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Resolved Question

msi p31 games freezing

Apr 20, 2015 12:28AM PDT

System :
MSI P31 NEO intel 2duo core 2.66
Psu 500 watt
ram 4gb
had 250
graphics card readon hd5450

Ok, So here is the issue, Every time I start a game, the video card stops responding or the computer freezes, I read that someone thought it was a psu problem so I upgraded mine to the 500. still does it. I changed out with 4 diffferent graphics cards still does. Bought new ram still does it. reset the bios, still does it. reinstalled windows still does it. Edited the reg with the trd thing that delays the computer instead of freezing. still does it. updated driver same thing.
I really do not know what to do, other then replaceing the motherboard, I have done 6 differnt scan on the hd all come back good.
Any Ideas any help would be wanted

for information
it does not freeze in game freezes when trying to load programs once I get in the game I am fine. also has done it once or twice when I was just in windows

the other graphics card I have tried are
geforce 8500 gt
Gigabyte Radeon HD 4550
and another 5450hd when I thought it was the card
I have done stress test diagnostic test all comes up normal.
games I have tryed minecraft,dragons prophet, dead rising 2 older games my computer meets the regs of all games

please help any ideas?

Discussion is locked

symbiot999 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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AHA, "loss of signal"
Apr 20, 2015 4:11AM PDT

That's not a sign of bad hardware. I can cause that with MANY GAMES over the years. Easy? How?

When a game starts it can change the video output to something your display can't show. Fix? Varies with each game. Over the years I have pondered if this has become too challenging. That is, this is where a Console wins out. Less to tinker with or set up.
Bob

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yeah
Apr 20, 2015 8:18AM PDT

Yeah so how do I fix microsoft says to add something to the reg but when I do instead of the drivers failing or the screen going blank the computer freezes instead

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Sorry
Apr 20, 2015 8:27AM PDT

But it varies with each game. You have quite a collection of issues from what looks like very old gear to this issue.

I can't do much for you as we are limited by the forum. For example I don't see what game so I can't comment about the game.

You might limit the OVERRIDE to 60 as noted at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc938991.aspx
Bob

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Answer
Looks old.
Apr 20, 2015 1:00AM PDT

It looks old enough to need not only the usual heatsink work but new boards and parts. While it meets the reqs and regs the age may be showing here.
Bob

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old
Apr 20, 2015 1:05AM PDT

Yeah I think the heat sinks are fine I have done many stress tests and its passed them all even a burnin test. did not over heat once. if it was the heat sinks it would be over heating during the stress tests correct?

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No.
Apr 20, 2015 1:08AM PDT

Old can have issues with aged parts that well, have issues. If you feel like you must not try cleaning and replacing old compound then you have given up before you started.

I'm not going to pull any punches here. It's old gear and not going to be a sure thing but there are old school remedies we try for cheap before we replace cards. If you don't want to, then time to replace parts.
Bob

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ok.
Apr 20, 2015 1:24AM PDT

I have replaced every thing besides the motherboard everything else besides the motherboard and harddrive is new.

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Then a part or parts still has issues.
Apr 20, 2015 1:31AM PDT

There is some nagging question here. Did you reinstall the OS after the changes? Some changes can result in oddities if we don't start fresh with Windows.

But the ages of say that CPU still could have issues. I take it you are not "wishing" this to work. That is, it's very old gear so we have to suspect each part and use all the clues to move on. Some folk think decade old PCs can be fixed without new parts and it's best to let them mellow. Eventually they'll find what chip, card or PSU it was but here we can't see what you see. Only share that we have to eventually change parts until it's working. New doesn't mean it's a good part.
Bob

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not since I downgraded
Apr 20, 2015 1:42AM PDT

Not since I downgraded I will try and re-install windows maybe that would help. That was my first thought so I installed windows 7 instead of windows 8.1 so let me try that. I understand I may have to get another motherboard and processor. But I do not understand why it would pass every stress test if it was just because it was older. the computer orginally came with the geforce 8500gt but I bought the new xfx one 5450 when I ran in to this problem. I had read online after that that it was the psu which this one came with a 250 so I upgraded to a blue storm 2 500 watt. Then I thought it could be the ramm so I went out and got two new ddr2 800mhz 2gb sticks. Since I add the the new psu I have not reinstalled windows. So I will do that then get back to you.

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So the OS is some mess?
Apr 20, 2015 1:45AM PDT
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I do not understand what you are trying to tell me
Apr 20, 2015 1:48AM PDT

Are you saying that it is to old and just to buy a new or something else?

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If you don't want to try the usual.
Apr 20, 2015 2:14AM PDT

Sure. That's what most folk do. I had hope you would try putting the machine through the usual restoration (hardware and software) process but you didn't and appear to question the method. It's not a sure thing but for about 2 bucks of compound, a buck of canned air it's cheaper than a new PC.

Your time, your choice to try or not. The issue with all the old parts you listed is that all are suspect. Even a new part could have issues. Those 5450's have been kicking around since about 2010 so while it was my go-to card for low power performance boosts it's still back in a day GPU that may buckle under game loads.

That is, lockups given the brew I see here and the age may be unavoidable. On top of that you are dismissing the usual work that is done. Again, your choice to not do the cheap things before you get a new PC.
Bob

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ok I will get the can of air
Apr 20, 2015 2:43AM PDT

ok I will get the can of air and I just did the fresh install so we will see if that works

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So skipping the compound work?
Apr 20, 2015 3:36AM PDT

It's a shame I can't do this for you. I know that sometimes folk want it to be other than the usual but I lost count of machines that came back to life after the work.
Bob

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no,
Apr 20, 2015 3:46AM PDT

no it did not work used a can of air reinstalled windows as soon as I tryed to load a game I lost signal to my monitor