Computer Hangs in Games; Defective Hardware?

[lamga]

I've assembled a new box the other day, but there is one thing that gives me grief. The problem is, whenever I play a game or 3D screensaver, the game either a) suddenly aborts to desktop, leaving no trace in the Event Log or b) BSODs. The timing is random - it can be within a split second, or 10 minutes later.

Here's the specs:

- AthlonXP 2200+ (T-bred A) - Asus Probe reads its temperatures to be ~40C
- Asus A7V333-X (bios 1003, latest)
- 512MB DDR Hynix RAM
- Sapphire Radeon 9100 128MB DDR
- generic 300W PSU (but voltage readings look stable)

I've tried:
Windows XP with and without SP1
VIA 4n1 4.37, 4.43, 4.46
Catalyst 2.4, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2
DirectX 8.1 and 9.0a
fiddling with Hardware Acceleration
fiddling with BIOS AGP settings, like aperture size (64, 128, 256MB), fastwrites, USWC, etc.

Anyone have any other troubleshooting tips? I'm leaning toward it being a hardware problem - but which hardware? The video card? RAM? Motherboard even?

Many thanks for this help. A computer's not terribly useful if you can't play games on it!

 

[Workin']

A computer's not terribly useful if you can't play games on it!

I don't have a single game on my PC and I get 10-12 hours of use out of it every day! It even earns its own keep.

Anyway...

The problem you are having is a hard one to pin down. You'll have to try removing components until the problem occurs. Or it might be easier to add components (hardware, software, drivers) until the problem occurs. Or try the various parts in a different computer and see what happens.

 

[BmXStuD]

if it was powersupply it would reboot or hang as in lock up! so thats out now

 

[Chadder007]

Ive had some bad RAM do this very stuff before. I bought a new chip with 256 megs on it an it would either bluescreen, reboot spontaneously or ...just wouldn't run the game or program. Would try to open it and would go back to the desktop.

Edit: (BTW It was Hynix RAM also, but PC133) Also could be the ram that is on the video card. See if you can borrow some from someone if possible.

 

[lamga]

Originally posted by: Workin'

A computer's not terribly useful if you can't play games on it!

I don't have a single game on my PC and I get 10-12 hours of use out of it every day!

I know, I am saying that tongue in cheek. Still, the box is for my girlfriend, and she does want to play Morrowind, so...!

I am thinking RAM or videocard. Dunno what a bad motherboard would do. I don't have a spare RAM module lying around,but I'll look for a videocard. So you guys are saying that bad RAM can cause random lockups, but in games only?

 

[Wingznut]

Is it safe for us to assume that nothing is overclocked?

 

[Redviffer]

I'll second the RAM suspect, I've had similiar problems, runs winXP fine, but as soon as try to run any 3D application, it would reboot. Changed out RAM and has been fine ever since. Hopefully this is your problem, as it's an easy fix (a little expensive though, and not guaranteed to work if that's NOT the problem.)

Maybe try setting the RAM timings down, slower performance but it would probably tell you if it's the RAM or not.

Good luck.

 

[hdeck]

i had this problem when my processor was overclocked too high.

 

[lamga]

Thanks guys for the tips. Yeah Wingnutz, nothing is oc'ed. My gf would kill me. She wants to do it herself.

hdeck, I had a similar problem with my PC with a Palomino 1700+ before, but it was because of a faulty lead on the CPU fan made it turn slower than it should. But this box, all the temperatures are great. Never goes over 60C, even in games.

I decided to "donate" a 256MB Samsung stick out of my own box (much like you would donate a kidney I suppose) and put it in this box. I'm running 3DMark over and over right now. So far, looking good! I will call the store and see if I can get this Hynix stick exchanged.

I may be back, but if not, thank you!