Computer shuts down running 3d apps and now all the time

J

jamespetts

Geek Trainee
Synopsis
I have been having a problem recently in which my computer will tend to shut down whenever doing anything with 3d acceleration. To-day, the problem has spread, and the computer will shut down whenever I start windows.

Details

In about April, I upgraded my graphics driver (for my Radeon X1950) to the latest version, 9.3. It had just been put onto the "legacy support" list, so 9.3 was the latest driver for a while.

Ever since then, whenever I used a 3d application, the system would sometimes shut down completely (power off). The main 3d application that I used was SecondLife - I found that the harder that the graphics card had to work, the more likely that it was to shut the computer down. Making the window smaller helped a great deal.

When it failed, there were two basic types of behaviour: (1) it would shut down completely, and I would have to power off at the PSU's rocker switch for about 20 seconds and power on again before I could run the computer; and (2) it would power down momentarily, long enough to reset the system, but not long enough to turn it off entirely (the fans/hard drives could be heard to spin down briefly). Which of the two happened was unpredictable, but seemed to be related to how hard that the GPU had to work.

To-day, I went to log into SecondLife while I had a number of other CPU-intensive applications running in the background (nothing using 3d acceleration, however). I stepped out of the room to do something else while it started up, and heard a very loud crack noise coming from the speakers, followed by an intense high-pitched whine sounding like audio feedback. I returned to find the screen blank, as if the system had partly restarted.

I turned the computer off and on again (no resetting of the power switch was needed); however, when I booted into Windows (Windows XP Pro), it shut down again before getting to the login screen. This behaviour continued indefinitely on every restart and was consistent. I took the side off the computer and blew out all the dust with an air duster in case it was overheating. I checked that all the fans, including the GPU fan, were working.

I was able to get into Windows in safe mode. I found and downloaded a revised driver (9.3.1), and uninstalled the old driver, hoping to re-install it on system startup. When I restarted not in safe mode but with the graphics driver uninstalled, it got to the login screen and let me in to the desktop, but then shut down about 30-60 seconds later, whilst it was still loading the various background programs. This behaviour again was repeated consistently. The sound card still worked, as sound was played when the "new device detected: VGA adaptor" message was displayed.

I then used a Ubuntu 9.04 Live CD, which worked, although, of course, is slow. That is what I am using to write this now.

System specifications
  • Pentium 4 2.4 @ 3.0Ghz (Northwood, have had it (and had it overclocked) since 2003; FSB overclocking only, unlinked from the PCI bus which has never been overclocked).
  • 2Gb of RAM (dual channel
  • Asus P4C800-E-Deluxe motherboard
  • ATI Radeon X1950 AGP graphics card
  • Windows XP Pro (service pack 3)

General

I know that I have had the original problem for a while, but I have been rather too busy to deal with it. It is now critically interfering with the use of my computer, and I should be extremely grateful for any assistance. Is it a problem with the graphics card, motherboard, PSU, or all three?
 
I would try another power supply unit. seems like your graphics card is using to much power therefor causing random shutdowns.
 
BoBBYI986 said:
I would try another power supply unit. seems like your graphics card is using to much power therefor causing random shutdowns.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your help - I'll have to try that. Any recommendations for a good PSU that'll work with an older Pentium IV system? It's rather frustrating, because this PSU is itself a replacement for an older one that failed, and I thought that I had bought a good one this time.
 
Bobby,

thank you for your recommendations - much appreciated. Why do you think that it might be the switch if the power-downs occur only when the graphics card is under load?

Do you think that there is any possibility of the fault being elsewhere than the PSU perhaps causing some sort of short circuit that trips the PSU, or is that very unlikely?
 
Hi, It could be a falty power switch. I've had a problem like this before sometimes it would shut down within a few seconds and some cases within a few hours, so you might as well rule out the power switch by shorting the power switch jumpers using a flat head screw driver. No harm in trying doesn't cost anything :)

Other than power supply unit it could be heat issues. if you could try and post your cpu, northbridge and southbridge temps. and the last thing it could be shorting but very unlikely.

So overall me personally would start with the power switch if no joy, it sounds like it is power supply unit. gpu is using to much juice therefor causing shutdowns as your psu gradually gets weaker it will start to shut off alot more.
 
Bobby,

would power switch issues cause it to fail consistently when the GPU is put under load, but not usually otherwise? The system is set up so that, if the power switch is pressed for less than 4 seconds, it will not power off, but shut the system down via the operating system. There have been occasions when the failure has caused the computer to restart. I can't see how power switch issues would make it go so wrong as to cause the computer not to turn back on again until the rocker switch at the back of the PSU had been turned off for 20 seconds...
 
i get you now. so basically it doesn't sit in standby mode when the pc powers off. there is no power what so-ever. if it was a power switch issue the psu will just sit in standby mode which it isn't idoing because it's completly powerless. Have you tried a different kettle lead? different power socket? if so and it's made no difference, then it must be power supply unit.
 
my bad lol. The gpu must be using to much power more than your failing power supply unit can handle. so a new psu is the way to go :)
 
I have just replaced the PSU with the Corsair unit recommended by Bobby, and I am happy to report that it now works fine. Thank you all for your help :-)
 
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