Random Shutdowns on Load

[Cloud_9ine]

For the Past few months, I have had an intermittent issue where very heavy load may randomly cause my machine to just flip off. This has happened almost every time in games (Just Cause 2, Dead Rising 2, TF2, and killing Floor). When it does shut down, my GPU seems to be working harder than usual when gaming (or at least afaik so far, the fan does), but my CPU isn't working particularly harder. I plan to do some other strenuous things tomorrow so I can see if I can reproduce it.

Does anyone know a possible cause?

I'm figuring my PSU may not be keeping up with its needs under heavy load (I don't remember this issue before my 2nd HDD was installed). Im figuring this may be the case also because it doesn't shut down on only CPU load, but when there is load on the GPU as well.

Are random shutdowns a symptom of a failing PSU or a overloaded PSU or is this a whole new issue?

Thanks

[CaffeinePowered]

Full specs?

[HeK]

Full specs?

This and clean your PC. Dust = heat, heat = poor power handling.

[Cloud_9ine]

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 (Third Core Unlocked) w/ Third Party F/HS
HDD: 2 x WD Caviar Blue 500 GB HDDs
RAM: 8 GB DDR3 RAM
GPU: XFX Brand ATI Redeon HD 4870
DVD: Random Sony DVD Burner/Player
PSU: OCZ 500W PSU
CASE: NZXT M59 Case

[CaffeinePowered]

If your HDDs aren't RAID'd, try disconnecting one and the blu-ray drive, might not be a lot but dipping your power load just a bit might help determine the cause

[Cloud_9ine]

Alright will do, are there any methods to monitor power usage? Only tough part will be reproducing it. While it has spurts of it happening, it is fairly random so if it doesn't shut down after taking the things out, it could be because I disconnected the items, or it cold just be luck. But I guess I could just give it GPU hell with them disconnected and see how it works out.

[HeK]

A VOM.

[Didzo]

A VOM.

[HeK]

[quote author=JC Denton link=topic=5311.msg191042#msg191042 date=1294267200]
A BOM.

[/quote]

[beep beep diglett]

oh my god

[Versus]

oh my god