Despreste gamer needs help. Computer crashes after playing for a while.

[Soyo13]

My sig is up to date.

I can't figure where the problem lies.

I used to be able to run anything while Graphic card overclocked without crashing... One day it crashed hard and killed my DVI input on my LCD... then it's all downhill from there. It constantly crashing every time I play a game for a bit... Evern crashes with everything stock.

Is it my PSU? I run an Antec SmartPower 500w

Everything is less than 2 years old.

 

[Vague]

if it crashes after a certain time it could be heat related, have you dusted out the inside?

Also make sure drivers are up to date and run memtest

 

[TGA]

Wait your video card killed the DVI input on you LCD? I don't think I have ever heard of such a thing, hell I can't even think of how it would manage to do that. You tested the DVI port on another PC?

Anyway since you didn't include any info about how it crashes when in games everything is really just a stab in the dark.

Problems could be Windows/DirectX/driver corruption due to the “hard crash”.

You could also have a heat issue due to a failing fan and or dirt.

You may have also killed your card by overclocking it.

Sure you could be having a power problem but if you video card really managed to kill the DVI input on your monitor I would bet the problem is in the card.

 

[Soyo13]

I remembered something that started all this. I set my computer to enter Hibernate mode and when I came home from work and got the computer out of Hibernate mode.... I noticed my display was acting screwy.. Almost as if it decided it's new native resolution is 640x480 when it's default native resolution is 1680x1050. So I rebooted and then it's all downhill from there.

After more testing... Turns out my DVI port on my LCD do work but only during boot up but once windows load it lose signal. VGA input to DVI works fine through. Tested both input on my video card and both works.

Drivers up to date. (I tried older and newer and older driver) Same issue on both XP and Vista 64.

Computer case free from dust. My case do get pretty warm but thats because I went from 2x 120mm sunon fan...(Very loud.. Like 54db) to a quality brand (forgot which) 20db fans.

Computer still crashes when playing 3D insensitive game like NFS: Carbon, and Rainbow six: Vegas 2. It don't crash when playing Starcraft...

So far I have 2 problems. My LCD's DVI and I beleive my PSU reaching it's end of life. with all the heat it had to endure and consantly being pushed to the max.

 

[engiNURD]

Thats a software issue, since it obviously works before windows comes into play. Did you use Driver Sweeper when uninstalling the "old" drivers prior to installing the new ones? If not, try that. Run Driver sweeper, restart, and install the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website.

One of your possible last resort moves would be to repair your windows installation. Proceed with the XP setup disk as if you were installing. After agreeing to the TOS (by hitting F8), setup should detect your existing windows installation and offer you a repair option by pressing "R".

It could also be your card overheating.

The Antec SmartPowers are notorious for failing under high heat conditions due to their inadequate "smartfan" cooling combined with CWT's use of faulty fuhjyyu capacitors (CWT was the OEM for Antec's Smartpower and Truepower units). RMA the unit to Antec - they know about the problem and send Earthwatts or NeoPowers as replacements -- much better quality units, OEM'd by Seasonic. You'll need your receipt for the RMA, and it must have been purchased within the last 3yrs.

 

[Dangman]

You'll need your receipt for the RMA, and it must have been purchased within the last 3yrs.

You just need the serial number off that PSU, no receipt necessary. At least thats the way it was when I had to RMA a Smartpower PSU.

 

[engiNURD]

You just need the serial number off that PSU, no receipt necessary. At least thats the way it was when I had to RMA a Smartpower PSU.

Really? those bastards made me look for my receipt. lol. O wellz.