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evilmonkeyzz
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Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2170
Loc: Newcastle
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I have made no changes to my system that I know of but recently if I try and play any game using my PC the screen just freezes, it only ever does it when I load a game, and as that was the main reason for purchasing my PC it is a bit of a pain!!
I have a Amd 4000+ at 2.64 GHz, 2GB Ram and a Sapphire Radeon x1600 512mb pro graphics card. As it only crashes out when playing games I figured it was probably a problem with my graphics card, I did a fresh install of the latest drivers from ATI, this didn't work so I even uninstalled the drivers again and installed the original drivers and it still didn't work.
I have done all of the obvious things that I can think of like scanning for viruses/spyware and nothing has been found. Everything else works fine and I have no other problems with my system just this.
Does anybody have any ideas as to what could be causing the crashes as soon as I load any game. Thanks.
(Games crashed on have been: Quake 4, UT 2004, Oblivion, FEAR)
Thanks
Josh
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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maxping__
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Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 1891
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Ive had this problem and it will probably be your graphics card overheating.
Try taking the side off the case and point a fan or hairdryer (cold air) under the vid card close to its heatsink/fan. (also make sure the heatsink/fan is not clogged with dust e.t.c.)
Run the game and see if it crashes.
If it doesn't you can either get a fan card - http://www.pcabusers.com/reviews/vantec/fancard/p1.html
To keep it cool or change the fan/hetsink on the card (not advisable if its still under warranty).
Adding more case fans may help but i would go for the fan card.
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evilmonkeyzz
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Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2170
Loc: Newcastle
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Thanks for the reply, I will try it when I have a bit of time, its strange if it is overheating though, the PC is made with nothing but fans, I have 8 fans in (including the one on the graphics card.)
I guess I will have to stick with my Xbox 360 until I sort it, thanks for the advice and I will post back when I have tried it!!!
(Any more advice in the meantime would be great.   )
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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maxping__
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Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 1891
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Where are the 8 fans positioned you could actually be making it worse having that many by creating dead spots inside the case.
I only have a 80cm fan at the back a 120 in the psu pulling air out of the case and it works fine my case temp is always 30 degrees gaming or not. (see diag below)
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/imageview.php?image=1558
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evilmonkeyzz
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Reg'd: Sun
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Loc: Newcastle
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3 in power supply, one above the processor, one above the graphics card, one at the top of the case, one at the back of the case and one the the right hand side of the case, I haven't actually added anymore them the ones that either came with the case or the separate components.
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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maxping__
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Jeez i bet it sounds like a jump jets taking off in your back garden when you fire it up
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evilmonkeyzz
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Yep and that to the 7 bright blue LEDs and it becomes even worse!!!
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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Mouse
Moderator
Reg'd: Thu
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What settings are you running your games at, I notice in an earlier thread you say you play Quake 4 "maxed out"
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evilmonkeyzz
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2170
Loc: Newcastle
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Thanks for the reply mouse, I was hoping you would get involved, you seem to know what your talking about!!!
I have been playing everything completely maxed (Quake 4 for example on ultra quality, 1280*1024, 8xAA.) I have tried lowering it, no joy.
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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Mouse
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Reg'd: Thu
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To be honest I think your pushing your card too far on those settings. At least lower the quality and anti aliasing, I can't see the res being an issue. When did you last go inside your PC, when did you complete the build, do you know what temp your CPU's at when playing a game?
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evilmonkeyzz
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Reg'd: Sun
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Loc: Newcastle
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Graphic card runs at about 55 degrees C, CPU is at about 60 degrees C, system as a whole is about 30 degrees C.
These are the specs that Quake 4 choose for me, but it also crashes out if I play less demanding games like the original half life. I last went in my PC yesterday to check everything was in order, everything seemed to be fine. It also crashes out if I lower the specs and sometimes before the game has got past the loading screen. This is what made me think it was more likely to be a driver or other software issue.
Thanks for the help as this is a really annoying problem as I love playing games, nothing better to relax to then a load of mindless violence.....
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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Mouse
Moderator
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 6530
Loc: Psst....over here
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Dust? When you opened up did you check for dust could that be having an adverse effect? I assume you've defragged cleared junk etc?
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evilmonkeyzz
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Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2170
Loc: Newcastle
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There wasn't much dust. Although I am starting to think that the problem is more serious, I keep getting the blue screen 'dumping physical memory' message for no apparent reason and things just lock up all of a sudden!! I can't figure a way to stop it.
If I were to do a repair install of xp, what would I lose, you keep most of the settings don't you?!?!?
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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Jonny555
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 5328
Loc: Cheshire, England
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Could it be a DirectX problem?
Go to Run and type in DXDIAG and run it. Go through the Direct Draw tests. In fact it won't hurt to do all the test for peace of mind.
A repair of XP will mean all Windows updates will have to be downloaded and installed again, but with a fast connection that won't take long. But, that is drastic action at this point.
Edited by Jonny555 (Tue May 23 2006 09:39 AM)
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evilmonkeyzz
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2170
Loc: Newcastle
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All the tests came up fine.
Would a problem with the power supply cause a problem like this? I moved the computer and didnt even touch the power plug at the back of the PC and it sparked twice? It is in a surge protector but it still sparked, is this a sign of a faulty power supply? How can I know for sure?
Thanks
Josh
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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maxping__
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Did you try the fan suggestion i made?
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Edited by Mouse (Wed May 24 2006 08:37 AM)
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Jonny555
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 5328
Loc: Cheshire, England
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Well I suggest that before doing anything you get the faulty wiring put right before you haven't got a house to keep the computer in!
Get it sorted NOW, you're playing with fire.
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evilmonkeyzz
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2170
Loc: Newcastle
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Sorry for the delayed reply.
I spent all afternoon today doing a complete format and reinstall of my computer to try and fix the problem because I ran out of ideas and it was the advice given from my computing teacher. And guess what? It didn't work. 
This has however shown that there is a hardware problem rather then a software problem. Is this a problem with the graphics card itself or could it be anything else??
I fixed the sparking, the surge protector was not plugged in fully, therefore creating a spark.
Thanks for all your patience with this.
Josh
P.s I tried the fan suggestion as best I could with the fans that I had and it didn't work, the graphics card only runs at about 50C so I don't think that it is overheating. Thanks for the suggestion anyway!
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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Mouse
Moderator
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 6530
Loc: Psst....over here
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I'd definatley go with the Video card issue. Swap it for a new one, and see if that offers a solution.
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evilmonkeyzz
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2170
Loc: Newcastle
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That was what I was thinking I should do, only problem is getting hold of a new graphics card.
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Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
http://www.last.fm/user/evilmonkeyzzz/
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