Still can't figure out why my games are freezing

[Copilot]

Originally posted by: robisbell


http://freestone-group.com/video-card-stability-test.htm

Just ran it, said after 2 minutes it froze and I may need to turn down my mem freq on the card or not overclock it, but I am not overclocking it.

Its a 7600GT, the same card that worked fine before the new upgrades.

 

[robisbell]

hmm, then either the cards unstable or the slot it's in is. if it worked before, then it has to be the motherboard. I'd try the same test with the card in another machine.

 

[Copilot]

Too bad I have no other computers, and since the card was working fine before.

 

[robisbell]

no friends that would let you test it on their system? I'm hoping it's the mobo, since they've probably stopped bios support for it.

 

[Copilot]

None that would just let me come over and plug my video card into their computer.

 

[robisbell]

then I'd recheck the PSU, manually, with a multimeter in a proper test. then if it passes muster, then I would RMA the mobo 1st, if the replacement still does it then I'd either rma the video card if it's still covered or buy a new video card.

 

[Copilot]

Should I try the ultimatebootcd thing? I don't have a burner though.

Also what do you want me measuring with the multimeter? Volts or watts or what?

 

[robisbell]

Volts is what you're testing on the PSU, if you need a guid I have a link yo a few that are well written.

I'd skip the UBCD, it's between the PSU, Mobo, or Video Card. nothing else is at issue.
1. test PSU (if good, goto 2, if not good, replace PSU then retest system)
2. Test Video Card in a clean system (if it errors out, then replace video card, if not, then goto step 3)
3. RMA Motherboard.

 

[Copilot]

Ok thanks, will test the PSU tonight, I will have to find my multimeter.

 

[robisbell]

http://www.devhardware.com/for...-it-to-test-75111.html

http://www.techenclave.com/gui...power-supply-4723.html

http://www.driverheaven.net/guides/testingPSU/

 

[oynaz]

"Also what do you want me measuring with the multimeter? Volts or watts or what? "

Sounds like you are inexperienced with this kind of measurement. Be careful. A desktop PSU packs quite a punch, so don't do anything stupid.

 

[robisbell]

that's why I posted the links to some good guides on how to do it. I think they are experienced enough with electrical issues to know what not to do, but the guide will be the way.

 

[Copilot]

I am not very inexperienced with electricity, just don't know what PSU's output. I am actually planning to be an electrician (17 years old at the moment)

 

[Copilot]

Ok running the 12V at 60% CPU usage isn't changing the volt at all. 5V is the same, its running at 5.22 volts and not fluctuating.

 

[Copilot]

Bump

 

[robisbell]

bad PSU then.

 

[Copilot]

Why is the PSU bad? All the volts were perfect.

the 12v rail was running at 12.2 and the 5v was at 5.2v

 

[robisbell]

oops, for some reason it came up and some of the wording was missing, it said on my end 12V running at 5.22v, I'm sorry.
what about the 3.3V? what sort of load were you using to test it?

 

[Copilot]

I was using the Prime95 program and did the test that made my CPU run at 60% on both cores, way higher than any of my games take it.

I couldn't test the 3.3V, I put the probes in the motherboard connecter but nothing was registering on my multimeter just 0.00 so I don't think the probes even made contact.

Also I ran a second test on Prime95 that tested ram and when my PF usage went up my computer really slowed down, maybe thats whats happening with my games? Because the Virtual Memory Too Low thing pops up, should I just go buy another 1gig stick of ram and see what happens, I need another one anyway.

 

[robisbell]

if you're only running 1GB of ram total, another would be a good choice.

 

[Copilot]

Ok I will, do you think that might fix the problem?

 

[robisbell]

it's a shot, I'd say it could, since the system will have more ram to work with. you'll have to make some adjustments for having 2gb of ram now when you do.

 

[Calculator83]

Try this,, Put your HD on a diff sata port. IF that does not work

Exchange the ram sticks. " I mean return it and get a Different brand" incompats are very very common. "u'd think this doesn't happen and ram is all the same" They're not.

If that does not work.

Exchange the mobo.

Thats probably about it.

 

[Copilot]

So now its happening on diablo2, which any computer can run so I am pretty pissed, I can't really play any video games now.

 

[Copilot]

Could it be that the video card has too much dust on it? I need to go out and buy one of those co2 spraying cans but could it be one of the problems?