[mycomputerfails]

So about a few months back, i get this computer that im currently using and play this game called Lunia for about 1 month [ive been playing it for a while on my old computer and ive had no problems with Lunia] and one night my computer just randomly restarts. Before it was restarting maybe every few hours...and now its restarting right when i load the game.

When i take off the auto restart upon failure button in system properties, it doesnt make it stop at the bsod as it did before...it just skips it and STILL auto restarts.

At first it went to the bsod when i first took it off the auto restart button but not it just totally skips it.

It gives errors on about 3 other games, works semi-ok for World of Warcraft [causes errors here and there], and for Lunia, it just restarts my comp.

And ever since this started happening, my computer turns on but doesnt appear on the monitor. It happens when i turn my computer on after a few hours of it being off, like after i wake up.

And yes i am a computer noob so please state on how i can find and write my computer specs.

[BG-0]

Full computer specs please. Can't do anything but speculation without them.

[mycomputerfails]

Well i dont know much about computers but this is all i can find...if its the incorrect data, please tell me where to find them so i can post.

[From my DirectX Diagnostic Tool]
OPerating System:Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.0
Processor: AMD Athlon(TM) XP 3000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Memory 1024MB Ram
Page File: 438MB used, 2024MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

[mycomputerfails]

Bump...sorry for being impatient but i've had this problem for a month and have been unable to play it. My friend constantly nags me to play it making me want to play even more.

[BG-0]

Graphics card model: find out by going to device manager (control panel, system, (??hardware??) tab, device manager. Then, click display adapters, take the model from there.
Power supply model: Open your computer case, look at the sticker on the side of the power supply. Post the brand and model, plus Amperages (xxA) on 12 V rails (12V1,12V2 etc or 12Va,12Vb etc).

[mycomputerfails]

Well i dont know which is the brand and model on the sticker of the power supply so ill just post everything as I see it

Antic EARTHWATTS
Model / EA-430
420W Max.

5V, 3.3V max. load:130W
+ 12V[1], +12 V[2] max. load: 320W



And heres my graphics card model:
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT

[win2kpro]

You may be a little bit "light" on the power supply. The Antec EA430 has 17A on both +12v1 and +12v2. Since it is built to ATX specs the +12v2 rail should be isolated and dedicated for the processor, which would only leave you the +12v1 rail to power the PCIe buss and other +12v components.

For anyone using a machine with ANY PCIe card, I recommend either a power supply with a single +12v rail of 40 amps or more, or in the case of a power supply with multiple +12v rails 3 rails with at least 17A per rail. Of course the power would need to be greater on a card that not only receives power from the PCIe buss, but also has additional PCIe connectors.

The fact that the machine doesn't start right up when you turn it on cold is indicitive of either a defect in the POWER GOOD signal from the power supply to the motherboard, or a defect in the motherboard POWER GOOD circuitry.

Unless you have a spare power supply with a single +12v of approximately 40A or more, or a power supply with multiple +12v rails with 17A or more per rail, I suggest you take the tower into a repair facility and have them "jump" a power supply meeting or exceeding the above criteria, and see if that solves the problem. By "jumping" a heavier power supply to the board, this would give you an indication as to whether the problem was in the power supply, or the board circuitry. I have people bring towers in all the time for testing, it should take less than 30 minutes, and the cost should be minimal, perhaps $25-$30.

If you find that you do need a new power supply I recommend that you go with a good quality unit such as PC Power & Cooling, Corsair, ThermalTake, etc. and go with a unit with a single +12v rail. As far as I know, Corsair is the only manufacturer that offers units with multiple +12v rails that has power sharing between the rails. In my opinion, a large single +12v rail is far superior to multiple +12v rails.

[pvc_]

The first suspect is the power supply, the second one is the motherboard, and the third one is your RAM.

[mycomputerfails]

Well if my computer restarts because if its lack in power supply, why do some other games simply get errors upon loading and WoW getting errors maybe after every 1-60 minutes or sometimes consecutivelywithin 5 minutes. How does that relate to power supply?

[win2kpro]

The demand from power supply output to a PCIe card can vary on the intensity and graphic demands of the game, and the card in use.

Also, have you checked the game manufacturers site to see if there are any updates you need to apply.

Additionally, as pvc_ suggested, go here; http://www.memtest.org/ build either a floppy or CD with the program, boot with the application and let it run for at least four full passes.

With good memory, you should have NO errors. If you get errors, and are using multiple sticks of memory, run Memtest on one stick at a time to see if there are problems with all the installed memory.

If you do get memory errors, don't immediately change all your memory, unless you just get errors with one stick. A motherboard with weak or failing capacitors can mimic defective memory.

Check the capacitors on the motherboard and also on the video card, and see if you have any that have "swollen" or "bulging" tops, or any that are leaking a "brownish" looking fluid. If you have leaking capacitors there will generally, but not always be a slight "ammonia" type smell present in the chassis.

[mycomputerfails]

well my computer was working fine for about 2 months untill i started leaving it on overnight for about a week. and thats when these restarts started happening. before it was by the hour though - an hour of playing before it restarted. so is it possible my psu experienced overtime damage or something may have been damaged?

my room is casually warm and the computer did experience overheating problems in the past but back then it would restart only when very hot but it wasn't permanent damage either. my room is pretty small and my computer + tv generate alot of heat and i rarely open doors or window to let the air circulate and cool my room

[mycomputerfails]

bump

[pvc_]

try to download speedfan and see what the temps are like.

[mycomputerfails]

temperatures and other things are as shown:

Fan1: 4592 RPM GPU: 0C
Temp1: 55C
Temp2: 41C
Temp3: -1C
HD0: 42C


Vcore1: 1.71V
+3.3V: 3.22V
+5V: 4.70V
+12V: 12:67V

-12V: -16.97V
-5V: -8.78V
+5V: 5.00V
Vbat: 4.08V

[pvc_]

are these recorded at idle or after playing games for a couple minutes?