System Crashes When I Play 3D Games

DisturbedFan · 03-07-2006, 10:21 PM

Hello, I am new to these forums, and I just need some help with this problem. It is really getting on my nerves. Ok I have recently bought a ATI Radeon 9550 AGP 8X/4X Graphics Card. I bought it so I could play some more complex games like Counter Strike Source or Call of Duty. Since I've had the card I've only been able to play 1 3D game "Counter Strike 1.6". I can also play any 2D games. When I try to play Call of Duty or Counter Strike Source, anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes my whole system freezes with a sound loop and then my monitor turns off.

Things I've Tried

1. Disabling sound card because of sound loops
2. Updating Chipsets and Graphics Card
3. Buying fans incase of overheating
4. Returning card thinking it was faulty
5. Memory Defragger (program)
6. Prime95 (program) Successful

I have probably done other things just by messing around that I cannot remember at the moment but this is really irritating me.

Specs:

Compaq Presario Windows XP home Edition Service Pack 2
AMD Athlon XP 2900+
2.00 GHz, 512 MB of RAM
Radeon 9550 AGP Graphics Card
250 W HIPRO PS

Please Help. Thanks in advance (I think the PS is the problem and if it is I would like help finding a good one but not to pricey)

**koala** · 03-08-2006, 09:47 AM

Hi, welcome to TSF.

Have you tried running at AGP x4 instead of x8? Are you overclocking?

Your 250W PSU is probably the cause. Go to http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ to calculate your system's power requirements, then open your case and look at the label on the side of the PSU. Post back with this info.

DisturbedFan · 03-08-2006, 08:45 PM

Yes I have tried to switch to AGP 4X, does nothing. My card won't let me overclock so in that case no.

I have no clue on how to do that PS link that you put on there, sorry i'm not that great with computers.

I will try to do the link you gave me again.

**koala** · 03-08-2006, 09:01 PM

Click the AMD button, then enter your system specs in the dropdown menus, click the 'Find My Wattage' button and post back with the number. I also need the readings from the PSU label.

250W is very low for a modern system, so I would guess a new power supply unit (at least 400W) would solve the problem.

DisturbedFan · 03-09-2006, 06:23 PM

Alright I only go over 10 Watts then what I have. It said that I run at 260 Watts. So would a 300 W or 350 W PS be fine?

DisturbedFan · 03-09-2006, 06:28 PM

Oh, sorry I'm not good with computers so I don't know what the PSU is. Probably sounds really stupid to you. Sorry.

**koala** · 03-09-2006, 06:40 PM

No problem. The PSU is the Power Supply Unit at the back of your PC case. Good quality ones run at about 70% efficiency (cheap PSUs can be as low as 50%), so even if you add 30% to the 260W figure you calculated, you get close to 350W. It looks like you'll need at least a 400W.

Can you post the info from the label on the side of the PSU. If the 12V line is too low that would explain why graphically-intensive 3D games are causing your system to crash.

DisturbedFan · 03-09-2006, 09:34 PM

The big box is the PS or the PSU..? on the big box it says HIPRO for its name. I will just write what ever it says on there.

AC INPUT(47-63Hz):
100-127V/6A
200-240V/4A
DC OUTPUT:
+5V=/25A, +12V=/14A
+3.3V=/18A, -12=/0.8A
+5VSB=/2A

+5V & 3.3V SHALL NOT EXCEED 165W
+5V & 12V SHALL NOT EXCEED 218W
MAX OUTPUT POWER: 250W

**koala** · 03-10-2006, 04:32 AM

OK, time to get a new power supply if you want to carry on playing 3D games.

This one from Enermax looks good value for money - $76
ENERMAX Whisper II EG465P-VE FMA(24) ATX12V 460W
+3.3V 35A
+5V 35A
+12V 33A
-12V 1A
+5VSB 2.2A

Hope this helps. Hang on for some more replies. Other people might be able to recommend different PSUs.

DisturbedFan · 03-10-2006, 05:50 AM

Ok, Thank you very much. I will hang on. Well I have to hang on, no money LOL.

03-07-2006, 10:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
DisturbedFan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	System Crashes When I Play 3D Games Hello, I am new to these forums, and I just need some help with this problem. It is really getting on my nerves. Ok I have recently bought a ATI Radeon 9550 AGP 8X/4X Graphics Card. I bought it so I could play some more complex games like Counter Strike Source or Call of Duty. Since I've had the card I've only been able to play 1 3D game "Counter Strike 1.6". I can also play any 2D games. When I try to play Call of Duty or Counter Strike Source, anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes my whole system freezes with a sound loop and then my monitor turns off. Things I've Tried 1. Disabling sound card because of sound loops 2. Updating Chipsets and Graphics Card 3. Buying fans incase of overheating 4. Returning card thinking it was faulty 5. Memory Defragger (program) 6. Prime95 (program) Successful I have probably done other things just by messing around that I cannot remember at the moment but this is really irritating me. Specs: Compaq Presario Windows XP home Edition Service Pack 2 AMD Athlon XP 2900+ 2.00 GHz, 512 MB of RAM Radeon 9550 AGP Graphics Card 250 W HIPRO PS Please Help. Thanks in advance (I think the PS is the problem and if it is I would like help finding a good one but not to pricey)

03-08-2006, 09:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,416 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Hi, welcome to TSF. Have you tried running at AGP x4 instead of x8? Are you overclocking? Your 250W PSU is probably the cause. Go to http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ to calculate your system's power requirements, then open your case and look at the label on the side of the PSU. Post back with this info. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

03-08-2006, 09:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,416 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Click the AMD button, then enter your system specs in the dropdown menus, click the 'Find My Wattage' button and post back with the number. I also need the readings from the PSU label. 250W is very low for a modern system, so I would guess a new power supply unit (at least 400W) would solve the problem. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

03-09-2006, 06:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
DisturbedFan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Power Supply Alright I only go over 10 Watts then what I have. It said that I run at 260 Watts. So would a 300 W or 350 W PS be fine?

03-09-2006, 06:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,416 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	No problem. The PSU is the Power Supply Unit at the back of your PC case. Good quality ones run at about 70% efficiency (cheap PSUs can be as low as 50%), so even if you add 30% to the 260W figure you calculated, you get close to 350W. It looks like you'll need at least a 400W. Can you post the info from the label on the side of the PSU. If the 12V line is too low that would explain why graphically-intensive 3D games are causing your system to crash. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

03-08-2006, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
DisturbedFan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Yes I have tried to switch to AGP 4X, does nothing. My card won't let me overclock so in that case no. I have no clue on how to do that PS link that you put on there, sorry i'm not that great with computers. I will try to do the link you gave me again.

03-09-2006, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
DisturbedFan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Oh, sorry I'm not good with computers so I don't know what the PSU is. Probably sounds really stupid to you. Sorry.

03-09-2006, 09:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
DisturbedFan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	The big box is the PS or the PSU..? on the big box it says HIPRO for its name. I will just write what ever it says on there. AC INPUT(47-63Hz): 100-127V/6A 200-240V/4A DC OUTPUT: +5V=/25A, +12V=/14A +3.3V=/18A, -12=/0.8A +5VSB=/2A +5V & 3.3V SHALL NOT EXCEED 165W +5V & 12V SHALL NOT EXCEED 218W MAX OUTPUT POWER: 250W

03-10-2006, 04:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,416 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	OK, time to get a new power supply if you want to carry on playing 3D games. This one from Enermax looks good value for money - $76 ENERMAX Whisper II EG465P-VE FMA(24) ATX12V 460W +3.3V 35A +5V 35A +12V 33A -12V 1A +5VSB 2.2A Hope this helps. Hang on for some more replies. Other people might be able to recommend different PSUs. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

03-10-2006, 05:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
DisturbedFan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Ok, Thank you very much. I will hang on. Well I have to hang on, no money LOL.