Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: Pigeon on November 09, 2008, 04:26:12 PM

Title: Continuous crashes when playing games
Post by: Pigeon on November 09, 2008, 04:26:12 PM
I've searched the forums for similar problems, and didn't find anything.  Apologies if the answer does exist!

Anytime I play a game the system locks up, and it happens anywhere from several hours to a few minutes after starting the game, including 3-D games that are 6 years old.  I have a few games I've never been able to play on this system because they'll hard crash the system before I even make it past their splash screens.

Athlon XP 5200+ w/ liquid cooling
2 GB RAM
2x 233 GB hard drives in RAID 0
1x 233 GB backup
DVD/CD RW
nVidia Geforce 9500GT 1GB (350 Watt, powered from motherboard and not directly from PS)
Extra video card fan
500 watt power supply
Windows Vista SP1


What I've tried so far:

All drivers and bios current
Complete format/reinstall
replaced 400 watt, direct to PS geforce 8800 with the 350 watt 9500 (originally thought it was a power/heat issue.  System's definitely cooler with the new card, though)
Added the video card case fan
Chaning CPU affinity to 1 CPU core
Changing system priority
Changing program compatibility from Vista to XP

Case thermometer consistently reads 27 C
CPU running at 54 C (~20 less than maximum)
8800 ran well below max temp, as does the current 9500

I'm at my wits end... I bought the system to play games, but right now it's just a big paper weight.  Much obliged for any help you can provide!

Title: Re: Continuous crashes when playing games
Post by: BC_Programmer on November 09, 2008, 07:00:14 PM
try using older versions of nForce drivers.
Title: Re: Continuous crashes when playing games
Post by: Broni on November 09, 2008, 09:59:24 PM
Quote
CPU running at 54 C
Idle, or while gaming?
Title: Re: Continuous crashes when playing games
Post by: BC_Programmer on November 10, 2008, 06:42:26 PM
try using older versions of nForce drivers.

oops- I meant Forceware driver for graphics card, not motherboard drivers...
Title: Re: Continuous crashes when playing games
Post by: Pigeon on November 10, 2008, 07:14:32 PM
Quote
Idle, or while gaming?

Only while gaming.  I ALT Tabbed to take measurements with SpeedFan 4.35.

Current idle tem is 26 C