Power Supply Issues?

[Austin]

As a recently I think my power supply may be acting up. I have backed off my overclocks and am running the bios at all default settings for the most part; however, my computer is still having the issue. The issue can be reproduced without a problem with about 15-20 Seconds of HyperPi.

All seems to function fine when I am not doing anything CPU power intensive. When I start to get up to actually using CPU all is fine for a few seconds, but then, according to Core Temp, my "power" for the CPU goes from the normal, be anything under 84w, to be to 200w+. After about 3-10 seconds of the behavior Windows blue-screens.

I have also above the issue occurring in the Gigabyte EasyTune. However in EasyTune I am unable to see the power used. When the issue is occurring all of the voltage readings seem solid and not changing however, observing the CPU frequency and memory frequency, both going up and get sent back as if it is some sort of regulation. As the issue continues the amount that it goes up from the normal frequencies gets ever so greater. The CPU frequency getting up to 4.8Ghz+ with no overclock set.

Processor: Intel 4670k (August 2013)
Memory: 4x4GB Kingston HyperX Genesis (2x August 2013, 2x April 2014)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H (August 2013)
Power Supply: Corsair GS700 [Discontinued] (July? 2012)

Now that I have explained everything, I believe the issue lies in the power supply since that is the old component in my computer. The power supply also does have a sort of faulty fan controller as do all of the power supplys of this model. The fan does function, but not optimally.

The processor was overclocked at 4.4Ghz with 1.275v.

Two sticks of the memory have been overclock at 2133Mhz at one point in time however the new two sticks I didn't get so lucky with so they have all been at 1600Mhz since I got the two sticks.

 

[MacLeod]

Those are not actual measurements of power draw, they're estimations based on calculations. Pay them no real mind. Something like a Kill-A-Watt unit or software like Corsair's Corsair Link which works with DSP is the only way to see actual power draw. If your overclock is stable and temps are fine, don't worry about it.

 

[Austin]

I would agree that the power consumption is an estimate but the issue is once it starts go up to the incredibly high wattage estimate the computer crashes. The computer still crashes even if that program is closed so it is not an issue of the program.

 

[MacLeod]

That sounds more like just an unstable overclock. Does the problem go away at stock clocks? A power supply shitting the bed usually the computer just turns off like you unplugged it. If it's freezing or BSOD'ing then that's more likely just an unstable overclock and you need to do a little more tweaking.

 

[Austin]

The issue still occurs with the stock clocks and voltages. The computer crashes from a blue screen.

 

[NeverBackDown]

You check all the connections internally? Faulty cables can be a cause for this. I had a bad sata cable a while ago and the computer would power on but within a minute restart. Only got 1 blue screen but after i found the problem it went away.

How old is this computer btw?

 

[Austin]

All of the cables are good. I actually just put the computer back together the other day moving to my new case. As for the age, the age of the parts are posted in my original post.

I had this issue before moving to the new case. I got the new case to help with my cooling since summer is coming, I'd like my temps to be a tad lower. I thought that it may have been possible for the power supply getting to warm also, so that was another reason for the new case.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Got a spare PSU? Could try that or borrow from a friend?

 

[Austin]

Sadly I don't have any spares laying around. Does it seem like a PSU issue though more than a CPU or Motherboard issue?

 

[kilobravo]

I will go with NeverBackDown on this,have had a bad sata-cable and when changed, bsods never happened again .
Could also be a badly seated cpu.
There could also be a mismatch of 2nd and 3rd row timings,even if they(ram) have same specs and looks,when bought separate.

 

[MacLeod]

I'm kinda thinking it could be the motherboard then that's the problem. Those power draw measurements aren't taken off anything the power supply is putting out really so my next suspect is either a bad CPU which is extremely rare or something borked on your mobo. That PSU isn't all that good so it could be defective but I don't think it's the problem.

Try reseating the CPU and see if that helps any but i don't think it will. Try running Memtest too and try running with a stick if RAM pulled out too. It's a long shot as it doesn't sound like a bad RAM issue but can't hurt to try.

 

[Austin]

After removing and adding items from my motherboard, the audio card appears to be causing the issue.

The core temp misreading was from lagging out since by default it is at below normal priority and the hyper pi program at normal.

Now with the issue being found, now the question is why is the audio card causing the computer to crash. The audio card I have is an Asus Xonar DSX.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Update the drivers if possible? Would be the first thing i would do.

 

[Austin]

I tried moving the sound card to another pci-e slot and that seem to remove the issue. Now my computer on the default settings seems much more stable just not as stable as it once was. So I am coming down to that it just may be the power supply not giving a good power output.

I was sometime soon feeling that I needed to replace the power supply, so this Monday I might order one, a Seasonic X-650 or a Seasonic SS-660XP2 maybe ? And well if that doesn't fix the issue then I have an awesome power supply much better then the crappy Channel Well one I got right now.