System locks up after 20 minutes of gaming.

[Shappo]

Hi.

Here's some information of my computer.
i5 750
MSI P55 GD65
XFX GTS 250
G. Skill Ripjaws 4gb
Coolermaster real power pro 550w
Seagate baracuda 300gb
Windows XP Professional 32bit.


Anyhow.
The computer screen goes black after 20 mins - 30 mins of gaming.
Sound still plays (but in a freeze state).

I have downloaded the lastest drivers off nvidia, still no luck.

Suggestions?

 

[skolpo]

How old is your computer and its components? Have your computer been collecting dust? How's the temperature when you play games?

 

[Shappo]

Computer is no older than a 2 months old.
No dust.
Temps nothing over 65.

 

[nforce4max]

I don't know what to tell you but to take the cover off and feel around for hot spots.

 

[KidHorn]

Does it happen in all games or is there a particular game it's happening on?
Does it ever happen when not playing games?
Can you alt-tab out of the game(s) when it happens?

 

[paperfox]

if i remember correctly dident a black screen and sound continuing in a loop typically mean it was a problem with RAM?

 

[redgarl]

Overheating of your graphic card. You should RMA or try a cooling alternative. If you got an open cooler, you should try to put a 120mm fan blowing fresh air on your cooler. It did the trick for me with my 4850s EAH TOP in crossfire.

edit : After reading that your system freeze, I think my first diagnostic was too fast. It sound more like a problem of power... but with a 250GTS, a 550W should be way enough...

It leaves the motherboard... go check MSI forums and do the latest BIOS flash, it could save you a lot of time.

 

[redgarl]

if i remember correctly dident a black screen and sound continuing in a loop typically mean it was a problem with RAM?

Memory problems are almost always ending in Blue Screen Of Death. It also happen with a lack of power with a graphic card.

Also, this problem would occur even during times not playing games... which have been clearly notify to not be the case.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I agree with paperfox. This issue is often caused by under-volted RAM. Which exact G.Skill Ripjaws RAM do you have? All these match your description:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=g.skill+ripjaws+4gb&x=0&y=0

Have you manually set your RAM speed/timings/voltage to the manufacturer's specs in the BIOS? Have you run Memtest86+ overnight to test for RAM errors?

Don't listen to the people here who tell you to randomly RMA parts until you determine which part is causing the problem. Start with ruling out the RAM and let us know how it goes.

 

[Shappo]

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM

That is my RAM. (The blue one).
I don't think it's the RAM :S

If anything the video card fan stops.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I wouldn't be so fast to rule out the RAM as the problem. Have you even run Memtest86+ yet?

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

RAM can affect this too. Just because it ends as a gpu problem doesnt mean the RAM isnt causing it

 

[Shappo]

I wouldn't be so fast to rule out the RAM as the problem. Have you even run Memtest86+ yet?

Nope. Tell more?

Should I use prime95 to do a stress test?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

No, Prime95 isn't designed to test for faulty RAM. Memtest86+ is pretty good at detecting faulty RAM.

 

[Shappo]

Thanks.

I'll be back in a couple day's with answers.

I'm going to test some more games too.
(Just to narrow down some possibilities, I really hope it's just the game ;P)

I do no think it is a heat issue either, but yeah i'll let you's know soon.