Computer crashes

[bladefd]

Hey, I had a little problem. I have a K8N Neo Platinum with Athlon64 2800 and I had computer crashing problems. For example, when I open up Knights of the old republic 2, my computer crashes after playing for about 20 mins. I was thinking that it mighht be an overheating problem but MSI CoreCenter shows 35-40 degrees celcius as the cpu temp and the pc temp shows 40-45 degrees celcius. That isn't very hot, is it? My computer just shuts down - I have to start it manually again. I also have Cool'n'Quiet enabled and I also reset the bios settings to default just a few minutes ago. What can I do to solve the crashing problems? Its getting really annoying now. It has only been happening since today. Help would be greatly appreciated. If you need anymore information, let me know. Thanks.

P.S, I haven't shutted down my computer for about a week now. I only restarted it to change the bios settings. Should I try shutting down my computer overnight to see if it helps?

 

[ShadowBlade]

Are you getting these temp readings while youre playing the game? If not theyre worthless. What video card and cpu cooler are you using? If youre using stock AMD CPU cooling, did you remove the thermal pad and then apply thermal paste? If not, do that.

Thermal Paste links:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007
http://xoxide.com/arcticsilver5.html

To remove the thermal pad, the cheapest way is to take some 75%+ isoproyl alcohol and a coffee filter or some other lint-free paper and rub off what you can. Scrape off the excess with something plastic, thats thin and solid. If you don't have anything like that, try the back of a box-cutter blade. Don't scrape the bottom of the heatsink. Also clean the heatspreader on your processor using the same method. Then apply the AS5 to the heatsink or heatspreader lock down the heatsink. Do not remove it again unless your temps are higher than before.

 

[bladefd]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
Are you getting these temp readings while youre playing the game? If not theyre worthless. What video card and cpu cooler are you using? If youre using stock AMD CPU cooling, did you remove the thermal pad and then apply thermal paste? If not, do that.

Thermal Paste links:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007
http://xoxide.com/arcticsilver5.html

To remove the thermal pad, the cheapest way is to take some 75%+ isoproyl alcohol and a coffee filter or some other lint-free paper and rub off what you can. Scrape off the excess with something plastic, thats thin and solid. If you don't have anything like that, try the back of a box-cutter blade. Don't scrape the bottom of the heatsink. Also clean the heatspreader on your processor using the same method. Then apply the AS5 to the heatsink or heatspreader lock down the heatsink. Do not remove it again unless your temps are higher than before.

I am not getting those temp readings while playing. How do I tell what temp it is while playing? Is there any way? Also, I am using stock AMD cpu fan. I also removed the thermal pad when I built the computer. Btw, like I said, it has only been happening since today. It was all fine before. I am about to load knights of the old republic 2 right now to see if my comp still crashes. I have a radeon 9600 from Sapphire(not the pro edition)

 

[Compuzen]

You could start the temp monitor and leave it running while you play the game for a few minutes or run prime95 and check what your temps are. You can Alt-tab from the game to check the temps. I doubt its the temps though. Re-install the game and make sure you update your drivers.

 

[bladefd]

it still crashes with kotor2.. I ran prime95 for an hour - the temp came up to 60 degrees celcius with prime95 but my pc never crashed with that. What could be the problem? the videocard drivers are completely updated.

 

[pkrush]

What power supply do you have? I think it's probably not providing enough power to run your system at full load

 

[Gerbil333]

Since Prime95 is at least somewhat stable, I bet your video card is overheating or screwed up. Try the latest version of RivaTuner. It can monitor the temperature of some video cards. Or, you could touch the GPU hsf. Be careful...they get toasty.

60C is really hot for an A64. Mine has never been past 45C at full load. It idles around 30-34C.

 

[Maximilian]

Those temps not particularly good for a 2800+, clean the Heatsink of any dust if needed. I dont think thats whats causing it to crash though.

Whats your graphics card/memory/psu?

 

[goobernoodles]

I happen to think its more along the lines of video card overheating, try placing a fan blowing directly at the video card while playing to see if that has any effect. If it does, I would suggest upgrading your intake fans to higher CFM fans, or upgrading the video card cooler, or both.

 

[bladefd]

Originally posted by: Soviet
Those temps not particularly good for a 2800+, clean the Heatsink of any dust if needed. I dont think thats whats causing it to crash though.

Whats your graphics card/memory/psu?

Graphics card is Radeon 9600 from sapphire(not pro. it is about 22 months old and has no fan on it - only a heatsink). I have 640MB of PC2700 ram. psu is 400 watts - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...detailsInactive.asp?Sku=B450-4100%20BK

^ The case and the psu from there are what i got. I trashed that soyo motherboard because it was junk. Also, how can my videocard go bad in just 1 day? it was fine yesterday - i played kotor2 for about 5 hours straight yesteray with no system crashes..

edit: I always keep my case open so the air is exposed to the outside. My room is about 70 degrees fahrenheits.

edit2: another thing i noticed was smell. When the computer crashes, I can smell some kind of burning. My smelling is bad so maybe I am smelling the central heat but it can be my computer. I do not know.

 

[Gerbil333]

Try goobernoodles's recommendation.

 

[Boobers]

If your power supply is stinky, replace it.

 

[Gerbil333]

Originally posted by: bladefd
edit2: another thing i noticed was smell. When the computer crashes, I can smell some kind of burning. My smelling is bad so maybe I am smelling the central heat but it can be my computer. I do not know.

:Q

Something can't handle the load, and it's overheating. I now suspect the PSU. Post your complete system specs.