Freeze

TomSouthgate · 12-05-2008, 01:58 PM

Hi there, posting here in the hope of an explanation and possible solution to my problem.

Recently (about 2 weeks ago now) I purchased this computer: http://www.packardbell.co.uk/product...146601-46.html

Everything is fine and I very much enjoy playing on the computer. I am an avid WoW player and raid everynight. However, my computer just randomly freezes up, it shows a black screen and there are fuzzy colours at the top of the screen. The computer stays on, I loose all sound and the monitor is still ok.

It's only doing this when playing WoW and really beginning to annoy me.

I have a feeling it may be the graphics card but I haven't a clue.

Would anyone be able to offer an explanation or solution?

**Snoopdogie187** · 12-05-2008, 03:12 PM

Hi, I would recomend reinstalling/checking for updates to your video card. This may be able to solve the problem.
Another thing I would look into is checking your tempuratures. I think a nice program for this is Speedfan

You should also check for any updates at all for the computer, and also check device manager for any problems (in device manager it would show a yellow ! or ? i think)

You shoul have no problem playing wow, I can do it on my laptop without any major problems.

For now you can also try lowering all settings to min and see if that helps.

TomSouthgate · 12-06-2008, 07:43 AM

Thanks, I downloaded all new graphics drivers and also installed SpeedFan.

As it stands now, I have taken off one of the metal panels on the side of the tower and my GPU is 69/70 outside of WoW.

When I open WoW, it goes up to 75/76 possibly higher.

Is this cause for concern or?

**Snoopdogie187** · 12-06-2008, 08:30 PM

that is on the hotter side, not sure what the max is that that GPU can take, but it is something you may want to be careful of.
Being a new computer, I wouldn't think there is any dust and everything, but does the graphics have a fan on it? and if so does it work?

You can also try leaving the case open and maybe putting a fan blowing into it.

If this helps then it may be a temp issue.

Also, do you do anything else besides wow that is intensive on the computer?

dai · 12-06-2008, 10:04 PM

what does the bios list for your cpu temp and 12v line voltage

TomSouthgate · 12-08-2008, 07:31 AM

Someone in my guild is an IT technician, I read out the temperatures that SpeedFan was saying and he said they are fine.

The thing about BIOS, can I access this information without actually going into the BIOS stuff. Haven't really any idea how to operate it so wouldn't wanna **** it up.

On the upside I am frequently restarting my machine and since I have been doing this it hasn't done it - either that or I've just been lucky.

**af3** · 12-08-2008, 08:16 AM

I just took a look at your computers hardware information and saw the following:

Quote:

NVIDIA® GeForce® 8200 256MB

It appears to be an integrated video chip, meaning one that is on your motherboard. It may have a little fan, or just a passive heatsink...

The first thing you can do is locate it and spray off the dust with a can of compressed air. This is the least expensive aproach to solving a heat problem.

If you were to buy a new video card, many of which have their own cooling systems, but even still you will have to keep them clear of dust.

12-05-2008, 01:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
TomSouthgate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista SP1	Freeze Hi there, posting here in the hope of an explanation and possible solution to my problem. Recently (about 2 weeks ago now) I purchased this computer: http://www.packardbell.co.uk/product...146601-46.html Everything is fine and I very much enjoy playing on the computer. I am an avid WoW player and raid everynight. However, my computer just randomly freezes up, it shows a black screen and there are fuzzy colours at the top of the screen. The computer stays on, I loose all sound and the monitor is still ok. It's only doing this when playing WoW and really beginning to annoy me. I have a feeling it may be the graphics card but I haven't a clue. Would anyone be able to offer an explanation or solution?

12-05-2008, 03:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,546 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: Freeze Hi, I would recomend reinstalling/checking for updates to your video card. This may be able to solve the problem. Another thing I would look into is checking your tempuratures. I think a nice program for this is Speedfan You should also check for any updates at all for the computer, and also check device manager for any problems (in device manager it would show a yellow ! or ? i think) You shoul have no problem playing wow, I can do it on my laptop without any major problems. For now you can also try lowering all settings to min and see if that helps. __________________ Infected computer? click here Has TSF Helped You? Posting System Specifications Please Donate to TSF Last edited by Snoopdogie187; 12-05-2008 at 03:13 PM.

12-06-2008, 07:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
TomSouthgate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Freeze Thanks, I downloaded all new graphics drivers and also installed SpeedFan. As it stands now, I have taken off one of the metal panels on the side of the tower and my GPU is 69/70 outside of WoW. When I open WoW, it goes up to 75/76 possibly higher. Is this cause for concern or?

12-06-2008, 08:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,546 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: Freeze that is on the hotter side, not sure what the max is that that GPU can take, but it is something you may want to be careful of. Being a new computer, I wouldn't think there is any dust and everything, but does the graphics have a fan on it? and if so does it work? You can also try leaving the case open and maybe putting a fan blowing into it. If this helps then it may be a temp issue. Also, do you do anything else besides wow that is intensive on the computer? __________________ Infected computer? click here Has TSF Helped You? Posting System Specifications Please Donate to TSF

12-06-2008, 10:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,784 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Freeze what does the bios list for your cpu temp and 12v line voltage __________________

12-08-2008, 07:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
TomSouthgate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista SP1	Re: Freeze Someone in my guild is an IT technician, I read out the temperatures that SpeedFan was saying and he said they are fine. The thing about BIOS, can I access this information without actually going into the BIOS stuff. Haven't really any idea how to operate it so wouldn't wanna **** it up. On the upside I am frequently restarting my machine and since I have been doing this it hasn't done it - either that or I've just been lucky.