Full freeze when playing games, unavoidable

by FantasiaWHT Jun 1, 2007 10:43PM PDT

I am having a completely debilitating problem-

When I play games (and only when I play games, as far as I can tell) about 5 minutes into whatever game I am playing, my computer will completely freeze up and my speakers will emit a loud, high-pitched whine. The mouse cursor won't respond, and no combination of keys has any effect, I have to do a hard power-down.

I tried updating DirectX, my video card drivers (new drivers yesterday, even) and sound card drivers. I tried disabling all background programs (Spybot, PrevX, etc.). A DVD will play fine.

Any thoughts of what this could be? I made no change that I'm aware of before this started happening. In fact, I only use this desktop for gaming, and I hadn't done much gaming lately- I thought it was just the demo of Supreme Commander that was messed up, but then it did the same thing today when I installed and tried to play Lord of the Rings Online.

One thought is that my soundcard is dying- is there any way to test that other than buying and plugging in a new sound card?

I have tested numerous games from as long ago as 2002 and they all have the same problem with one exception- Titan Quest reboots my computer intsead of freezing up.

Discussion is locked

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Tell about your clean heatsinks.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 1, 2007 10:47PM PDT

In fact, does it run longer if the case cover is off?

Bob

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Update

by FantasiaWHT Jun 1, 2007 10:53PM PDT

Just learned something new... Spybot freezes when running. Even in Safe Mode...

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re:

by FantasiaWHT Jun 1, 2007 10:54PM PDT

Good question, let me try that. Worried about overheating?

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Specs

by FantasiaWHT Jun 1, 2007 11:06PM PDT

Forgot specs, sorry:

Windows XP Professional

AMD Athlon 64 3200+
1Gb RAM (DDR 400)
Sapphire Radeon 1600XT PCI-E, 256Mb
Soundblaster Audigy Platinum EX
AS-ROCK 939 Dual-SATA2 Mobo

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Lasts longer

by FantasiaWHT Jun 1, 2007 11:53PM PDT

Yes, Supreme Commander ran for about 20 minutes before freezing, this time without the high-pitched whine.

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If removing the cover increased time from 5 to 20 minutes.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 2, 2007 12:32AM PDT

Then something is heat sensitive or a heatsink is dirty or not contacting the surface proper. One owner thought heatsink compound was "optional".

You're close but you have a better view of dust, fans and may recall if the heatsink compound was used.

Bob

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Cleaning, memory testing

by FantasiaWHT Jun 2, 2007 2:57AM PDT

Ok I took it outside and compressed aired it all out (it wasn't that bad) and then downloaded Memtest86+ and found some interesting results

With both sticks of memory in, it found 14 errors and froze at 9:41. With the outer stick of memory in, it found no errors, but still froze, once at 10:43 and once at 10:31. With the inner stick of memory in, it found no errors, but still froze, first at 28:13 (on the second pass) and then the second time at 13:01 (still on the first pass)

And as far as I can recall, I did not use a compound when I plugged the heatsink, fan, and CPU into the mobo.

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The only good MEMTEST is one with zero errors.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 2, 2007 9:52AM PDT

So if one stick works, use that.

As to the heatsink, did you use a thermal PAD? If not, was the heatsink "attached" to the CPU?

If there is no CPU heatsink pad or compound I'd fix that fast.

Bob

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Oddness

by FantasiaWHT Jun 2, 2007 10:01AM PDT

Yeah, but while with both sticks in there was an error, I couldn't isolate which stick it was on, because every time I ran it with just one stick, it would freeze before finding an error. Even if I kept running it and found an error on one, it wouldn't disprove an error on the other =/

And the more I think back the more I'm sure I put some pad or sheet of material in between the heatsink and CPU. I bought the retail AMD Athlon XP 3200+, and I think it came with that pad.

I found I can play all right with no cover on, but that's not really a solution. I've got three fans- one on the CPU/heatsink, one on the PSU, and one on the video card. There's a spot on the case for another on one of the side panels, and IIRC my mobo has one more power slot for a fan. Here's my current plan:

1) Buy a new gig of RAM (512X2)
2) Buy a fan for that slot
3) Maybe buy a new PSU? The one I have now is 330W and came with the case. My question is, tho, can you remove a PSU that came with your case and replace it?

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That's good stuff. My thoughts.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 2, 2007 10:03AM PDT

If you get one stick to pass... that's good.

If the other stick locks up during test, don't use that stick.

See if the machine works with the one good stick.

Bob

Full freeze when playing games, unavoidable

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