Random reboots while watching video files and s-video output

Hello, I came across this site while looking for an answer for my problem. Though I could not find anything that could directly help me, I noticed the people on here are very friendly and most helpful. So I am posting here in the hope someone can help me with my problem.

I built a system a few weeks back and I'm very pleased with it so far part from one problem. At times the computer will just reboot, like I've pressed the reset button. Its happened a couple of times under normal use when having Azureus program running and flipping tasks to show its window. However it will reset without fail whenever I output my display via S-Video to get dual display.
At first I thought it might be the PSU because when I ran the fan at max speed, things seemed stable, but it will still reboot at random times.
The files I am playing are Divx videos of TV shows like "Lost" for e.g.

Could this a fault with the PSU, the PSU not the correct watt for the hardware and type of usage, or is this a fault with the GFX card or MB in some way?

Hope someone here could shed light on my problem.



My system spec:

MSI 975X Platinum P.U Edition i975X.
Intel Conroe E6700
2Gb (2X1Gb) CorsairTwinX XMS2
150 Gb Western Digital WD1500AHFD Raptor X
500 Gb Seagate Barracuda
Sapphire ATI Radeon X1900 XT
Nesteq Semi-Fanless ASM PSU, 520W

Latest:
Divx drivers
Motherboard bios update and drivers
ATI drivers
Sound drivers

Water cooled CPU, GFX & NBridge using the Reserator v1 plus.

CPU temps using Core Temp Beta 0.93:
Normal Core 0: 40c
Normal Core 0: 40c
Load Core 0: 64c
Load Core 1: 64c

GFX temps using ATITool 0.25 Beta 15:
Normal GPU: 48c
Load GPU: 80c

Temps given by CPU and GFX own sensors and 3rd party software. Figures include under load of games for many hours (Company of Heroes for e.g.).

Thanks for your time reading this and I hope someone can help me out.

 

1 thing I have noticed is that while running clone output and playing a video file normally (not in Theater mode that puts the video into full screen on the secondary display) things are fine. Running in theater mode causes a reboot though. Also I can make it happen faster if I turn off the fan for the PSU so it only turns on by heat sensor.
This is making me think there is a PSU power issue somehow.
I am hoping to try another PSU at some point to see if I get the same results.
Also while the PSU fan was off even loading a game (World of Warcraft) the computer rebooted, which doesn't normally happen.

There is no BSOD, just an instant reboot.

 

Hi Callidus,
Me, I would be a little concerned about those temperatures. I would open the case and direct a desk fan inside. If that made the system more stable then I would look at increasing the airflow through the case. Water cooling and semi-fanless still expel the heat to air so you need to remove that heated air. If there is little movement of air the heat cannot be removed.

64*C and 80*C might make me think it was getting very warm inside the case.

The PSU needs to be sufficiently cooled as well, if it only has warm/hot air supplied to it, it may be overheating.

There are fan control systems that can be used to increase the airflow during "stress" periods. One manufacturer is Thermaltake.

Matt

 

Thanks for the reply.

I looked up the temperatures for my CPU and GFX and they seem to be within the limits of what they can handle.

This link suggests my CPU is within the limits:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35859

I read that my GFX using the standard heatsink / fan system is about 80-90c.

Also the PSU I use has an active heat sensor that turns the fan on or speeds it up when required.

The thing is the temperatures I show are while playing games for a few hours and gaming is stable for me.
I only get reboots while playing video files and at that point the temperatures about the same as idle.

Edit: Ive changed my post as I did some more testing:

I managed to watch a complete video file tonight without a crash. It was crashing before like nobody's business until i simply made the video window size on my main PC display as small as it would go.
I have know idea why this would effect the rebooting but whenever I made the window big, a short while after the computer reboots.
The display on the TV remained full screen due to the theater mode and it ran fine like this.
Though it is a temp fix, I'm still left clueless to what is causing the reboots. I just hope trying a different PSU will provide more stable results.

 

I think you are headed in the right direction to be looking at that PSU but I also think (like Mattman) that you have some temperature issues. I am not or lets say not yet a big fan (no pun intended) of water or liquid cooling but if I was hitting your temps on air cooling, I'd be ripping things apart looking for a fix. The fact that you are hitting these temps with water cooling indicates a problem to me. Having said that, ATI cards do pull a lot of power and it wouldn't surprise me if a better PSU solves your immediate "reboot" problem.

 

Thanks for your reply.
I also do feel its a PSU issue but still do not think heat levels on the CPU and GFX are the problem.
My computer will reboot playing video files even from a cold start if I leave the PSU fan on passive. Even games cause a reboot while the fan is set in this way.
Normally from what I've seen in the past with old computers when heat is a problem on the CPU or GFX, I would see errors in the display and also the computer tends to lock up, not just reboot.

Again, them levels of heat are while playing Company of Heroes for a few hours and not at any point was there any display errors, GFX lag or lockups. The computer never rebooted at any point either. This of course is while the PSU fan is running active and full speed.

If heat was an issue, why would the system reboot when its cold or hot while playing video files. Also why does it not reboot if I make the windows media player window as small as it can go?

My water cooling is a passive system so it will result in temperatures of about the same as standard fan cooling (My GFX card reaches 80c water cooled and using the stock heatsink and fan it will reach 80-90c). The reason I use it is not for better cooling but for much lower noise levels. The system is totally silent and you can only hear the pump if you put your ear to the main unit.
http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=160&code=021

 

I'm glad we are in agreement re: your Power Supply being the most likely culprit. I have seen the exact same identical behavior with other systems using high end ATI cards and marginal power supplies. It is caused by insufficient amperage. Just so there is no confusion: it wouldn't surprise me if a better PSU solves your immediate "reboot" problem.


As to your temps - read em' and weep - not worth arguing about the actual numbers you referenced - again, I'd be ripping things apart looking for a fix but if you are content, then so be it. You may want to read the product review link at the bottom of the Zahlman link you supplied. The reviewer cited problems with a fanless PSU used in conjunction with this cooling system because no hot air was being exhausted. It echoed Matt's earlier comments.

I'm a strong advocate of Zahlman. Here's a little eye candy that runs a whole lot cooler than what you are trying to defend.

 

Thanks for the reply, I shall be testing another higher wattage PSU ASAP and would like to think this fixes the problem. I will post a reply with my results when I have tested.

I use a Lian Li case which not only has 2x 120mm fans, 1 blowing in and the other blowing out, but the PSU is in its own part of the case and pulls air in from the bottom.
Lian Li V1100 Plus
Case image of PSU placement (under that silver plate are vent holes)
The inside of the case and the PSU are not hot at all, even the HDDs are only warm.

Been trying to find out some info on temperature for the Conroe CPUs and it seems many people are getting the same temps as me using heatsink / fan setups.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/590724.html
1 post that took my eye was:

Also this heatsink / fan test result page seems to show high temps for conroe CPUs:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/08/01/conroe_heatsink_group_test/10.html


Again I will get back ASAP with the different PSU results.

 

Very interesting.

I hope changing the PSU helps.

I'll just make a comment or two. You might find something useful.

In the cooling system the "cool" water goes to the CPU, then it is passed to the northbridge, then to the graphics. So if the CPU is running "hot" it may actually be taking the northbridge and GPU to temperatures higher than what they would be using a different system. You may need to ensure the CPU does not get stressed to begin with. I know everyone seems to want to want to overclock, but if I had plenty of spare processing power I would consider underclocking if I needed to troubleshoot stability problems.

The temperature readouts may be the digital ones. I would use the Intel utility and check the idle temps against readouts in the BIOS. A 24*C rise in the CPU temperature and 32*C rise for the GPU. It would make me wonder if the heat was getting away from the cores well enough. Is the cooling tower well clear of any obstructions (you don't even want it close to a wall and certainly not under a desk).

I see what you mean about heavy graphics programs being stable. I would look at completely uninstalling the graphics drivers (in Safe Mode). ATI have an uninstall utility at their website (downloads -> utilities I think). When the New Hardware wizard runs at startup let it look at the drivers CD that came with the graphics card. I have had problems with ATI drivers in Win XP.
Still problems, consider the same thing with the chipset drivers (soundcard, remove or disable it).

Uninstall the video programs one at a time. Apart from graphics drivers, another common feature may be codecs. Divx is very "codec" based. You may want to try Xvid.

I don't think it has been mentioned, go to Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Startup and Recovery -> uncheck Automatically Resart, if the restarts are through Windows you will get BSODs instead, look for a common error message or setup data dumps (search in the Win XP forum).

Again, hope the PSU solves it.

Matt

 

Hello again, I bring good news. I have borrowed a 650w Thermaltake PSU and its been running solid. I'm running all of season 1 of lost back to back while I'm at work. The girlfriend told me its still running, which has been 5 hours so far.

This leaves me wondering if the PSU is faulty or just not enough power for my setup.

My computers PSU is the 520 watt version listed here:
http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/powersupplies/nesteq-psus

If anyone could tell me if I need more power for my setup, I would be most grateful.


I would like to thank you all for the replies to my problem and it also made me look deeper into temperatures for my CPU and GFX.

 

CalliduS:

That is one heck of a case and it sounds like you researched your build extensively. I also like the Zahlman liquid cooling solution you selected as it appears to be much "cleaner" than most of its direct competitors.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking your system - its a beauty. On the other hand, lets get realistic about it. Your temperatures scare me. I'm an AMD type and don't pretend to know more than the average klutz about Intel processors. This thread has pushed me to do some reading however and it appears that some others (not all) are having similar heat issues with this processor. Most of what I've read points to the stock cooler, Intel's fan speed management and the diode placement on the hottest part of the processor. But - thats with normal air cooling, not a liquid system.

OK, lets discount the CPU for the time being and focus on your Graphics card - I get scared when I see a 32º C temperature swing between idle and load although your idle temperature looks fine at 48º C. Is 80º abnormal? No, but it would be unacceptable to me - especially if I was running liquid cooling.

You have what appears to be an awesome system and I'm not trying to knock it. I think the PSU will resolve the "reboot" issue. At the same time, while you are back inside the case, I'd try to see if you can make some other changes to improve what I would call some temperature "issues ". This isn't something to argue about, nor should it be rationalized as acceptable - its obviously quite a system but lets face it - it can be better.



edit: just saw your post (I'm a slow poke on the keyboard) - Congratulations.

 

Hi, thanks for the reply and thank you for the kind words about the system. Its by no means top end but it was on a budget I could afford and does everything I need it to do.

With the temperatures of the GFX, I do agree they do match those of a stock fan system for that card and should really be lower when water cooling. I'm quite happy with these values as long as they do not go beyond what would be expected using a heatsink fan setup. Afterall I didn't buy the Reserator for lower temps, but rather to lower the noise and keep the misses happy. She is not a fan of noisy computers while trying to watch TV.
Oh and the change is not fast, it takes a little while for it to reach 80c.

The order of the cooling might well be making the GFX card heat up more than normal, what with it passing through the warmed water from the CPU and NBridge.

The Reserater unit does warm up quite a bit so I know the heat is being pulled away.
There is an updated GFX block for the Reserator system thats a bit bigger, which is something I might look at if I get much higher temps in the summer.
http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/watercooling/zm-gwb3

They even offer a fan unit that can fit on top of the Reserator main unit.
http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/watercooling/zm-rf1

On a side note, I did read somewhere that the samsung's RAM max temperature is 125c
I know this has little to do with the GPU but thats quite a high limit and I never knew RAM could handle that sort of heat. If mine ever got near that heat level, I might think about using my RAM to cook my tea on