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General discussion

Computer Freezes Up

Jul 18, 2010 4:40AM PDT

I know this isn't a PC game board, but I figured I'd have a better chance finding computer tech people on here that can help me, then I would a game board.

For some odd reason, all of sudden my computer has been getting Graphical Issues with some games, some other games tend to stutter, and some games just down right crash. Left 4 Dead 2 runs great, but every 10 minutes or so it freezes, and I have to press ctrl alt delete, though the game doesn't come up as not responding, and if I exit task manager and get back to it, it'll play good for another 10 minutes. Call of Duty 1 and United Offense crashes completely half hour into it, and when I aim down the sights its very very choppy. CoD WaW and Modern Warfare 1 play really nice, though once inawhile I'll hit a graphic glitch that either freezes the game, or allows the game to still play but everything looks odd (all the soldiers turn bright white, everything els stays normal) and Bad Company 2 is just littered with graphic issues, bullets look like big pixelated squares. I checked up on drivers and I am running the latest in everything, and I have been running the same specs before these issues and now, its just all of sudden its been acting wierd. Did a virus scan, found nothing. Heres my specs.

PSU: 750Watt

Video Card: Nvidia BFG Geforce 285GT - 1gb

RAM: 8gb DDR2 Corsair

Processor: Intel Q6600 2.4ghz (stock speed)

OS: Windows 7 64 Bit Ultimate

Discussion is locked

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Just fixed one like that.
Jul 18, 2010 11:15AM PDT

All too similar setup. Had to pull it back to one stick of ram and it ran fine. Closer examination found a collection of memory sticks.
Bob

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interesting
Jul 18, 2010 11:25AM PDT

so you think I should take one of my sticks out? I guess its worth a try though I'd hate to go down to 6gb when I have 8gb now.

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With slim details.
Jul 18, 2010 11:49AM PDT

I was left to think about a recent machine. Actually we had to go back to 2GB or one stick. I can't explain why they had 4 sticks with none matching the other as to make.

Bob

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hmmm
Jul 19, 2010 1:45PM PDT

I appreciate the input, but I'm not sure if thats the route I'm gonna go to fix the machine, all the ram is exactly the same. And since its a computer I use for just gaming, I wouldn't want to strip down to just 2gb of ram. I have 8gbs total, 4-2gb sticks. I could give 6gbs a go, I just fear I'll take a performance shot. I'll try it, and post back

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Since a lockup is zero performance.
Jul 19, 2010 8:10PM PDT

Even running on a single stick is better than a crashed machine.

Let's cover memory and custom machines a little. WHO DID THE WORK to determine the memory selected is qualified and supported?

I'm finding too many machines when the system designer answers with "Huh?" when asked if they checked the BIOS settings and the memory stick data to see if they match. This is the system designer's job so press them to show their work.
Bob

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well lol
Jul 20, 2010 3:22PM PDT

I was the one that did the work. Though, I've been playing for months now without a single problem and just suddenly this started occurring. I did go into bios to make sure the system was supporting the Ram's memory speed of 1066mhz it was set to auto, I changed it to Linked and it revealed 1066mhz as its frequency number. I just played a few rounds of left 4 dead without a single problem, not sure if it fixed the problem or not, later I am going to try Call of Duty. Though I'm certain I didn't fix the problem yet. Probly just had some good luck in the left 4 dead session.

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yup
Jul 22, 2010 1:52PM PDT

yup that actually fixed it, after gaming for a few hours, not one problem, with any game. So you were right, it was just a Ram problem, ram wasn't configured properly. thanks for your help.