Computer freezes after playing games for an amount of time

Living Bobbeh · 01-10-2010, 08:02 AM

Basically, on any and all games the PC will freeze to a coloured screen after an amount of time.
Sometimes it's a few minutes, sometimes a few hours, sometimes never.
It seems like it will be the colour that is predominately on screen at the time, but sometimes it's just black.
I would still be able to control the game and Winamp once the screen had frozen, but it has since started to loop the audio post-crash.

It started to happen after I switched graphics cards to a HD5770. It doesn't seem like that's the fault, as I tested it in my brother's PC which ran Crysis for several hours on the highest settings without crashing, while running on wrong drivers.

I have the latest drivers available for the card, as well as updating DirectX to see if that was to fault. We replaced the CMOS battery on a whim, which seemed like it had sorted the problem, but the crashing persists.

We suspect that it could be either a power supply or motherboard issue, but we don't want to replace either until we are certain what's to fault.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Azisien · 01-10-2010, 11:14 AM

You said you had the latest drivers, but did you take steps to remove all other remnants of previous drivers before installing the new drivers?

Update the BIOs?

Mirai Gen · 01-10-2010, 02:15 PM

After it freezes, is the computer super hot? I had a graphics card that overheated quite often. Since you mentioned running Crysis I'm pretty sure that's not the problem, but check the fans and heatsinks anyway just to be safe.

Preturbed · 01-11-2010, 01:29 AM

It's definitely possible that your computer is overheating. This doesn't sound like it would be a big deal, but first you should get some canned air and blow out all the dust that has collected in your case especially in and around heatsinks. Some graphics cards require an extra power input to run the fan. See if yours is in that category. While the case is open, make sure everything is seated properly, even if you don't think it could cause the issue, just check it.

Yumil · 01-11-2010, 04:30 AM

Just to be safe, Id run a memtest. Dont think its the memory, but it never hurts to try.

Living Bobbeh · 01-12-2010, 01:19 PM

On the heat front, it reached 42c while playing Defence Grid, with the side panel off. I'm not sure if that's normal or not.

Bells · 01-12-2010, 01:47 PM

42c peak doesn't sound overly obscene for a 2008-2010 pc.

Also, do you have the side panel off most of the time? It helps ventilate (i have mine off too) but it sucks up dust like a bitch. And depending of where that dust goes and settles it could overheat some parts of the PC.

I'm assuming your machine is clean, but maybe it's worth checking it out. I had a memory failure once and i discovered that a small heap of dust had got caught between my two memory sticks, once i cleared that it worked like a charm.

Living Bobbeh · 01-12-2010, 02:16 PM

The panel being off was just because I had a thermometer on the graphics card, which in hindsight, probably wasn't the best idea.

In between taking the PC apart enough times to test different things, it's thoroughly clean.

Eltargrim · 01-12-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Living Bobbeh

The panel being off was just because I had a thermometer on the graphics card, which in hindsight, probably wasn't the best idea.

That...will not be effective.

You need GPU-Z to accurately determine the temperature of the graphics card.

For reference, mine is (apparently) running at 71C right now, and it's peachy.

Azisien · 01-12-2010, 05:01 PM

GPUs will run a good deal hotter than CPUs. I was a bit shocked when I measured my GPU because I am used to CPU readings. I was wrong. :p

01-10-2010, 08:02 AM	#1
Living Bobbeh That's NumberWang! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Twenty X'DY six! Posts: 1,127	Computer freezes after playing games for an amount of time Basically, on any and all games the PC will freeze to a coloured screen after an amount of time. Sometimes it's a few minutes, sometimes a few hours, sometimes never. It seems like it will be the colour that is predominately on screen at the time, but sometimes it's just black. I would still be able to control the game and Winamp once the screen had frozen, but it has since started to loop the audio post-crash. It started to happen after I switched graphics cards to a HD5770. It doesn't seem like that's the fault, as I tested it in my brother's PC which ran Crysis for several hours on the highest settings without crashing, while running on wrong drivers. I have the latest drivers available for the card, as well as updating DirectX to see if that was to fault. We replaced the CMOS battery on a whim, which seemed like it had sorted the problem, but the crashing persists. We suspect that it could be either a power supply or motherboard issue, but we don't want to replace either until we are certain what's to fault. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. __________________ Be confident, Wear a Cape! Last edited by Living Bobbeh; 01-10-2010 at 08:05 AM.

01-10-2010, 02:15 PM	#3
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	After it freezes, is the computer super hot? I had a graphics card that overheated quite often. Since you mentioned running Crysis I'm pretty sure that's not the problem, but check the fans and heatsinks anyway just to be safe. __________________

01-11-2010, 01:29 AM	#4
Preturbed betrayal! Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,092	It's definitely possible that your computer is overheating. This doesn't sound like it would be a big deal, but first you should get some canned air and blow out all the dust that has collected in your case especially in and around heatsinks. Some graphics cards require an extra power input to run the fan. See if yours is in that category. While the case is open, make sure everything is seated properly, even if you don't think it could cause the issue, just check it. __________________ sudden but inevitable

01-12-2010, 01:19 PM	#6
Living Bobbeh That's NumberWang! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Twenty X'DY six! Posts: 1,127	On the heat front, it reached 42c while playing Defence Grid, with the side panel off. I'm not sure if that's normal or not. __________________ Be confident, Wear a Cape!

01-12-2010, 01:47 PM	#7
Bells That's so PC of you Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a Server-sided Dimension where time is meaningless Posts: 10,490	42c peak doesn't sound overly obscene for a 2008-2010 pc. Also, do you have the side panel off most of the time? It helps ventilate (i have mine off too) but it sucks up dust like a bitch. And depending of where that dust goes and settles it could overheat some parts of the PC. I'm assuming your machine is clean, but maybe it's worth checking it out. I had a memory failure once and i discovered that a small heap of dust had got caught between my two memory sticks, once i cleared that it worked like a charm. __________________ *BELLS STORE : Clothes! You wear* them! Free US Shipping Subscription System? WTF?! Zazzle Black!**

01-10-2010, 11:14 AM	#2
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	You said you had the latest drivers, but did you take steps to remove all other remnants of previous drivers before installing the new drivers? Update the BIOs?

01-11-2010, 04:30 AM	#5
Yumil Action Hank ain't got nothin on me. Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 527	Just to be safe, Id run a memtest. Dont think its the memory, but it never hurts to try.

01-12-2010, 02:16 PM	#8
Living Bobbeh That's NumberWang! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Twenty X'DY six! Posts: 1,127	The panel being off was just because I had a thermometer on the graphics card, which in hindsight, probably wasn't the best idea. In between taking the PC apart enough times to test different things, it's thoroughly clean. __________________ Be confident, Wear a Cape!

01-12-2010, 05:01 PM	#10
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	GPUs will run a good deal hotter than CPUs. I was a bit shocked when I measured my GPU because I am used to CPU readings. I was wrong. :p