Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: Gemini6 on June 26, 2010, 03:18:39 PM
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Hi :)
I've noticed that when I try to run a graphics-heavy program or game, my graphics start to get "shaky" after about 15min of running the program. The shakiness only happens within the program - when I minimize it, I don't notice anything wrong with my graphics in general, like on a Web browser or my desktop, etc.
I downloaded PC Wizard to monitor the temps in my computer and noticed that some of them seem to be (to me at least) running a bit too hot. I'm not sure about this because I don't know much about normal temps inside a computer. Attaching a screen cap for you to see - this was taken a few minutes after I had seen the shaky graphics and shut down the program I was running.
Could a temp problem be the issue? Or does my problem seem more video card related? The fan on my video card is clean and running - I also cleared out the dust inside my PC.
Thanks for any help!
OS: Windows XP SP 3
RAM: 3328 MB
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+
CPU Speed: 3007.7 MHz
SC: Realtek HD Audio output
VC: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT
Res: 1440 X 900 - 32 bit
HD: 300GB x 2
MB: Gigabyte M57SLI-S4
PSU: 750W
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dam... thats hot.. :) how old os your PC? or what kinds of fans do you have? and case?
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The computer is only a couple years old - I actually bought it from CyberPowerPC (don't stone me) So I'm not sure what kind of case it is lol
Also, as for the fan... I think there's just one? I don't see any plainly "open" fans. But the thing that I assume is a fan is... well... I'll show you in the pic down below lol That black thing... (the silver thing on the right is part of my desk, not the PC, just to clarify :P)
When I initially purchased the computer, it had liquid cooling in it, but after several months, the liquid somehow evaporated (no idea) and my computer would not start up. Sent it back to CyberPower to fix and they returned it to me with that black thing instead of another liquid cooling unit. So that's another reason why I assume it's a fan of sorts. I'm sorry, I'm not very good with computers! I also replaced the video card a year ago after having graphics issues.
Thanks for the reply!
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you should see if that radiator is working fine and see where most of the heat is coming from your PC because if its the CPU it will most likely heat up your whole PC.. and damage it.. try to check if your able to install more fans on that PC.. and put it in a well ventilated place like on top of a desk....
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I'm sorry, what/where is the radiator? lol
The heat feels the most concentrated in the area near the black thing :P
I am actually looking into case fans right now - but I have no idea where one could be placed inside my computer. I was thinking I'd have to somehow figure out how to place it on the side of the case that slides off - seems to be the only place where there's room.
Thanks again!
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lol its OK.. uh the radiator is the grill looking thing like you said in the back of the PC and since you have allot of heat coming from the CPU (its under the round black thing with the two hoses) i think that that cooler is defective.... or might have a leak... ohh and is your computer having alot of cpu stress going on? open the task manager and check at how much usage the cpu is at when it idle... right click the task bar and click task manager the click on the performance tab.. then tell us what percentage the CPU is always at.
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OK, that's what I thought the radiator was, just wanted to make sure lol It seems to be working, but I'm not sure how to check it properly, so :-\
CPU Usage jumps between 0% and 3% when idle.
I Googled around and found out that the "black thing" is actually a liquid cooling unit, so I guess they did replace the liquid cooling system that failed with another lol It's an Asetek LCLC, but I still don't know anything about it :P
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I found out the model of the case that I have - you had asked what it was earlier. I don't know if it's useful to know still or not lol But it's this one: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1446794&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1446794&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE)
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idk either coz i never owned a liquid cooler myself.. check if the liquid is still there.. lol
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idk either coz i never owned a liquid cooler myself.. check if the liquid is still there.. lol
If you don't know the answer, why bother posting? "idk lol" type posts help nobody.
@OP, I am confused by those readings. Underneath "Chassis Fan" it says "Processor Temperature 77 F" which is approx 25 C which is pretty OK for a well cooled Athlon 64 X2 CPU on idle. Then below that under "Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2" it gives the core temps as 217 and 219 F These are well over the boiling point of water (100 C in the modern temperature scale). Since an Athlon 64 X2 will go into thermal shutdown well below that I don't think I would rely on those figures. Some motherboard sensor software can give completely wrong figures for certain hardware.
The GPU temp is 135 F in round numbers, that's around 57 C, this is quite warm I guess, but the max temp for that gpu is 105 C. 55 to 65 is quite normal after some hours of playing.
So I think that if it is your video card, it's not so much that it's a good card that's getting a bit hot (it isn't) but maybe it's got some weakness.
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If you don't know the answer, why bother posting? "idk lol" type posts help nobody.
At least I'm helping. This forum isn't only for Licensed professionals OK? Forums are here for people to share information. And in this specific forum to give your best answer/opinion to help other people with their computer problems. If your so smart why don't you answer rather than trying to make me look stupid.
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At least I'm helping. This forum isn't only for Licensed professionals OK? Forums are here for people to share information. And in this specific forum to give your best answer/opinion to help other people with their computer problems. If your so smart why don't you answer rather than trying to make me look stupid.
Read above, edited post. How does it "help" to write "I don't know the answer"?
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From the pic that you've uploaded it looks like you have a few burst capacitors. That could be the cause of your problems.
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Dang JJ what a Sharp eye you got :o.. :) I would have never seen that haha.. I had the same issued before.. ended up killing my Motherboard.. That is probably due to his CPU cooler which isnt working well..
I would recomment for you to Buy a new Motherboard or if possible to replace those capacitors.
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Read above, edited post. How does it "help" to write "I don't know the answer"?
But after that i did tell the poster to check if the liquid is still there.. But "idk" is just a typing habbit...
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Dang JJ what a Sharp eye you got :o.. :) I would have never seen that haha.. I had the same issued before.. ended up killing my Motherboard.. That is probably due to his CPU cooler which isnt working well..
I would recomment for you to Buy a new Motherboard or if possible to replace those capacitors.
The most usual cause of burst capacitors is that they were low quality. A big problem with Abit and MSI motherboards a few years ago was traced to them buying supplies from a company who had stolen a formula for electrolyte and copied it wrongly. Other causes may be just simply poor quality control. Or a suspect PSU. The Gigabyte M57SLI-S4 motherboard used solid capacitors, and was among the better models. I doubt it is the CPU cooler. As I said before, it is not at all clear that the CPU is overheating.
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But after that i did tell the poster to check if the liquid is still there.. But "idk" is just a typing habbit...
If the liquid is gone, the system will fry, not just get a bit unstable after 15 mins.
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If the liquid is gone, the system will fry, not just get a bit unstable after 15 mins.
true... but somehow my computer did fry when that happened to me.. after cleaning dust out of the pc i for got to plug in the CPU cooler but luckily i didnt use the computer for half the day... i just noticed it because i baught a new videocard that day and had to open the case again the my face was like this :o *censored*?!?!
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I just thought... I don't know where the OP is located, but just now in Western Europe we are having a heatwave. The temperature here in England is expected to hit 30 C today. Inside my house it is 24.5 right now at 11:30 AM.
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That sux for you i guess i have the A/C on haha.. ;)
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I'm sorry I was snippy before.
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Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies!
I'm guessing the capacitors are those round plug things on the left side? (I'm sorry, sorry, sorry - I'm not too bright with this stuff) I did go and check inside the computer again and saw 3 of those were rusted/burnt-looking lol So thank you for catching that JJ - I wouldn't have had a clue unless I took it to a repair shop and they caught it.
My question now is: what would be the easier thing to do? Buy a new motherboard like BluerJB suggested? Or replace the capacitors? - And if you could point me in the direction of where to buy either of these, I'd really, really appreciate it.
I'm beginning to think it's not the cooling system myself as I haven't had any issues with the computer crashing/shutting down on its own like I had with a previous liquid cooling system where the coolant just sort of evaporated. The computer shut down then never started back up again. I also have no idea how to check to see how much coolant is inside the cooling system I have now - if this is important for me to do, I'd love it if someone could instruct me on how to do that.
Thanks so much everyone! I'm soooo sorry for being kind of clueless about all of this.
*Edit: I'm opting to just replace the motherboard lol Hopefully this fixes my problem! But if anyone has anymore suggestions for me, please go ahead and shoot them my way!
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For what a shop would charge to replace those capacitors (this should not be tried at home ) your probably better off with a new board...
However all things considered ultimately only you can make this call...
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...My question now is: what would be the easier thing to do? Buy a new motherboard like BluerJB suggested? Or replace the capacitors? - And if you could point me in the direction of where to buy either of these, I'd really, really appreciate it...
*Edit: I'm opting to just replace the motherboard lol Hopefully this fixes my problem! But if anyone has anymore suggestions for me, please go ahead and shoot them my way!
Depends on how good your soldering and de-soldering skills are. Electrolytic caps are probably $2-3/ea from http://www.digikey.com/. So about $10 in parts. I have no idea what a shop would charge to replace them; probably more than a new motherboard costs.
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Better than average skills at soldering are needed for doing any repairs on a MBoard...
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Better than average skills at soldering are needed for doing any repairs on a MBoard...
Getting them out & clearing the thru-holes is the hard part. You can almost cut them out & then remove the remains. Installing the new ones is easy.
Big caps are pretty easy to remove; only 2 leads and something big to grab hold of. Just have to be careful you don't lift a trace in the process of removal.
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If Gemini6 was not sure what capacitors were, I think it's a safe bet they have never done any soldering.
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If Gemini6 was not sure what capacitors were, I think it's a safe bet they have never done any soldering.
lol Indeed :P
But I am just going to get a new motherboard and have a friend of mine do the actual "job" for me... I'm terrified of computers so yea, no soldering lol
I'm just hoping those capacitors are the problem and I don't replace the motherboard only to end up destroying it again by whatever is the problem lol
Thanks again everyone!
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lol Indeed :P
But I am just going to get a new motherboard and have a friend of mine do the actual "job" for me... I'm terrified of computers so yea, no soldering lol
I'm just hoping those capacitors are the problem and I don't replace the motherboard only to end up destroying it again by whatever is the problem lol
Thanks again everyone!
JJ nailed it: Bad caps, 100%.