Computer seems to go to sleep mid-game?

[kain0rer]

Hey guys,

I've tried working this out on my own but with no luck.

I play the Arma II mod Day-Z regularly and on some completely random occasions my skype call will cut out and my monitors go into standby. I don't hear the call drop, it just all goes quiet and screens go black telling me there is no signal.

I can play for hours and it won't happen or I can log in, run around for 1 minute and it will do it to me a few times in succession. To get back to windows I need to hold the power button and turn off the computer then back on. The reset button does not help me. It seems to reset, but monitors stay in standby.

I have logged CPU and GPU temps which seem fine as well as fiddled with Windows power saving settings. I've tried new graphics drivers as well as enabling and disabling crossfire.

If I can give any more info let me know, this issue is $#!7ing me to tears.

thanks in advance.

[DarkForceMage]

How much stability testing have you done? Assuming all monitor standby & power saving options are already off, and is it only when your running a game or at the desktop too?

[sotech]

First thing that comes to mind is an unstable overclock or possibly dodgy RAM - run Memtest and if that doesn't show up any errors stability test your overclock (assuming it's the system in your sig) - run prime95 for up to 24 hours and see if it crashes out.

[kain0rer]

Originally Posted by DarkForceMage

How much stability testing have you done? Assuming all monitor standby & power saving options are already off, and is it only when your running a game or at the desktop too?

I have changed my sig, the PC is not overclocked that figure was wrong. As for the issue, only ever happens in game. Never at desktop.

Originally Posted by sotech

First thing that comes to mind is an unstable overclock or possibly dodgy RAM - run Memtest and if that doesn't show up any errors stability test your overclock (assuming it's the system in your sig) - run prime95 for up to 24 hours and see if it crashes out.

I have put the memtest86+ on a bootable CD, but I can't get this new bios to show me the CD/DVD drive as an option to boot first? I can see it under devices, but in the list of boot drives it doesn't show. Am I missing something?

[DarkForceMage]

Try spamming F11 on startup.

[kain0rer]

Originally Posted by DarkForceMage

Try spamming F11 on startup.

Spamming F11 obviously gives me boot device selection but as stated I only have my HDD options as well as a 'USB: Generic External 2.10'

The other options are 6 HDDs Alternating between AHCI P0 and P1.

Ie:

AHCI P0: Intel SSD
AHCI P1: Samsung
AHCI P0: Samsung
AHCI P1: Samsung
AHCI P0: Samsung
AHCI P1: Samsung
USB: Generic External 2.10


No sign of the ASUS Burner..

[VirtualNinja]

what about boot order in the bios?

[kain0rer]

Ok so turns out I needed to turn on SATA 2 devices or soemthing in the bios to have it show.

Anyway, ran Memtest86+ overnight.. no errors. Just to be sure and rule out power saving issues, does it matter what setting i have it on if i put both 'Turn off the display' and 'Put the computer to sleep' to Never?

I have the option of:

- Balanced
- F=Stream Tuning
- High Performance
- Power Saver


There are advanced power settings for all of those but haven't bothered changing anything as the issue is so intermittent.

[kindred]

Sounds to me like videocard is packing up.. Any chance you can try a different one and see if the prob still occurs?

[kain0rer]

Originally Posted by kindred

Sounds to me like videocard is packing up.. Any chance you can try a different one and see if the prob still occurs?

Do you think it would be worth swapping the pci-e slots they are in?

[Wolfje]

I would be keen to check power delivery in your situation too to rule out any PSU silly buggers.

If you can pick up or borrow a decent ~800W PSU to try it out that will go a long way to help you sort this out. As a side question, in the Xfire setup, do you have those 6-Pin to Molex adaptors hanging anywhere in your case on any of those cards? I've had issues with some PSU's not pumping enough down the 12v rail the Molex is on. Using a PSU with 4x6-Pin PCIe connectors makes for far cleaner power delivery.

FWIW I had pretty much exactly the same problems as you, with 6870s in CF. I fixed it by buying a Thermaltake Tough 875W PSU, and slapping it in, went great guns after that.

[kindred]

Originally Posted by kain0rer

Do you think it would be worth swapping the pci-e slots they are in?

Ohhh sorry missed that you had crossfire going on, try taking out one of them - will point to either power issue or vid card!

[therazza]

yep, be looking at power supply firstly

[kain0rer]

The issue hasn't happened for a couple of sessions now, when it does I will look at the power/graphics options. My corsair PSU has some blue outlets and some black so I will follow up and see that everything is plugged in where it should be if the problem arises again.

[Radiactor]

+1 to check your power supply.

I had the same issue a while back, for over a year (which kind of put me off gaming). Over that time I upgraded every component except the power supply (HX1000) and the issue persisted.

I bought a new power supply and BAM! Perfect ever since

I also got the dodgy HX1000 replaced under warranty. This can cost a huge amount in shipping if you're not careful though (I had to send it to Hong Kong/Singapore/somewhere around there, don't remember exactly). Au$post wanted to charge $95