Rendering causes computer to shut down!

ledisnomad · 23 Jul 2010, 01:19

Whenever I render an image (Vray, Thea, Kerkythea...), my computer crashes; it completely shuts down. It has something to do with the complexity/resolution of the model/scene and therefore probably memory. I can render simple models/scenes or very low resolution of more complex models. I don't think it is SketchUp related, since Thea and Kerkythea are studios and because it also happens when I render with Vray for Rhino.

Anybody have any guesses or suggestions for how to figure out the cause?

Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz, 4GB RAM, WinXP SP3, NVidia GeForce 7800GT 256MB.

honoluludesktop · 23 Jul 2010, 01:42

How big is the render in pixels?

ledisnomad · 23 Jul 2010, 02:05

The most recent attempt was with Thea, Unbiased T1, only 800x600px.

My SketchUp model statistics read:
17234 edges
52802 faces
5416 component instances
36 materials

Not a crazy model.

Frederik · 23 Jul 2010, 08:25

Definitely not a big model so it must be something else...
Have you tried running a defrag of your hard-disc...??
I've had similar issues on my desktop...
It kept crashing at odd times... When I looked at mails using Outlook, when I printed word documents...
Although I have no real evidence, I still suspect McAfee to be the program causing all these issues...

To fix it I had to backup everything, format the hard-drive and re-install everything...
Even though it took a lot of time, I'm really glad I did it and my computer is running without any issues again...

thomthom · 23 Jul 2010, 08:59

@ledisnomad said:

Whenever I render an image (Vray, Thea, Kerkythea...), my computer crashes; it completely shuts down. It has something to do with the complexity/resolution of the model/scene and therefore probably memory. I can render simple models/scenes or very low resolution of more complex models. I don't think it is SketchUp related, since Thea and Kerkythea are studios and because it also happens when I render with Vray for Rhino.

This sound like a hardware malfunctioning.

My best guess is that your CPU is overheating during rendering due to the intense usage and shuts itself down to prevent permanent damage.

Could be other problems as well, (bad memory etc.).

See if you can install a CPU temperature app, like Speed Fan: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Monitor your CPU temp before and during render - see how high it goes. Maybe you haven't got a fan that is good enough, or maybe the cooling element isn't sitting properly on the CPU.

If the CPU temp appear normal, run a memory test.

See if any of those yields some results.

ledisnomad · 23 Jul 2010, 16:12

Thanks for all the suggestions. It's pretty isolated to rendering, so I don't think reformatting my hard drive would necessarily help, but that might be a last resort.

thomthom, I'll check out the CPU temp and run a memory test as a start. I'll let you know what I find.

thomthom · 23 Jul 2010, 16:23

@ledisnomad said:

Thanks for all the suggestions. It's pretty isolated to rendering, so I don't think reformatting my hard drive would necessarily help, but that might be a last resort.

Yes - reformatting is like nuking a country to get rid of a speedbump.

ledisnomad · 24 Jul 2010, 00:31

So I've installed SpeedFan and here are the "base" settings with only it and my browser (and any background services) running:

(flame) GPU: 57C
(check) Temp1: 46C
(flame) Temp2: 55C
(blue dw arrow) Temp3: -2C
(blue dw arrow) Temp: 0C
(flame) HD1: 64C
(check) HD0: 42C
(flame) Core 0: 60C
(flame) Core 1: 59C

When I load SketchUp, a few temps up, including Core 0 and Core 1 to 70C and settle back to 63C and 61C.

When I start Twilight, for example, just to do a "Low" rendering, the Core temps jump up to 100C! The Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 specifications list max at 71.4. My CPU usage is only at ~26%, so I'm going to guess that overheating is the problem. Does that sound like a reasonable conclusion? Fan 2 and Fan 5 are at 0 RPMs, but I know I don't have 5 fans. I'll have to take a look to see how many I do have. Any suggestions for cooling down my machine?

thomthom · 24 Jul 2010, 01:42

Yes - if that is accurate readings - then that is way too hot! (You might want to check the SpeedFan site if it lists your CPU and motherboard under supported devices - changes are that they are)

Did you build your computer yourself? Or did you have someone else build it?
When one buy a HP, Dell, Packard and those types you usually never run into it. (If you do then it should be covered by your warranty.)

You either have a heatsink and fan that is not up to the job - or the heatsink isn't properly attached to the CPU.

If you know the heatsink and fan should be up to the job then I'd think it's not sitting on properly. Then it need to be taken apart, cleaned, applied new thermopaste and reattached.
Otherwise you need to get a new heatsink and fan.

If you haven't done this before you might want to get your local computer shop to do it for you.

ledisnomad · 24 Jul 2010, 02:22

I replaced the motherboard and CPU myself. This is the second machine I've built, but the first time I've installed the CPU myself. The heatsink and fan came with the processor, so I'm confident they're OK. I guess I'll get it checked out and make sure the connection is good. Thanks for all the help thomthom. I'll let you know how it turns out.

notareal · 24 Jul 2010, 12:10

Some versions of speed fan have issues reading correct core temp. But if those are correct, then you better reinstall CPU cooler (so that you sure it do have a good contact) and enhance cooling. For cooling, you can find great tips from http://www.silentpcreview.com/
Here is a good alternatives for speed fan http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/ and http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/