Mining LiteCoin and PrimeCoin and PC just shutting down - seeking advice

[#Darren]

I am running 2 7970 graphics cards for litecoin and running an AMD FX 8 core processor using 7 cores for the primecoins.  I have a 750 watt powerpack.  This system is approx 3 months old.

The system was running fine just mining litecoins and bitcoin for a few months, and then I added the primecoin CPU usage and that ran fine for a week.

But now the system is just shutting down when I run litecoin on the GPU's.   PrimeCoin on it's own is fine, but run litecoin on the GPU's either on it's own or in conjunction with the primecoin and the system turns off.  Sometimes it turns of almost immediately, sometimes it runs a little while.   I have to turn it off and on again at the back of the computer to get it to restart.

It doesn't seem to be heat related as the system shut down pretty quick just running the GPU's (no primecoin) at approx 60 C.

I figure the Powerpack is dying?  But would appreciate any other opinions/advice.

[notlist3d]

I am running 2 7970 graphics cards for litecoin and running an AMD FX 8 core processor using 7 cores for the primecoins.  I have a 750 watt powerpack.  This system is approx 3 months old.

The system was running fine just mining litecoins and bitcoin for a few months, and then I added the primecoin CPU usage and that ran fine for a week.

But now the system is just shutting down when I run litecoin on the GPU's.   PrimeCoin on it's own is fine, but run litecoin on the GPU's either on it's own or in conjunction with the primecoin and the system turns off.  Sometimes it turns of almost immediately, sometimes it runs a little while.   I have to turn it off and on again at the back of the computer to get it to restart.

It doesn't seem to be heat related as the system shut down pretty quick just running the GPU's (no primecoin) at approx 60 C.

I figure the Powerpack is dying?  But would appreciate any other opinions/advice.

What brand PSU?  Not all brands are equal. 

Try just with graphics cards and does it run fine?  If it does chances are you need a bigger PSU or dual PSU's

[mufa23]

Gonna guess PSU. Post your specs. You might be overloading a rail or something.

[Photon939]

Instant shutdown tells me one of two things:

CPU overheat - use a program like CoreTemp to check your cpu temps

PSU overload - overcurrent trip = instant off, cheap power supplies are a no-no if mining coins

[#Darren]

What brand PSU?  Not all brands are equal.  

Gonna guess PSU. Post your specs. You might be overloading a rail or something.

The brand is "cooler master", model GX 750W Bronze.  It has a 5 year warranty.

Try just with graphics cards and does it run fine?  If it does chances are you need a bigger PSU or dual PSU's

Initially it was crashing on just the graphics cards alone.  But interestingly I just gave it a run on graphics cards only and it ran fine for 45 minutes, so I tried adding the cpu miner as well and it crashed immediately.

[#Darren]

CPU overheat - use a program like CoreTemp to check your cpu temps

Thanks, I'll give it a go.  What sort of temps should I see if all is healthy?

[mufa23]

The brand is "cooler master", model GX 750W Bronze.  It has a 5 year warranty.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171053

If you own this one, you "should" be pretty well set. The rail should be able to supply a maximum of 720watts (12v X 60a) to the video cards (each rated at 250w).

CPU overheat - use a program like CoreTemp to check your cpu temps

Thanks, I'll give it a go.  What sort of temps should I see if all is healthy?

Depends on the CPU model. Post it. Typically, I'm guessing they aren't suppose to go much higher than 75'C. But some don't like going higher than 60'C, while others can go to 80'C. Depends on the model.

EDIT: My phenom 955 wasn't suppose to go much further than ~65'C, and would usually hang around 61'C. My new 1090t hangs around 40'C. But it's not suppose to go above 62'C

[#Darren]

Just ran the CPU test.

GPU mining only sitting on 19 C

CPU mining only Sittting on 63C

Ran them both at the same time and it shut down almost instantly with no discernable CPU temp increase.

BTW the motherboard is a Gigabyte  990FXA-UD3

[mufa23]

GPU mining only sitting on 19 C

Well that's not right at all... typo, or is that what it's actually saying?

[mufa23]

Also, try and get a kill-o-watt or something to measure the power draw from the outlet. Is the breaker blowing, or is it just the computer shutting down? You might not be supplying enough power from the wall and/or PSU.

[#Darren]

Is the breaker blowing, or is it just the computer shutting down? You might not be supplying enough power from the wall and/or PSU.

It is just the computer shutting down.

[#Darren]

GPU mining only sitting on 19 C

Well that's not right at all... typo, or is that what it's actually saying?

Tested GPU mining again and that was still around 20C jumping up to max 25C

[hathmill]

Yup, basically the same story for me. Then again, one mining rig that had this issue stopped having it and have now an uptime of several days. I have not had time too look into it.

[#Darren]

Yup, basically the same story for me. Then again, one mining rig that had this issue stopped having it and have now an uptime of several days. I have not had time too look into it.

Interesting, because mine has similar inconsistencies - for example it would not GPU mine at all (shutting down) but now it is GPU mining fine, only shuts down when I add CPU mining to the mix.

[markm]

I read one brand of 7950 recommended (to run one card) 450 watts, whereas AMD/ATI recommended 500.

I had a 430 on one box and a 450 in another, and some recommendations only wanted 200 watts more to add a second 7950 so I figured I should have 230 watts on one machine and 250 on the other available to run everything other than the card. (If a second card needs 200 more doesn't the first card, presumably, being identical, only need 200?)

I put the brand new card in the 430 watt machine. Tried to start finding the settings for scrypt mining for it.

There was a flash and the machine shut down, and it won't start up anymore even without the card.

So I put it in the 450 watt machine. All looked fine until I started trying to find the right settings for scrypt mining. Each time it started to mine the machine shut down, but would start up again.

So I went out and got a 550 watt power supply. Tried replacing the 430, but that machine wouldn't start even with the 550 watt and without the card.

Replaced the 450, and been scrypt mining ever since. (And using the two core CPU with nice to primecoin-mine upon occassion.)

Moral of the story is maybe be glad your power supply was powerful enough to merely shut down gracefully, unlike my 430 watt one which seems to have left the machine itself traumatised in some way.

-MarkM-

[notlist3d]

Also, try and get a kill-o-watt or something to measure the power draw from the outlet. Is the breaker blowing, or is it just the computer shutting down? You might not be supplying enough power from the wall and/or PSU.

If you plug a kill-o-watt you will see up to 380ish upwards on script depending on setting on each gpu.  As long as its like mine.   There are spikes and variances.  But with a I7, and fans, cpu heatsink, HD, etc... chances are you need bigger.   A kill-o-watt could confirm this though watch it once its mining see how close before adding in primecoin's.

[#Darren]

Also, try and get a kill-o-watt or something to measure the power draw from the outlet.

If you plug a kill-o-watt you will see up to 380ish upwards on script depending on setting on each gpu.  As long as its like mine.   There are spikes and variances.  But with a I7, and fans, cpu heatsink, HD, etc... chances are you need bigger.   A kill-o-watt could confirm this though watch it once its mining see how close before adding in primecoin's.

Does this device measure what it is pulling from the wall connection?

If it is shutting down because it is drawing to much power from the wall supply, this would shut off all appliances connected there wouldn't it?  I ask this because I have another appliance connected at the same plug and it is not being affected.

[#Darren]

GPU mining only sitting on 19 C

Well that's not right at all... typo, or is that what it's actually saying?

Maybe we have some confusion there - I was referring to the CPU temp while running GPU mining.  The actual GPU's are running much hotter -  atm one runs at 85ish and the other at 67ish - I will be adding another fan to help the hotter card.

[Francisco]

Turn down the speed or intensity on that 85° card.  It's running too hot.

[mufa23]

GPU mining only sitting on 19 C

Well that's not right at all... typo, or is that what it's actually saying?

Maybe we have some confusion there - I was referring to the CPU temp while running GPU mining.  The actual GPU's are running much hotter -  atm one runs at 85ish and the other at 67ish - I will be adding another fan to help the hotter card.

85'C is a little hot IMHO. What gets me though is that you said in your OP that it only shuts down once you've started the Litecoin mining. What program are you using? Try using the newest version of Cgminer if you already aren't. You might have something improperly configured.