Crashing mid game BF4 or other graphic heavy games

AaronJackson719 · Dec 5, 2013

Not sure if this is the best thread to post this type of question so correct me if im wrong new to Tom's forum.

Okay so I have been having some issues with nicer graphic games such as Borderlands 2, Battlefield 4, etc. I usually keep settings relatively low in order to avoid this happening but ill play for maybe 30 mins and the screen will blackout like it disconnected then the whole comp locks up.

System Specs:
MSI 970a-G46
AMD Radeon HD 6950
AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4ghz
Rosewell 80plus Bronze 750psu
G.Skill Sniper(2x4gb) 1600
Antec Case(Only 2 of 4 fans plugged in currently)
OS: Windows 8.1

Ive noticed that the Mobo heat sink isn't getting to hot but this is scorching just sitting on facebook/spotify running
http://imgur.com/kWx4m37

Any insight would be much appreciated!

tiny voices · Dec 5, 2013

What are your CPU and GPU temps under load?

NormH · Dec 5, 2013

thats a weak gpu for BF4. and most likely overheating the cpu and gpu. try an aftermarket cooler.

wanderer11 · Dec 5, 2013

BF4 may be a bad example because that game is pretty buggy at the moment. It is crashing/freezing for me quite a bit. For example, if I get an invite mid game then my game will CTD.

NormH · Dec 5, 2013

i think its just too heavy of a load for that gpu and is causing it to work too hard and overheat. also its possible to get under the gpu fan causing it to not cool. clean that out.

tiny voices · Dec 5, 2013

I don't think this is a heat problem if it crashes when you get a game invite.

What are your CPU and GPU temps under FULL LOAD?

AaronJackson719 · Dec 5, 2013

tiny voices :

Update: i ran a game and didn't crash out this time, CPU temp maxed at 63C and GPU 56C with the GPU fans set at 80%. That's what makes me angry with this is it won't always crash so then i feel like an idiot when i ask someone and it doesn't do it!

@NormH i did just recently take two cans of air to the beast about 3 weeks ago for the first time in a while so dust shouldn't be the issue.

Can anyone tell me what part that is i highlighted on the imgur link? Just curious as to what it is/does.

tiny voices · Dec 5, 2013

Those temps are perfectly fine. The CPU is a little hot, but it shouldn't crash.

That Part of the motherboard is the Northbridge.

AaronJackson719 · Dec 5, 2013

tiny voices :

Okay so the north bridge is so hot i feel i could burn my finger on it if i kept it there for more then a few seconds.

I know all BF games are typically crashy/glitchy for a few months so it is a bad example but this has happened to me in the past multiple times just at random, like i would be an hour in Blands2 and would crash out when we werent even in battle. screen just cuts to power off then music pauses and extends on one note like it locked. Strange problem so I'm grateful for all the responses so quickly

tiny voices · Dec 5, 2013

Re paste and apply the CPU cooler correctly and try again. Also, run memtest for 6+ passes to test the RAM.

AaronJackson719 · Dec 5, 2013

tiny voices :

alright ill try that, so you think this is a CPU/ram issue not my GPU, cause at least those two are easily replaceable but a new GPU is fatty chunk of $$ i don't have atm.

Also what is memtest? Do you have a link for it or is it a windows feat?

NormH · Dec 5, 2013

you have a 6950 you can get a 7850 for real cheap or a gt 650 ti and still increase performance
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-fx785aznl4 $89
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-video-card-vcggtx650t1xpb $113

tiny voices · Dec 5, 2013

Memtest86 is a program. You download it and burn it to a disc and then boot to it and it runs. Let it go for 6+ passes. it is the only real definitive RAM test. Freezing is a sign of bad RAM so we need to check it.

AaronJackson719 · Dec 5, 2013

Alright ran Memtest 15 loops all 15 passed. So not RAM. My thoughts would be the Mobo causing too much heat but I have no way of testing that. A friend and I are going to reapply the CPU and the thermal paste sometime soon when we get time. Till then any other suggestions?

NormH · Dec 5, 2013

you could leave the case open with a desktop fan pointed at it to keep temps down. not a suggusted practice but ive done it while trying to solve problems before nd it usually works.

AaronJackson719 · Dec 5, 2013

NormH :

yeah currently i have had the side off. I purchased two Molex to 3pin fan plugs to accomidate for my two extra case fans i currently cant use with this mobo(Two sys fan plugs :/) Till then ill just monitor temps and hope it doesn't crash

AaronJackson719 · Dec 8, 2013

Alright so we reset my CPU and applied some new thermal paste to it and I hooked up one more fan with a spare plug from a friend and it still will crash out on me after about 15 minutes now. Sometimes it doesn't but I'm seeing a trend of failure. Currently on the AMD Catalyst 13.9 drivers so that is up to date.

So at this point i think its either
-Battlefield being buggy and causing a crash
-Mobo is dying

At least from my perspective.

wanderer11 · Dec 9, 2013

BF4 is very buggy. Both me and a friend often load to a black screen with a cursor, have our game randomly go to that black screen, freeze in game at random points, see what looks like fire raining down making it impossible to see, and a whole bunch more issues. The game is barely playable at this point.

Crashing mid game BF4 or other graphic heavy games

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