I "fried" my CPU while playing this game

[Naruto 607]

I know it's hardware-related and should be discussed in Hardware and Operating System, but I'd like to discuss it here since the problem started while I'm playing Ace Combat 7.

I can't really assure what caused this, though. While playing this game yesterday, my PC suddenly shut down and started again without any boot screen or even entering Windows. Literally unbootable (even though fans are running okay and no power problems).

However, the reason I said as the title implies is because my PC is using 100% CPU usage whenever this game is running. I'm running on i5-6400 CPU, Radeon RX 470 GPU, and 16 GB RAM. Definitely somewhere between minimum and recommended system requirements, but still runs on 60+ fps on High 1080p settings.

I was thinking that the parts inside might be dirty, but after cleanup, still no boot screen. My dad also come examining, and possible causes are either CPU, GPU (but it doesn't use full power or 100%), or maybe when Denuvo was still in my system (hard drive) when I bought it on my birthday and played this game before I went for family trip.

Does anyone have issues like this when playing Ace Combat 7? I'm taking my PC to the computer service for repairs to see what went wrong and hope that my HDD is still okay.

[Naruto 607]

Also, Ace Combat 7 is the only game that uses 100% CPU usage, for me. Not on other games. This is like I'm rendering a long-duration video for... let's say that you play it for 12 hours; the CPU uses between 90% to 100% usage for that duration.

GTA V doesn't use full CPU usage, frankly, despite it's an old game released in 2013.

[TTSHAR.-]

Originally posted by Naruto 607:

Originally posted by Ν Ξ X:

If you are maxing out CPU at 100% all or most of time then this implies a bottleneck indicating it's having a dramatic impact on performance. The fact of the matter is your i5-6400 is below the minimum spec. It's a Skylake processor, a generation behind and slower clock speed than even the i3-7100 which is the minimum spec.

A normal game cannot fry a CPU. Insufficient cooling is typically the point of failure for a CPU. Whether this is due to improper ventilation or the cooling solution being defective or outright not good enough, these would be FAR more likely the case to cause the death of a hardware component over a game.

For myself, I'm using a i7-4790 3.6GHz w/ Corsair H100i RGB Platinum with MSI Geforce GTX 1080 Gaming X 8G (full PC specs are on my profile). My CPU usually peaks around 65% - 70% and GPU is fully utilized only when needed. While my CPU is Haswell, several generations behind, it's core clock speed is still sufficient to keep up with the demand of AC7.

Perhaps you haven't encountered problems with other games but it may be the case that AC7 has demands that your processor cannot keep up with. There could be other factors such as backround programs not behaving well while the game is running or a virus. Denuvo is unlikely because I haven't heard of any other user with the same problem.

I do know that AC7 does NOT like GPU overclocking AT ALL. It's very strange, this is the first game I have that this is the case.

And I do recall that I NEVER do overclocking on ANY critical parts like CPU and GPU in order to keep prolonged usage for several years. I have an old PC which the GPU has been renewed because I did "fried" the GPU when I was playing GTA IV (that was before I was here, I call it like 8 to 10 years ago) and that was on normal usage (no overclocking and whatsoever).

Any game I played is played as is, without overclocking on anything, even for Ace Combat 7. And the i5-6400 I used; I heard that it's between minimum and recommended specs, so I'm thinking it will be okay from my POV, for this game, I suppose. Guess from what you said, 100% usage is abnormal that I need a new CPU to begin with, but that's gonna be a HUGE price to pay since it requires new motherboard and casing.

Anyway, I've tried a "pirated" version of Modern Warfare Remastered with my current PC rig that my GPU broke and every 5 or 10 minutes of gameplay, it shuts down by itself quickly (like a force shut down) and started again like nothing happened. Note that I can't find it on Steam Store anymore (idk the reason why), but some have played (or at least owned it) from some VAC-banned users I met on the VAC Discussions that is full of unban requests instead of system discussion. That was on normal condition and no overclocking on anything. I even had to say back then, "if I keep this up just to complete one game, I might broke one key part of the computer components", so I uninstalled it and play safe.

I never thought this game can have a huge effect on my PC. At least for now.

:r6target:

There are a cooling issue so...

How much coolers you have got in your case?

And the other thing is... Maybe the curve of the fan in the GPU is too low for "x" temperature.
For ex. Working fan at 50% at 70° C

In my case all gpus, I using MSI Afterburner to put in manual to running at 100% the fans, in idle, full load, middle load... It's more cheaper change a fan cooler what a GPU

[DeadEyeJ]

A game cannot fry your hardware. What happened is that your cooling fan for the CPU was probably broken so the temps became too much for the CPU to handle.

[Naruto 607]

Originally posted by TTSHAR.-:

There are a cooling issue so...

How much coolers you have got in your case?

And the other thing is... Maybe the curve of the fan in the GPU is too low for "x" temperature.
For ex. Working fan at 50% at 70° C

In my case all gpus, I using MSI Afterburner to put in manual to running at 100% the fans, in idle, full load, middle load... It's more cheaper change a fan cooler what a GPU

If I have to recall, the casing has 4 exhaust fans. Inside, there's a heatsink for the CPU and two fans for the big-sized GPU located underneath. It has enough cooling, as a matter of fact.

But... I do recall I had fan failures long before I have this game. Have replaced few months ago or so (or maybe last year when I suspect some fans stopped working despite being cleaned).

Again, I changed nothing in the way I operate the computer. No overclocks, even adjusting fans. Guess the room temperature is what I concerned; I feel some sweat every time I run my computer and playing a game.

[JtDarth]

Originally posted by Naruto 607:

Originally posted by TTSHAR.-:

There are a cooling issue so...

How much coolers you have got in your case?

And the other thing is... Maybe the curve of the fan in the GPU is too low for "x" temperature.
For ex. Working fan at 50% at 70° C

In my case all gpus, I using MSI Afterburner to put in manual to running at 100% the fans, in idle, full load, middle load... It's more cheaper change a fan cooler what a GPU

If I have to recall, the casing has 4 exhaust fans. Inside, there's a heatsink for the CPU and two fans for the big-sized GPU located underneath. It has enough cooling, as a matter of fact.

But... I do recall I had fan failures long before I have this game. Have replaced few months ago or so (or maybe last year when I suspect some fans stopped working despite being cleaned).

Again, I changed nothing in the way I operate the computer. No overclocks, even adjusting fans. Guess the room temperature is what I concerned; I feel some sweat every time I run my computer and playing a game.

Exhaust fans do nothing for cooling without enough equivalent intake fans.

[GrayFoxCZ]

Originally posted by Sarumoon:

God why can't people just say, I'm playing on a laptop, and save us all a lot of reading...

It's that.

It's good that it died, now you can get a real computer and join the Master Race.

It was never going to get any better on that thing, you learned an expensive lesson, but ya, no you can't game on a Laptop. I'm sure there is a $7000 one that you can, someone will link some stupid thing, but as a rule, forget the laptops if you want to play games launched in 2019.

Guess my MSI GE72MVR aint laptop then... because Ive played games on it for 3 years now and it still doesnt have any issues.

On semi unrelated note - yes he learned his lesson because he is using brain. Try doing that as well.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by DeadEyeJ:

A game cannot fry your hardware. What happened is that your cooling fan for the CPU was probably broken so the temps became too much for the CPU to handle.

Can, will, does. It has happened to people, and it will happen to people. It's just not common, especially for CPUs. Peoples hardware has failed even with basic coolers functioning as they are supposed to including frying which people are saying isn't possible. Even non-defective equipment pushed too hard can catch fire even if for a second or two, any combination of unfavorable variables can cause this to happen.

Even then, it was the users GPU that has a point of failure, which is far more likely to happen to a GPU than a CPU.

[synaesthetic]

GPU failure is unfortunately a thing. I once had Radeon 4870 X2 just decide to brick when the computer was shut down and I was at work all day. There's a chance that might have been a surge from a storm that day. More recently I did have a 980ti short out on the back of the board somewhere and smoke while playing Forza Horizon 3. I don't know what you have for a power supply, but mine hit overcurrent protection and would not turn back on at all with out pulling the plug and holding the power button for a 5 count. Drove me nuts man....cause EVGA kept wanting to point the finger at the power supply. It's a Corsair RM850i with a 10 year warranty ffs. I don't think that was the problem. It was still under warranty, the one they sent me refurbed didn't even last 10 hours. Returned that one and the 3rd 980ti seemed to be solid. It's no longer in use however.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by synaesthetic:

Drove me nuts man....cause EVGA kept wanting to point the finger at the power supply. It's a Corsair RM850i with a 10 year warranty ffs. I don't think that was the problem. It was still under warranty, the one they sent me refurbed didn't even last 10 hours. Returned that one and the 3rd 980ti seemed to be solid. It's no longer in use however.

You'd be surprised how many times even a top-end PSU is actually running incorrectly and over time damages parts or causes massive failures by running "too hot" (electrical levels), they are a company that usually has people check their voltage levels before blaming a psu, unless you just get someone that hates their job and wants you to go away. So, it's very likely again - even with a high-warranty psu; nothing is impossible. I have seen higher end psus fail catastrophically within hours as well, and this includes corsair psus. Like many though; it's very rare. Too "cold", too "hot", or constantly changing voltages within a certain range or higher "out of range" can and will more than likely damage things; usually starting with the gpu, motherboard, and then cpu in that order.

[Naruto 607]

Originally posted by Orion:

Originally posted by synaesthetic:

Drove me nuts man....cause EVGA kept wanting to point the finger at the power supply. It's a Corsair RM850i with a 10 year warranty ffs. I don't think that was the problem. It was still under warranty, the one they sent me refurbed didn't even last 10 hours. Returned that one and the 3rd 980ti seemed to be solid. It's no longer in use however.

You'd be surprised how many times even a top-end PSU is actually running incorrectly and over time damages parts or causes massive failures by running "too hot" (electrical levels), they are a company that usually has people check their voltage levels before blaming a psu, unless you just get someone that hates their job and wants you to go away. So, it's very likely again - even with a high-warranty psu; nothing is impossible. I have seen higher end psus fail catastrophically within hours as well, and this includes corsair psus. Like many though; it's very rare. Too "cold", too "hot", or constantly changing voltages within a certain range or higher "out of range" can and will more than likely damage things; usually starting with the gpu, motherboard, and then cpu in that order.

And I'm just gonna say, my friend, this is like when my old 512 MB GeForce card (forgot the model name) on my old desktop computer got fried by itself when playing GTA IV loooooooong time ago, before I even exist in Steam. Had multiple BSODs, sudden screen pauses, and no display symptoms that made me wonder WTF just happened.

I guess this is like what happened that day all over again. Any electronic components are "really" extremely fragile, even for a top-brass GPU if you didn't take a good care of it. My parents are really concerned with my savings that I'll be using it for a new GPU replacement.

[Naruto 607]

Originally posted by JtDarth:

Exhaust fans do nothing for cooling without enough equivalent intake fans.

As a computer expert... I don't really understand that.

All I know is that there are 4 fans that act as an "exhaust" to dump the heat to the outside. The other fans inside are for both CPU and GPU.

[JtDarth]

Originally posted by Naruto 607:

Originally posted by JtDarth:

Exhaust fans do nothing for cooling without enough equivalent intake fans.

As a computer expert... I don't really understand that.

All I know is that there are 4 fans that act as an "exhaust" to dump the heat to the outside. The other fans inside are for both CPU and GPU.

Then you aren't a computer expert. No negativity meant by that, but Imma call a spade a spade.

[Naruto 607]

Originally posted by JtDarth:

Originally posted by Naruto 607:

As a computer expert... I don't really understand that.

All I know is that there are 4 fans that act as an "exhaust" to dump the heat to the outside. The other fans inside are for both CPU and GPU.

Then you aren't a computer expert. No negativity meant by that, but Imma call a spade a spade.

Ik. I still got a lot to learn. Thanks.

Most of the times I spent my weekend and holiday for gaming and house cleaning and occasionally didn't take an attention to the class during weekdays.

I know computer parts, but not as good as you are. I might gonna learn from you as well.

BTW, when my PC has come out of the repairs, maybe we can spar sometime in a dogfight in AC7.

[Ν Ξ Χ]

From what I was able to find, your CPU base clock is 2.7 GHz and can turbo up to 3.30 GHz. The minimum spec Intel Core i3-7100 with a base clock of 3.90 GHz. I'm sorry but the simple fact of the matter is according to the stats, your processor is below the minimum spec.

But I digress; high CPU usage during a game isn't necessarily abnormal, it's merely an indication that your processor requires more dedicated computing to run a given task. However, this dynamic is different during a game. High CPU usage means that your processor needs to utilize all threads. This is bad because those threads are still needed for other backround programs that Windows uses. The bottleneck occurs when you have a GPU that is within spec but has to wait for the CPU to catch up. There are instances where having a higher end GPU paired with a slower CPU will run worse if it had a lower end GPU because of a bottleneck. As I said, even if this is the first or only game where you have high CPU usage, it might be a case where the demands of processing power are higher than what your chipset can provide.

Think of it like running a 3 legged race when you are tied to a partner who wants to constantly run faster than you can. You're both going to be slowed down because you're not working at a pace that is in tandem.

As for cooling solutions. If you are using an AIO cooler, the main point of failure is the pump. Most AIO manufactures provide a RMA for a unit that has malfunctioned within it's life expectancy. Corsair AIO's are suppose to last 5 years, though depending on how heavily used, it's more realistic that 3 - 4 years.

In terms of case fans, the number or even size of case fans do not matter as much as what they are designed for and their performance. There are 2 stats to pay attention to when choosing case fans, Air Flow measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute) and Air Pressure measured in mm H2O (millimeters of water). Air flow is the amount of air that can be moved through the fan and is the type you want to use where it is not going to be restricted by obstructions. A rear exhaust fan is an appropriate example. Air is treated as a liquid which is why air pressure is measured in mm of water. This is a measure of how much a fan can force air through it's blades regardless of the number of obstructions. A radiator fan or ones that would be in front of HDD cages would be good examples of when you would want high air pressure.

It is also worth noting that you ideally want to have positive pressure (more air pumped in then being sucked out). Air is treated as a liquid. If you are only pulling air out of your case, you create negative pressure. This causes your fans to work harder because they have to pull air from somewhere which will only come from air rushing in though gaps in your case. Your fans need air to vent the heat. If the only air they are getting is being forced in by negative pressure then not only is this allowing more heat to build up but increases dust ingress. Positive pressure helps prevents dust from collecting inside the case and makes sure your designated exhaust fans have enough air to vent heat. Having the appropriate type of fans with enough performance and enough intake balanced with exhaust is crucial to dissipate sufficient heat from your PC to maintain performance.

Hope the info helps.

[JtDarth]

Originally posted by Ν Ξ X:

From what I was able to find, your CPU base clock is 2.7 GHz and can turbo up to 3.30 GHz. The minimum spec Intel Core i3-7100 with a base clock of 3.90 GHz. I'm sorry but the simple fact of the matter is according to the stats, your processor is below the minimum spec.

But I digress; high CPU usage during a game isn't necessarily abnormal, it's merely an indication that your processor requires more dedicated computing to run a given task. However, this dynamic is different during a game. High CPU usage means that your processor needs to utilize all threads. This is bad because those threads are still needed for other backround programs that Windows uses. The bottleneck occurs when you have a GPU that is within spec but has to wait for the CPU to catch up. There are instances where having a higher end GPU paired with a slower CPU will run worse if it had a lower end GPU because of a bottleneck. As I said, even if this is the first or only game where you have high CPU usage, it might be a case where the demands of processing power are higher than what your chipset can provide.

Think of it like running a 3 legged race when you are tied to a partner who wants to constantly run faster than you can. You're both going to be slowed down because you're not working at a pace that is in tandem.

As for cooling solutions. If you are using an AIO cooler, the main point of failure is the pump. Most AIO manufactures provide a RMA for a unit that has malfunctioned within it's life expectancy. Corsair AIO's are suppose to last 5 years, though depending on how heavily used, it's more realistic that 3 - 4 years.

In terms of case fans, the number or even size of case fans do not matter as much as what they are designed for and their performance. There are 2 stats to pay attention to when choosing case fans, Air Flow measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute) and Air Pressure measured in mm H2O (millimeters of water). Air flow is the amount of air that can be moved through the fan and is the type you want to use where it is not going to be restricted by obstructions. A rear exhaust fan is an appropriate example. Air is treated as a liquid which is why air pressure is measured in mm of water. This is a measure of how much a fan can force air through it's blades regardless of the number of obstructions. A radiator fan or ones that would be in front of HDD cages would be good examples of when you would want high air pressure.

It is also worth noting that you ideally want to have positive pressure (more air pumped in then being sucked out). Air is treated as a liquid. If you are only pulling air out of your case, you create negative pressure. This causes your fans to work harder because they have to pull air from somewhere which will only come from air rushing in though gaps in your case. Your fans need air to vent the heat. If the only air they are getting is being forced in by negative pressure then not only is this allowing more heat to build up but increases dust ingress. Positive pressure helps prevents dust from collecting inside the case and makes sure your designated exhaust fans have enough air to vent heat. Having the appropriate type of fans with enough performance and enough intake balanced with exhaust is crucial to dissipate sufficient heat from your PC to maintain performance.

Hope the info helps.

Not accurate in the slightest when it comes to specs.
Clock speed is far from the be-all, end-all. By your logic, my FX-6300, with turbo disabled, so at a flat 3.5GHz shouldn't be able to run the game. Yet it maintains sixty frames the majority of time.
Technically, both my GPU and CPU benchmark as weaker than OP, but better than the minimum listed cpu. OP's specs (raw performance wise)aren't the problem.
If clock rates were the be-all and end-all, we wouldn't see such small improvements in standard clocks over the years. There are a lot of other factors involved.
Otherwise, the FX-9590 would would dominate the market with it's stock speed of 4.7GHz/ boost of 5.0 per core, and eight cores, yet the ryzen 1600 at 3.2 stock/3.6 turbo and 6 cores outperforms my FX-6300 by miles, and the 9590 by a signifigant degree as well.

Clock speeds really don't mean quite as much as people think, especially when comparing hardware from different time periods/architectures.

Your statements on case fans are also signifigantly off base.