Computer hangs when play games/video

madster

Hey I have experienced some problems with my computer (see specs below) lately and I hope I can get some advice from you guys. Thanks for all the help!

Whenver I play games or video (whether be divx, xvid, or rmvb), the computer hangs occasionally after some period (around 30-40mins, but not always). This happens a lot with games like GTASA and CSS, and when it hangs, the sound freezes but everything in the game seems to go on in slow motion except I can't control it, which leave me with no choice but to reset the computer. I have tried reformat, different drivers (chipset drivers, different catalysts including 5.6), and test the memory with memtest with no errors. Most of time it is under 45degrees so don't think it's overheating as well. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Thanks for any help guys!

Specs:
AMD Athlone Thunderbird 1.4ghz
ASUS ATA266 Motherboard
1GB Samsung DDRRAM
BBA 9600XT 128MB with fastwrite off
60GB Maxtor HDD

Tipstaff

3 things come to mind to try out:

1) Try disabling VPU recovery in the ATI Control Panel.

2) Some systems require Fast-Writes to be on when using an ATI 9600 card. In fact, some require it to be on no matter the card. Since having this problem, have you tried it with Fast-Writes On?

3) What sound card are you using? If you are using the onboard try updating those drivers. You can also try updating with the manufacturers latest drivers, and not the ones on the motherboard manufacturers website as those can be too old. If you are using a seperate card, such as an SB Live or Audigy card, be sure to update to more current drivers.

Additionally, you can try to uninstall SmartGART altogether using ATIs SmartGART Uninstaller tool from HERE. If you ever want it back just reinstall the drivers using the ATI installer (if you install them manually SmartGART doesn't get installed).

Give those a shot, and let us know what happens.

madster

Hey thanks for the reply!

I used to have fastwrite on before so I don't think it would be related. I will try your advices and see how it goes. Thanks a lot!

daedal

When you say it's under 45 degrees, are you reffering to your processor or case's ambient temp?

madster

Thanks for the reply daedal.

Turning off vpu recover and uninstall SmartGART don't seem to help. My sound card is not onboard so I think it's ok.

I just checked the temperature again from the bios and the motherboard temperature is around 40-45 degrees, and the cpu is around 70 degrees.

Thanks for all the help!

e v o

anyone one else wanna confirm that 70c is a bit high, even for a tbird

you might wanna try to clean and reseat your cpu heatsink/fan (reapplying thermal compound, etc), if you feel you're computer savvy enough

madster

Hey e_v_o thanks for the reply.

Actually I just replace my thermal compound before my third post, and the temperature seem to remain at 70 degrees. I checked the asus site here and tbird's max temp from here and seems 70 degree should be reasonable.

Could this be a motherboard's problem? Is there any way to check the stability of the just the motherboard alone? Thanks!

Robert McClelland

Whats your psu?

madster

It's a 350w psu.

Anyway the comp won't boot up at all today just blank screen, and can't even get into bios. Guess I need to get a new mobo and cpu then.

Thanks for all the help guys!

cswiger

Bummer, dude. You probably need to replace the CPU and double-check your cooling, sounds like your processor fried. Your MB might still be fine.

Of course, if you replace both, you might be able to update to a KT600/800 or nForce MB which can do 166/200MHz FSB (think Barton 3200+, or the Sempron 3000+ which is a Barton-lookalike and has 512K L2 cache).

H3X4D3C1M4L

Sure your CPU isn't messed? Might try making sure the thermal paste is done correctly...and try underclocking and lowering voltage

@cswiger: Semprons are mostly 256kb cache versions, not all of them are barton based. You're better off to get a pure barton

madster

Thanks guys, but I am planning to get a A64 3200+ with Asus K8N MB.

Is there anything I should note for this combo?

Thanks a lot.

cswiger

Almost all of the Semprons are 256K L2 cache, agreed, they are basicly rebranded Athlon XP's. But the Sempron 3000+ or so is a rebranded Barton core, see:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._11604,00.html

...it may even support the 200MHz FSB rather than the 166MHz speed.

H3X4D3C1M4L

Yeah, get a Venice core and maybe go 3500+. Then get a good heatsink, some arctic silver 5, some nice ram, and overclock it like hell