Computer locks up - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

connyosis · 10-22-2005, 01:05 PM

Here is the thing. My computer has started to lock up during gameplay. There is no telling when it will lock up, only that it definately will eventually.
Before anyone says overheating, I've checked the sensors and they never reach high temps. The computer is well ventilated. I've run memtest and it shows no errors.

I'm usually in Linux, compiling a lot, and nothing ever happens then. Works like a charm. I'm thinking that if it was bad memory or an overheating component it should freeze when I'm compiling, no? Compilations are after all a pretty tough task for computer components.
Encoding movies works as well. No freezes. Recently though I started playing Quake 4, and after a while of gameplay the computer locks up. Reset button is the only solution. I've tried both the Linux and Windows version, and both cause the lockup so it seems it's not a windows or Linux specific problem.

The only thing I can really think of is the graphics card overheating. It does not have a temperature sensor, so I can't see how hot it is. However, touching the heat sink will burn my hand. It's very hot. Can a overheated graphics card cause this, or am I missing some small detail somewhere?
The computer is rock solid otherwise. No lock ups what so ever except when I play games.

The computer is an Athlon64 on an Abit AV8.
1 stick of 512 Mb TwinMOS ram.
An ElanVital Greenerger 400W PSU and two Seagate harddrives.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

flat5 · 10-24-2005, 10:06 AM

My guess is video.
Check a forum for the card and the game.
Google on the card and game.

Meaning, is anyone else having the problem.

Edit: If you leave the case open, does the video card run cooler?
Does the problem go away?
If so, could you install a fan to help cool the card?

Martian · 10-24-2005, 06:24 PM

Does it happen anywhere other than q4? When you start getting lockups I tend to look at software first. Could be an issue with Quake and some piece of hardware you've got.

If it's the video card overheating you'll usually see artifacts and texture errors before a lockup, although that's not universally true.

connyosis · 10-24-2005, 08:56 PM

No, opening the case does nothing.
And well I haven't really tried any other game that q4 for a while. I'll install some other game and see if the error appears there too.

WillyPete · 10-25-2005, 02:37 AM

What video card is it?
Does it also require a power supply aside from that taken from the AGP/PCI-E slot?

If so, does you card run on one of the cables that goes to something else?

I had trouble in Far Cry with everything turned up, until I took the card off the same power supply braid that was going to my single SATA drive and put it on one that had nothing else.

If it locks, or reboots randomly, it's power supply.
If it shows bad artefacts and then slows or locks, it's heat.

connyosis · 10-25-2005, 05:04 AM

It's an old GeForce 4 card, so no extra power is needed.
I played F.E.A.R. for a while, and it did not freeze then. I'll try a little longer and see if it freezes. If not, I guess it could be some kind of Quake 4 problem.
I would think it was the PSU as well, but I switched to the one I have quite recently and it's worked just fine. The GF4 isn't that power hungry so it shouldn't really be the PSU.

WillyPete · 10-25-2005, 11:18 AM

Is the GF4 rated to play Quake4?
I had to upgrade my GF4800Ti to play BF2 properly.

connyosis · 10-25-2005, 11:54 AM

Well, I believe Quake 4 requires a GF3 or higher so my GF4 Ti4200 should be ok. (Of course, it all depends on what you mean by ok. It manages, but just barely)
Also now I'm more certain it isn't my PSU. My brother has the same one powering a GF 6800, AMD64 3500+ and two harddrives, and he has no lockups in any games.
Well, in any case it's about time to upgrade the gfx card. It was kickass at one point in time, but not anymore. I do have a wedding to deal with first though...

connyosis · 10-25-2005, 02:45 PM

OK, so I've played F.E.A.R. now for quite some time, and no freezes or crashes. Wondering if maybe it is a Quake 4 problem.

10-22-2005, 01:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	Computer locks up Here is the thing. My computer has started to lock up during gameplay. There is no telling when it will lock up, only that it definately will eventually. Before anyone says overheating, I've checked the sensors and they never reach high temps. The computer is well ventilated. I've run memtest and it shows no errors. I'm usually in Linux, compiling a lot, and nothing ever happens then. Works like a charm. I'm thinking that if it was bad memory or an overheating component it should freeze when I'm compiling, no? Compilations are after all a pretty tough task for computer components. Encoding movies works as well. No freezes. Recently though I started playing Quake 4, and after a while of gameplay the computer locks up. Reset button is the only solution. I've tried both the Linux and Windows version, and both cause the lockup so it seems it's not a windows or Linux specific problem. The only thing I can really think of is the graphics card overheating. It does not have a temperature sensor, so I can't see how hot it is. However, touching the heat sink will burn my hand. It's very hot. Can a overheated graphics card cause this, or am I missing some small detail somewhere? The computer is rock solid otherwise. No lock ups what so ever except when I play games. The computer is an Athlon64 on an Abit AV8. 1 stick of 512 Mb TwinMOS ram. An ElanVital Greenerger 400W PSU and two Seagate harddrives. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

10-24-2005, 10:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	My guess is video. Check a forum for the card and the game. Google on the card and game. Meaning, is anyone else having the problem. Edit: If you leave the case open, does the video card run cooler? Does the problem go away? If so, could you install a fan to help cool the card? Last edited by flat5; 10-24-2005 at 03:31 PM..

10-24-2005, 06:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Does it happen anywhere other than q4? When you start getting lockups I tend to look at software first. Could be an issue with Quake and some piece of hardware you've got. If it's the video card overheating you'll usually see artifacts and texture errors before a lockup, although that's not universally true. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

10-24-2005, 08:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	No, opening the case does nothing. And well I haven't really tried any other game that q4 for a while. I'll install some other game and see if the error appears there too. __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

10-25-2005, 05:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	It's an old GeForce 4 card, so no extra power is needed. I played F.E.A.R. for a while, and it did not freeze then. I'll try a little longer and see if it freezes. If not, I guess it could be some kind of Quake 4 problem. I would think it was the PSU as well, but I switched to the one I have quite recently and it's worked just fine. The GF4 isn't that power hungry so it shouldn't really be the PSU. __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

10-25-2005, 02:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
WillyPete Addict	What video card is it? Does it also require a power supply aside from that taken from the AGP/PCI-E slot? If so, does you card run on one of the cables that goes to something else? I had trouble in Far Cry with everything turned up, until I took the card off the same power supply braid that was going to my single SATA drive and put it on one that had nothing else. If it locks, or reboots randomly, it's power supply. If it shows bad artefacts and then slows or locks, it's heat.

10-25-2005, 11:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
WillyPete Addict	Is the GF4 rated to play Quake4? I had to upgrade my GF4800Ti to play BF2 properly.

10-25-2005, 11:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	Well, I believe Quake 4 requires a GF3 or higher so my GF4 Ti4200 should be ok. (Of course, it all depends on what you mean by ok. It manages, but just barely) Also now I'm more certain it isn't my PSU. My brother has the same one powering a GF 6800, AMD64 3500+ and two harddrives, and he has no lockups in any games. Well, in any case it's about time to upgrade the gfx card. It was kickass at one point in time, but not anymore. I do have a wedding to deal with first though... __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

10-25-2005, 02:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	OK, so I've played F.E.A.R. now for quite some time, and no freezes or crashes. Wondering if maybe it is a Quake 4 problem. __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.