Solved System crashes and restarts when playing games no bsod displayed

[airhopper]

Hi this problem has nearly ruined me and cost a fortune so far, first I'll explain the problem about 6 months ago I had a PSU blow out on me, so I replaced it and all was well for a time when the PC would shut down and then restart without even showing a BSOD, at first it was now and then but gradually got worse. At first I thought it might of been the CPU overheating, I also thought that when the PSU blew it caused damage to the MB. So over a period of time I have ended up replacing all the hardware. For a time it seemed okay but the problem soon returned. (just to note it only shuts down when playing or starting games, I can surf the net or play videos etc without a problem).

My next thought was that it was a software conflict so I have ended up rebuilding a second PC, with a new HDD just incase it was a virus etc, I've loaded Windows 7 (home) 32bit, installed the graphics card (GeForce 560 Ti) with latest Nvidia drivers and a Asus sound card. I then installed Minecraft just as a test game and sure enough it crashes.

So I have eliminated the possibility of it being a hardware problem or a software conflict. I then thought it may of been the graphic card drivers so I uninstalled the latest driver and installed a older driver, but the problem remaines.

Whilst trying to check detals of my system, I noticed that the "Windows Experiance Index" score was only 1.0 whereas in the past it's always around 5.something, it shows gaming as 1.0 and Gaming Graphics as 1.0, so being a new install I cliked on the "Refresh Now" button the test starts but when it gets to "Direct 3D 9 Texture Load Assessment" the system crashes as if I was playing a game. I then realise that I can not use the Windows Aero desktop as the experiance score is so low needs to be 3.0 or higher.

When I have looked at the Events Log I notice when the system crashes it reports "41 Kernal power" etc I've looked at the Microsoft website but dissmissed their explanations as the powersupply I have is new and powerfull enough.

I have searched the internet for days now without getting any answers I have tried upping the power for the CPU and ram but made no difference. So Windows 7 forums is my last chance to get this sorted. I have come to the thought that theres something within Windows 7 that detects when huge amounts of graphics are being shifted and cant cope so it shuts down. As I stated this is on two different Asus MB's and Intel i5's.

It has me stumped, please help before I smash the lot up.

 

[koolkat77]

Welcome

Read the quote below first:

Please remove the ASUS AI suite. It provides some software overclocking ability that can cause crashes when it interfaces with the hardware.

I see you have Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB but you have Windows 7 32 bit installed. With windows 32 bit you will be limited to use only 3.25 GB out of 8.00 GB. Any particular reasons for not using the 64 bit of windows?

From the one dump in your zip files shows you are getting
STOP 0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL BSOD Index
Their usual causes for this bug check are: Kernel mode driver, System Service, BIOS, Windows, Virus scanner, Backup tool, compatibility

From the installed programs in your msinfo32 I see no antivirus installed. Please let us know what antivirus are you using?

Answer the questions above and then we'll see the further troubleshooting that can be done with your computer.

 

[airhopper]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, with regards to the ram I was using a 64bit set up, but I have re-installed Win 7 32bit just to check that it was'nt 64bit drivers that was causing problems, and I hadn't bothered to remove one stick of ram.

I have removed Asus AI Suite, however the problem occurs with or without it being installed, already checked this possibility.

The BSOD you refer to has only occured once, as I mentioned in my long initial post, the issue is the PC shutting off when playing games and then re-starting.

I had not loaded a virus programme incase it was that, that was causing the problem, however I have now installed MSE.

I have tried stress testing the CPU and managed to run a standard test using HWINFO & Intel Burn Test (max temp was 47.9c), but when I tried to run the test at the HIGH or Very High settings I got the following error message (in zip file).

The more I think about this problem, i wonder if it is the GPU not getting the correct voltage etc, the card I'm using is a Gainward Geforce GTX 560 Ti (factory OC'd), however I am using a 750w PSU (not a bargain basement unit either).

 

[centaur78]

First Update your motherboard Bios.... Your current version is 2103 and the latest version is 3509.. with lot of stability fixes.

Second run speccy and the click on File > "Save Snapshot"...upload it here...

Third... please update windows to SP1

 

[Dave76]

In addition to the Speccy snapshot, What PSU do you have?
Brand and model number.

I agree with centaur78, you need to update your BIOS. But you should wait until the shutdowns are under control.
You don't a shutdown when your flashing the BIOS.

Go to Device Manager and let us know if you have any yellow triangle, these indicate driver problems.

Have you updated your drivers from the Asus site (linked above in centaur78's post)?
If not then update all the drivers.

Have you overclocked anything?
If yes, then return your BIOS to defaults.

What USB devices do you have connected?
Your App Event Logs are indicating many issues with a Plug and Play device, this is usually a USB device.

System Events Log:

Event[1224]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2012-09-09T20:15:12.455
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Game-PC
  Description: 
Processor 0 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
16 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[1225]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2012-09-09T20:15:12.455
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Game-PC
  Description: 
Processor 1 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
16 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[1226]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2012-09-09T20:15:12.455
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Game-PC
  Description: 
Processor 2 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
16 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[1227]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2012-09-09T20:15:12.457
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Game-PC
  Description: 
Processor 3 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
16 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

This indicates your CPU is overheating.
Are you using the stock Intel CPU cooler?
Ensure it is tight and secure.
You may need to remove it, clean with Isopropyl alcohol, apply new thermal paste, re-install the cooler.
These events are occurring just before your system shuts it's self off, it has happened many times.

Event[545]:
  Log Name: Application
  Source: Windows Error Reporting
  Date: 2012-09-09T22:39:16.000
  Event ID: 1001
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: Classic
  User: N/A
  User Name: N/A
  Computer: Game-PC
  Description: 
Fault bucket 3249286077, type 5
Event Name: AppHangB1
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: [COLOR="Red"]AlertHelper.exe - Asus Utilities[/COLOR]
P2: 1.0.0.5
P3: 00000000
P4: 9e74
P5: 0
P6: 
P7: 
P8: 
P9: 
P10: 

Attached files:
C:\Users\Game\AppData\Local\Temp\WER157.tmp.appcompat.txt
C:\Users\Game\AppData\Local\Temp\WERE24.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml

These files may be available here:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppHang_AlertHelper.exe_3a71419612caafbce24fd36734e2d2c7bc3b87c_0a8b24de

Analysis symbol: 
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: bb71af23-fac6-11e1-b546-cd626641e9a1
Report Status: 0

Event[556]:
  Log Name: Application
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Winsrv
  Date: 2012-09-09T22:40:27.752
  Event ID: 10002
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-21-422409693-3771935522-2571314218-1001
  User Name: Game-PC\Game
  Computer: Game-PC
  Description: 
[COLOR="Red"]The following application was terminated because it was hung: AI Suite II.exe.[/COLOR]

Un-install all Asus utilities, these are known to cause system crashes.

Start with checking the CPU cooler, best to remove, clean, re-apply thermal paste, re-install.
If the system is stable, no more shutdowns or crashes, only then update the BIOS.

 

[airhopper]

[solved]

[SOLVED]

Thanks to all that responded, after much head scratching I replaced the ANTEC PSU with a cheap Chinese made PSU and bang problem solved with a stable system again.

Just shows buying expensive PSU's doesn't always guarantee stable performance, hence the ANTEC is being sent back to the retailers.

Thanks again.

 

[Dave76]

Glad to hear you solved the problem, congrats.

Any electronic device can fail, even the 'quality' brands.
Especially with a PSU, a failure can take out several other components with it like CPU, RAM, HDD, SSD, graphics cards, this does happen.
Staying with a quality brand will usually reduce the chance of that happening, they also have better return/RMA policies.
Just something to think about.