OT: Hardware problem?

Renegade 13 · #1 April 2nd, 2006, 04:17 PM

I have a problem that I was wondering if anyone could help me with. I think it's a hardware issue, but I'm not sure.

Often, when I'm playing graphically-intensive games, the game will suddenly and catastrophically crash. All output to the monitor halts. The machine continues running, but there's no way to restore output from the monitor. ALT-CTRL-DEL does nothing. Sound from the game will sometimes continue as usual, sometimes have a loop a few seconds long and sometimes just stop. The only way I've found to break this crash is to reset the computer.

I don't think this is a game-specific issue since it's happened to three separate games so far. I opened the case and manually checked the temperature of the graphics card. It was pretty damn hot. I didn't want to leave my hand on it for more than a second or two, else I'd probably end up burning myself.

So I think it might be an overheating graphics card issue, but I don't really know for sure if it is, or what to do if it is the problem. Only thing I can think of is increasing ventilation. Anyone else have any other suggestions as to the root cause of the problem or any possible solution?

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Fyron · #2 April 2nd, 2006, 04:28 PM

Buy a bigger heatsink and better fan for the GPU?

Renegade 13 · #3 April 5th, 2006, 10:45 PM

Fixed the crashing problem!

Opened the case, removed the graphics card and cleaned all the dust off the heatsink. It wasn't horribly dusty, but every little bit helps.

Then I took off the CPU fan to take a look at the CPU heatsink. Absolutely covered in dust. Cleaned all that dust out, put everything back together, and the crashes have stopped! Ran FarCry for 20 minutes without issue, before it'd crash within 3-5 minutes. So I should be good!

StarShadow · #4 April 2nd, 2006, 04:28 PM

It's probably heat, especially if it's only happeneing during graphics intensive games. If you have a slot, right beside the vid card, free, I'd suggest a slot fan.

Will · #5 April 2nd, 2006, 04:58 PM

Yeah, and in general, you will want to keep open space around the video card to let the ventilation do its work. Try running with the side off the case, stick your hand in empty spaces to see how air flows under idle conditions, then try something more graphics-intensive and see how the video card fan changes things. If I remember, the fireworks screensaver here (linky) can get really graphics intensive by changing some of the settings on it. You'll want to be sure that the path air is taking is forcing hot air out, repacing it with cooler air from outside the case. If there's a space that feels warm, and isn't being covered by fans, try to re-arrange or add fans to take care of it. Or... set up a liquid cooling system

General rule: if a fan is close to a component that will generate a lot of heat, you want it pointing out. If it isn't, point in to balance airflow and reduce ambient temperature.

Saber Cherry · #6 April 2nd, 2006, 09:06 PM

I'm going to guess that your motherboard was made in Taiwan with defective capacitors. Look at the board and see if any are bulging or leaking. They should be perfect cylinders. Of course, even if it looks fine, I'm still going to guess that's the problem.

If there is a heat problem, you can probably solve it by underclocking the CPU or video card, which is a lot easier than messing around with stuff inside the case.

NullAshton · #7 April 2nd, 2006, 09:24 PM

OR, he could just be using ATI, and has VPU recovery on. Which is resetting his video card, and locking it up, or something.

Renegade 13 · #8 April 2nd, 2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Saber Cherry said:
I'm going to guess that your motherboard was made in Taiwan with defective capacitors. Look at the board and see if any are bulging or leaking. They should be perfect cylinders. Of course, even if it looks fine, I'm still going to guess that's the problem.

If there is a heat problem, you can probably solve it by underclocking the CPU or video card, which is a lot easier than messing around with stuff inside the case.

I actually checked the capacitors on the motherboard a while ago once I heard about that fiasco. Nothing seems out of place. I also don't think my motherboard was manufactured by one of the companies that were using the cheap, stolen electrolyte solution, so it shouldn't be an issue in any case. But I think I'll check again just to be sure.

Personally, I quite enjoy mucking around with the hardware.

I'd rather get a bit more ventilation in there rather than underclock anything. More fun!

NullAshton, I don't have an ATI video card. I have a Nvidia 6600 GT manufactured by BFG. Good steady card, no problems so far except for this heat issue if that's what it is.

Thanks everyone for suggestions so far. I think I'll work on the assumption (for now) that it's a heat issue, but also check the motherboard angle. If anyone has any other suggestions for the cause, please feel free to let me know!

NullAshton · #9 April 2nd, 2006, 09:47 PM

Oh yeah, a 6600GT? I recall having problems with that and overheating. It's possible that you don't have enough power going to it, as well, and need a better power supply.