PSU Recomendations

Isengard

Isengard

No Hobbits Allowed
Right so recently I upgraded to an i5 3570k CPU from a Phenom II x4 965 and my PC is turning off at random times. This never happens while gaming, only when it's idle or I'm watching a video.

My suspicion at the moment is my 5 year old 500w PSU, so at the end of the month I'd like to replace it. What do the PC enthusiasts recommend I get for the following setup?

CPU: Intel i5 3570k (stock)
MB: MSI Z77A-G43
RAM: 2x 4GB Patriot DDR3 1333Mhz
GPU: Sapphire Radeon 7850 (@1050Mhz)
HDD: 1x 1TB Seagate SATAII; 1x 1.5TB Samsung SATAII
ROM: LG 24x SATA DVD-RW
FANS: 3x 120mm Low RPM fans

Bare in mind I'd like to keep this below R1000.

Thanks :)
 
Isengard said:
You'd think my PC would turn off while gaming if it was a power constraint. Going to try unplugging a few different components this weekend, like the fans and the second hdd.
Click to expand...

Wait does it go into sleep mode or shuts of completely?
Did you change any of your power settings?

Also go into Event viewer and see if you can see the shutdown command.Filter it out to warnings and critical.
 
Last edited:
Crzwaco said:
Wait does it go into sleep mode or shuts of completely?
Did you change any of your power settings?

Also go into Event viewer and see if you can see the shutdown command.Filter it out to warnings and critical.
Click to expand...

The PC completely shuts off then starts up again. I haven't messed with the Windows Power settings yet, but planning to have a look at it tonight. I did look at the event log items and the only warnings are PC shutdown was unexpected, no BSOD items or anything of the sort; basically nothing to help me pinpoint what's causing it.
 
Have you tried running something like furmark just to make 100% sure, then when the GPU hits full load keep an eye on it, if it shuts down it can well be the PSU. Also check under your CCC to see if there where any GPU resets after the PC boots again.
I used to have a HD4670 and a 300W PSU, it would not shut down the PC but would just crash to windows when it drew too much power and CCC would say something about a GPU power reset.

ATI website said:
500W (or greater) power supply with one 75W 6-pin PCI Express power connector recommended
Click to expand...

Looking at ATI's website it further cements my belief that it could be the GPU, drawing too much power, coupled with the age of the PSU, it's not performing like it used to.

Other than that I would recommend a 650W+ PSU. R629 for Thermaltake Litepower 650W Black Ed.
http://titan-ice.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=65_94&products_id=8111

The +3.3V & +5V & +12V combined output power shall not exceed 630W.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Glordit said:
Have you tried running something like furmark just to make 100% sure, then when the GPU hits full load keep an eye on it, if it shuts down it can well be the PSU. Also check under your CCC to see if there where any GPU resets after the PC boots again.
I used to have a HD4670 and a 300W PSU, it would not shut down the PC but would just crash to windows when it drew too much power and CCC would say something about a GPU power reset.



Looking at ATI's website it further cements my belief that it could be the GPU, drawing too much power, coupled with the age of the PSU, it's not performing like it used to.

Other than that I would recommend a 650W+ PSU. R629 for Thermaltake Litepower 650W Black Ed.
http://titan-ice.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=65_94&products_id=8111
Click to expand...

I ran 3DMark11, played Planetside 2 on max for 2+ hours, did GW2 WvW for half an hour and not one shut down. Leave my PC to idle, or while watching a series and it does. It's very peculiar.

Thanks for the link, it's not a bad price for that PSU actually.
 
Isengard said:
I ran 3DMark11, played Planetside 2 on max for 2+ hours, did GW2 WvW for half an hour and not one shut down. Leave my PC to idle, or while watching a series and it does. It's very peculiar.

Thanks for the link, it's not a bad price for that PSU actually.
Click to expand...

Then it's something else, as Waco said power management of some sort. It could still be the PSU. Hypothetically it could be going along at 150W while it's idle, and then when it requires a bit more power at 400W+ it shorts.

Before actually buying a PSU try and get a hold of a spare one, perhaps it's something else shorting out the PC.
 
Glordit said:
Then it's something else, as Waco said power management of some sort. It could still be the PSU. Hypothetically it could be going along at 150W while it's idle, and then when it requires a bit more power at 400W+ it shorts.

Before actually buying a PSU try and get a hold of a spare one, perhaps it's something else shorting out the PC.
Click to expand...

Getting a spare is an issue, especially one that will support my PC. I've got a couple of weeks to test things, if all else fails I'll just get the PSU anyway since my current one has served me well for long enough.
 
Lyt said:
Is your Hibernation disabled?
Click to expand...

I went and disabled all power saving settings now, including hibernation. Will keep an eye on it and see how it fares, but it wasn't going into hibernate mode, the PC literally turns off as if it lost power then boots up again.
 
I have the exact same problem.

I have:
Asus Sabertooth Z77
Intel i3570k
16gb G-Skill Ripjaws 1866
Sapphiretech 4850X2 2GB
3x 20cm fans
1x 12cm crazy-ass fan
2x Neon Tube
PSU: Gigabyte 720w PSU.

This setup is perfectly happy running BF3 on medium to high at 1920x1080. Was playing Driver San Francisco on Max. But just TRY and use the internet for 15 minutes and it freezes, BSOD, random resets. There is no way that I have discovered to predict when or where it happens, except it usually occurs under minimal stress.

So far I have discovered:
-Updated m/b BIOS doesn't help.
-Multiple RAM tests reveal RAM is perfect ( brand new )
-Changing RAM to older DDR3-1333, or using only 1 stick doesn't help.
-64 bit O/S was much more unstable than 32 bit.
-Having only the boot drive in the PC seemed to help, but I didn't get much time to test this.
-Taking the graphics card out and using the CPU's VGA via the m/b HDMI ---> IMMEDIATELY FIXES EVERYTHING.

I am willing to bet that our problems are the same, and that like mine, your m/b is PCI-Ex 3.0. After hours of fiddling in the bios, I suspect that either this is a backward compatibility issue with PCI-Ex 3.0, or it has something to do with the iGPU trying to take over in windows during normal use in an attempt to save power on the VGA card. ( i saw this setting in BIOS, but haven't seen any difference changing it.)

Anyone with any ideas? Don't buy a new PSU just yet...
 
Last edited:
Our issues don't sound too similar. For one I don't get BSOD's, my PC just turns off and restarts. Also my graphics card is PCI Express 3.0.
 
bromster said:
I have the exact same problem.

I have:
Asus Sabertooth Z77
Intel i3570k
16gb G-Skill Ripjaws 1866
Sapphiretech 4850X2 2GB
3x 20cm fans
1x 12cm crazy-ass fan
2x Neon Tube
PSU: Gigabyte 720w PSU.

This setup is perfectly happy running BF3 on medium to high at 1920x1080. Was playing Driver San Francisco on Max. But just TRY and use the internet for 15 minutes and it freezes, BSOD, random resets. There is no way that I have discovered to predict when or where it happens, except it usually occurs under minimal stress.

So far I have discovered:
-Updated m/b BIOS doesn't help.
-Multiple RAM tests reveal RAM is perfect ( brand new )
-Changing RAM to older DDR3-1333, or using only 1 stick doesn't help.
-64 bit O/S was much more unstable than 32 bit.
-Having only the boot drive in the PC seemed to help, but I didn't get much time to test this.
-Taking the graphics card out and using the CPU's VGA via the m/b HDMI ---> IMMEDIATELY FIXES EVERYTHING.

I am willing to bet that our problems are the same, and that like mine, your m/b is PCI-Ex 3.0. After hours of fiddling in the bios, I suspect that either this is a backward compatibility issue with PCI-Ex 3.0, or it has something to do with the iGPU trying to take over in windows during normal use in an attempt to save power on the VGA card. ( i saw this setting in BIOS, but haven't seen any difference changing it.)

Anyone with any ideas? Don't buy a new PSU just yet...
Click to expand...

Have you tried booting into safe mode and then leaving it for a while to see if it restarts while performing normal tasks?
 
So after changing my power settings in Windows last night things were looking good. No shut downs all night and then at around 08:30 this morning it happened again. Going to test it in safe mode overnight, but PSU is looking more and more likely.

Edit: And again at 9:20. Why only when it's idle? :confused:
 
Last edited:
Isengard said:
So after changing my power settings in Windows last night things were looking good. No shut downs all night and then at around 08:30 this morning it happened again. Going to test it in safe mode overnight, but PSU is looking more and more likely.

Edit: And again at 9:20. Why only when it's idle? :confused:
Click to expand...

Isen do you know if you have anything(virus scan,disk defrag) to start up while the pc is idle?
 
Isengard said:
They are probably auto set to do that at a set time. This is a clean install so I don't know what the defaults are.
Click to expand...

Then your mb might not be working well with your new cpu. You don't get Bsod so would not say its drivers, but try the safemode but it should make no difference.
 
Crzwaco said:
Then your mb might not be working well with your new cpu. You don't get Bsod so would not say its drivers, but try the safemode but it should make no difference.
Click to expand...

Its a new MB that I got specifically for this CPU, so I doubt it's that. Really tough cookie this one... :(
 
Would be interested to hear what safe mode holds... Mine sometimes gets a bsod even when booting into safe mode. Switching SATA setting from ahci to ide mode changes bsod to a freeze at the windows logo, just before windows starts. I hear a crackle in the speakers as it starts initializing startup processes, but then it just locks up.

Stumped.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top