PC Gaming Problem

[combo333]

Hello Folks,

I have been having a reoccuring problem when playing any PC game (Command and Conquer 3, Farcry, Fear, Half-life 2, etc...) on my computer. The following are the specs for my computer:

Specifications:

System Model: D865 Perl
Processor: 3.0 GHZ
RAM: 1 GB
Geforce 6800 (256 MB)
Operating System: Windows XP

Defining the problem: Let's see. How should I put it. Well, after starting the game up and only playing around for about 5 minutes, just before the game freezes/locksup there is a weird sound that emits from the computer. Almost like something is turning off. I hear that with all the games I play. The problem is so bad the only thing to do is to shutdown the computer manually. Any ideas as to what this might be?

Thanks in advance,
Combo-

[koala]

Hi Combo, welcome to TFS

It could be overheating or a weak power supply unit. Can you tell where the weird sound is coming from (hard drive, PSU, speakers, etc)?

Please post your full system specs including PSU details.

Have you cleaned out the inside of your case recently? When dust builds up around the fans and heatsink, this causes the case temperatures to rise, leading to games lagging or crashing.

How many case fans do you have and how are they positioned? You need a minimum of 2, one at the front pulling cool air in and one at the back blowing warm air out. Make sure all the fans are spinning and the airflow from the front to the back of the case is unobstructed.

Enter your details into this power calculator and add 30% to the total to allow for PSU inefficiency.

Run SensorsView and take 2 screenshots, one from when you first switch the computer on and another during 3D gameplay. This will show if the PSU can handle the stress, and if the temperature increase is too high. Post back with the screenshots or the full details from both.

Open the case and post back with the details from the PSU label
+3.3V=?A
+5V=?A
+12V=?A

[Indoril Nerevar]

Hi combo, and welcome to TSF.

It sounds like it may be a heat or power problem. What brand and model power supply do you have? Please click "Posting System Specs" in my signature, and follow the instructions there to give us more detailed info about your system specs.

Download Everest and SensorsView Pro (links in my sig), and record the temps and voltages from both programs (under Computer -> Sensor in Everest). Check them when the system is idle (at the desktop) and under load (after a few minutes of gameplay).

Post back with that info.


EDIT: Darn, koala beat me to it again!