System "Powers Down" after a couple of minutes

[Mongbassa]

After the intro, game setup, begin to play my system turns completely off.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled, same issue. I have uninstalled and reinstalled on my secondary hard drive, same issue. It turns my computer completely off, no warning.

I have a Dell XPS/Dimension 720, 2.4M dual core processor, 750 Watt power supply, running Windows XP, DirectX 9, have 2 Radeon HD4670X2 DDR3 graphics cards, 4GB RAM (even tho not all recognized with XP), ove 3GB free on my C drive.

The game runs fine on my laptop which is considerably lower than my tower.

I have tried to run in windows and full screen.

Game is up to date with patches as of 10/05/2010.

Any ideas or solutions to my dilemma?

Thank you...

 

[Equendil]

Two possible causes I can think of:
- CPU overheating so much that the motherboard shuts down as protection.
- Defective PSU

First thing you might want to do is get a tool that shows your CPU temp while playing.

 

[tokala]

I have a Dell XPS/Dimension 720, 2.4M dual core processor, 750 Watt power supply, running Windows XP, DirectX 9, have 2 Radeon HD4670X2 DDR3 graphics cards, 4GB RAM (even tho not all recognized with XP), ove 3GB free on my C drive.

If you indeed have a quad crossfire setup, that's asking for trouble one way or another

Sounds definately as if SOMETHING performs an emergency shutdown.
-CPU is pretty unlikely, unless the fan isn't working anymore
- If for same strange reason that quadfire setup actually works with Civ5, you will probably bring a higher load on these cards than ever before. Could have two fatal consequences:
- The two gfx-cards are probably sitting very close to each other, one of them could be "suffocating" and overheating->check GPU temperatures, should be below 100, better below 90°C
- The cards are overloading the PSU, and it shuts itself down. In that case the PSU is not defective, it's just working as intended -> Make sure that mainboard, gfx1 and gfx2 each are drawing current from their exclusive 12V rail.

If the two gfx cards each are drawing the full 75W over the PCIe slot, this plus the CPU consumption might be more than one 12V/18A rail can provide to the mainboard, in that case you would need a single rail PSU.

Most elegant solution: Sell those X2's to some hardware connoisseur (it's pretty rare stuff!) and buy a proper video card instead

 

[stormerne]

I get the same problem with my Dell inspiron 1520 Core 2 Duo laptop. Happens when I'm running Second Life too. It's the nvidia 8400M GS graphics card that overheats, and it takes everything else down with it. (It even happens with a simple game like Flow.)

What do I do? I prop up the back of the laptop by two inches, sloping the keyboard a little forward towards me. Then I get a 12 inch desk fan and force cool the underside of the laptop from behind. I've just got used to it!

My solution might not help you (though it's worth taking a vacuum cleaner to the inside of your machine) but it may point the direction.

 

[Mongbassa]

Thanks. I will check that out. The thought crossed my mind, but this is the only game it happens to so I moved on.

 

[Mongbassa]

It turns out there was a simple explanation. I listened to the Dell technitions and purchased the cards they suggested after looking at my system. They recommended the ATI Radeon, but I have the nVidia chipset... RIGHT there in my system specs.

Now I have to ship their recommended video cards back to them, get a credit on my account, then order the correct video cards.

Looks like I will be watching a lot of TV for 2 weeks while this gets sorted out...

Moral of this story, check the boards first, get an educated solution, then contact Dell and tell THEM what is needed.

*sigh*

 

[Equendil]

-CPU is pretty unlikely, unless the fan isn't working anymore

Happened to me, heatsink not in good contact with the CPU anymore, had a few emergency shutdowns before I figured out what was wrong