Hey TSG, I have a problem with my computer when playing games. In some of the newer, higher demanding games, mainly Mass Effect 2, Sims 3, Modern Warfare 2, and occasionally Team Fortress 2, my computer freezes, the monitor goes black and shows no input, the sound loops, everything is unresponsive. This occurs for about 5 seconds straight until it either restarts itself, or I have to press the reset button.
Possible causes:
1. I heard from a number of other threads that it could be from over heating. I've monitored my temperatures while ingame, and the only real problem was that Core 0 was about 60 degree C. Also, sometimes this freezing happens after 5 minutes of turning on the PC and playing a game in the morning.
2. Also from another thread I read it could be from a low performance PSU, which then I relised I had the computer's default one. But I bought a new $100 PSU, which should be more than capable of handling this.
3. This is a personal theory of mine, but I have two wall sockets running my PC system and other devices. But for each of these two plugs, I have a power board plugged in to allow more devices to run, such as my printer and speakers. My computer shares the wallsocket with my monitor, speakers and internet power plug, while the other powerboard powers my printer, homephone and wireless mouse. Maybe there isn't enough power getting to the computer?
4. My friend suggested to update my BIOS, which is apparently extremely outdated. He says that the problem may be clocking, and that a BIOS flash should fix it. I would prefer to do this as a last resort, as any problems could cause a severe rebooting issues.
5. A general cleanout of dust in the system might help? The case, a Cooler Master 690, does have quite a few open spaces in the casing.
6. Again another solution I would prefer as a last resort is the case of faulty RAM, that I would need to reposition them manually.
7. I haven't reformatted for a REALLY long time, and it might be causing errors? I really don't want to loose all my stuff though.
8. I've updated my ATI Catalyst and gfx driver, but I haven't updated my sound card driver. Possible cause?
System Specs:
Time of this report: 9/29/2010, 23:40:07
Machine name: S****
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.100427-1636)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: EP45-UD3
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz (4 CPUs)
Memory: 3326MB RAM
Page File: 1585MB used, 3624MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9440)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9440&SUBSYS_03061043&REV_00
Display Memory: 1024.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.7119 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/26/2010 11:56:36, 300544 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 8/26/2010 13:33:38, 5386752 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D700-11CF-3C68-0C23A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9440
SubSys ID: 0x03061043
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run
Description: Realtek HD Audio output
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0885&SUBSYS_1458A102&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.6050 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 2/23/2010 10:28:52, 5862432 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run
I can provide information if requested.
Thanks in advance,
Andrew.
Possible causes:
1. I heard from a number of other threads that it could be from over heating. I've monitored my temperatures while ingame, and the only real problem was that Core 0 was about 60 degree C. Also, sometimes this freezing happens after 5 minutes of turning on the PC and playing a game in the morning.
2. Also from another thread I read it could be from a low performance PSU, which then I relised I had the computer's default one. But I bought a new $100 PSU, which should be more than capable of handling this.
3. This is a personal theory of mine, but I have two wall sockets running my PC system and other devices. But for each of these two plugs, I have a power board plugged in to allow more devices to run, such as my printer and speakers. My computer shares the wallsocket with my monitor, speakers and internet power plug, while the other powerboard powers my printer, homephone and wireless mouse. Maybe there isn't enough power getting to the computer?
4. My friend suggested to update my BIOS, which is apparently extremely outdated. He says that the problem may be clocking, and that a BIOS flash should fix it. I would prefer to do this as a last resort, as any problems could cause a severe rebooting issues.
5. A general cleanout of dust in the system might help? The case, a Cooler Master 690, does have quite a few open spaces in the casing.
6. Again another solution I would prefer as a last resort is the case of faulty RAM, that I would need to reposition them manually.
7. I haven't reformatted for a REALLY long time, and it might be causing errors? I really don't want to loose all my stuff though.
8. I've updated my ATI Catalyst and gfx driver, but I haven't updated my sound card driver. Possible cause?
System Specs:
Time of this report: 9/29/2010, 23:40:07
Machine name: S****
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.100427-1636)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: EP45-UD3
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz (4 CPUs)
Memory: 3326MB RAM
Page File: 1585MB used, 3624MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9440)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9440&SUBSYS_03061043&REV_00
Display Memory: 1024.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.7119 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/26/2010 11:56:36, 300544 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 8/26/2010 13:33:38, 5386752 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D700-11CF-3C68-0C23A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9440
SubSys ID: 0x03061043
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run
Description: Realtek HD Audio output
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0885&SUBSYS_1458A102&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.6050 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 2/23/2010 10:28:52, 5862432 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run
I can provide information if requested.
Thanks in advance,
Andrew.