G73JH Shuts Down automatically while playing games

Hi all,

I have read the thread at the top to look and solve my problems.
Starting from last month, whenever I play some higher demanding games like BFBC2 or GRID, it will give me a black screen after less than 5 minutes of smooth gameplay. It is not really a lock down as the notebook shuts down automatically 5 seconds after the black screen.
If I try switching it on within 15 seconds of the shutdown the computer will not switch on (the light flickers and doesn't power up). After around 20 seconds the computer will power up no problem.
I have tried playing older games like Company of Heroes, and surprisingly it doesn't die like the other games at all.

I have been following the guides from posts and have been using the oldest Graphics driver and bios (by re-installing windows 7 when received the new laptop and chose the right drivers to install only). And games were all running fine for 6 months until Jan 2011.

This issue first happened when I was playing Operation Flashpoint on steam, and now its happening on almost everygame.

Currently I don't have any device that can help me flash my bios, but will it help?
Thanks for reading this thread and I would like to thank in advance for all your help

 

Sounds more like thermal shutdown. Have you checked CPU and GPU temperatures?

 

Thanks for replying.
I just checked the temperature when tried loading GRID, it took the computer like 2 minutes and the game still haven't loaded.
The fan definitely turned louder and louder and I terminate the game before another auto shut down.

I took a picture from CPUID Hardware Monitor:


The CPU temperature looks fine I guess, but the Max GPU temp had risen up to 109...

 

Definitely thermal shut down.

 

Well, if you're going to repaste, you can just downclock your GPU until you get around to it, I've found running it at 450 instead of 700 gives a much lower temperature.

 

You said you played a steam game and then it went funny. I had same problem after playing a steam game (sniper ghost warrior) had the laptop sent back and had no probs other then key backlight not working since I got it back but this weekend I started to play portal again (1st time since I got it back) and now its started to shut down / over heat all over again... never had the problem before I started to play a steam game...

any one know if steam is doing something to the fan settings or drivers to make it over heat?

 

Likely not, the fan isn't a software setting.

 

heres a video of the shut down. happens at the same spot everytime so i believe it is game related and not hardware failure. i would send this back to newegg/asus but have a feeling nothing would get done or can be done besides a whole new replacement.

YouTube - G73JW Shutting down

 

Mine is not really steam related, it happens generally with games that has a high demand in performance.

Have you tried playing other games and see whether it shuts down?
Your shut down is a bit different from mine.
Mine would black screen for 5 seconds first before shutting down, and after I power up my comp again it won't count as an "improper shutdown", as in the "windows-selecting" menu won't pop up when starting up.

 

The 3 games that shut it down are

Tome Raider underworld
Tomb Raider Legend
Mafia 3


Tomb Raider Legend is the only game i can get it to recreate the other 2 are random. i have run furmark and unigine for hours with no problems and numerous other benchmark/stress tests they all pass.




heres the useless event log
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff943877(WS.10).aspx

 

This is stupid but give it a try. Try open the window in your house and place your laptop near it so that cool air gets directly into the two heat outlets and play your tomb raider for a while and tell me what happens.

---------------------------------------------------------------
ASUS G73JH-RBBX05
Intel Core i7 Q 720 @1.60GHz
Windows 7 64-bit home Premium
6GB RAM
ATI MOBILITY RADEON HD 5870

 

Any more info in the details tab of the event? Any other warning/error events logged before that?

 

it def not temp related or it wouldnt be shutting down at the exact spot. GPU idles at 38c, CPU around 45c.

 

Windows Kernel event ID 41 error in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2: “The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first”

 

Right..."The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first."...obvious

I was wondering if there was more info in the event details or maybe another logged event before the shutdown.

Which scenario described at that link applies to your event?

 

@JKatarn: Your GPU is overheating, and shutting down. Your thermal paste probably has degraded, and needs to be redone. This is not a software issue, and you need to have it done. If you cannot do it yourself, then call Asus, get a RMA setup, and have it done at a local ASUS ASP location. Or, take it to a shop you like and pay for the repaste.

@staples8: Update to 266.58 Notebook drivers. Link on my Driver Reference page. (see below)

 

... unless that "same spot" tends to stress the GPU more than the spots leading up to it.

 

i currently have the same problem, but it only happens when i try to play a multiplayer map in Battleforge or when i go to Uldum in World of Warcraft for an extended amount of time, i've had the Battleforge problem since i got the game (a few months after i got the laptop), i thought it could be RAM/Overheating, but i can run SC2 for hours at max settings with no problem.

 

bliza, you need to run a hardware monitor with logging and observe your GPU temps. You may be approaching marginal thermal transfer and things that work your GPU harder are pushing you over the edge. It will get worse over time. If your screen is going black as though you pulled the battery and power adapter instantaneously then you are at 114C almost certainly.

 

what kind of program do i need, this is my first laptop and im kind of ignorant with them

*rather, any suggested programs you might know of?

nvm, found it ill post a log in a bit, gonna run BF

ok, well i got CPUID hardware monitor but it didn't save a log of what happened but i figure i can just tell you, i ran it in windowed and watched the temperatures for my GFX card and it hit 112C b4 the shut down so im guessing it did hit 114C and shut down, guessing the only thing i can do is clean out the case ?

 

Yes, time to clean out the system and repaste. These temps are crazy.

 

repaste is a new term on me, i didnt build this laptop and i've never really taken one apart, i have built my own desktops but what do ya kinda mean there?

 

There is a disassembly guide with posted pages from the service manual and a Video produced by BTO Tech on how to tear it down. Repaste refers to removing the GPU, cleaning the crappy paste job that was done at the factory, and applying a quality thermal compound. This is a very difficult laptop to tear down and put back together. You can get an RMA number and send it in to be redone for you. Some people have been able to buy a really good paste, ship it with the laptop, and get the Asus tech to use their paste instead of the stock stuff.

Some people have also been able to find authorized service centers in their area and get it done a bit more locally. I did mine myself with no problems but it was pretty tough to tear down the laptop and put it back together without breaking anything. Then I had to send it in later for an unrelated problem. They wound up replacing my motherboard which means I'm back to stock paste after all that work.

Anyway you need a repaste and the only question is whether you do it yourself, find a service center, or simply RMA it back to Asus. I recommend asking for it to go to the California facility if you do wind up doing an RMA. They do great work and there are a lot of scary stories from people who sent theirs to the Indiana facility. I used IC Diamond 7 for my repaste. Others have had good luck with this paste. Other people like MX series paste and Arctic Silver 5 among others. Probably any good paste would do. There are LOTS of repaste threads if you want to read about it.

Many people did it themselves with no problems. A few people broke something while trying it. Usually they break the speaker connector or get it all back together and it won't boot anymore... that kind of thing. Most people are successful, though.

 

I am getting temps as high as 105 C while running furmark. See the screenshot below. Do I need to repaste?

 

im guessing to clean it properly i need to take it apart

 

had similar problem, every random shutdown, bsod or any other annoying problem ive had were related to the stupid power4gear, i have all drivers up to date, fresh install and still as soon as im on any of the p4g schemes, i get problem. I only use stock power schemes and dont have a single problem

 

Blow out your vents and get a repaste done.

 

Yes, at least that's what I recommend. Some people are just blowing compressed air in the vents... but that doesn't necessarily solve the problem as the dust is still in the system and the only way out are the vents...

If you don't like the thought of taking your machine apart you can give it a try, it may help. Otherwise you'll have to take it apart (by yourself or by a tech) and when you are disassembling it it's best to repaste imo... It's actually not that hard as it seems if you're carful and well prepared, but some people don't want to do it. I can completely understand this.

 

If you've got a JW ... YES. If you have a JH ... yes (but not as emphatically).

 

I just got it back after repasting from ASUS RMA facility in Indiana .. thinking whether should I do it myself now .. or shall I send it back again

 

I have a JH only .. the BB version ... just got it RMA-ed .. but still having same problems

 

Have it looked at locally, possibly at an Asus ASP location if one is near you.

 

If not, your temps aren't TERRIBLE ... sure, they could be better, but don't go crazy over it.

 

my laptop's hung up a few times (not black screen...rather the screen along with the sound gets stuck on the spot) in the past as well...sometimes while I was playing games (like Mass Effect) while others even during browsing

so I updated my drivers and all and if I *recall* right, it hasn't happened more than once since then (I seem to recall it did happen atleast once though)

would you say this could be related to a pasting issue as well? its not very prevalent nowadays but my cpu gets rather slow at times when I watch videos on firefox...i've played games after that (such as PS2 emulator for PC - PCSX2) but it hasn't really happened

i'll be sure to recheck the hwinfo32 temp. scores and post them here

p.s. the firefox issue has started recently and its solely related to flash I believe so perhaps its a software issue with flash player which therefore, can't really be helped

cheers!

 

I am located in NYC .. so I guess I can take it to the JnR downtown store. Will they need a RMA number from ASUS to look at my laptop?

I hope I don't go crazy the thing is that I keep on getting TSD whenever I startup a game of CoD: Black Ops

 

I don't know J&R's policies. Give them a call

 

I had the same problem yesterday, I was playing Aliens Vs Predator DX 11 and suddenly my laptop shut itself down and I could not turn it on again, I touched the bottom of it near the GPU and it was burning hot. It was until today's morning I could power it up again. (I'm writing this post from it).

A few days back I noticed that the GPU fan sometimes activates itself when I'm browsing pictures or watching HD videos, it didn't do that before.

I'm currently at Toronto Canada, I have tried to find an address of an Asus Service Center but the website does not allow me to select another country like Canada:

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Service Center

Any such luck for getting the address of a service center or the canadian support phone?

Thanks.

 

first try clearing your vents with compressed air. They're probably clogged up.

 

Hi,

Yes I did that. I followed this video:

‪G73 clean out‬‏ - YouTube

There was a large cloud of dust that came out... LOL

Trying my laptop now, it a bit quieter. Hope it works

UPDATE: I played AvP again for about 1 1/2 hrs with no problems, although the GPU temp reached a max of 101 degrees Celsius, is this ok?

 

This happens to me but only when connected to a monitor :S. I still dont know why but i'm abt to clean install so hopefully all my problems will be gone.