UPDATE: I got a new hard drive and completely reinstalled everything. I played around in the OS for a few days before I installed Fallout 3 again. I then patched it and proceeded to load up my previous saved game (I backed the saved game files up). I hadn't played the game even 1 MINUTE before the screen went black.... but the sound was still there. What could this possible be? It can't be software/OS related since I just did a fresh install. Ideas please??
1. Full description of the problem and symptoms
I recently installed Fallout 3 - played it for 5 mins but all of a sudden the monitor goes black, here's the weird thing: there is still sound coming from the game as if everything was working fine. CTRl ALT DEL does nothing but Vista chimes as I hold the power button in right before I shut it off. After playing supreme commander for 15-20 I finally got it to so near the same thing - except the audio stuttered.
I touched the ram and video card - both were quite warm but not burning hot
2. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
-i've had the same system for almost a year - I just haven't played any games in months. I use it for normal web surfing every single day though
3. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
- so far it I've only tried to play supcom and fallout 3... but since this only happens during 3d games I suspect it could happen on other games as well.
4. I already tried these steps: It is currently running Prime 95 - but it has only ran it for 15 mins so far. while being maxed out i have one core as high as 73C
I'm also running nvidia performance stability test; my 9600GT hasn't gone past 64C in almost 20 mins of testing...
5. My software:
Vista home premium x64
6. My hardware
NOTHING IS OVERCLOCKED! I did leave my ram an extra .3 volts simply because its requires higher than normal voltage.
*dell 2408 ultrasharp
* Gigabyte P35 mobo (DSR3 or something like that)
* Q6600 @ stock speed
* EVGA GeForce 9600GT
* 8 gigs = 2 X 4 of G. Skill ram
* PSU: Enermax 500W
*APC PSU
1. Full description of the problem and symptoms
I recently installed Fallout 3 - played it for 5 mins but all of a sudden the monitor goes black, here's the weird thing: there is still sound coming from the game as if everything was working fine. CTRl ALT DEL does nothing but Vista chimes as I hold the power button in right before I shut it off. After playing supreme commander for 15-20 I finally got it to so near the same thing - except the audio stuttered.
I touched the ram and video card - both were quite warm but not burning hot
2. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
-i've had the same system for almost a year - I just haven't played any games in months. I use it for normal web surfing every single day though
3. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
- so far it I've only tried to play supcom and fallout 3... but since this only happens during 3d games I suspect it could happen on other games as well.
4. I already tried these steps: It is currently running Prime 95 - but it has only ran it for 15 mins so far. while being maxed out i have one core as high as 73C
I'm also running nvidia performance stability test; my 9600GT hasn't gone past 64C in almost 20 mins of testing...
5. My software:
Vista home premium x64
6. My hardware
NOTHING IS OVERCLOCKED! I did leave my ram an extra .3 volts simply because its requires higher than normal voltage.
*dell 2408 ultrasharp
* Gigabyte P35 mobo (DSR3 or something like that)
* Q6600 @ stock speed
* EVGA GeForce 9600GT
* 8 gigs = 2 X 4 of G. Skill ram
* PSU: Enermax 500W
*APC PSU