PC Freezing..

[xX5N1P3RXx]

Hey,

Sometimes while playing games my pc will totally lock up.. the screen will just freeze and any audio which is playing at the time will go into a loop.

I have formatted my HDD's and done a fresh install of vista and all my (Up to date) drivers.

I can't think of anything else it could be..

My specs:

CPU: Q6600 (stock)
GPU: 9800GX2 (stock)
RAM: 4gb Corsair XMS2 800MHz (stock)
MOBO: Asus P5N-T Deluxe
PSU: Antec Quattro 1000 Watts


Temps:

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa223/benjw_1985/Untitled-1-1.jpg


This problem doesn't discriminate between games, It can happen while I'm playing Bf2, CoD4, MoH etc etc..

If there's any other information you need please ask me :)

Thanks heaps for any help and or advice!

[Leeghoofd]

Have you tested the cpu and ram for stability ? Tried another vidcard driver (newer isn't always better), changed anything in the bios ?

[Infa]

Looks like your Vid card seems to overheat maybe while playing, if that pic is taken while Idle in windows, and it says 72c, then the gpu are toast ingame.
checked the cooling lately? maybe the fans are full of dust or something, bad cooling in the case?

[jasonelmore]

Heat is more than likely the issue. Also look at your voltages.. This will happend to me if I don't have my CPU voltages right. If it's the GPU overheating it will usually lock up too.

Your GPU temps are high.. raise the fan speed or downlclock 10%

[xX5N1P3RXx]

Have you tested the cpu and ram for stability ? Tried another vidcard driver (newer isn't always better), changed anything in the bios ?


What programs do I use to test the cpu and ram? I have forgotten >_<

I'm testing my GPU now using ATI tool and its been running for 10 minutes and my temps are stable at 79c and 85c so I guess that rules out my gpu overheating?

EDIT: Ok just got Orthos :D How long do I run this test? I got it testing small fft..

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa223/benjw_1985/temps-1.jpg



Looks like your Vid card seems to overheat maybe while playing, if that pic is taken while Idle in windows, and it says 72c, then the gpu are toast ingame.
checked the cooling lately? maybe the fans are full of dust or something, bad cooling in the case?


Well I only just put my pc back together two nights ago after cleaning it etc :)

[Meteor|WAR]

What programs do I use to test the cpu and ram? I have forgotten >_<

You can use Orthos or Prime 95 for CPU and memtest86+ for the RAM.

I wouldnt be satisfied until you can run Orthos error free for at least an hour. memtest86+ I'd run over night.

[xX5N1P3RXx]

You can use Orthos or Prime 95 for CPU and memtest86+ for the RAM.

I wouldnt be satisfied until you can run Orthos error free for at least an hour. memtest86+ I'd run over night.

Ok This is m result after 1 hour :)

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa223/benjw_1985/1hourtest.jpg


Is that ok?


Also how long should I "artifact scan" my GPU for before I can rule it safe?

[Meteor|WAR]

Looks like your CPU is fine. From the info you've provided here though I wouldnt think it's the CPU. Sounds more like the RAM or over heating of the video card.

You should definitely test the RAM. You can use memtest86+ which is best, or you could use the Orthos blend test. If there's a problem with the memory you should get errors in less than an hour.

As far as stress testing the video card just run it though loops of a graphic intensive benchmark program or game benchmark until you are satisfied it's stable. I'd say maybe 30-60 minutes. Keep an eye on temps.

[EDIT] Oh, and dont ignore Infa's post. Make sure your video card's cooling is working properly. Fan spinning well (RPMs are good), no dust build up. 72c is pretty hot, especially if that's the idle temp.

[xX5N1P3RXx]

Hmm this memtest thing looks too complicated you have too boot from cd or something? O.o

Is there something simpler I can use that does the same job?

[Leeghoofd]

HCI Memtest ( google it, can be used form windows ) or just Orthos Blend mode mate, will stress ram and NB too...
Is there a friend nearby that can test your vidcard in his rig ? or you can borrow another card ?

[Falkentyne]

There are two different programs of memtest.
HCI memtest is the one Lee mentioned, which is used for testing RAM stability in windows although this also heavily loads the northbridge. I'm still uncertain whether it's necessary to run 3-4 instances of this (for 8 gb ram) instead of something like OCCT or Prime Blend. I mean if the other programs (OCCT/Prime Blend RAM tests) run stable all day and night, then what exactly are you trying to do? Find out exactly how to crash a stable system ? (ok how about heating up your room to 35C then run Linpack+multiple HCI Memtest instances AND that Coredamage program?). :rofl: But I guess stability's meaning varies amoung users. Case in point: if you can run Prime 95 small FFT's for 48 hours with no errors, but if you run six 50 loop linpack tests (50 loops is pretty extreme; most run 10), four tests pass 50/50 loops, and two only pass 49/50 (and most people here just run a 10 loop pass to determine if they're stable or not), are you stable or unstable? Get my point? :)

The other program--which I consider FAR more important, is memtest86+
That's because you use this program to determine *IF* you can actually ENTER windows without completely trashing the operating system permanently due to an too aggressive overclock or RAM/chipset settings; if you can pass a few loops of memtest86+ or 5+ loops of "test#5" repeated, then you are guaranteed to be able to at least enter a properly working Windows installation, assuming no other strange problems (like sound/video drivers). Unless the CPU is pushed FAR too high in an overclock. Memtest86+ can boot from a floppy disk, a USB bootable drive, a bootable CD, etc. It's not that hard at all; if you have any experience with making a bootable disk, then you can do it. Even if the only boot disk you have is a CD, you can burn the CD iso image file and boot from it.

An unstable RAM/Chipset subsystem is far more likely to kill an OS than an unstable CPU as CPU instability first shows its head when the CPU gets under load, and thus heats up.

I think we've already determined that your RAM and CPU are stable, I mean you're at stock here--it's either a power supply or video card problem, mate.

[Meteor|WAR]

Hmm this memtest thing looks too complicated you have too boot from cd or something? O.o

Is there something simpler I can use that does the same job?

It is not complicated at all, once you know what to do.

Just Google how to burn an ISO file to a CD, then go download the bootable memtest86+ ISO file (http://www.memtest.org/#downiso) and burn it. Leave it in the drive and set your PC to boot from CD first and you are good to go.

I'm with those that think it's the video card though. If you're only having problems when gaming, and judging by the high temps, that's what it would seem. Focus on getting temps down (better airflow?) and see if that remedies the freezing.

[xX5N1P3RXx]

Hmmm just now I was playing BF2 and occassionally I would get black specs appear on my screen or a weird mesh of them like a cluster.. so I think it's my video card :(

[Falkentyne]

Yep.
Lockups like that are usually video related.
CPU or RAM usually gives program errors or blue screens.

[GeorgeStorm]

I wouldnt be happy if my GPU was that hot,
Mine stays under 60 at load, while running as overclocked as it will allow without crashing, (need a volt mod)
I would try to increase the fanspeed of your GPU cooler

[xX5N1P3RXx]

Also another thing that happens which may be related is when I wake my pc up from sleep mode everything is extremely slow, I always just have to restart because it doesn't seem to level out to the normal speed :(

[xX5N1P3RXx]

Sorry to bump the thread again but now I'm getting ANOTHER problem :( Just now while playing BF2 online my screen went black and then the light started to blink as if in sleep mode but I couldn't revive it so I had to restart. Then once I had it up and running it happend again while using firefox.. The screen just loses the signal :( I think it may be the graphic card?