OT: Hardware problem?
 

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! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

Buy a bigger heatsink and better fan for the GPU?

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

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.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

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 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

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.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

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.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

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

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif 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. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif 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! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

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.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

I was thinking that myself. It'd be easy enough to test for, run the comp with the side off (in a reasonably cool room), if it still locks, it's likely to be a power supply issue.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

I am with everyone else, you system is over heating.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

I doubt power supply is the issue. Put in a new 500W PSU recently, so there's plenty of juice to go around. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif
I took the side cover off and ran the most graphics-intensive game I could think of. It ran stable for the hour I spent on it, whereas it usually would have crashed well within that hour. Idle temperature of the card was 66C, after the hour it was hitting 85 or so. I think it'll be alright, as long as I leave the side panel off. Hopefully. We'll see. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

If you have to have the side panel off to get stability, you have a bad cooling system. Your system should really be cooler with the side panels on than off, if you have a good cooling setup. Install more or better case fans and such, as posted previously.

Also, make sure all the cables are tied up and off to the sides, so they are not obstructing air flow.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

True, but having the side off works as an interim measure. I have one case fan (120mm) which moves a lot of air, but I guess it's not enough. Either that, or cables are interfering since I do have a few of them sprawling around...

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

I have ran my HP POS with the side cover off for a long time. The reason for this was simple, to let the hot air out. With the Video Card, extra HD, and the lack of cooling offered on stock models from HP, it seemed like the right thing to do.

My average temp is 140 to 150 degrees. I put the case cover back on, and now my temp, after an hour of idle time, is 136 degrees. I don't know, perhaps it does help to have the case on. I am still going to install a second fan, but wanted to know, if I have one fan sucking air out of the system, don't I need one sucking air in?

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

The air pressure in the case isn't going to change signficantly. Any air which is blown out, will be replaced by air coming in through all the little vent holes in your case.

Not to say that having an IN and an OUT working together is bad or anything.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

If the second fan is on the front of the case, you will probably get better airflow with it sucking air in, and the back fan sucking air out. Easy enough to check the temperatures and compare.

The goal is to get air moving past the heat sinks and hot devices. You've got to take heat away from them. If the case is off, the case fan on the back is no longer doing much of anything, since it is not necessarily moving the hot air coming off the CPU, but just air in general. This is not to say that your computer will always run cooler with the case on, of course. It all depends on the setup and the ambient room temperature and humidity.

Poor ventilation (from crappy fans or poor case design overall) will generally increase the temperature inside a closed case from not having enough air moved around.

Re: OT: Hardware problem?
 

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!