How to Troubleshoot a PC that shuts off under high load
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Hi all, I'm helping set up a pfSense router for family, and used a refurbished HP 705 G4 with a dedicated Intel PRO/1000 PT Dual Port Server Adapter.
While hitting the system with maximum traffic stress test (running a bufferbloat test, a Steam game downloading at 100% of bandwidth, and YouTube), the PC will occasionally suddenly reboot. Just before crashing, only 65c on the CPU and 7% CPU usage, but 130ms RTT, 12% packet loss.
What is the best way to diagnose the issue? Is there a system log that could show errors prior to crash? My initial impressions of temperature seem fine, it happens in short manner and temperature never exceeds even 70c which should be fine for a A6-9500 CPU. Power supply could be a culprit but a 65w CPU and an Intel NIC should not exceed the 180w 80+ platinum PSU installed. Though it could be a bad PSU, that would be the hardest to test. If there's something I could run to specifically test the error, I'd gladly try.
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@duox7142 said in How to Troubleshoot a PC that shuts off under high load:
What is the best way to diagnose the issue?
The best way, without sending the PC away for a furrow test, is using a "HP 705 G4" software test suite.
Some systems even come with one build in; for example, I can boot my Dell Office PC into a test mod that will even measure the speed of the fan, and sped drift. Or I can download from Dell software that permits me to test hardware.
pfSense isn't a good platform to test.I agree, I don't think it's a Intel-feels-hot-and-pulls-the-plug issue.
But PCs are utterly complex, it could be anything, up until bad caps.With a software issue, you could have a log line indicating some process went bad.
With a faulty 'processor address line' you will have nothing, as it implies a sudden system death. The system watch dog just pulls the plug == reset the PC, so it restarts. -
@duox7142 said in How to Troubleshoot a PC that shuts off under high load:
temperature never exceeds even 70c which should be fine for a A6-9500
I would still try setting the CPU fan to max or adding additional cooling to see if that makes any difference.
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@Gertjan understood, my main point here is wondering if there's any debug logs I can share that may shed light?
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@stephenw10 I don't believe my motherboard allows for manual fan setting. Still you make a good point, I'm also trying to repaste the CPU and even a CPU replacement.
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Even just pointing a desk fan at it may (dis)prove it.
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To test the PSU, you could add a HDD. If the PSU is marginal a HDD should push it over the edge quicker giving a clear indicator test. You do not need to mount the disk, just make sure it is spinning.
