Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games

jt269 · 11-08-2009, 06:41 AM

Hi All,

Been having problems with my Pc crashing whilst playing games.
Gameplay just cuts to a black screen and I have to reboot my pc using the reset switch.
I know that the main causes of this would be overheating or a PSU failure.
However I do not want to waste money on fixing one cause when it is not the culprit.
Any advice on finding out what is causing it would be most helpful.

Cheers
James

System:

Asus P5NE- Sli Mobo
Dual core E6750 @ 2.66Ghz
Nvidia 9600GT
500GB SATA Harddrive
2gb pc-6400 RAM
2 X case Fans
EZCool 550w power supply

p.s Been noticing that the northbridge heat sink is the hottest component after crashes but i doubt this is the problem

**Tyree** · 11-08-2009, 07:41 AM

First suspect would be the EZCool PSU. Have you checked your Temps & Voltages in the Bios?

jt269 · 11-08-2009, 07:46 AM

Only checked volatges and temps with speed fan, how do these look?

**wrench97** · 11-08-2009, 07:50 AM

Check them in the Bios(pc health page) Speedfan is often unreliable.

jt269 · 11-08-2009, 08:01 AM

Just checked and looked ok, 12v = 12.09, 3.3v = 3.37, 5v = 4.93.

Thinking about it my graphics card did randomly fry itself a few months back, but thought this was just due to age.

**wrench97** · 11-08-2009, 08:26 AM

What are you seeing for GPU temps use the nvidia control panel or GPUz> http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads...-Z_v0.2.8.html

jt269 · 11-08-2009, 08:32 AM

GPU showing 37 celcius on idle.

jt269 · 11-08-2009, 08:57 AM

GPU is only 56 celcius at point of crash! This dsnt sound like its overheating to me. So PSU?

**wrench97** · 11-08-2009, 10:10 AM

Check the Northbridge temp while gaming Nforce boards are noted for hot chips, see if sensorview pro will read it and run sensor view in the background> http://www.stvsoft.com/index.php?opt...d=17&Itemid=33

11-08-2009, 06:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
jt269 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7	Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games Hi All, Been having problems with my Pc crashing whilst playing games. Gameplay just cuts to a black screen and I have to reboot my pc using the reset switch. I know that the main causes of this would be overheating or a PSU failure. However I do not want to waste money on fixing one cause when it is not the culprit. Any advice on finding out what is causing it would be most helpful. Cheers James System: Asus P5NE- Sli Mobo Dual core E6750 @ 2.66Ghz Nvidia 9600GT 500GB SATA Harddrive 2gb pc-6400 RAM 2 X case Fans EZCool 550w power supply p.s Been noticing that the northbridge heat sink is the hottest component after crashes but i doubt this is the problem

11-08-2009, 07:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,726 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games First suspect would be the EZCool PSU. Have you checked your Temps & Voltages in the Bios? __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

11-08-2009, 07:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,691 OS: Win7	Re: Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games Check them in the Bios(pc health page) Speedfan is often unreliable. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-08-2009, 08:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
jt269 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7	Re: Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games Just checked and looked ok, 12v = 12.09, 3.3v = 3.37, 5v = 4.93. Thinking about it my graphics card did randomly fry itself a few months back, but thought this was just due to age.

11-08-2009, 08:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,691 OS: Win7	Re: Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games What are you seeing for GPU temps use the nvidia control panel or GPUz> http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads...-Z_v0.2.8.html __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-08-2009, 08:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
jt269 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7	Re: Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games GPU showing 37 celcius on idle.

11-08-2009, 08:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
jt269 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Windows 7	Re: Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games GPU is only 56 celcius at point of crash! This dsnt sound like its overheating to me. So PSU?

11-08-2009, 10:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,691 OS: Win7	Re: Black Screen and Crashing Whilst Playing Pc Games Check the Northbridge temp while gaming Nforce boards are noted for hot chips, see if sensorview pro will read it and run sensor view in the background> http://www.stvsoft.com/index.php?opt...d=17&Itemid=33 __________________ Power Supply and Selection