Please help. Something dying?

[bluejay98]

Hi everyone, sorry to bother you all..

I've been having a frequent and disgusting problem recently.. During certain games, my computer will freeze to the point of no return. The screen will flicker, and all the colors will distort... Sort of like if you were to shoot the screen with a BB gun, if you understand what I mean....

This problem only happens with certain games... Such as World in Conflict, Killing floor, Left 4 Dead.... but never occurs in games like Bioshock and Operation Flashpoint.

This occured with the current version of Forceware, and with beta drivers. A friend recommended rolling back to 180 series of forceware, but I'd like to ask here before doing that. I've asked this question on the Steam forums, and received no help whatsoever.

The problem started occuring when I went to Dual monitors, but I just disconnected my 2nd monitor today, and the problem still happens.

My theory is that the Power Supply unit is dying, i've had it for years now. does anyone have ANY idea what to do? I'm stuck here... My favourite games are practically worthless because I cant play them for longer than 5 minutes anymore....

Intel Core 2 Quad - Q6600
Windows XP 32 bit
4 gb ram (yes I know, I only get 3.3 gb of real memory....)
Nvidia GTX 260
Ultra 600 Watt PSU.

 

[arrghushakaboorga]

Well you can always run safe mode with networking to see if it still happens.

Are you possibly suffering a bad overclock?

Virus scan? etc

 

[aford10]

Download speedfan and check your temps.

Make sure you have the newest drivers from Nvidia.

 

[bluejay98]

Well, i noted earlier that my problems were faced starting when I got my new monitor... in a fit of desperation, I switched the DVI cable from the one that came with my monitor to my old one... And I just got back from a 40 minute session in WiC...

Could a faulty cable have been the problem?

 

[aford10]

I don't think the monitor cable would be the problem. It only transmits the signal to the monitor. Since you say the PC is freezing, it would likely rule out the cable or monitor.

 

[night_wolf_in]

i would say it is either the psu (your suggestion), or the gpu. try stress testing your gpu, using ati tool.

 

[aford10]

PC Power & Cooling is one of the best PSUs you could get. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but I doubt it's the PSU.

 

[bluejay98]

I just ran a Furmark test. Everything ran fine at 1920 x 1080. I'm seriously considering the possibility that my PSU is to blame. If it is my GPU, however, i THANK GOD that BFG has a lifetime warranty...

Results are here:
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/4076/furmark.png

 

[bluejay98]

Update:

I bought a Kilowatt PSU last night. I figure if it doesnt solve my problem, I'll at least be ready for a major upgrade down the line.

RIP current PSU. you served me well for these past 6 years.

 

[aford10]

Unless you're planning to SLI that gtx 260, the 1000w PSU is serious overkill.

 

[bluejay98]

Agreed, sir. I just got it in case i plan to get an i7 in the future. At any rate, the new PSU didn't Help. I'm going to have to get BFG to replace my card <_<. is there anything else that might be killing the games?

 

[aford10]

As I said in my first post, it's likely video drivers or temps.

Getting an i7 down the line isn't going to require a 1000w PSU. It's the graphics cards that you slap in it. They are what suck the power.

 

[bluejay98]

lol whatever. i like overkill.

 

[bluejay98]

temps shouldn't be that bad anyway. max was about 75 at full load.

 

[aford10]

CPU or GPU?

 

[bluejay98]

GPU. cpus at about 70 at full full... 50% load = 55

 

[aford10]

Which program are you using?

If that's the case, try reinstalling the newest drivers from Nvidia's website.

 

[bluejay98]

i just updated the drivers yesterday. gpu temps using furmark, cpu using coretemp

 

[aford10]

It seems suspicious that it only happens on a few games. If it was the card, it should be flaking out more. But, I guess there's no harm in using that warranty to find out.

 

[bluejay98]

i agree. I dont understand it at all... Should I try using 180 series drivers?

 

[aford10]

Are they the ones that were working before the freezing started?

What version are you on now?

 

[bluejay98]

im on the current version, before, i was on the last version, and the beta version.... 180 series always worked fine.

 

[aford10]

Is this the version you're on?
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_191.07_whql.html

If not, I'd try those.....if they don't work, I'd roll back to the 180 drivers

 

[bluejay98]

Yeah Those are what im using right now. I'm just about to roll back to 186.

 

[bluejay98]

K... It was going well... Until the problem happened outside of a game, when i was listening to music....

Apart from the screen going 'blank', it also made that... choppy loud noise, and with headphones on... that wasn't cool.

Ok, i dont understand, all the temps were fine.