-8 months

-DG

The working for short times but the crashing over longer periods is as good as a dead giveaway

 

[crashy]

Great. Thanks for the help!!

 

[PooMan UK]

You might want to also clean the PSU fan aswell. If it gets to hot your PC can also shutdown. BTW what is the wattage of your PSU ? (it's not in your system spec)

 

[Uberlamb]

Welcome to SF, crashy

On the first view it looks to me like a Thermo problem. Any chance the machine overheats (due to dust build up in the heatsink and/or fan(s)?
Here are some applications that monitor your thermal diods:

Core Temp

Real Temp - CPU temperature monitoring

SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

see what temps you get under load and get back to us

-DG

Yeah, I agree. I've had an apparently similar problem with PC before. It seems that sometimes components automatically shutdown the computer when a certain temperature is reached without informing you of any errors. You should clean inside for dust, maintain air circulation, or if its a laptop try one of those fan bases or a lower power setting.

 

[SledgeDG]

Just don't try to open the PSU...the capacitors in there hold a nice (un)healthy charge...they have warning labels for a reason

 

[crashy]

You might want to also clean the PSU fan aswell. If it gets to hot your PC can also shutdown. BTW what is the wattage of your PSU ? (it's not in your system spec)

I'll be cleaning all fans. Thanks!!

500 watt psu.

 

[crashy]

Ran the logging on the Core Temp app. Cleaned fans which were pretty clogged. Thought the problem may have been solved but After about 50 minutes running simulations it crashed.

Attached is the log.

Long story short the CPU stabilized at around 83 degrees but crashed anyways.

Interesting note: this time my pc restarted automatically. In the past it would crash power off and no restart.

 

[SledgeDG]

That was 83 C or 83 F ???
...What was the idle temperature ?
if you reboot and go into the BIOS what are the temps shown there? (those are more reliable,..if those temperatures match the ones, CT shows for idle then you can pretty much assume that the temps under stress are also accurate.

-DG

 

[crashy]

That was 83 C or 83 F ???
...What was the idle temperature ?
if you reboot and go into the BIOS what are the temps shown there? (those are more reliable,..if those temperatures match the ones, CT shows for idle then you can pretty much assume that the temps under stress are also accurate.

-DG

Celcius. Idle temp was 56 C.

 

[SledgeDG]

I'm not an intel quad core expert but I believe that is still way too high.

Idle shouldn't be anywhere over 30C and under load you should stay under 70C but I've been told this Q6600 runs hot. (With my AMD I already freak if it hits 65C
So the next step would be to take off the Heatsink, remove the old thermal compound (like with rubbing alcohol) apply new compound (Arctic Silver) and go from there. If you not up for the task, I suggest you find somebody who did that before. It's just not everyone's cup of tea. Especially the amount of compound is crucial...a dab not bigger than a pea to the center of the CPU. All it's supposed to do is fill the microscopic holes in CPU/heatsink surface to ensure the best possible heat flow.

If that still doesn't cut it, it might be time to exchange the stock cooler for a more efficient model. But we'll see about that later.

You didn't overclock or something? Perhaps you might have to adjust the core voltage a smidgen
Check it with CPU-Z and get back to us.

-DG

 

[crashy]

I ran another simulation last night and it ran to completion!!

The CPU runs in the Mid upper 30's in idle and topped out at 84 C. The application I run pushes all processors to 98% + for hours. As long as it doesn't crash I'm happy!

Thank you all for your help. You nailed the issue. I was thinking about trying to get help from micrososft directly since I thought it was an OS issue. (Old impressions are hard to break.)

Windows 7 is smooth and solid as a rock. Very impressed.

 

[SledgeDG]

I'm glad it worked out for you.
Thanks for the feed back.
Like I said esp. this quad core runs hot...it depends on where they place the thermal sensors.
Also different CPUs can stand different temps.
surely 84C is too close for comfort in my book, so if you can get to it, replace the stock cooler with a better alternative

-DG