Overheating Issues.. Stumped.

[BrettCB]

Alright, I'm completly stumped here. My computer runs fine while doing all tasks accept playing games. I burn DVD's, encode music and video.. Runs smooth. However, upon playing games such as Guild Wars and Half-Life 2 my computer reboots within minutes. I've cleaned out the dust from the heatsink, remounted the cpu with Arctic Silver 5 and I still have problems. I mean, the computer will be running fine for about 3-4 minutes and then the screen turns black and you get a load "clicking" noise coming from the speakers.

Could it be my voltage settings on the CPU? Bad GPU?

Please help.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Most definitely check your video card then. I've heard about people just putting in Artic Silver 5 on their stock HSF for their GPUs, and lowering temps a lot...
Tas.

 

[xXgambitXx]

I had a similar problem and thought it was my vid card at first. Turns out it was the Power Supply though. What kind of power supply do you have ? is it just the 300W generic that came w/ the case ?

First make sure the video card is running cool and if that's cool then it may be the power supply.

 

[BrettCB]

System specs:

Intel P4 2.6 GHZ
1GB Corsair Value Select RAM
2 WD 80GB HD
XFX GeForce 6600GT
Hauppage WINTV150
Soundblaster Audigy LS
Wireless Netoworking Card
1 NEC DVD-RW Drive

Antec Solution Series with a 350W PS

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: BrettCB
System specs:

Intel P4 2.6 GHZ
1GB Corsair Value Select RAM
2 WD 80GB HD
XFX GeForce 6600GT
Hauppage WINTV150
Soundblaster Audigy LS
Wireless Netoworking Card
1 NEC DVD-RW Drive

Antec Solution Series with a 350W PS

Does the 6600GT have molex power going to it, or is it just bus powered? If it has a molex connector, I'm guessing a PSU upgrade is in order. You just might be stressing the 12v line too much when the card is sucking up juice for games.
Tas.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: tasburrfoot78362

Originally posted by: BrettCB
System specs:

Intel P4 2.6 GHZ
1GB Corsair Value Select RAM
2 WD 80GB HD
XFX GeForce 6600GT
Hauppage WINTV150
Soundblaster Audigy LS
Wireless Netoworking Card
1 NEC DVD-RW Drive

Antec Solution Series with a 350W PS

Does the 6600GT have molex power going to it, or is it just bus powered? If it has a molex connector, I'm guessing a PSU upgrade is in order. You just might be stressing the 12v line too much when the card is sucking up juice for games.
Tas.

I believe that's a really small PSU for the job. Check the 12V rails definitely. Measure with a multimeter. There was a thread about this. If you dip below 12 too much, system goes unstable.

Also check thatyour CPU temps are not maxed out. Get a reading. Get MBM5 and use the log manager. Play a game. When it reboots go check the log. How high did you go? Etc et.

 

[BrettCB]

Standard bus powered. However, I just did a little experimenting and games run fine with a fan blowing into the case. However, the GPU temp is around 58 degrees when running without a fan not playing games.

 

[BrettCB]

After I saw the CPU post I used ASUS probe to check out CPU temps.. i run at 28-29 degrees when Idle. I can't imagine temps would raise to the point of malfunctioning when they are that low when idle?

 

[xXgambitXx]

Originally posted by: BrettCB
However, the GPU temp is around 58 degrees when running without a fan not playing games.

!! KA-COW !!, looks like an overheating Vid Card, probably caused by faulty GPU Heatsink or indadequate Power.

**EDIT**
suggestion, try reseating teh heatsink. carefully yank it off, slap some thermal paste down and put it back on. You can always get an aftermarket GPU Cooler.

 

[BrettCB]

Looks like it is definetly the GPU heatsink. Runs smooth as silk with a fan blowing into the case, but when I remove the fan I get a lock-up. History report by ASUS probe says CPU never runs hotter than 33 Degrees.

Do I try to RMA this card or attempt to apply arctic 5? The system is under 3 months old.

 

[xXgambitXx]

Originally posted by: BrettCB
Do I try to RMA this card or attempt to apply arctic 5? The system is under 3 months old.

come on, this is Anandtech General Hardware, haha.
try to fix it yourself until you break it......then RMA

seriously, try to fix it yourself

** EDIT **
i'm not going to buy you a new 6600gt if you break it and XFX refuses your RMA

 

[interchange]

Exactly. RMA the video card.

*Edit* And I would also seriously consider getting a nicer PSU regardless of whether or not it is causing your system lockups.

 

[BrettCB]

I just started college again so money is a little tight. However, I am planning on getting a better PSU once I'm able to get the cash. Anyway, I contacted XFX about the problem and I'm awaiting a reply. If they refuse to RMA this, which I don't see why they would, I'm going to attempt to apply the Arctic Silver 5 I have. We'll see what happens.

Feel free to make more suggestions if you want, I'm open to any ideas. I just can't figure out why my computer can run any other process without a problem but I insert a game and it stops running in 5 minutes.

Thanks for the help everyone,

BrettCB

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: BrettCB
I just started college again so money is a little tight. However, I am planning on getting a better PSU once I'm able to get the cash. Anyway, I contacted XFX about the problem and I'm awaiting a reply. If they refuse to RMA this, which I don't see why they would, I'm going to attempt to apply the Arctic Silver 5 I have. We'll see what happens.

Feel free to make more suggestions if you want, I'm open to any ideas. I just can't figure out why my computer can run any other process without a problem but I insert a game and it stops running in 5 minutes.

Thanks for the help everyone,

BrettCB

At idle, (burning CD/DVD, movie watching, surfing web, etc.) the vid card does basically nothing. Only when the GPU is performing heavy work like crunching video effects in a game will it pull a lot of power and generate a lot of heat. It probably runs OK (i.e.: your 5 min.) until it either draws more power than the PSU can sustain, or overheats to the danger point and shuts itself off.
Heat and power drain will kill a system, much like in a car:
a. If your radiator dies, your engine overheats and shuts down.
b. If your alternator/battery dies, the plugs can't fire and your engine shuts down.
Same thing in a PC:
a. If your heatsink dies, GPU overheats and shuts down to prevent damage.
b. If your PSU is overstrained, it can't supply sufficient voltage and the PC shuts down.

Definitely try the RMA first. I'm pretty sure XFX has a long warranty. If no RMA, Arctic Silver. That PSU is basically just above minimum spec for your system, so that's something to look at, too.
How many cooling fans does your system have (besides the GPU and CPU)? Maybe that's more of your problem than the PSU. Ideally you should have at least 2 fans, one blowing in from the front and one blowing out from the back.

EDIT: Here's a pic that shows what I mean.

 

[TheNewGuy]

Originally posted by: BrettCB
Looks like it is definetly the GPU heatsink. Runs smooth as silk with a fan blowing into the case, but when I remove the fan I get a lock-up.

Dumb question..but how close is the back of your case to a wall, or something that may prevent the air from leaving the case? Reason I ask is that I had the back of my computer case about an inch away from the wall, and my 9800 Pro was locking up, unless I turned on a fan. For some reason, I decided to pull the case away from the wall to about 6" and I haven't had a lockup since...

Dave

 

[BrettCB]

My computer is probably 6-7 inches away from the wall. I have the stock cooling that comes with the Antec Solution case which is one 120mm fan. I was going to buy a panaflo 80mm but I wanted to try the Arctic Silver 5 first. But if it is the GPU I might as well get that looked at before I go buy something else that won't help my problem.

Once again thanks for the help.