Computer freezes under high end gameplay

T

thestonefox

n00b
Joined
Jul 3, 2008
Messages
6
I am having issues with my computer where it just freezes (generally when under stress from 3D gaming) The temp does rise but to nothing that would be extreme. I notice the case and other hardware (RAM, hard drive, mobo) does get very hot though. When I say freeze, I mean no response from the computer at all, you cannot have any input whatsoever, ctrl+alt+del does nothing. alt+enter does nothing. hitting num lock does not turn the light on or off. Only way out is to soft reboot the computer.

My computer specs are:
Antec 700W PSU
Intel Q9450 Quadcore CPU
Zipang CPU Cooler
ASUS STRIKER II FORMULA 780i
TwinX 4GB TWIN2X4096-6400C5 (2x2GB Dual Channel)
750G SAMSUNG SATA2 HD753LJ 32M Cache
LG GGC-H20L AUAU00B BR&HD READ
1GB GAINW 8800GT GOLDEN SAMPLE
MS Win Vista Ultimate 32Bit

I've tried replacing the RAM with slower 667Mhz (2x1GB Dual Channel) and it still crashes. I've also tried a better, more expensive PSU (modular, 800W with a massive fan at the bottom). I thought maybe that the PSU wasnt powerful enough or the cheaper Antec one was struggling with the grunt of the 8800GT and IntelQ9450. But with a different PSU it still crashes.

Basically, how I recreate the issue is just play Crysis for a while, hear the GPU fan spin up (gets to about 61'C) if it doesnt seem to want to crash, then I come out and run 3D Mark Vantage full test. Then go back into Crysis and have a bit of a play, then it will probably freeze up.

I've noticed when i reboot and go into the bios temp monitor, my CPU will be at around 53'C which you may not think is that hot, but I have a zipang cooler on the CPU and the thing will idle around 30'C. It will stay at around 50'C for some time, and while it is at this temperature, sometimes when I restart Vista, it will just hang straight away and keep hanging on every reboot until the computer has cooled down (i've only noticed this with the Hi-Power Black 800W PSU as it has a downward fan).

I'm not sure if this is a Graphics card, CPU or mobo issue. I expect it is one of them.

I also had problems with logmein freezing the computer when I disconnected (although logmein told me not to use the mirror driver and i think this fixed the issue). because of this I am leaning more to it being a graphics card issue.

Problem is, unless I know what the issue is I cannot send the hardware back (all of it is under warranty only purchased in June).

Can anyone give me any pointers in what the issue could be or anything I can do to test the components (without swapping components out as I dont have replacement components to swap with)
 
Which monitor do you have, and what resolution do you play games with?

Are all of your games causing your system to crash, or is it just Crysis?

Do you have the fan to your heatsink set at low speed or high?

What are the graphic settings you're using on Crysis? Have you tried lowering them?

Which specific model power supplies did you use? (If you can't find the model name, the model number would be fine.)
 
Freezing up problems are usually graphics related. It sounds to me like you are having some kind of overheating issue with the graphics card itself. It would be a good idea however to see if it is just Crysis in which it is hanging up, or if other intensive 3D things do the same. You could also try opening up your case and pointing a large fan at the case to dramatically increase you airflow and then watch your temps on the GPU and see what happens.
 
It's not just crysis

I can cause the same outcome from playing Assassins Creed and from running 3d mark vantage.

Yes I'm using the latest forceware driver (23rd june 2008 release)

GPU temp gets to around 61'C

Other forums have suggested it could be NB/SB temp problems. I'll check these temps tonight and post my findings
 
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