Please help, my comp completely freezes in games

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imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
what could be wrong?
its practically unusable now
60% of the time the weirdness starts in bios - screen will flicker, and become very distorted, colors and symbols appearing that shouldnt be there
then in windows, it works for like 1 min, but then screen crashes.. sometimes it will restore itself but most times it will remain frozen
the other 40% of the time i can use my computer for like 30 mins, but if i run a game, watch a movie, etc it will crash quickly
 
L

LxMxFxD3

Senior member
Aug 31, 2005
257
0
0
11.8V for the +12V rail is perfectly normal, as with all the OP's voltages posted.
Click to expand...

Not really. All of his voltages are under spec. Additionally, these are voltages when he is not playing video games, so they can only get worse when he puts it under full load.

MYST - I highly recommend you go spend $100 on a new powersupply. It will last you for 5 years anyway (mine is 4+ now). Don't skimp get at least 430W and get a 40/40/25A one.

Worst case is if it doesn't help you cna return it. So what, I bet it solves your problem.

 
I

imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
the thing its its really really really far to a store..
would this be the only possible cause of my problems?

keep in mind that screen distortion occurs sometimes at the very first POST screen (before any drivers are loaded), i put my bios on default settings it still happens.. also keep in mind that its not always reproducible, sometimes comp will work fine for a while

could it be something else? card not in properly (though i am pretty sure its in right)? card damaged? etc..
 
GuitarDaddy

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
Originally posted by: myst
what could be wrong?
its practically unusable now
60% of the time the weirdness starts in bios - screen will flicker, and become very distorted, colors and symbols appearing that shouldnt be there
then in windows, it works for like 1 min, but then screen crashes.. sometimes it will restore itself but most times it will remain frozen
the other 40% of the time i can use my computer for like 30 mins, but if i run a game, watch a movie, etc it will crash quickly
Click to expand...


Starting to sound like your video card is dying.
 
I

imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Originally posted by: myst
what could be wrong?
its practically unusable now
60% of the time the weirdness starts in bios - screen will flicker, and become very distorted, colors and symbols appearing that shouldnt be there
then in windows, it works for like 1 min, but then screen crashes.. sometimes it will restore itself but most times it will remain frozen
the other 40% of the time i can use my computer for like 30 mins, but if i run a game, watch a movie, etc it will crash quickly
Click to expand...


Starting to sound like your video card is dying.
Click to expand...

it performs fine on benchmarks till it craps out..

the thing its its really really really far to a store..
would this be the only possible cause of my problems?

keep in mind that screen distortion occurs sometimes at the very first POST screen (before any drivers are loaded), i put my bios on default settings it still happens.. also keep in mind that its not always reproducible, sometimes comp will work fine for a while

could it be something else? card not in properly (though i am pretty sure its in right)? card damaged? etc..
 
I

imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
it performs fine on benchmarks till it craps out..

the thing its its really really really far to a store..
would this be the only possible cause of my problems?

keep in mind that screen distortion occurs sometimes at the very first POST screen (before any drivers are loaded), i put my bios on default settings it still happens.. also keep in mind that its not always reproducible, sometimes comp will work fine for a while

could it be something else? card not in properly (though i am pretty sure its in right)? card damaged? etc..
 
I

imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
it performs fine on benchmarks till it craps out..

the thing its its really really really far to a store..
would this be the only possible cause of my problems?

keep in mind that screen distortion occurs sometimes at the very first POST screen (before any drivers are loaded), i put my bios on default settings it still happens.. also keep in mind that its not always reproducible, sometimes comp will work fine for a while

could it be something else? card not in properly (though i am pretty sure its in right)? card damaged? etc..

also, it crashed in windows again.. but i let it run for another 10 mins
the computer restarted, and i got a message "thsi system recovered from a serious error" in details, it showed there was a problem with the nvidia graphics driver

but it still doesnt make sense.. why are things weird before even windows loads?
 
Aquila76

Aquila76

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
3,549
2
0
www.facebook.com
Originally posted by: myst
it performs fine on benchmarks till it craps out..

the thing its its really really really far to a store..
would this be the only possible cause of my problems?

keep in mind that screen distortion occurs sometimes at the very first POST screen (before any drivers are loaded), i put my bios on default settings it still happens.. also keep in mind that its not always reproducible, sometimes comp will work fine for a while

could it be something else? card not in properly (though i am pretty sure its in right)? card damaged? etc..

also, it crashed in windows again.. but i let it run for another 10 mins
the computer restarted, and i got a message "thsi system recovered from a serious error" in details, it showed there was a problem with the nvidia graphics driver

but it still doesnt make sense.. why are things weird before even windows loads?
Click to expand...


Try reseating the card first, maybe it's not in perfectly straight or all the way in. Could be there's a 'dust bunny' shorting out the bus.

Does your monitor have a detachable cable (screws into both the monitor at one end and the video card at the other)? I had an old Samsung (really old, 10+ years ago) that would toss screwy looking characters on the screen if the cable was stretched too far. Maybe it's pinched/cut/shorted somewhere and it's shutting your system down because it's volting into the vid card?

If this still gets errors, try replacing the card.

If none of that is working, get a new Power Supply, preferably an Enermax. Most stores also carry Antec, which should be fine for what you're doing. Go for a 400 - 500W model, There's no way your system will need more than that by the sounds of things.
 
I

imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
could i just underclock so that there is less strain on my current power supply?

Originally posted by: Aquila76
Originally posted by: myst
it performs fine on benchmarks till it craps out..

the thing its its really really really far to a store..
would this be the only possible cause of my problems?

keep in mind that screen distortion occurs sometimes at the very first POST screen (before any drivers are loaded), i put my bios on default settings it still happens.. also keep in mind that its not always reproducible, sometimes comp will work fine for a while

could it be something else? card not in properly (though i am pretty sure its in right)? card damaged? etc..

also, it crashed in windows again.. but i let it run for another 10 mins
the computer restarted, and i got a message "thsi system recovered from a serious error" in details, it showed there was a problem with the nvidia graphics driver

but it still doesnt make sense.. why are things weird before even windows loads?
Click to expand...


Try reseating the card first, maybe it's not in perfectly straight or all the way in. Could be there's a 'dust bunny' shorting out the bus.

Does your monitor have a detachable cable (screws into both the monitor at one end and the video card at the other)? I had an old Samsung (really old, 10+ years ago) that would toss screwy looking characters on the screen if the cable was stretched too far. Maybe it's pinched/cut/shorted somewhere and it's shutting your system down because it's volting into the vid card?

If this still gets errors, try replacing the card.

If none of that is working, get a new Power Supply, preferably an Enermax. Most stores also carry Antec, which should be fine for what you're doing. Go for a 400 - 500W model, There's no way your system will need more than that by the sounds of things.
Click to expand...

 
A

Allio

Golden Member
Jul 9, 2002
1,904
28
91
No. It's probably not a matter of the total draw, just its ability to deliver stable voltages and clean power. Can you tell us what brand and model it is?

Also, try a different video card if you haven't already.
 
I

imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
i cant use another video card
this motherboard has no agp slot (pci-e only)


basically its either the psu or video card right?
heres one more peice of information
when the screen gets wacky in windows, and there is music playing... the music plays for another 20 seconds then stops.

would this stopping of the music mean that it has to be the PSU?
 
I

imported_myst

Member
Aug 21, 2005
96
0
0
basically its either the psu or video card right?
heres one more peice of information
when the screen gets wacky in windows, and there is music playing... the music plays for another 20 seconds then stops.

would this stopping of the music mean that it has to be the PSU?
 
Aquila76

Aquila76

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
3,549
2
0
www.facebook.com
The music still running just means that the system hasn't shut down yet although the videocard has. At least you know your soundcard is running great!

If the computer store is so far away, I'd get both parts (video card and PSU). The video card they should just swap out under warranty, so it won't cost you anything. The PSU will set you back ~$75-100 depending on what you get. As mentioned, stick with Enermax or Antec, around 450W or so, the higher the Amps (A) on the 12V rail (or rails - will be marked as +12V1, +12V2, etc.), the better.
 
Aquila76

Aquila76

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
3,549
2
0
www.facebook.com
Originally posted by: myst
got a new power supply
problems still occuring
could it be the motherboard? the pci-e slot is screwed up?
Click to expand...

Can you tell us what is in the PC (mobo, memory, HDD, GPU, etc.)? Or is it a Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.? If so, give us the name and model no. (i.e.: Dell Inspiron 6100, HP Presario d15, etc.). Without knowing what's running, it's hard to get a grasp of why it's happening.
 
M

mismajor99

Member
Apr 21, 2004
105
0
0
Did you get another vid card or just a power supply? And what are your specs ? motherboard, memory, ect. Gateway dell, ect.?
 
Aquila76

Aquila76

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
3,549
2
0
www.facebook.com
Originally posted by: mismajor99
Did you get another vid card or just a power supply? And what are your specs ? motherboard, memory, ect. Gateway dell, ect.?
Click to expand...

I wonder if his system completely died on him. He hasn't posted here since Friday, although he visited 09/12/2005 11:22 AM.
 
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