GTX260 Crashes Computer

[piggin23]

You can run the test for as long as you like.
The GPU will shut down if it gets hot (what I think you are experiencing)
The games that you have been playing are putting a lot of load on the card and causing it to heat up.
People report that these cards will go up to 100C but I would not be happy with that.

What temps do you have before the test?

Does the fan speed up as the test continues?

Does your system only crash when you are playing games or when your on the net etc.?

[Tonka777]

This page says the max core temp is 105' C, but i'm not sure i'd be willing to let it run that high. I think stopping the test at 75' was a good decision.

I would be inclined to think that your main problems are caused by a too weak power supply, but i guess its not worth spending money on another until you can verify that the card isn't overheating.

[HermansArmpit]

Before the test I was idling at around 45C i think. And no the fan speed hasn't changed at all on its way to the high temps.

This is a guess but if my power supply is too weak is there a chance that A) It would cause that whining sound the card makes and B) The fan doesn't have enough juice to spin up any faster?

I've just tried Riva Tuner tho and when I adjust it manually it does spind up and it is very noticable.

Anyway the temp hasn't gone back down tinto the 40's it has just stayed at 53. I had got in touch with XFX about the noise earlier on today to ask if it was normal and they replied really quickly so I have told them I cant hear the fan and stuff. Can I tell them about running the test without breaching warranty or something?

And I dont think it would be very smart of me to run a card at 105C. I think it would melt a hole down into the floor below.

[piggin23]

The power supply will run the card and the fan.
The problem is :-

1) Is the power supply underpowered and is cutting out as the load is increasing ie. playing games

OR

2) The card is getting hot and shutting down the system to protect itself.

As for running stress tests they would not invalidate your warranty but in my experience any excuse to blame the customer is acceptable. You do not have to tell them that you have carried out stress testing, just that it is shutting down your system.
The problems is they will say you have an underpowered PSU and the card is not at fault.

[piggin23]

Not to be an alarmist but I just found this and it proves a point that cheap PSU are not the best

http://corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=622747

[kalniel]

The power supply will run the card and the fan.
The problem is :-

1) Is the power supply underpowered and is cutting out as the load is increasing ie. playing games

OR

2) The card is getting hot and shutting down the system to protect itself.
.

Or

3) A combination of both - the card and PSU are getting hot under load, increasing electric resistance and requiring more power to the point it cuts out.

As stated, the graphics card will cut out before it is damaged from high temperature so stress testing is fine, problem is it doesn't really distinguish between possible faults. 105C is not likely to do any damage over a short period - I had a 6800GT that ran over 110C quite happily. My current 4870 sits well over 80C most of the time under load.

The other thing to check is in control panel->administrative tools->event viewer->application and look for the Errors occurring at the time of the crash. Past the info here.

[Badbonji]

My GTX295 hits 95C in FC2 overclocked ... must get some water to this thing by summer, otherwise she will burn up!

It is perfectly stable, and 75C is perfectly normal for a GTX260, I wouldn't worry until it passes 85C for a single GPU card...
For me the fan if left on Auto doesn't even starting spinning faster until 70-75C, then by 80C it is at 50-60% then 100% by 95C

[HermansArmpit]

@Kalniel - This is the only error that I can find for today. Its repeated a few times so I dont know if this could be the crash.

Event filter with query "SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 60 WHERE TargetInstance ISA "Win32_Processor" AND TargetInstance.LoadPercentage > 99" could not be reactivated in namespace "//./root/CIMV2" because of error 0x80041003. Events cannot be delivered through this filter until the problem is corrected.

@Piggin - Yeah I think I've learned my lesson. Will definately be upgrading to a good quality PSU when I get paid in two weeks. Any suggestions would be more than welcome.

@BadBonji - Well thatll be why I'm not hearing the fan then. It didn't go over 75C in the ATITools test because that's where I stopped it.

Since I stopped it I repositioned a fan in my case so that it is blowing directly onto the 260 and then I left the ATITool test running for an hour and it never got above 71C so thats looking good. I'm going to see if I can recreate the error now just by playing Crysis with high settings. Can anyone recommend a program that will log temps for me?

[piggin23]

I have purchased a few PSU's over the years. As my system has grown so has the PSU. I was like you and purchased 'non brand' units but they all died.
My advise now is purchase a unit that has 'overcapacity' for your rig so that you can use it when you next upgrade.
I like the CORSAIR units a lot (HX620). It does what is says on the tin, very quiet and all the cables are modular, with a flat ribbon design. This helps a lot when building cases as they look very neat and can be fitted behind the motherboard and rear of the case.
You can use this link to work out your requirements.

http://www.corsair.com/psufinder/default.aspx

Most of the big makes have excellent PSU's : Coolermaster, BeQuiet, Enermax etc. and all work well but they don't have the Corsair cable management system.

As for price if you purchased a £150 unit six months ago you will now have to pay £200 due to the weakness of the pound against the dollar/euro. So lets hope pay day is a good one.

[HermansArmpit]

Haha yeah I was lookin at buying the Intel Q6600 back in October and it was down around the £115 mark, now its up around £160. I was going to buy a new DVI monitor so I'll just put that money towards a super new PSU and hope I dont explode within the next few weeks.

[Georgy291]

i hope no one from scan is reading,

im nearly 100% sure its the PSU, heres why,

I wanted a new grafix card so i bought a HD4870 and just to make sure i checked the PSU rating card said needs 420w i had a 550w PSU.......i cant remember exact figures but i remember my PSU was rated 100W over what the card needed

So i loaded up the card ETC, it worked fine then i loaded up crysis

everything was fine, until about 30 min in, sudenly i hear a loud click and everything shuts down never to be turned on again....DEAD PSU

called scan i honestly told them what happned and they were kind enough to RMA my PSU and give me money back

not only that, they also sugested me the cheapest one that will run my card

so your really lucky your pc re starts not kills the psu

[nekromantik]

Im getting a GTX260 also soon, and at the moment I am thinking about the Coasir 650W TX as I cant afford the modular 620 HX. Its a shame thought as I would prefer a modular PSU.

[HermansArmpit]

Yeah I'm gettin a bit afraid of it burning out the machine so I'll take it easy with my games until I get another. I think I'd cry if that happened to me.

Ive turned the fan up to like 90% and I can play for about an hour before it goes. It seems to happen when there's something flashy happening on screen. I'm guessing it needs to draw more power for it and the PSU can't supply it.

I didn't buy mine from Scan, I got it from mplex because there is a store that I can get to from my college so I don't have to pay delivery. www.mplex.co.uk. I think I'll see if theyll take it back but I really don't think they will.

Got my eye on this one now: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134694

[nekromantik]

yeah I was going to go for that Coolermaster 700W too but people told me to get the coarsir 550w modular or 650 non modular.

[piggin23]

Unfortunately you only get what you pay for and the manufactures know this so the customers have to pay the extra. (Is that me being cynical????)

HermansArmpit is the power supply does go with a POP then there is a possibility that it will take out other components. As you have mentioned, I would lay of the heavy games until you can sort this out.

[Georgy291]

Unfortunately you only get what you pay for and the manufactures know this so the customers have to pay the extra. (Is that me being cynical????)

HermansArmpit is the power supply does go with a POP then there is a possibility that it will take out other components. As you have mentioned, I would lay of the heavy games until you can sort this out.

nah uh

mine went pop with my HD4870

and just the powersuply died its just inconvinance off waiting for the next one

check my specs nothing changed apart from i stated my new psu


best thing i can advice you is

call scan......(the friendly people off this website)
08714724747 (from uk)

and if you have over 20 posts they will deliver it for free

and ask them what will be the best and cheapest solution for you etc, can go wrong then, your PSU looks way too expensive for what you want, i payed £45 for mine i think