PC crashing, HALP!

[Nirokun!]

Hello Tech forum! I have left the General Discussion forum because my computer is acting up. I'm trying to play the FFXIV beta, but my computer is crashing (no BSOD, it just cuts off) during the benchmark and character creation (I can sit there and play with the creator for 15+ mins, then computer cuts off.) This has also happened twice recently when I put the iTunes visualizer up, it would play for a while, then the computer would just cut off. I cannot turn my PC back on unless I unplug it and plug it back into the surge protector, or turn off/on the surge protector. My computer is relatively new (I built it [probably the problem, lol!] myself for FFXIV), so I feel like these problems shouldn't happen. I didn't have problems playing FFXIV 1.0. Anyone know what I should do or where I should start looking?

(I'm going to bed now, and have friends coming over tomorrow, but I'll keep checking in!!)

Edit:

Changing the FFXIV Beta Benchmark from Maximum to High let me complete the benchmark without PC crash (score 5826 with 1920x1080 borderless windowed screen resolution [these words!])

[Niya]

So it just shuts down instantly? Do the fans get louder before it happens?
Sounds like overheating to me. Monitor the temperatures of CPU and GPU with Speedfan or something similar, and then put stress on them. Either run the benchmark in windowed again so you can still see the temperature values, or use other tools like Furmark and CPU burn-in (start one instance for every physical and/or HT core your CPU has)

Does the benchmark get choppy before the crash? That would be another signal for overheating, because throttling kicks in.

[Nirokun!]

My brother had me alter things in the nvidia control panel. (But I only did it for the beta, and not the benchmark, which is wierd.) My computer made it through the benchmark with settings to maximum with a score of 4360. Highest temp was 51C for the CPU (core temp application doesnt have GPU temp monitoring.)

Neither the benchmark nor the game got choppy or acted funny before cutting off, it's just like someone pulled the plug.

Edit: My brother fixed it. He said to turn off 3 settings associated with FFXIV beta on the Nvidia control panel, then it was smooth sailing. (Ambient Occlusion, Vsync, and something else)

[djzombie]

If turning those settings off fixed it, based on what you described, it sounds like your video card was trying to pull more power than your power supply had available, which usually results in instant shutdown. bigger(or maybe cleaner) power supply would probably allow you to run with those settings on

[westom]

My brother had me alter things in the nvidia control panel.

More useful is to address problems defined by the symptoms. The PSU is only one part of a power 'system'. That system includes a power controller that determines when the CPU can execute, if the power supply powers on, and even locks out power if certain problems are detected. That 'lock out' feature inside the power controller is reset by disconnecting AC power (ie switching the power strip).

Why would the power controller power off a machine? Numerous reasons. Some are quickly identified or exonerated by one minute labor with a $10 meter. A too so 'complex' as to be sold even in stores that sell hammers.

Numbers from that meter mean those with better knowledge immediately provide useful answers. Otherwise you only have one other alternative. Keep replacing good parts until something works.

Even a Nvidia control panel would be fixing something completely unrelated to your symptoms. Either have numbers so that an actual suspect is defined. Or just shotgun; replace good parts until something works.

[Tensoneu]

I would probably recommend running a stress test and check against your GPU and Power Supply. Google: OCCT (It can also do CPU stress test but I don't think this is the problem)

From personal experience when a computer randomly shuts down (no BSOD or anything) it's a high chance that it may be related to power supply or even faulty electric wiring where your computer is plugged into. The later could be remedied by having a UPS/battery backup.

Like others have said to run some stress test to determine the cause.

[Nirokun!]

I got the OCCT thing and ran it (a furry donut?) Idk what I'm supposed to do with it (I ran the GPU furry donut and the PSU furry donut.) Do I let it run for a full hour? I think these programs are great, but require an interpreter.

[Niya]

Furry donut sounds like OCCT includes at least parts from Furmark.
The fine hair structure and the rotation are meant to put 100% load on your GPU, meant for benchmarking and heat issue troubleshooting. Let it run for 15-30min and watch the temperature curve.

[westom]

I think these programs are great, but require an interpreter.

When done, you only know a problem exists or no problem was seen. It says nothing useful about identifying or solving a defect. At best, it can only report symptoms.

What determines when a computer powers on or powers off? A power controller. What is required to see what that controller might see or might respond to? The meter. Numbers from that meter define specifically and without speculation what a defect is and therefore what needs fixing.

No software can report details on the item that controls power.

[xopher]

Update your GPU drivers.

If that doesn't fix it, turn off automatic restart on crash and see what STOP code is listed on the BSOD.

[Nirokun!]

Furry donut sounds like OCCT includes at least parts from Furmark.
The fine hair structure and the rotation are meant to put 100% load on your GPU, meant for benchmarking and heat issue troubleshooting. Let it run for 15-30min and watch the temperature curve.

Ran both GPU and PSU stress tests for 20 mins, both finished without problems (PSU stress test capped out at the higher temp of 64C.)

Update your GPU drivers.

Did~

[xopher]

OK. Do the other things I mentioned.

[Nirokun!]

How do you do that? (Turn off automatic restart on crash.) How do I recover from BSOD again, it's been a while!

[xopher]

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/window...-windows-7.htm

When you bluescreen after that you'll have a code that looks like 0x00046134 or something like that somewhere on the blue screen. I'll need that code.

[Nirokun!]

I can't seem to force the shutoff anymore (yay!) I ran removed the nvidia settings changes, ran the benchmark (not associated, but it crashed during the benchmark), and ran itunes visualizer for a while, no PC shutdown. The only things that I didn't undo were the nvidia and itunes updates. I will "try" again when the FFXIV beta is playable this weekend.

[xopher]

Well that's good news at least.