Shut down probs

[RSanders]

Ok I am having some major problems, which just started coming up recently.

Everytime I run a game on my computer, at some point during the game, the computer will just shut off. Then I have to manually turn the switch on the back of the case off then back to on before it will start up again.

I don't think it is heating issues, although if I can't find a solution, I will be buying the Arctic thermal stuff, instead of the current generic on my CPU fan.

I have tried updating to all different driver versions, which doesn't help.

I am lead to believe that this could be a RAM issue, MAYBE.

Do you guys think that maybe putting RAM in another slot could fix this problem or is it even virtually possible that bad RAM could be the cause?

Thanks,
Ryan


P.S... please leave the overheating issue out of the equation unless that is all that it could be.

PC Specs:
Athlon XP 2500+
512MB of ram (1 stick)
80GB HD
ATI Radeon 9800Se

 

[grohl]

What makes you think overheating really isn't the cause?

Have you tried one of those utilities that allows you to monitor your GPU temps during gameplay?

 

[RSanders]

No I havn't. It is just that I had a problem with CNC Generals a while back with it quitting on me, and I changed the slot which the RAM was placed in, and never got the error anymore. Then in the last week, the PC just shuts off while playing games. I tried changing the RAM back into another slot (and i stuck it in the same one as last time)... played CNC Generals again and got the same error that I got once before.

It has shut down with the following games, which are the only ones I play:
Tribes 2
UT 2003
CNC Generals: Zero Hour

btw... it has also happened with other people using the computer, not even running a game.

and.. What are some programs to monitor the temps?

 

[grohl]

I've read about utilities for NVIDIA cards in other posts. Sorry, don't know the name.

Not sure about the RAM thing.

How about the PS? Is it old/cheap/generic? Could consider replacement. I had a 3 year old computer with a generic PS that had weird shutdown problems that stopped when I replaced it.

 

[RSanders]

PS, its a 430watt but came with the case and I am sure it is probably about as good as 350watts.. but I am only running, 1 HD, 1cddrive, 1 videocard. This PC is about 5 months old maybe.

 

[stevty2889]

It could be your memory. Have you tried running memtest? With it shutting down completely and having to use the switch on the PSU to turn it back on again, it could also very well be the power supply. And you shouldn't just ignore heat as being an issue, because an overheating CPU can cause it to shutdown, and is far more probable than the memory being the cause. If it was rebooting, or giving blue screens of death, then I would be more suspect of the memory.

 

[RSanders]

Where can I find a memory tester?

 

[stevty2889]

Memtest