Games restarting my computer!

nffc10

nffc10

Active Member
I've been having a little trouble with my computer lately. After playing COD4 or S.T.A.L.K.E.R for about 20 - 25 Minutes, my screen will go black and the computer would restart.:mad:
This happens when the graphics are on fairly high to high. But with everything on low this doesn't happen.:confused:

1st thing i thought was overheating, but it's not that. CPU around 48C under load, GPU around 78C (not even in the middle of the gauge in CCC).
I've just tried "scanning for artifacts" with ATi Tools, i ran it for about 35 minutes with no problems whatsoever. I clicked abort, then 2 seconds later, you guessed it, screen goes black and computer restarts.

Has anyone got any idea what it could be?

Thanks,
Liam.;)
 
No bud, i cleared all my event logs went into the game. It crashed, i restarted, went into event logs and there was nothing except logs of programs starting.:(

I've tried reducing my multiplier on my CPU to 11x (2.4GHz) and reducing my RAM to 200Mhz, that didn't work.
Then i tried reducing my FSB, so i took it down to 180, still the same!

I'm going to reduce the clocks on my GPU by about 20 on both Core and Mem and see if that has any effect.
 
Well, that's a pretty power hungry rig, if, your hard drive still has lots of room left on it, it may be time for a PSU upgrade
 
How does that explain it only happening after about 25 minutes?

Wouldn't it just not boot the game up at all or even crash a lot earlier?
 
Not necessarily, hot components use more power .. As the temps rise, so do the power requirements.
The 25 minute thing coupled with the fact that it doesn't do it with your game settings low says to me that it's likely heat or power or a combination of both.
Of course the standard disclaimer applies here as it may be something totally different ( bad HD cable or the HD going south for the winter) .. It's all just guesses at this point.
Go into control panel/system/advanced/startup and recovery and uncheck "Automatically restart" under the system failure heading...
Maybe it'll write a log entry or give you an error message next time.
 
3 of 7 said:
Not necessarily, hot components use more power .. As the temps rise, so do the power requirements.
The 25 minute thing coupled with the fact that it doesn't do it with your game settings low says to me that it's likely heat or power or a combination of both.
Of course the standard disclaimer applies here as it may be something totally different ( bad HD cable or the HD going south for the winter) .. It's all just guesses at this point.
Go into control panel/system/advanced/startup and recovery and uncheck "Automatically restart" under the system failure heading...
Maybe it'll write a log entry or give you an error message next time.
Click to expand...

I'll try that tomorrow when i get back from work mate, thanks.

EDIT: Just checked that and it's not even on anyway!!! :(

ThatGuy16 said:
Have you checked your video card temps?
Click to expand...

Yh, there around 78C after about 10 minutes of playing and still about that after 20.
 
you have 450w. definately needs a upgrade. plus your using 2gb of old memory, which if you are using vista, is not the greatest thing to practice. i would recommend at least 600 to 800 watts to help your system from dying
 
gambino said:
you have 450w. definately needs a upgrade. plus your using 2gb of old memory, which if you are using vista, is not the greatest thing to practice. i would recommend at least 600 to 800 watts to help your system from dying
Click to expand...

My brother runs almost an identical rig except he has a PCI-E gpu on a cheap 450W psu, also the 12V rails on my psu are higher.
DDR2 isn't that old anyway mate.
 
I had the same time awhile back when I upgraded my first computer's video card. Just get a nice PSU and be done.
 
I know one way to find out if it's my PSU. Because my brother has the same setup as me, bar the PCI-E X1950, i'll try his PSU, or see if my grandad has a spare one above 500W when i get home and see if that makes any difference. ;)
Although i maybe a little sceptical about it being the PSU, i know i'll probably be proved wrong. :D
Cheers for your help guys, i'll report back to you later.
 
Ok i changed the PSU and first time i ran the game it crashed again as usual. So i decided to unplug all of my case fans and dvd drives in order to use less power on things i'm not really using. Then i ran the game (COD4) after about 5 minutes the computer just seemed to lose all power and only the green light on my case was lit up!
I turned the computer off at the wall then back on again after a few minutes. Now when i try and boot up my computer nothing happens, all that happens is the light on my case lights up and nothing else! No fans or anything!!!

I think i might have blown (somehow) either my motherboard or my processor, can anybody tell what it is by this information?

If not i will have to record it and post it on Youtube.
 
hstylez said:
You unplugged all the fans? GG that piece prolly overheated...
Click to expand...

Mate, i'm not that stupid! Do you actually think i would unplug the processor fan and GPU fan then turn it on? ......I can tell you haven't been around here alot. :rolleyes:
 
Right, i took out my GPU, put in a FX5500 and put in a bog standard 350W PSU.
What do you know......the thing booted up!:D
Now i need to look for a PSU around 600W that isn't going to cost the earth, does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks.

I found this one for £20, it only has to last me a few months and then i can get a new one.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127866
 
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